The Survivor and the Rocker in Me

Excuse me, Marie Osmond. I'm not country but I'm more rock and roll. The Soft rock and roll, still with the head banging and the fist thumping, but no acid hard rock. More Journey and Eagle than Metallica and Kiss. There's actually more spice (and probably repressed rebellion) in me than what you'd expect.

Hey, I'm not always in the mood for Easy Listening; there's always a time and a mood for those melancholic melodies of the Carpenters and Aiza Seguerra.

But sometimes the mood calls for angst-relieving, blood-pumping, hey-what-are-you-looking-at, middle-finger-alternative and stress-reducing songs that are perfect entertainment for a solo drive with my Pilot along the highway. With no one to remind me that I'm out-of-tune.

I love rocking survival songs by women singers. I'm more Kelly Clarkson than soft bubble gum pop Taylor Swift. More Pink than Katie Perry.

Long after the tears had dried, long after the pain had gone, long after I have uncurled myself from a fetal position of feeling sorry for myself, I realize that I am much stronger because I have survived against all odds.

I am a survivor! And if I may say so, I rock!

Somewhere over the rainbow, there's an elf with an armful of my newest Nursing Vignettes book and my friends and co-workers are planning more book-signing events.

Beyond the dark clouds, there are thirty shades of the silver lining.

Behind the curtain, there's my son belting out "Amore" and "L-O-V-E" to a roomful of people who laughed good-naturedly when I blurted out "He's my son."

And at the end of the day, there is hope.



STRONGER- Kelly Clarkson





ROLLING IN THE DEEP- Adele





SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE- Kelly Clarkson- she's just fabulous!! All those angst!





FIGHTER- Christina Aguilera





SO WHAT?- Pink





I WILL SURVIVE- original by Gloria Gaynor, but like this version by Charice which she performed at the 8th Annual Woman's Day Red Dress Award in New York in Feb. 2011.





But there is another song that needs to be included. Lee Ann Womack is a country singer who crossed over to pop with this beautiful song. With the song in full blast, it can also be a rock song.

I HOPE YOU DANCE

PINK

Feeling good with a major decision. Another milestone, another journey. And with this major change in my life, I must have opened myself to new adventures. Change begets a sense of discovery.

Suddenly, I'm liking Pink, that pop-rock diva with the shocking and provocative videos. Gasp! What have become of me? Me of the easy-listening and pop music persuasion have gone over the deep-end? Breaking free from my self-imposed restrictions, I have unleashed my inner rock star.

Then last week, I started humming along with a song about betrayal and resilience. It's about having more fun after being hurt, and riding a slow lawnmower in busy traffic without any cares in this world, and throwing eggs on the ex. Just don't mind the angsty violent expressions; I could have used this anthem of survival about 15 years ago. What a feel-good song this is.

SO WHAT




WHO KNEW

You took my hand. You showed me how. You promised me you'd be around. Uh huh. That's right. I took your words. And I believed. In everything.

Pink wrote about a male friend that she lost to drugs when he was just 14 years old. A life wasted.




GlITTER IN THE AIR - this is a breath-takingly awesome performance at the Grammy awards in 2010. Pink's gymnastic experience was in full display as she mesmerized with her raw and powerful non-auto-tune voice while she dangled precariously up in the air.






Forget the vulgar lyrics, but a common thread in her songs is about being strong and relying on a woman's instinctive nature for survival. Even the most shocking and disturbing parts in her videos are laced with humorous undertones.

She is unique. A true diva. And I am now a fan. No, this is not a middle-life crisis, just a late realization of how amazing Pink is.

Who's next, Lady Gaga?