'What makes us all tick as human beings?'

I enjoy delving into people’s back story, it’s fascinating and the best way of finding out what makes us tick.
We are all a composite of our ancestor's experiences and the way they led their lives. We are still connected and share certain traits and characteristics that are ingrained in our DNA. The desire to perform, to be an intrepid explorer, humanitarian goals – do we inherit the gene from our grandparents?
What has prompted this romantic nostalgia you may ask? The last in the film franchise ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3’ is on general release. The heroine, Voula, is born and raised in downtown Chicago, USA, and all her life is made aware of her Greek heritage first and foremost. Her parents have a ghetto mentality. Growing up with other third generation kids she is raised on Greek cuisine and customs. She is encouraged to find a spouse with a similar background but breaks the mould and settles down with a nice WASP man. Her family are relieved that she is ‘no longer on the shelf.’ It’s a comedy in case you are wondering. The characters all have a zest for life. Gatherings to celebrate life’s landmarks involve music and exuberant dancing.
The curiosity to find out what prompted her forebearers to leave everything and everyone behind and start anew is overwhelming to Voula. They were essentially taking a leap of faith into the unknown, leaving behind civil unrest, poverty. Even limited marriage opportunities would spur women to travel overseas to marry a stranger. A whole generation thought they were better off dead than not wed. Her forebearers courage has brought her to a place where she is free to make life choices. Voula’s pilgrimage is a voyage of discovery - immediate and distant relatives are met, and of course it’s a chance to celebrate – much enthusiastic revelry ensues with music and dancing.
There is nothing new under the sun in art, music, design.
Our musical heroes and elder statesmen of rock, in particular articulated that their formative years were spent listening to black American music – the blues - imported from the States. They eagerly awaited vinyl to arrive in the UK and listened to their heroes Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and absorbed all the music like litmus paper. The British music scene hadn’t evolved sufficiently to excite them, sorry Sir Cliff. Sir Paul McCartney regularly cites Buddy Holly as an inspiration to the teenage Paul.
We are allowed to cherry pick.What is admirable is that the aforementioned artistes are not arrogant to claim it was their own vivid imagination and inventiveness that elevated them to their iconic status. They give credit where it’s due. Creativity doesn’t flourish in a vacuum.
Music and dancing are an integral part of our lives. Observe the popularity of the programme ‘Strictly Come Dancing.’ I rest my case. Every nationality, every creed has its own music culture. A common thread that runs through migration and displacement is that people find comfort in retaining their music and customs, a permanent reminder of their origins. It identifies us.
Popular culture is a piece of a jigsaw that is world music. We are so fortunate that Guglielmo Marconi invented the radio. From humble beginnings we are now reaping the benefits of communication in a digital, sophisticated age. We have a raft of stations to choose from and listen to wherever we find ourselves in the big, wide world.
Torbay Hospital Radio celebrates all genres of music. Our broadcasters play an eclectic mix of music. Anything goes and can be requested. Our listeners can appreciate the thought that goes into each show by tuning in to 95.9FM, listen online at https://torbayhospitalradio,com/listenlive/ or just tell your smart speaker to 'play Torbay Hospital Radio'.