Whether you plug your phone into an aux cable, switch on a Bluetooth connection, tune into your favorite radio station or are simply listening from the comfort of the passenger’s seat, no one can deny the undeniable power of music in an automobile. I’ve been told I have very eclectic music tastes; I think it’s the only way to truly harness the prowess of musical harmony. Why would I deny myself the electric thrill of Macheso’s guitar (I always prefer calling him Baba Sharo for no particular reason, but I digress). Why would I declare upfront that I don’t listen to a certain genre, when each genre undeniably has hits? So, I take it all in, opera, rap, hip hip, zim dancehall, it’s a veritable smorgasbord.
Songs have detailed many stages in life as I grew up. My dad, bless his dear soul, was probably the source of my variety. He was a very liberal man, perhaps that is why im drawn to liberalism and the individuals who are unrestrained in spirit. He is the reason why I listen to ZCC Mbungo, I remember the crisp tones of the drums and the sounds that made you want to dance as a high pitched singer started off with,”Nyika ino ichatongwa na Mwari Jehovah, imi muchingogunun’una muriko kuser ukooooooo.” Sigh, some memories stay with you forever. Vabati va Jehovah, Baba na Mai Charamba, Thomas Mapfumo, Mr Bulk and the Bulk spirits (let’s not even start on that name). I mean Mr Bulk I get, to make reference to his hulking stature, but the back up singers were all relatively diminutive in size, why Bulk spirits? Numbers perhaps? I don’t know, something about that reminds me of Jesus in the bible asking Legion how many there were and his response as one man being “My name is Legion and we are many.”
Now, it is in road trips where my music tastes really shine, windows down, on a hot sunny day, the scent of Jacaranda blooms engulfing you in the heat. Sunglasses on, cruising down the tarred road, albeit since we are in Zimbabwe, you probably weave your way around a pothole or two, but that’s a story for another day. In an attempt to tame the truly conflicting music tastes I have, I group them into various playlists, sing-alongs, gospel, classics, afrobeat. Depending on my mood, or whether I want to get myself OUT of a mood, I choose. Nothing makes me happier than belting out sing-alongs with someone else in the car. There are few pleasures in life, and this is one of them. It is truly criminal to NOT bop your head along to a Taylor Swift or Beyonce or any anthem that tickles your fancy as you fake dance while seated in a car, because let’s be honest, if they DO ask you to get up, you’re probably not that good a dancer.
I’ve realized I’m the same way with people. You know friend groups? I am the queen of those. Work friends, hanging out at bars and restaurant friends, church friends, friends who like to drink quietly at home and play board games, outrageous outdoor activity friends. The number one rule is all these little sectors must never meet because they really have absolutely nothing in common and the awkward judgmental silences that would ensue would be epic. Which leads me to question, whether or not I have multiple personality disorder or some sort of inexplicable glitch, or maybe we are all like that and we assume that other people aren’t. Maybe the beauty of humanity is in its multifaceted nature, its many colors, its many shapes and forms, its diverse nooks and crannies, and you cease to live, when you narrow down your world to a single corridor and confine yourself to merely existing.
It is undeniable, that unboxing yourself almost always leads to terrific new experiences. It’s the unboxing part that’s usually terrifying. I like making random conversations, in a queue, while waiting for takeaway, at a traffic stop, you never know where it will lead you, and the response is almost always positive and friendly. I don’t know which part of your life is monochromatic, but its not going to take on color because you wished it to. So range and diversity, you sexy beast, I hope you take a central seat in all our lives.
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