My grandson Dayan and I had an interesting discussion today, about theme songs. As we were concluding a three day Doctor Who marathon, Dayan let me listen to his new Doctor Who ringtones on his phone. They are so cool…I loved them! That in turn led us to discussing the theme songs for the 10th Doctor, the 11th Doctor, Rose Tyler, Martha and Donna. Every character in Doctor Who has their own theme song, as does the TARDIS. As we watched episodes this afternoon, we would exchange knowing glances as one of the character’s songs played subtly in the background.
Dayan and I agree that the soundtrack to a TV series or a movie enhances the viewing experience. During our marathons for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, we isolated the themes for each character, including the dragon Smaug, and the One Ring, listening for them during the films. One of the reasons I enjoy listening to soundtracks so much is because they are, essentially, the themes from the characters, the locations, and the events, woven together to form one beautiful extended song that stirs my memory and my heart, and pulls forth emotion.
My conversation with Dayan stayed with me after I left him today. I thought about what the “soundtrack” to my life sounds like, and how, if I could hear it with my physical ears, it too would be woven from themes from the characters in my story, the locations and events. There would be stirring ballads, uplifting trills and slower, more somber melodies, all telling of my adventure called Life.
But what would my personal theme song sound like? Every time I entered the day, a room, a situation, what melody would announce my arrival? That’s what I have been thinking about today. I’ve played those “What Would Your Theme Song Be?” games on Facebook. I get songs like “RESPECT” or “Walking on Sunshine”. Those games are fun to do, but the songs don’t resonate with me.
If I had to choose today, the song I would select that best represents me, would be “Going Where My Heart Will Take Me”, by Russell Watson. I became familiar with this song years ago, as the theme song for Enterprise, a Star Trek spin off series. It captures my journey well.
Going Where My Heart Will Take Me
And if I selected a musical piece, without words, as my theme song, I am drawn to the theme from Rivendell, in The Hobbit movies. This music reaches deeply into my heart, every time I hear it. It centers me, slows me down, lifts my spirit, all powerful responses to the beautiful melody.
As I considered those two musical selections, I was aware that both are already theme songs for something else. Slowly, I came to the realization that it is time to create my own theme song, or perhaps, time to allow my own music to be set free. I will have to hear it first, before I can share it, before I can capture it, in notes. I have limited musical ability, but I don’t think that matters. What’s important is that I allow it to come forth, and recognize it as my own.
As I was driving home from being with my grandson, I allowed my phone to randomly play music on shuffle. The first song that played was called August’s Rhapsody, from the movie August Rush. This film is about the very things that I was pondering: the gift of music, the themes woven into something soulful and beautiful that represent life and the journey. At the end of the song, August says, “The music is all around us. All you have to do…is listen.” I got goose bumps. How perfect. I am listening….