I love music. I especially love Christmas music. But since I shuffle all my music much of the time on my iPod, I decided last year it would be a good idea to have a nano just for Christmas music. I took that thought a bit further and gave my twin sister and two best friends a nano filled with over 800 songs. This year, I had to re-sync last year’s gifts to add Michael Buble’s new CD and a few others. I also gave a new nano to my other sister and another friend. We’re all LOVING Christmas music this year and I think this may be the best gift I have ever given. I’ll continue to give a new nano each year until everyone I know who will enjoy this has one !!

I was in hospital with my son of nine months who had bronchitis at the time. He was unable to breathe properly and had to be on oxygen. I felt helpless as any Mother or Father would. Then Micheal Buble’s ‘Home’ came on the radio. I just melted. This song had touched me before when I was at university, but never this strongly. I had to go into the loo as I didn’t want my son to see me cry. Then I just prayed and prayed that we would will be able to take him home early. Then the doctors told us that he would be in for a week or more depending how quickly he responses to treatment. He recovered in three days. We were able to take him home and that’s when I just had to play some more Michael Buble to make me smile.

I’d just like to take a moment to thank the new generation of vinylheads.

As a small independent record shop, I find it quite fulfilling to see the number of vinyl enthusiasts growing. Perhaps it is a bias, due to all this grey hair but I find it very refreshing to have twentysomethings asking me for Tom Waits, Pink Floyd, Otis Redding, Patsy Cline and Miles Davis… instead of something like Snoop Dog. Don’t get me wrong, to each their own… but the musical taste of the new young vinylhead is excellent.

Again, perhaps I’m a bit biased as a guitarist and record collector since the early 70s, but the new vinylheads remind me of the old days.

Not all. Some are ebay value collectors. Again… to each their own… but we tend to focus on the music lover in our small indie record shop. We don’t even have an ePray account at Vinylville Record Shop Our local clientele are who we’re loyal to. That is our business plan and mission statement from day one.

Please consider supporting small family owned businesses this Christmas.

It is important. It helps the economy in your region.

Thanks to all and Happy Holidays. The value is in the grooves.

Vic
Vinylville Records & Concert Poster Shop
Lafayette, LA 70507

If you like our mission statement, stop by…

http://www.facebook.com/VinylvilleRecords

http://vinylville.webs.com/

The Temptations kept me riveted to the radio speaker as I shifted in my seat to the beat of their enchanting tunes. The message was clear, the music crisp and easily made one second that emotion. Even today, that memory resounds a mellow and endearing echo.

From the first time I heard my mom play her Jean Pierre Rampal CD, I knew that I wanted to play the flute. Now, 10 years later, I am still experiencing the beauty daily as a music major at Seton Hill University in Western Pennsylvania. Music has benefited me in so many ways, from the way that I think to the way I address situations. I cannot imagine myself without such splendor. Not only do I enjoy being the performer, I also especially respect those performing for me. Michael Buble is my favorite musician, and his love for music is so inspiring.

