Sunday, December 20, 2009

Share Your Kansas Exploration Songs Revisited

Back in October 2009 I shared my Top Ten songs I like to play whenever I am out and about Exploring Kansas.  And as an interesting psychological experiment I also invited other Kansas Explorers to share their songs that they play as well. 

So without further adieu here are some of the songlists that have been received.  Unfortunately  not all can be listed do to the amount of space needed, but the following are very representative of the huge musical variety found in all the responses. 

***************************************************

Von!!!

I go between Bob Dylan - several tapes I recorded from KVOD's folk music program years ago - - -

AND I have a great tape of Mahler's First Symphony, the Titan that is great - - - for winding roads, the Overture to Wagner's die Meistersinger - - - -

And in between, I usually have on NPR.

Eric Abraham - World Famous Artist
Eric Abraham's Flying Pig Studio and Gallery
PO Box 321 - 123 South Main Street
Lucas, Kansas 67648-0321
785-525-7722
http://www.eabraham-flyingpig.blogspot.com/

*************************************************

I love the songs you chose! Some of the songs I like to travel by especially when exploring Kansas are:

Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Judy Garland

Cowboy Take Me Away – Dixie Chicks

All We Are is Dust In the Wind – Kansas (the part that says “just a drop of water in an endless sea” always reminds me of how small I especially when traversing the Flint Hills).

Houses in the Fields, Wild Blue Indigo, Home Grown Tomatoes, etc. – Anything sung by Kansas’ very own Anne Zimmerman!

I can’t wait to see what other song suggestions you get. We will have to get all of these recorded on the Ipod for our next Kansas adventure!

Joyfully,
Joyce S. Bishop
Holton, KS

*************************************************

(1) *Drive*, by The Cars. Keyboardist Greg Hawkes has Kansas roots.

(2) *Dust in the Wind*, by Kansas

(3) *Written in the Wind*, by Yanni

(4) *Open Road*, by Bryan Adams

(5) *Ventura Highway*, by America

(6) *Long and Winding Road*, by The Beatles

(7) *Life in the Fast Lane*, by the Eagles

(8) *Old Man Down The Road*, by John Fogerty

(9) *Turn the Page*, by Bob Seger

(10) *The Valley Road*, by Bruce Hornsby

Jeanene French
Explorer #4537

***************************************************

Hi Von,

I've been thinking about some favorite songs I listen to while exploring. For me, music gets me in the mood to explore by both energizing me and also soothing me to forget any troubles and worries and focus on enjoying the journey. When I hit the dirt roads, usually the music gets turned off and I focus on exploring only.

So here is my list. Be prepared to do some digging to find and recognize some of these songs. I listen to a lot of music that is not "mainstream". I also enjoy instrumental only songs.

First, some energizing songs:
1) "Rise Up and Ride" by Ann Zimmerman
Ann is a Kansan and an explorer and has a talent for expressing the unique aspects of the Kansas prairie in her songs. This song is perhaps my favorite of hers and is a great way to get energized to explore, or celebrate a good day out exploring.

2) "Born to Wander" by Rare Earth
While this song was not actually written about wandering about and exploring, I feel it is appropriate in my case since I do so much enjoy heading no place in particular and just wandering about an area for awhile.

Some instrumental songs to soothe and relax me:
3) "Geronimo's Laughter" by Cusco

4) "Da Gama" by Cusco
Cusco's music features a lead flute backed by percussion and flowing synthesizers and I find it very relaxing and soothing. Playing these is great for making oneself forget about my troubles and get in the mood to explore.

5) "The Light of the Spirit" by Kitaro
Japanese keyboard artist Kitaro's flowing mellow synthesizer sounds are considered healing by many people, and this is another great song to relax by.

6) "Eagle's Path" by David Lanz and Paul Speer
This song was originally released on a 1986 video music album called "Desert Vision", and featured an eagle soaring over the desert landscape of the southwestern US. It features flowing guitars and keyboards. Listening to this song, I can feel like I'm soaring over Kansas landscapes in my vehicle.

Some instrumental songs to pass the time on long journeys:
7) "Riding the Wind"

8) "Logos, Part One"

9) "Voxel Ux"

10) "Ayumi's Butterflies"
all by Tangerine Dream

Tangerine Dream have been leading innovators of electonic music for over 40 years. I have more of their music in my collection by far than any other artist. All these songs feature percussion, guitars and synthesizers and range from 5 minutes to 30 minutes in length. I never get tired of these and they are a great way to pass the time on those roads which I travel over again and again to get to somewhere new.

Larry Hornbaker
KE #2013


***************************************************

Here are my choices for music to explore by. I love to sing along with the radio and I need interesting lyrics. They may not have anything to do with travelling, though.

1) "Seven Bridges Road" by the Eagles. Great harmonies & beautiful visuals.

2) "Let Him Fly" by the Dixie Chicks

3) "Heartbreak Town" by the Dixie Chicks

4) "Bitter End" by the Dixie Chicks.  I love the Dixie Chicks music & these three are ones that have really good lyrics & visuals.

5) "The River" by Chely Wright.  She's from my home county (Franklin County, Kansas) and she sings about a friend who was killed in the river (Marais des Cygnes) that goes through my hometown (Ottawa).

6) "What if We Fly" - Chely Wright.  Talks about taking chances and seeing where life takes you.

7) "Learning to Fly" - Pink Floyd

8) "Comfortably Numb" - Pink Floyd

9) "On the Turning Away" - Pink Floyd.  I'm a huge Pink Floyd fan!  These are my three favorites.

10) "In My Daughter's Eyes" - Martina McBride.  I like several of her songs (also a native Kansan) but this one speaks to me as a mom of a 9 year old girl.

Laura Miller, Ottawa KS

**************************************************
 
We sing along with Lee Marvin's "I Was Born Under a Wandering Star" from Paint Your Wagon.

Or we love all of Patsy Cline's songs.

fred & jo pappas

**************************************************

The song I always start singing when I start out on a journey is "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson. It really puts me in the traveling mood.

Betty Purcell

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." - Albert Schweitzer

**************************************************