THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC
Psalm 96:1 O sing a new song to the Lord.
On September 18, 1979 the Swedish pop band ABBA came to Portland, Oregon, where we were living, and where I was serving as pastor of Westminster Presbyterian church. I didn’t know it then, but I realize now that ABBA was one of the greatest pop bands in history, selling over 360 million records. You all know “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen.” and “Fernando”.
In every city on their North American tour they found children to sing one song with them. It was “I Have a Dream.” I don’t know how it happened but their producer got in touch with the director of our children’s choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Winner Mercer, and asked her if the children would sing with ABBA . My daughter, Amie, was 9 years old then, and she didn’t understand that she would be on stage with four singers who had taken the musical world by storm. (By the way, her parents got free tickets to the concert, tickets that were selling at a handsome price!)
Stay with this thought for a moment while I refer you to a study by the British Academy of Sound Therapy called “Music as Medicine.” According to this study it only takes 13 minutes of listening to music to experience decreased negative thoughts, peace and contented feelings, and the ability to sleep better. The best music for relaxing has a slow tempo with a simple melody and no lyrics. And it only takes nine minutes of music to feel an uplift–ideally songs with driving rhythm, fast tempo and positive lyrics.
In my previous two E Votionals I have talked about laughter as a stress reliever, how a Mayo Clinic study reveals that laughter can relieve tension, release endorphins, and free our minds from negative thoughts. I said in those E Votionals that God loves a good joke, and now I would add, loves a good song.
Turn off the news on t.v. and turn on some music which you love. Sit down, close your eyes, and let the music wash over you. Laughter is the best medicine, and music is not far behind.
And now for a treat, listen to one of ABBA’s most inspirational hits, “Thank You For the Music” sung by Agnetha Folkskog.
Cut and paste in your web browser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dcbw4IEY5w
Here are the lyrics:
I’m nothing special, in fact I’m a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you’ve probably heard it before
But I have a talent, a wonderful thing
‘Cause everyone listens when I start to sing
I’m so grateful and proud
All I want is to sing it out loud
So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me
Mother says I was a dancer before I could walk
She says I began to sing long before I could talk
And I’ve often wondered, how did it all start?
Who found out that nothing can capture a heart
Like a melody can?
Well, whoever it was, I’m a fan
So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me
I’ve been so lucky, I am the girl with golden hair
I wanna sing it out to everybody
What a joy, what a life, what a chance
Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me
So I say
Thank you for the music, for giving it to me
Prayer: Thank You, God, for the music, for giving it to me. Amen.