The following is an excerpt from the Special Olympics website

"Through bold innovation and enormous generosity, the record industry has made beautiful music for Special Olympics athletes since 1987. The benefit recording series has become the largest financial source in Special Olympics' history, enabling the organization to respond with hope in areas around the world where people... with intellectual disabilities are still perceived as less than worthy, less than capable, even less than human.

The founding idea for the A Very Special Christmas series came from producer Jimmy Iovine as a way to memorialize his father, who had passed away during the holiday season. Iovine’s wife, Vicki, suggested the record benefit Special Olympics, the organization for which she was working as a volunteer. Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the “A” and “M” of the albums’ label, A&M Records, along with Bobby Shriver, made the first album possible.

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I can sing along word for word with a song I haven’t heard in 5 or 10 years, but I can’t recite the state capitals or even all the presidents.   Had I learned them to a melody, would I recall them better?

So why do we remember the lyrics so long after the song was first released.  Is it the cumulative, repetative effect of listening to the same thing throughout the years?   Is it the emotional connection you might have with a particular song?  Is the music the trigger; and if so would you remember the words without the music. 

Sounds like a good science experiment to me!  Based on how old an experiment participant is, pick some songs that they would have likely heard long ago and see how well they recall first off the lyrics alone, and secondly the lyrics with the added benefit of playing the music. 

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From Chris Richards, Washington Post, regarding release of Tim McGraw's "Southern Voice" 10/20/2009: But McGraw's saddest tale is undoubtedly the album's best cut. "Mr. Whoever You Are" is an emotive waltz starring a young woman who dances her nights away at the local drinking hole.... The song never actually mentions her loneliness, but McGraw's somber tones make it feel positively soul-crushing.

 

 

Sean McConnell the son of one of my FB friends,  wrote "Mr. Whoever You Are".    He also wrote "Lets Just Fall In Love Again" released on Jason Castro's debut album. 

 

 

In addition to writing, Sean,24, is an accomplished musician in his own right.  He lives and

 works in Nashville, Tennessee.  Be sure to check him out on facebook, myspace, purevolume  and (last but not least) http://www.myspace.com/seanmcconnell.   Think I'm gonna go buy McGraw and Castro's albums now!!

 

 

 

 

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