WHERE MUSIC LISTENS TO YOU
Bartleby
Bartleby
Add To My Trusted Moggers

Silence is a moveable music

Posted about 1 year ago

[Jeanne Moreau - Le Tourbillon de la Vie / 1:59]

A month ago or so, my outside world went silent. - No, nothing dramatic happened. I wasn't affected with any ototoxicity or other conditions which could have affected my hearing. Simply my portable mp3 player designed by Jonathan Ive and marketed by Steve Jobs had lived its last wheel-click. Overnight, my perambulatory experience went not so much mute but amusical.

Yes, I'm one of those who use their commuting time to catch up on more recent productions and revisit some older favourites. So, without the conspicuous white buds in my ears I was at once deaf and hearing again. I took in the sound of the city but also alas bits of random conversation (most of them addressed to an invisible someone on their mobile).

Bridge of Aspiration - Floral Street, London

Gradually though, music slipped back into my cochlea. I began to hear bits of Maurice Jarre, Mozart, John Coltrane, Bernstein and Tchaikovsky. The music of "Doctor Zhivago" was ringing with every pace I made (even though I didn't like the film). One of the 36 versions of "My Favorite Things" flourished on my pursed lips. I also heard the "Jets' Song." Those tunes rose like bubbles of notes from the depth my musical memory. My mental jukebox didn't play many songs though. There ofen were repeats and the only vocals I heard must have been "Le Tourbillon de la Vie" - why not let MOG play it for you too.

Funny that it's never occurred to me before: silence is the first mobile music. And I surprise myself wondering what songs are playing in your head when there is nothing but the hum of the hum-drum quotidian.

1

Comments (36)

