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Soul Singing...With Words From Sting!
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"I feel this music has nurtured me, as I've been immersing myself in it.I've felt so supported by it."
~ Sting
This week, The Heart Beet reports straight from the microphone! Mary Kent sings her soul out, revealing the health benefits of singing at the top of your lungs.
From the heart to deep within the depths of the soul, I truly believe singing is a God given gift that we all possess within our beings. As I look back into my life, I see that singing is definitely something that has continued to seep through the cracks, always looking for a place to land. As a kid, I courageously sang in the choir, even though I had no idea what I was doing. In my pre-teens, I sang my heart out at camp and loved every minute of it. There's something about a sing-along that absolutely connects my soul. And, in my teens, my best friends and I would go to this small recording studio at the beach and record songs like Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice, Heaven by Bryan Adams (my sister rocked that one) and Salt 'N Pepa's Push It. I still have those classics stashed away on cassette. They are definite keepers! And, in my 20s, I was known to hit the karaoke machine or, well, two. The children gave my mother a karaoke machine one Christmas and it was quite the hit for a while. My brother will likely recall a serious karaoke moment in the middle of No-wheresville, Tennessee, where we rocked out a bar to awe struck silence singing Guns 'N Roses. I truly channeled Axel Rose in that moment! Don't we all have an inner rock star? Well, I let mine out that night. But, it wasn't until recently, in the present moment, that I mustered up the courage to hit the microphone again. My brother-in-law's brother has a small recording studio in Nashville, so I took a twirl at singing. I'm always up for a little soul growth if it'll help me face my fears, so I nervously approached the microphone to sing a song we had written and recorded together. I totally ran out of breath about five times and was instructed to breeeeeeaaaathe deep within the diaphragm - something I am still learning to do. But, oddly, I must say I was rather impressed with what came out. Apparently, you can hear a girl's smiling voice when I sing. I think it's because I am very happy when I sing and it is heard. Sometimes the universe puts certain situations in our paths to help ignite hidden talents that God is trying so desperately to bring out. And, perhaps, to bring great joy within the self that might not have ever been felt in that certain way before! That moment helped me see that not only can anyone sing, but I also learned that I have a little knack for writing some pretty good songs. So, if there are any musicians out there who need some material, I've got lots! Most songs on the radio today are completely remastered, remixed, retuned, and repitched. That's the airbrushing of the music world for ya! Unfortunately, I won't be able to share the song, Carolina Waltz, today because it's still in the creative, mix-up stage, but I'll just say it was a fun moment and I'm glad that I did it for my soul. However, you can hear a really rough cut of a song I just wrote and recorded on my own, not in the studio. It's called I'll Be Free, a little country for the Nashville peeps, and it makes me totally laugh out loud, so don't make fun! Promise? There is no music for a reason.
You don't have to be Pavarotti to belt out in song. Anyone can sing! And, sing you should. In the shower, in the car, or doing the dishes. Just sing! I seriously feel so much better when I sing out loud and at the top of my lungs, too. I'm not great, but I just like the feeling. It's very liberating and does touch a part of the self that is higher up there in the ethers. So, if I can't convince you, here's what will really get you singing! Singing:
- Relaxes the mind, the body, and the spirit. It's a serious stress reliever!
- Exercises the abdominal muscles.
- Gives the singer great joy and happiness, releasing endorphins everywhere!
- Aids communication, breathing, and rhythm.
- Helps circulate the blood.
- Lowers blood pressure.
- Promotes comfort and unity.
- Motivates, empowers, and builds confidence! My favorite!
- Boosts the immune system.
- Helps concentration, memory, and attention.
I thought it be wise to go straight to one of the world's Masters of Voice, Sting, to share with us a bit about Soul Singing. (Yes, I know! I can't believe it either!!!) Here's what Sting had to say:
MK: When you sing, do you feel connected to a divine aspect of yourself?
Sting: To say so would seem presumptuous, but nonetheless it does feel as if you are connected to your higher potential as a human being when you sing. To sing 'true' is to be connected to the truth. If that's how one defines divinity or spirituality, then I'm far happier with that than a lot of stale dogma.
MK: I have read so many wonderful studies about singing and how it benefits our health. I'm a big believer! Has singing, or music, in any way helped to heal you? I mean, do you ever get sick?
Sting: I believe that singing and harmony align and realign the molecules of the entire body, not only of those doing the singing, but of those who listen. Everything from light to matter is vibration. To find one's place within that continuum is to find peace. Perhaps, it is equilibrium that is the basis of health. I get sick when I lose equilibrium. Singing can help me find it again.
MK: I know you are super fit, exercise, and eat right, but is there anything in particular you listen to to lift your spirit?
Sting: Birdsong in the morning. Anything written by Arvo Part or the Suites for Solo Cello by JS Bach.
MK: You sang along with Krishna Das on Mountain Hare Krishna, which is amazing by the way. It's one of my favorites. What was that like?
Sting: I love his singing. There is a deep resonance which touches the core of one's being. It was a happy session.
MK: And, I love your singing, too! Thank you, Sting, for enlightening us. I'm so very grateful to you for sharing with The Heart Beet. I'm all grinning and feeling happy! By the way, I took Sting's advice and found Arvo Part's album Da Pacem (Give Peace) on iTunes. All I have to report is it is simply divine. It is as if God is speaking to my soul!
OK. So, I couldn't end the Beet without sharing my favorite songs that will totally shift your spirit and make you fly with lots of love. Here is my play list of the moment:
- Aria Bach by Jeando Cardini (My mother discovered this man in the Marais in Paris and every time my dad listens to this he literally starts laughing hysterically. Talk about healing!)
- Gregorian Chant I: Amen by Gregorian Chant for Meditation
- Chinatown by Wild Nothing
- 5:15 Train by A Sunny Day In Glasgow
- Fake Empire by The National
- All of Creation by Mercy Me
- Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine
- An Den Wassern Zu Babel by Estonian Philharmonic
- Beyond My Wildest Dreams by Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris
- Still by Great Lake Swimmers
- Incomplete & Insecure by The Avett Brothers
- My Soul Sings by Delirious?
It's time to let your soul sing! Please, please, please by all means, sing out loud! Don't miss a Beet. Stay tuned for next week.
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