what me worry?....music for a fearful flyer
 

please recommend a "happy" cd to be played during the long flight that will take my mind off an unreasonable fear of flying. don't suggest psychiatry, behavior modification or drugs. just give music suggestions. thanks.

I listen to Middle Eastern music on long flights, you don't have to figure out the lyrics and the music is soothing for dozing.

If you are flying around the holidays, one of my favorites to bring with me is the cd from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special.(Vince Guaraldi Trio). It's soothing and makes me happy.

Other than that, I am a child of the 80's, so most of my other stuff is old REM or U2. (also makes me happy!) :)

Johanna

French accordian music is very upbeat. You might also consider listening to "Peter and the Wolf," and perhaps one of the Harry Potter recordings--they're a lot of fun.

I listen to Corelli and Vivaldi. FYI, last month Alitalia would not allow listening to CD's. I've never had that problem on Continental or Air France.

If you're loading music onto an ipod, I'd suggest The Humming Chorus from Madame Butterfly. It's the most calming music I know. I think it would be wonderful for putting a baby to sleep.

hmmm.. well, I always listen to music and like many different genres and do suit them to my mood or the task. There is a difference in soothing music and happy music, and you might do with some of the former (eg, Soraya's "En Esta Noche" would be that for me, she was Colombian; I also find Sarah MacLachlan fairly soothing, etc).

But, for happy music, I like Latin music -- e.g., salsa in general or Cuban musicians, but one example of a good upbeat album compilation is Music from the Coffee Lands on the Putumayo label. I can think of other music that is happy for me (eg, for classical, many of Haydn's string quartets are cheery like several in Opus 76 which is one of my favorites, and Mendolssohn's piano trios are quite cheery), but this is pretty personal.

Might be weird, but I tend to load my CD player or MP3 player with music related to my destination to more immerse myself -- I have a lot of CDs at home as music is an important pastime of mine, so I have a lot of Spanish and French-specific singers and CDs, as well as Cuban and Latin America.

I love Baroque music. "Pachelbel's Canon" and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" are immensely soothing.

For something truly upbeat, try Mana's "Donde Jugaran Los Ninos?" Lots of Reggae-sounding Latin music there that makes me happy.

Two wildly happy songs that I can listen to over and over again are BB Mak's "Out of My Head" (yes, a decidedly uncool, has-been Boy Band) and Counting Crows' "Hard Candy." I adore Counting Crows, but when they're not happy (as with the hit Mr. Jones), they are positively suicidal-sounding.

i'm so excited about your wonderful suggestions....on my way to border's!

When the ride gets bumpy I listen to "Planet Yoga: Music for Yoga, Meditation and Peace". Makes me feel philosophical about it all. (And the wine doesn't hurt either).

http://tinyurl.com/y5pz5z

Here is one of my favorites:

http://www.berbertrading.com/pd_knossos.cfm

Cool website, SeaUrchin.

The best five pounds that I ever spent in my entire life,( I am now approaching 51.But don't tell anyone),was a tape from a health food shop that helped you relax....I had difficulty relaxing at night when I went to bed.....As soon as I heard the man speak there was just something so relaxing as he took you through various things to get your body and mind to relax.....I cannot remember who he was,or anything,but perhaps there is something similar that would have you so relaxed that you would not bother......You would be totally 100% relaxxxxxxxxxxxed !!!!!!!

LAwoman, yes, I love that store! I buy the music, the scents, the lanterns....very relaxing to me.

oh, and some tables too!

Here's a concept CD you can make:

Dr. MaiTai has your prescription. A glas or two of vin rouge and then "On The Threshold of a Dream" CD by the Moody Blues. But remember, I am not a real doctor... I only play one on intercontinental flights.

((H))

I agree completely with Christina
<<Might be weird, but I tend to load my CD player or MP3 player with music related to my destination to more immerse myself -- I have a lot of CDs at home as music is an important pastime of mine, so I have a lot of Spanish and French-specific singers and CDs, as well as Cuban and Latin America.>>
Flying to France? - You can't beat Edith Pilaf - "The Rare Pilaf"

A "happy" CD? I don't know, I've been involved in music practically my entire life, (concert orchestras, jazz groups, in my youth). I listen to everything. Sometimes, I like listening to a good disco CD on the plane-it's energetic, upbeat, I love to dance, and it makes me feel happy.

