I am an avid viewer of the ancestry research program – the “Who Do You Think You Are?” » from the BBC.
I love delving into people’s stories, it’s fascinating and the best way to discover what motivates us.
We are all a composite of the experiences of our ancestors and the way they lived their lives. We are always connected and share certain traits and characteristics embedded in our DNA. The desire to perform, to be an intrepid explorer, humanitarian objectives: do we inherit the gene from our grandparents?
What drove this romantic nostalgia, you ask? The latest installment in the film franchise “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” is in general release. The heroine, Voula, was born and raised in the inner city of Chicago, USA, and her entire life is primarily conscious of her Greek heritage. His parents have a ghetto mentality. Growing up with other third-generation children, she was raised around Greek cuisine and customs. She is encouraged to find a spouse with a similar background, but breaks the mold and settles down with a nice WASP man. Her family is relieved that she is “no longer on the shelf.” It’s a comedy in case you were wondering. The characters all have a zest for life. Gatherings to celebrate life’s milestones involve exuberant music and dancing.
The curiosity to discover what drove her ancestors to leave everything behind and start again is overwhelming for Voula. They were essentially taking a leap of faith into the unknown, leaving civil unrest and poverty behind. Even limited marriage opportunities would tempt women to travel abroad to marry a foreigner. A whole generation thought it was better to die than not to marry. The courage of her ancestors has brought her to a place where she is free to make life choices. The Voula pilgrimage is a journey of discovery – immediate and distant relatives are met, and of course it is a time for celebration – much enthusiastic festivities ensue with music and dancing.
There is nothing new under the sun in art, music, design.
Our musical heroes and rock elder statesmen, in particular, explained that their formative years were spent listening to black American music – the blues – imported from the United States. They were eagerly awaiting the arrival of vinyl in the UK and listening to their heroes Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and absorbing all the music like litmus paper. The British music scene hadn’t evolved enough to excite them, sorry Sir Cliff. Sir Paul McCartney regularly cites Buddy Holly as an inspiration for the teenage Paul.
We are allowed to choose. What’s admirable is that the aforementioned artists are not being arrogant in claiming that it is their vivid imagination and inventiveness that has elevated them to icon status. They give credit where credit is due. Creativity does not flourish in a vacuum.
Music and dance are an integral part of our lives. Look at the popularity of the program “Strictly Come Dancing”. I leave my case. Each nationality, each belief has its own musical culture. A common thread that runs through migration and displacement is that people find comfort in retaining their music and customs, a permanent reminder of their origins. This identifies us.
Popular culture is one piece of the puzzle that is world music. We are so lucky that Guglielmo Marconi invented the radio. From humble beginnings, today we are reaping the benefits of communication in the digital and sophisticated age. We have a multitude of stations to choose from and listen to wherever we are in the wide world.
Torbay Hospital Radio celebrates all genres of music. Our presenters play an eclectic mix of music. Everything is permitted and can be requested. Our listeners can enjoy the spirit of each show by tuning into 95.9 FM, listen online at https://torbayhospitalradio,com/listenlive/ or simply tell your smart speaker to “play Torbay Hospital radio”.
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