  1. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Here is also perhaps the most pervasive Tchaikovsky I know. "1812 Overture" by Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker. (Seiji Ozawa, conductor)
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  2. contrabandwidth
    contrabandwidth says As is the whole point of 4:33. Welcome back.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  3. ivylander
    ivylander says Ah, so you've come crawling back.... What a pleasure to see your avatar again. Your mental jukebox displays far more taste and discipline than my own. On it, one is just as likely to hear Supertramp as Scriabin. And thank you so much for the Jeanne Moreau (and 20 others). Your generosity is boundless and surprising. Now that I know you're back among us, I will drop you a MOG-Mail.....
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  4. Misstee
    Misstee says Welcome back Bart!
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  5. brendanhalpin
    brendanhalpin says For years, I heard (and found myself singing) the riffs from AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" and Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" whenever silence invaded my brain. Not sure what that says about me, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to know. Recently, that song from Sesame Street about living in a capital I has been playing on constant repeat.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  6. contrabandwidth
    contrabandwidth says Brendan, what is it with those kids songs? I walk around singing to myself "3 little duckies go quack, quack, quack" til I want to go duck hunting.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  7. levek
    levek says Hey! Glad you're back. The melodies that invade my brain are mostly those I've been listening to in the last days, but sometimes I even hear stuff that I consciously despise. I will have to analyze that weirdness.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  8. bloodtea
    bloodtea says At last! You were terribly missed, dear brother of mine! (errr, I meant "your posts".. heh) I must admit I envy those silent moments coloured with bits of Jeanne Moreau.. (and with such mental jukebox I seriously doubt one would need a damn i-pod...) You know, the other day I was going to post something on MOG related to the sweet correlation between silence and one's mental music library... but, you know... didn't have quite the time to write down all my thoughts and it sorta got foggy and stuff.. Oh well.. It's really nice to have you back :-)
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  9. annieander
    annieander says Why is it that we need to fill the silence at all? Is it something, in some of us, that needs the constant "hummm" in the background of our exsistance? I am just as guilty...music, radio news, even my own whistling, needs to follow me in the world. I need the background to work (no lyrics please, if I am focusing on numbers)...I need music while cleaning the house...even crappy tv will do in a pinch. I have often thought that the background hummmm in my life serves as a distraction for me...so as not to quietly listen to my inner voice/criticism.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  10. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says Wow, you're back! Welcome welcome, you were missed Michael. I have various songs floating through my brain at various times. Right now I have "Bringin' Sexy Back" since I left a remark about it on a blog comment elsewhere & now can't get it out of my head. Damn you Mr. Timberlake!
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  11. Max Load
    Max Load says Hello, young man.
    I'm the opposite to you on the headphone front. I find it strange walking around not knowing what's going on around me. But I'll never forget a long slightly-stoned-on-some-sort-of-over-the-counter-medicine bus journey I once did with a first generation WalkMan and a Malaysian bootleg of Human League's Dare.
    On the whole I regard a head free of noise as a sign of me having a good day. Oliver Sacks calls the tunes you can't get out of your head 'brainworms'. My mate Dave has what you might call a neurological surfeit (as distinct from deficit) in that when he hears a tune in his head it is exactly as if he was listening to the real thing. So he can run anything he can remember without an iPod and get the same experience. As you might suspect, he is consequently quite picky about what he listens to.
    You seem to have brought the weather back with you. Mog is working nicely today.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  12. Spike
    Spike says Bartleby, it's a relief to have you back. So it wasn't something somebody els---I mean---I said. Whenever I forget to listen to music in the car, actual thoughts sometimes result. For people whom one reads about who walk outside, a benefit of the iPod's short life expectancy is how it helps one notice oncoming lorries. That Bridge of Aspiration photo is remarkable. Is the bridge traversable? In the wonderful Tchaikovsky video it was good to see at the 3:00 mark Osawa's baton movements synchronized perfectly with the beat. It's rare to see that happen to a conductor. Jeanne Moreau's singing voice is a revelation, though it helps that she has a beautiful acting voice.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  13. Bartleby
    Bartleby says *Contra*: Thanks. It's nice to be back. I've yet to experience John Cage's piece. It must be quite something to sit and watch those silent musicians. A whole orchestra - mute. *Ivy*: I sneaked through the MOG-door, indeed. Don't mention it! I'm glad I'm back because I was missing the "communion in music" which MOG-thingy offers. Regarding the music of our silence, it comes and goes really. The other day I caught myself humming this song by Waco Jacko *Misstee*: Thank you, dear. I'll pop around your page in a bit. I've got so much to catch up with. *Brendan*: A very interesting point. I also had some children TV themes playing on my mental jukebox not long ago. Perhaps, it's come to be part and parcel of our musical development. *levek*: Hi Réjean. It's nice to be back with other music addicts. Some very irritating songs can creep on our mental jukebox at times. I like Maurice Jarre but his score for "Dr Zhivago" is plain annoying for me. *Bloodtea*: O, dear sister, thank you for your colourful mix. I missed the whole affair, not to mention our funk-fu fair. *Annie*: I'm just like you. I need to have some sort of white noise in order to focus. That said, I went to the park today and just enjoyed the whistling of the wind and the sun. -- Do you really think we need to "score" our silences so we don't hear our inner disagreements? Hmm, I think you may be onto thing here. *Augusts1*: Thanks mate. I have missed tons of good music during my hiatus so expect so spamming from me on your page soon. As for Justin Timberlake, when did Sexy go away again? *Max*: Ah, thanks Max. I'm not familiar with "brainworms" but there must be reasons why some sounds/songs keep crawling back while others don't. Your friend is quite extraordinary but of course I guess his talent has its drawbacks. *Spike*: The Bridge of Aspiration in Floral Street, Covent Garden links the Royal Ballet School with the Royal Opera House. If you look at the picture carefully, you will see a young ballerina go through to the ROH. -- I couldn't agree more with you regarding avoiding the lorries. I must say they're hardly more dangerous than those maniac on their bikes dashing out of nowhere almost stealthily and most certainly lethally. Especially in Central London.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  14. Charley Rogulewski
    Charley Rogulewski says i'd have to say signed sealed delivered by stevie wonder, however velvet underground's rock n roll is my ringtone and i usually end up finishing the tune to whoever is calling me after i pick-up, which means i sing that tune like 100s of times a day.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  15. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Hi Charley. Nice songs on your mental jukebox... "Despite all the amputations you know you could just go out and dance to a rock n roll station" My mental jukebox plays "I'm Waiting For The Man" on heavy rotation.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  16. Cody B
    Cody B says No taste in my brian pan..it's usually the last catchy song I heard..More,More,More-Andrea True Connection unfortunately..good to see you back, I think I'll go on vacation now. You and Andréa can resume your kung fu.. ► "While you were out":http://mog.com/Cody_B/blog_post/149235 ◄
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  17. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Cody, taste's got nothing to do with the pan. It's how you play it. Please don't go on holiday. We need the true funk-fu master to guide us. (Also, if you stay I'm sure there'll be better booty)
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  18. Dzendvokh
    Dzendvokh says Hey B.....nice to have you around again... I don't often get songs in my head, when I do lately it has been kids songs, or rather songs we play for the kids. I'm kinda in the same camp as Brendan and Tyler I have been trying to pay more attention to the various sounds around me, especially since I bought a field recorder. There are many subtle things that come out, (same as in the visual realm) when you sit and let your surroundings wash over you.... and try and let go of that internal chattering monkey. ;-)
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  19. Scharppslicer
    Scharppslicer says But.... When your a Jet, you're a Jet all the way, from your first beginning breath, to you last dying day (sure I muffed a word there somewhere). Or Keep Cool....Boy Boy Crzy Boy... And people think I'm crazy to like W S Story. I am! Great post Sword
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  20. I am
    I am says Michael so good to hear from you again. Nice thought, if I was going to say there is one song my head keeps playing when it is alone with itself, it would be this track.