I am a speech-language pathologist in a school system. My job is to teach children with various disabilities to communicate. For 13 years, I have have been proud of many success stories with teaching my students but nothing is more inspiring and humbling than when the child ends up teaching me. While my life has been blessed by having the privilege to work with many wonderful children in my career, this story is about one particular gift from God. I have worked with this child in the summer program providing speech therapy for the past 3 years.  He is now 7. When he came into this world, he was given little hope to talk or progress in many areas of development. He has made me think outside the box more than any other student in my career. Why? Well, he was born with multiple disabilities including being blind. Now, think about that … no sight. How do you learn the world you live in, if you can’t see it? This comes as a particular challenge to a speech therapist who is used to showing children pictures or objects to teach vocabulary  and using visual cues to teach speech sounds. How do I teach a child the concept of colors if he can’t see them? How do you teach farm animals without the actual animals? Art projects…do you think this means anything to this child? All the preschool concepts that we are used to teaching … what do they mean to a child with cognitive impairments as well as being blind. This child has a great strength though … since he can’t see, God blessed him with great auditory memory and a great ear for music. He loves music and will do anything to hear it. He sings and rocks to the beat and he knows what he likes and will definitely express his favorites! As a therapist, I decided to expand on his strengths and use  his highest motivator to teach speech and language skills.  I downloaded several ring tones on my phone and started experimenting. Thank goodness, he loved country music! Now, I can actually enjoy his reward as well!  First, I used the music simply as a reward. First you do this work, then you can hear part of a song. I quickly realized that I could use the music itself to teach concepts. Do you know how hard it is for a 4 year old with disabilities to say Lady Antebellum?? He did it though. Why? Cause he wanted to hear their music and he had to ask me for it to get it. I even taught him to articulate a “V” with their song “Lub don’t lib here anymore”.  He learned to put sentences together, answer questions, request items, and the concept of waiting by using nothing more than some country music songs. Concepts such as more, whole, different, and same can all be incorporated into requesting some good ole country music. As a therapist, I just had to learn to think differently.  I learned that my kiddo is a typical Kindergartner when he giggled at Thompson Square’s song, “Are you gonna Kiss me or Not?” and put so much energy into Aldean’s lyrics … “To be a star you gotta bang, bang, bang!” But one day, he really tugged at the heart strings when he came into therapy requesting “a song for my mommy”. We had been working off the same playlist of songs and I had no idea what he was talking about but he was very persistent in what he wanted. I went through some songs and at each song that I came to that was not “song for my mommy”, he got more upset. I finally found it and he excitedly said, “song for my mommy!”  We had learned the names of most songs and the Artists but this song was one of my newer downloads so I guess he didn’t know the name but Wow, did he know what he wanted! “Song for my Mommy” was by Lady Antebellum but you may know it better as “Someday you Will.” I immediately got tears in my eyes when I heard this precious child singing the lyrics knowing he was “singing this to his mommy”. Did this child whom professionals said wouldn’t progress, actually know what he was singing? If you have ever known a family of a child with disabilities, you know the struggles they deal with everyday. They lose hope; they have heartache; and they just want to feel peace in their life. In my heart, I know he was giving his mom and myself a message by telling her…” But down the road the sun is shining, in every cloud there’s a silver lining… just keep holding on…and every heartache makes you stronger but it won’t be much longer, you’ll find love, you’ll find peace and the you you’re meant to be … I know right now that’s not the way you feel, but one day you will…” Thank you to the music industry for giving all of us the words to express how we feel when we just can’t formulate the thoughts on our own. I know by the tears streaming down my student’s mother’s face that she appreciates you! This was a message from her son that she could not have received any other way than through your music. For this, we all thank you. (This entry won first prize in the “Countdown To CMA” essay contest. As the winner, Jennifer received 2 tickets to the 2011 CMA Awards show and a $1000 cash prize.)

Almost 5 years ago, I was faced with a nightmare. My 5-year-old, precious angel was the victim of an aggravated sexual assault. My sweet innocent baby was broken and devestated. All I could do was love her, take her to counseling, and watch her work through it. It was during this time that a close friend gave her a CD of a young performer by the name of “Taylor Swift.” At the time, my daughter was unable to pronounce the letter T, so she was known around our house as “Taylor Swiss.” That CD and the person that is Taylor Swft became my daughter’s constant source of strength. One evening while at dinner at a local Pizza Hut that happened to be having karaoke, my little girl got up to sing “Tim McGraw.” I didn’t know if she sang it right or not, but it was beautiful and I admired how brave it was to get up in front of the people and do it. Taylor’s music was her safety net, her musical therapy, and a source of strength. She told me once that because Taylor was strong, she would be strong and because Taylor could sing, then she would sing. I owe a huge debt of graditude to this beautiful young performer. Because of her songs and her spirit my child that was broken and scared is now strong and fearless. (This entry receive second prize in the “Countdown To CMA” essay contest.)

Carrie Underwood has been an inspiration to me ever since I can remember. I was born with autism and have had to struggle with its complications all of my life. I have been hurt by so many people that have judged me. They don’t understand that I am really just a person. I always look to music to help me when I am upset. Carrie Underwood’s song “Temporary Home” has been a huge inspiration to me. I realize that these feelings of hurt are just temporary and I need to do the best I can with the gifts God has given me. I have grown to realize that autism is a gift and I need to use that to help others with autism get through what I have gone through. I work at a school that is just for kids with autism now. I hope to soon open my own place to help kids use music to help them through their everyday struggles. Thanks to Carrie Underwood and “Temporary Home,” I have been inspired to dedicate my life to these kids.  I go to work with a smile on my face every day and pour 100% into these kids because the deserve the best just like anyone else. (This entry tied for third prize in the “Countdown To CMA” essay contest.)

