There are so many things I need: the sun and sea, my family and friends, my faith, my home and music. I can get totally lost in music. I love all types. Music can travel deep into my soul. It has a way of reaching certain unoccupied spaces. Music can bring out all kinds of emotions. It can lift your spirit or leave you feeling sad. But all in all, it’s a wonderful thing. 

Growing up I was exposed to lots of music genres from Christian contemporary, classic rock, country and so much more. I grew into classical music, I love Andrea Bocelli and I’m even starting to like bluegrass. Some get lost in a good book, I escape into a song. 

My daughter Sarah and I have 2 crossover artists: Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac and Vanessa Carlton. I can remember listening to Fleetwood Mac with my friend Diane when we were teenagers. Over the years I’ve grown to love so many Fleetwood Mac songs especially Landslide (no big surprise there) and so many more from the album The Dance. I have been to several Fleetwood Mac and/or Stevie Nicks and Vanessa Carlton concerts. I don’t know if I grew to love Vanessa Carlton because it allowed me opportunities to spend time with my daughter. Her music style and music venue always made you feel like she was performing for you-as a friend. You shared intimate time and space with a musician as she offered stories of her life and the backstories behind the lyrics. If we were fortunate to get a close seat we would watch her fingers dance on the piano. It’s so beautiful as the sound draws you into the mood of the night. Sarah and I experienced music together through one of my favorite and her favorite artist. 

The song that Sarah shared with me recently is from an album that I have listened to before but I probably never allowed the song to deposit itself into my thoughts. The album Heroes and Thieves was often playing in Sarah’s room. The song she reintroduced to me to is called Home. 

I’ve been meaning to write about “home”. There are so many branches I could and will expound upon: what is home, is it a place, a feeling or where your mom is ;)? I think we want it to be all those things, right? I want my kids to think of my new home as their home but it really does not feel like home to them. Their home, at least for my girls, is Long Island and I get that. For me, home is where I am now. I felt at home in North Carolina as soon as we planted ourselves here. I knew this is where I wanted and needed to be, but that’s all for another day. Getting back to Vanessa Carlton and Home. There is so much here for me to explore.

The lyrics of this song need to be heard. I was going to post the lyrics but reading them is not the same as hearing them. There is deep lyrical meaning, which is something I rather enjoy, but as mentioned above what draws you into a Vanessa Carlton song is the way she incorporates the piano into her music. I have often wished other artists would enhance their piano portion; I want to hear more piano. When you are at a Vanessa Carlton concert the piano is on stage front and center. Yes it is her accompaniment but it completes the performance, it’s a carousel of music. 

Now that you have read through this post, please take some time and listen to this song Home. One thing I love about the way this song was recorded was it has length- so it’s not over quickly, then it builds nicely and you think it is coming to an end, but that’s just a tease. It bridges to a musical finale with drums beating and up and down piano trills. The piano arrangement is just beautiful. I prefer to listen to music a bit loud, and if you have headphones, that’s even better. One final point about this song Home. I would be remiss if I didn’t touch on the lyrics, just a little.  Speaking as a mom, what I want for my kids (among other things) is to have a person and hopefully a life-partner who they can say, “I’ve always known with you I’m home”.

I hope you love this song, Home. Take 5 and get lost in the music. 

Home by Vanessa Carlton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziWavFTf9Co