    I also find myself humming parts from Miles Davis's 'Sketches of Spain' album quite frequently.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  21. darmuzz
    darmuzz says Happy that you've returned! I read the Oliver Sacks book too, and he notes that as people age and lose their lucidity, they often can only recall emotionally charged songs from their childhoods, hymns or patriotic songs. Eek, what have I filled my brain with? I had best store up more good stuff now in the hopes of dredging it back up in old age!
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  22. Jonh Ingham
    Jonh Ingham says That bridge never gets boring. I always wonder if it looks as interesting on the inside, or if it just looks 'normal'. My mental jukebox often sits on 'silence', which can be very pleasant. Until the indie-guy gets on the train and you can hear the tinny buzz of his earphones half a carriage away.
    Permalink posted 04/09/2008
  23. Bartleby
    Bartleby says *Dzend*: Thanks. You're a lucky man. To be able to conjure one's own music instead of borrowing from others. *I Am*: It is good to be back among music addicts. I think I'd like to borrow your mental jukebox if I may. *Darm*: If this is true, I'd better store some more VU for my older days. And thank you for popping in. *Jonh*: Until recently I went past under that bridge almost every day. I've been wondering the same thing but have yet to see it for myself. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek caught on Flickr As for the silence, I really enjoy turning off the mental jukebox from time to time too.
    Permalink posted 04/10/2008
  24. Jonh Ingham
    Jonh Ingham says Oh that looks nice. I think I'll have one of those put over the moat.
    Permalink posted 04/10/2008
  25. HelenMarie
    HelenMarie says Hey B! Just look at this warm welcome! I've already told you're words were missed and I don't look like a liar here. ; ) You're comeback post includes some slightly poetic words..."Those tunes rose like bubbles of notes from the depth my musical memory." Nice. I catch myself thinking of harmonica's, acoustic guitar and Beck...
    Permalink posted 04/10/2008
  26. HelenMarie
    HelenMarie says Oops...hit pub too soon. Both above and below song's come to mind depending on the weather...
    Permalink posted 04/10/2008
  27. lilja88
    lilja88 says "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter..."
    Permalink posted 04/10/2008
  28. TylerDurden
    TylerDurden says MICHAEL!!!!! -> wudup bro?!?!? The reason I listen to so much music, is the fact that when music is not being supplied by a tangible device of some sort, My brain plays a slow distorted circus tune that I'm sure you've heard. Since I have a big fear of clowns, I try to drown it out with heavy-metal, rock, comedy, and the like, and it works, but I have a hard time sleeping, my brain repeats this mantra, "can't sleep, clowns will eat me, can't sleep, clowns will eat me"....sweet dreams, and welcome back!
    Permalink posted 04/10/2008
  29. Bartleby
    Bartleby says *Sharppslicer*: Apologies for not acknowledging your reference to Bernstein's piece. I hope you won't think I'm rude because I really feel privileged to be commented by you. *Jonh*: What's amazing is that it looks curved seen from below while it seems rather plane on that picture. *Sunny*: Thank you so much. I missed being around here with people like you. Here's another Beck which springs to mind when I see your avatar *Lilja*: May I borrow this quote for personal use? *Tyler*: Thanks mate. There are no clowns, just jesters ;)
    Permalink posted 04/10/2008
  30. scotfree
    scotfree says B, so glad your culture soaked posts are back! I've mused over the demise of the ol' ipod, (2nd g - its days are numbered), your write-up (almost) makes me anticipate the silence. And, ah yes mine tutor, "And I surprise myself wondering what songs are playing in your head when there is nothing but the hum of the hum-drum quotidian. " (beautiful construction btw) after consulting Mr. Webster on the never known quotidian, I must say that music is so seldom out of my ears recently that I do not know the sound of this silence. Maybe a device-free walk in the park? In the meantime, since you are back amid the realm of sound:
    Permalink posted 04/10/2008
  31. Bartleby
    Bartleby says You're a lucky man to hear your own music when all is silent... Thanks for the Alice Cooper video - I will leave the street fight for another time, if it's all right with you.
    Permalink posted 04/11/2008
  32. poebegone
    poebegone says i see you happened by the mute front yourself. had i run into you there, i would have not said hello (or have said it parenthetically). Jeanne Moreau is such a presence in more ways than one. my mental iPod is gladly plebeian - not often but regularly, it sings My Favourite Things and plays Groove Is In The Heart.
    Permalink posted 04/11/2008
  33. TylerDurden
    TylerDurden says Jester's eh?? for some reason, I now want to go watch the cartoon movie, "Alice in Wonderland" -> only my all-time favorite cartoon movie!
    Permalink posted 04/11/2008
  34. lilja88
    lilja88 says It's not mine to lend... it belongs to Mr. Keats ;)
    Permalink posted 04/11/2008
  35. Bartleby
    Bartleby says *Poe*: Actually, my mental plebeian is a lot more plebeian than you think. Most the names quoted above come from either adverts (sometimes those marketing people do drench you in music). -- I wish you a lot of grooves in the hear too. *Tyler*: The Mad Hatter has been a favourite of mine *Lilja*: I shall say thank you to Mr Keats then
    Permalink posted 04/12/2008
  36. TylerDurden
    TylerDurden says Bartleby -> 10/4 -> what a fraction to explain my brain activity over brain production!!
    Permalink posted 04/14/2008

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