I love my husband dearly, and he is such an inspiration of mine. He is a down-home country boy that was raised in the south with that good ol’ country charm. He is self-employed and works so hard for myself and our family. The man I fell in love with back in 2002 continues to make me feel weak in the knees. My husband and I have always listened to Blake Shelton’s music all through the years. It seems as if so many of Blake’s songs have created a smile between my husband and I. Whether it be because the songs reminds us of one another or if it just reminds of us of our everyday country lives, Blake’s songs has always hit right at home. Through the years whether we were listening to “Austin,” “In My Heaven,” “Some Beach,” “Nobody But Me,” “Don’t Make Me,” “Country Song,” “Hillbilly Bone,” “Honey Bee,” or “God Gave Me You,” Blake has always showed us passion, depth of romance, celebration of family and friends, and overall just to have fun! Blake has become one of the biggest voices and faces in Country now, but yet he still seems to be such a good ol’ country boy, just as my husband. Blake continues to express that he is still learning, growing, and reaching for success and this hits home with my family and I. No matter how much success and growth you feel as you have conquered, you can always do more! I would love to have the opportunity to come to the CMA Awards in November 2011 in Nashville, TN. By displaying how Blake Shelton has been an inspiration to my husband and I and to win tickets would be an awesome blessing. How spectacular it would be to give a gift such as that to my husband who has always been an inspiration to me. (This entry tied for third prize in the “Countdown To CMA” essay contest.)

Cramped on a bus only several hours into a 20 hour long drive, with a dead mp3 player, and a serious case of insomnia, I was thrilled to finally see the driver pulling in to rest stop. I needed to find a source of music to keep me sane through the rest of the unending drive to Camp Hope, a base for volunteers working to help rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I bought a mini radio and headphones and boarded the bus again, this time seeking solace in the music. I was honestly a bit disappointed though because I’d failed to consider that the rural south we were driving through might not have the same diversity of music stations I was used to at home near a big city. Station after station played Country and frankly, I wasn’t a fan at the time. That trip changed my life, expanded my taste in music, and gave me a new source of hope and inspiration: Carrie Underwood. During that trip, I met some inspiring Katrina survivors and helped rebuild houses for families who lost everything. One of these families literally survived by clinging to each on their roof singing hymns through the storm as their house floated through the flooding, a story reflected so well in “Jesus Take the Wheel.” Still, this family was so hopeful, thankful, and positive. I first heard Carrie’s music on the bus ride at about 2 AM probably somewhere in the middle of Tennessee and I immediately bought her album, the first country one I ever owned, when I returned home. Her music not only takes me back to that moment, but her inspiring messages seem to perfectly capture the spirit of the people in New Orleans. Songs like “Change” and “So Small” always remind me what really matters in life while “Crazy Dreams,” “Lessons Learned,” and “Temporary Home” speak of a hope for the future despite trying times and difficult obstacles. Through her music and lyrics, Carrie Underwood, inspires me to keep the lessons I learned in New Orleans- about strength, hope, optimism, and perseverance – close to my heart every time I hit play. (This story was chosen as a finalist of Give The Gift Of Music’s “Countdown To CMA” essay contest.)

The reality is … Taylor Swift touches more lives that just those of junior high girls. As a 40-year-old, father of two, I can honestly say that real men listen to Taylor Swift. In the summer of 2005, my wife and I (an engineer and a nurse) left our careers in order to pursue a passion. A passion to provide world-class, heart-felt birthday parties to families and children in our area. In 2006, our dream became reality as we began construction of our indoor party facility. The day we broke ground was one of the best days of my life. Then life hit … and it hit hard. Within weeks, our cousin’s husband passed away from cancer at the age of 39. One year later, our cousin (his wife) was killed in a house fire, leaving their two young children orphaned.  Four weeks before our grand opening, my mother died from cancer. Throw in an autistic son, a devastating crash on Wall Street, our local economy going down the drain … there may not have been a worse time ever to drop everything and open a business. Three years passed, falling deeper into debt and struggling to find any happiness. That fall, a business associate gave me a pair of tickets to take my 6-year-old son to go see some young Country artist …Taylor Swift. Truly a life changing experience. This young star put on a show that was loved by kids, parents, grandparents and everyone in between. Since that concert, I have learned a lot about Taylor. Her story is amazing, her lyrics are inspiring and most of all, as a parent, I encourage my children to look up to her. Her music has brought our family back together. It helped us get through a stretch in our lives where happiness was not easy to find . When my kids look back on those years, they will never even know the pain the family endured. Jump to today … the business is thriving. The pain from the losses of family has eased and the entire family made it through. I truly don’t know how I could have managed had it not been for the words and the inspiration coming from a self-made superstar half my own age. Many people have gifts, but few use those talents and gifts to truly make the world a better place to live. From a Chaperone Dad turned Humbled Fan…”Thank You!” (This story was chosen as a finalist of Give The Gift Of Music’s “Countdown To CMA” essay contest.)

