The Soundtrack of Your Life

It’s a kind of companion that follows us in the car, at work, in public places, sometimes even in the shower. It’s a friend that stays with us through the good times and the bad. Music comforts us, soothes us, makes us feel good.

What I like about music is that it manages to evoke a whole range of emotions, and those emotions can be completely different from one person to another. It can be both stimulating and soothing. Think of the music that plays during meditation sessions. It’s more than just an accessory—it’s a key part of the relaxation process. Even on the Titanic, the musicians kept playing as the ship sank so that people wouldn’t panic.

Of course, music is also at the heart of our favourite songs. The songs we dance to, the ones that speak to us, the ones that make us smile or even cry. Songs that take us back to a moment, songs that make us lose ourselves in our memories. There are the “guilty pleasure” songs that never fail to make us hum along, and the songs we wish we’d written. Without all of these songs, life simply wouldn’t be the same.

The reason I talk about music so passionately is that, as you can imagine, it’s an important part of my life. My father was a director for Jeunesse d’aujourd’hui, so he used to bring home the records that had just been released. I have to admit, René Simard’s were my favourite (laughs)! In a way, I fell in love with René because of music. Music brought us together. When I was very young, I asked to accompany my father on the set of Jeunesse d’aujourd’hui so I could listen to René sing. Later, music started taking up more space in my life. It became a real passion.

Even today, when I hear the song L’oiseau, I feel a wave of emotions. This song, which I associate with our first meeting, will remain forever etched in my memory. I think I’ll always be touched by his sensitivity. I’m not the only one; over the years, so many people have written us to say that this song changed everything for them. Some have even said it saved their lives. That’s the power of music.

Despite our love of music, our children’s deafness means that we keep things fairly quiet so that they can understand better. I would even say that they made us appreciate silence more. We’ve always tried to draw their attention to the visual parts of entertainment.

Often, when it comes to raising awareness about the importance of hearing health, people are told to take care of their hearing so they can stay active and lead normal lives. But you also have to think about the little everyday pleasures. Things like listening to your favourite song in the car or plunging into a dark and suspenseful atmosphere during a movie are less accessible to people with hearing loss.

Next time you listen to a song that makes you feel good, think of those who aren’t lucky enough to be able to hear it. Take a moment to ask yourself what your life would be like without music. That is one of the reasons why I encourage you to take care of your hearing.

That said, keep listening to and enjoying your favourite music... just not too loud (laughs)!

All my love,