MOOD MUSIC by Kathy Ivan

Do you write to music? I normally don't. With my day job as a medical transcriptionist, I have headphones on pretty much all day long, with doctors droning on and on about diseases and procedures and all manner of things medical. So when it comes time to write, I like the sounds of silence around me. But, I do like to set a mood to get me ready to write.

But for some reason I've been really paying attention to the words of songs recently. Some songs seem like they're just words and music strung together to a tempo or beat that gets your feet moving, but doesn't really inspire anything more. Other songs can tell complete stories within a short 4 minute span of time and capture the imagination.

I'll be honest, most of the time I'm listening to country music. Occasionally will throw in some older rock (60s and 70s stuff mostly). But I've got a real soft spot for a man who can belt out a great song. (Don't get me started on the old musicals--Give me Howard Keel any day of the week and I'm a happy, happy girl.) Combine the tune and the words all coming together to tell a story and my mind begins forming all kinds of ideas for novellas, books, or just individual scenes. Somehow it all works.

A favorite song (and singer) of mine is this: (Not the greatest video but just listen to that voice and the words--the song is wonderful)