The well-known song “Speak Now” by Country, Pop artist Taylor Swift has moved me in so many ways. Not only the song has moved me, but the lyrics as well. Taylor herself has been such an inspiration to me for 4 years now. She’s been with me through it all — break ups, family fights, best friend problems, and over all problems within myself that I wouldn’t have been able to solve with all the weight I carried on my shoulders. One song in particularly spoke to me the most, and that was “Speak Now.” I have always kept everything to myself, not wanting to stir up commotion if I wanted to say something to someone, or had an opinion, I wouldn’t say anything at all. Furthermore in school I over saw a kid being bullied. I was very frightened at the sight of it and didn’t know what to do. I went home that night and prayed, and I heard God saying to me, “You should’ve spoke now.” Keeping this concern to myself, afraid of being bullied, I kept quiet.. The next day after my cheerleading practice, I witnessed it again. The lyrics from “I hear the preacher say, speak now or forever hold your peace” came into my head, and God was the preacher. I knew what I had to do. So, “There’s a silence, there’s my last chance, I stand up with shaking hands, all eyes on me.” I walked straight up to him and said if he didn’t stop I’d report him and drive him straight out of this school. He hurriedly left the scene leaving the poor girl sitting in tears. I comforted her and told her I was here for her. She and I are now best friends. She was being bullied and abused by her boyfriend. She talked to her parents and counselors and that boy was never seen in our halls again. Taylor Swift made a huge impact on not only my life, but saved my best friends. I couldn’t thank her enough. (This story was chosen as a finalist of Give The Gift Of Music’s “Countdown To CMA” essay contest.)

The CMA Awards nominee that inspired me and still inspires me is Taylor Swift. While all of her songs inspire me, one in particular stuck out most of all. Taylor’s song “Mean” has particular meaning to me. Last year I went through a really rough time … I had broken up with this guy, who as it turned out had been lying to me about everything. Where he came from, his life, work, and countless other things. We have a child together and at the time our son was only 5 months old. This guy had gotten physical with me a couple times, each time worse than the last. I finally gathered up the courage and left him. After that he went completely off the deep end. Stalking me, waiting outside my house in the bushes for me to get home and assaulting me, as well as threatening my friends and family. I decided that I needed to take steps to protect myself and Brody. I filed for a restraining order for myself and asked for sole custody with no visiting rights. I was walked all over in court and he ended up getting our son a couple nights a week. I was absolutely devastated, he was still calling me, threatening me …I was constantly looking over my shoulder. I got smart and lawyered up. The next time we were in court, I remember I was so nervous that day. I couldn’t eat anything. I was shaking. I was so flustered that I would have to testify again him. In family court, they make everyone sit in the hallway before court begins and I was there alone waiting for my dad when he walked in with a friend of his. He came up and said some mean things, put me down like he usually does. I walked away from him and sat down on a bench right next to court door. He stayed a little ways down the hallway, but he was pacing and glaring at me the whole time. I couldn’t make out much of what he was saying but I could tell he wasn’t happy. Now I was really upset and I still had a good 20 minutes or so before court began. So I reached in my bag and I pulled out my little pink ipod. Taylor’s  ”Sparks Fly” had just dropped and I hadn’t gotten a chance to listen to it all. The first song that comes up on my shuffle is “Mean.” It fit the mood so perfectly that I can’t even describe the feeling of hearing that song at that exact moment. I just kept hitting repeat over and over and over again until I was mouthing the words as I glanced over at my ex. That day in court,  they took away all of his custody and restrained him from seeing or contacting myself or our son. With the freedom that day granted me, I worked my but off as a single mother to get to a place where he could never touch me again. And today I have a beautiful 20 month old son, an absolutely amazing boyfriend, an adorable little house and a crazy dog. I work full time at a child care center that cares for special needs children and I am graduating college next semester. I feel like I’m on top of the world and I am no longer looking over my should and I never will again because all he will ever be is mean. (This story was chosen as a finalist of Give The Gift Of Music’s “Countdown To CMA” essay contest.)

