Music is the universal language. Do you agree?
I love music, and I think this image is such a good reflection of how I feel when I listen to it - all emotions and thoughts and love and hate and fear all mixed up into one loud bar of stirring sound.
It doesn't matter what sort it is; country, piano, rap, popular. If the lyrics and tune make me feel something, then I usually love it.
When I was a kid, I'd have the music I loved, Icehouse or Kenny Rogers or Slim Dusty, up as loud as I could while I was studying. Mum used to tell me off.
'How can you concentrate with that noise going on?' was her favourite saying.
Well, I could back then. Sometimes I hear the music, sometimes I wouldn't, but it would keep me grounded, and I'd feel it.
Funnily enough, I find I say the same things to my kids now - it must have something to do with your age!
In my new book, Where the River Runs, Chelsea's great- granda says: "There is a piece of music for every emotion." I very much believe this.
I've been known to have massive emotional highs and lows while listening to music. Fire and the Flood, Shine, Riptide, Hold Back the River, Raise Your Glass, Beautiful Trauma - all songs which I love and make me feel happy.
Then there's the ones which have so much meaning, and they hurt (depending on your mood) when you listen to them: Style, Silent House, Dress.
I've been known to be on the floor sobbing, listening to Ed Sheeran's Photograph and sending text messages I later wish I hadn't! (Haven't we all done that!)
Then there are the ones which make you feel powerful: Brave, Heroes. Whenever I'm frightened and need a bit of a lift, I listen to these types of songs. Empowerment!
Recently I've discovered a few new alternative types of artists which I'm happy to sit and listen to over and over and over again. Garrett Kato is one and Amy Shark another.
Amy's latest album has certainly grabbed my attention - especially All Loved Up, and I Said Hi.
If you haven't heard them, then take a listen:
and
What's your favourite music or song, and why?