On the other hand, I have a really good Bossa Nova (Brazilian) and Cuban salsa music CD that I like, and jazz CDs, if I'm in a more mellow mood, and I too, like Middle Eastern music. I actually like quite a bit of rap music for the beat-so there you go-a little of everything except classical music on the plane (but one of the reasons I go to Europe is so that I CAN go to good classical music concerts).

I have had to have MRIs from time to time-long ones-like, over an hour and a half, with IVs running through me, and a plate-like device on top of me. If you've never been enclosed in an MRI tube before, and particularly, if you have stints of mild claustrophobia, as I do, this can be a panicky, stressful experience. For that reason, they give you headphones to communicate with you, but, you get to pick a music station that will help to relax you, take your mind off things, and make you feel happy. I always choose a "golden oldies" station because the songs remind me of certain events that will take my mind off what is happening to me at the present-as you cannot, under any condition open your eyes in that thing, or you WILL freak out).

Personally, I like New Age stuff on the plane. One of my favorites is Japan's Kitaro. Relaxing, but not boring.

Edith Pilaf? Is that some sort of French rice dish? ;)

I think you probably mean Piaf - but I wouldn't find most of her heart-wrenching torch songs particularly happy.

we don't know where willis is going as I could suggest happy music for France versus Spain, etc.
however,
<<Flying to France? - You can't beat Edith Pilaf - "The Rare Pilaf">>

Is this a joke? I could see it might be a joke album because of that name, although I've not heard of it and it could be really funny if it's a takeoff on Edith Piaf. If it is really a suggestion for Edith Piaf -- well, that is definitely not what I would suggest to put one in a happy, careful mood. geez... music to get depressed by or jump out the window is more what it is. I don't really like Piaf, I'll admit, although I do like some of the songs she sang when sung by others. I wouldn't call it happy happy music, but I like Maxime le Forestier a lot, and don't consider him depressing. I also like French Canadian signers like the McGarrigle Sisters.

I did think of a group that always puts me in a happy mood -- Pink Martini. Both their albums are good (although I think I prefer Hang On Little Tomato) and have French, Spanish and other world music.

SeaUrchin,

Thank you SO much for posting the store website!! I really love that kind of decor etc., and will be going broke soon...!

willis,

I empathize because I travel a lot and also have an unreasonable fear of flying. Cognac and Aretha Franklin do the trick for me!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Bergerac VSOP!

(Sock it to me...)

Ha, yes, Weadles, I love it too, especially when mixed with the unexpected.

Thanks for the laugh, Robespierre!

And to SeaUrchin: Thanks again for the link to that fabulous store and for your wonderful postings about one of the places that keeps getting me on the plane- the Amalfi Coast.

this is so much fun....fear of flying has been replaced by a music search.

I finally kicked the fear of flying, only by flying often so it became boring and tiring to waste time being afraid on every darn flight!!

I also listen to Norah Jones, her voice is so soothing and Come Away With Me fits the scene when you are on a plane on the way to someplace new.

http://www.bluenote.com/detail.asp?SelectionID=10114

Good Luck and Have Fun willis

Brian Setzer Orchestra Live in Tokyo (CD and DVD). I am not a happy transatlantic flyer but listening to this kept me upbeat even through Greenland turbulence.

I'm a bad flyer, so I usually load my iPod with party music. When I listen to classical music, my imagination sort of runs away with me, whereas it's hard to dwell on worst-case scenarios when you're listening to ABBA and Justin Timberlake!

I'm with Christina-- listening to music that evokes images of my destination make me happy. Like listening to Andrea Boccelli on my iPod, while en route to Italy. And now that I'm home, his music has so much more meaning.
:)>-

Qantas is playing the movie, "World Trade Center," during December. But if you would rather listen to music, how about some Lite Jazz?

Benise should definitely be high on your list ... Instrumental, spanish guitar, cuban and brazillian music. It's HOT, as is Roni Benise. Nights of Fire would be great to listen to, in the air, on the ground, anywhere. It's already loaded into my MP3 player ... The DVD of the Nights of Fire show is great too ... sizzling hot!!

Denice

The music of Tim Janis is some of my favorite relaxing plane music to listen to...

http://www.timjanis.com/index.cgi?PAGE=store.html

December Morning is one of my favorite cds--it is relaxing and uplifting.

Try this, it'll certainly make you happy:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2006550501,00.html

Pink Floyd. Dark Side of the Moon. You can listen to it about 10 times on a transAtlantic trip.