Martina McBride and her song “Im Gonna Love You Through It” has got to be the most moving song and video ever.  Especially for me because I am just now starting the road to being a cancer survivor.  September of 2010, just 1 year ago, I found out that I had Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma Endometrial cancer.  If it had not been for all the support I received from my family and friends, I do not believe I would have made it.  Her song comes just as I start my trip to be a “cancer survivor” and I know that “they will love me thru it.”  Martina’s songs have spoke of many good things. but this one is really special to me. In my heart, I believe that she sang this song just for “me.” She has given me the gift of music. I know there are many more people out there, just this year alone, that will make this song “their” song and they too will accept the gift of music that Martina has given.  Thank You Martina from me, my supporters, and a ton of survivors! (This story was chosen as a finalist of Give The Gift Of Music’s “Countdown To CMA” essay contest.)

Have you ever had to witness your world crumble up and disappear right before your eyes? Have you ever been a part of something so heartbreaking you didn’t know if you could get through another day? Have you ever lost your best friend, hero, and role model all at one time? That was me when I had to watch my mom suffer for months and die in a hospital bed right in front of me. I didn’t know where to go from there or what to do, I felt hopeless, helpless, and alone. The one and only thing that gave me comfort for months, was one of the 2011 CMA Award nominees- Rascal Flatts. I can’t even fully explain how their music has completely changed my world around. I don’t even know where I would be without their ‘Me and My Gang’ album in my life. ‘What Hurts the Most’ that was becoming popular when my mom was in the hospital and I heard every day on the way to and from the hospital. After seeing the music video, it helped me realize that death can happen very unexpectedly, and at least I had the opportunity to say goodbye to my mom. ‘Stand’ was the song that I listened to constantly. I would sit in my room alone, in the dark, and listen to it over and over. It’s what finally gave the courage to stand up and embrace life with all that I have, despite the sadness and obstacles I have faced. And then I fully realized what ‘My Wish’ means to me. It’s the words that I truly believe my mom is saying to me up in heaven. It’s the hopes, dreams, and wishes she has for me and my life. And whenever I hear it, I can’t help but think of her and smile. Since this experience, Rascal Flatts has become my idol. Every one of their songs and lyrics can speak to me in personal ways that bring comfort to my life. And being raised the way I was, I feel as though it’s my duty to find a way to express to them how much they have changed my life. They not only influence it, but everyday (much like their song) they save my life. (This story was chosen as a finalist of Give The Gift Of Music’s “Countdown To CMA” essay contest.)

I was in a car accident in August 2 months ago. It was so scary because my mom was just driving along
until bam! A car blew a stop sign and hit us. They totaled our car and we had to get a new one. Taylor Swift’s Speak Now album has helped me in so
many ways to get through this tough time.

In third grade, I used to go into my sister’s room take one of her CDs and play it. One day I just so happened to stumble upon Taylor Swift’s first album. I then proceeded to memorize every single song by listening to it over and over. This was just the start of my love of Taylor Swift.

When I was young, I loved to listen music like Rock, love stories, R&B, and etc.. but since I started listening to Taylor Swift, I have been so inspired by her. She makes my life enchanted. She inspires me a lot when I’m alone. I’m so disappointed when she has a concert here in the Philippines and I didn’t get a tickets.

About, in fourth grade, EVERYONE was listening to Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, and Rap. I was listening it to and all thinking that all the cool kids listened to this because OBVIOUSLY they did. In fifth grade, my friend Belle introduced me to this crazy Japanese song and I was like “OH MY GOD. I NEED MORE!!” So, I looked it up and stuff and I was IN LOVE with the singer Len Kagamine. Now, my favorite singers are Kagamine Len, Hatsune Miku, and KAITO. J-pop and J-rock inspire me and I LOVE how I can relate to some VOCALOID songs.

My husband and I had been married for four years and we never had a special song that we could call ours until one day we were going shopping, and low and behold. Taylor Swift was singing “Our Song”. We both looked at each other at the same time and my husband said, “How did she know us.” We did not know her name, but we did not take long to find out. Everything she sings in the song pertained to us when we were dating. Thank You Taylor, it us because of you we now have “our song ” after forty years

.