Earlier this week, I was getting over a cold and ‘wasn’t feeling’ the workout. It was just a little cold, but it was one of the colds that just wouldn’t let go and it dragged on. What does one do when they don’t feel like working out and need a little inspiration? Look for great music. This week, it wasn’t the usual workout tunes or current hip hop music that came to mind. It was the movie soundtracks of Hans Zimmerman. You know him from the music from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Gladiator,” “Rain Man” “Driving Miss Daisy” and “The Last Samurai” just to name a few. I settled on “Pirates of the Caribbean” which you man remember as highly energetic and dramatic. Even if you haven’t seen any of the ‘Pirates” films, you could close your eyes and the music just SOUNDS like pirates, ships and mystery. This music is a favorite for a high energy workout. I put together a workout for the local high school girls swim team a few years back when they hired me to work on core and flexibility during their season. The girls seemed to enjoy the workout and the music which I thought the main theme sounded like the rhythm of good swim stroke. Yes, this was the music to get me going.
Hans Zimmer has won two Academy Awards for music. For “Dune” and “The Lion King.” In addition, he was in the first video to appear on MTV, with the Buggles on “Video Killed the Radio Show.”
Like many people, looking up the artist is fun when I find a Maestro of music or any area. It’s fun to read about the backgrounds and journeys that takes someone to be the top in their field. Most people who take their talent to the highest level didn’t have an easy path. Many times there was hardship. Hans Zimmer lost his father as a young boy and music was his escape. His mother survived World War II as a Jew when her family escaped to London. Hans’s Mom had an interest in music and inspired him. The family moved back to Germany following the war. Hans played in many bands throughout Europe, growing up during the British Wave of the late seventies and early eighties. He made an appearance in the Buggles video, “Video Killed the Radio Show.” From there he collaborated with different conductors From London to Los Angeles, taking his talent, limited formal training which he described in an interview as basically two weeks of piano lessons and made his was to becoming one of the best composers of music scores in the company of John Williams, Alan Silvestri, Ennio Morricone or Danny Elfman.
Admiring, or having an interest in or having respect for another person’s talents can lead to enjoyment on our end. Looking for inspiring music to workout to earlier this week, not only led to an elevated workout, furthermore to music to paint, cook, live life to and looking for more “Hans Zimmer favorites. His version of the William Tell Overture and Kitchen Dreams became new favs to add to my ‘Liked Music”. The William Tell is a piece that everyone knows (think the Lone Ranger theme) and is a good example of Zimmer’s signature touch on a piece of music that everyone knows. “Kitchen Dream” to me sounds like a piece from a Nancy Meyer film (think the set of “Father of the Bride” or “Something’s Gotta Give” a dream kitchen from a home in the Hamptons or coastal California). Yes, all of this enjoyment which all started with a search for some good music to move to…
Reading about “Maestros” can inspire us…
Sooooo, maybe music isn’t your thing. You may like watching sports and have an interest in the “Maestro” of sports. Whether it’s Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Caitlin Clark or Tiger Woods, these standouts in their own fields can inspire us to watch movies/documentaries about their lives, read about them or they may inspire us to take up a new sport or take lessons to improve our performance. Sometimes we may not even need to walk their walk and take up their interest, their standout play may just inspire us to push forward to be OUR best at what we do. I have no interest in playing football, but Tom Brady’s book inspired me to train harder and smarter, to eat better and be more disciplined in my day to day life. Reading about “the greats” gives me an appreciation of the dedication it takes for someone to perform at that level. Of course one must have some natural ability but to take it to the level of greatness takes a level of dedication that few are able to commit to…
Top left, film director Nancy Meyers and some of the incredible sets she has designed.
Reading about those high achievers in life, in the arts, sports, and other areas, can bring a new dimension to our lives. Here’s an example in my life. Nancy Meyers movies are at the top of my list of favorites. To me, she is such a pro at not only creating great movies but movie sets as well. Like mentioned above, she has a gift for creating that very comfortable home that looks straight out of coastal California, the Hamptons or NY city. She has created some of my favorite sets (Parent Trap, The Holiday and the Intern- in addition to those mentioned above). When we were moving into our home in Grand Blanc several years ago, I cut out pictures from magazines and made a board (back before Pinterest) mostly from photos of her movie sets. Nancy Meyers, a “Maestro” in her field, inspired not only our home buy most likely many others to do the same…
As you end your week, consider the “Maestros” who have inspired you. If none come to mind maybe if you are looking for a book to read or a movie to watch this weekend, here you go. Wishing you a great day ahead & a restful and enjoyable weekend ❤️
