When Songs Bring Us Home
Songs have undeniable power. Though we can hear the same song hundreds of times, magic can travel through the lyrics hitting us with new meaning. The songs don’t change, but people do. I think the same can be said for stories. Words written on the page stay the same, but our life experiences shape and mold our responses to them. Musicals, which combine the power of song and story, create an alchemy of emotions that can penetrate deep into the soul. My family recently saw The Wiz performed on a professional stage. For those not familiar, The Wiz is a retelling of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , but with a soulful twist in the context of African American culture. The main characters are easily recognized by fans of the original 1939 movie, but the songs are a combination of R&B, funk, gospel, and disco. In both productions, Dorothy’s deepest desire is to be home. And truly, is there a deeper desire in all of humanity? But for most of us, home is not so e...