The SoundTrak!® Blog | SoundTrak!® The Music Game

Blog 4, November 2023

Giving Back...

By John W.

During the holiday season there are a lot of opportunities to give back, to be generous, help those in need, support a variety of causes, and honor and remember loved ones.

Our families, like many others, have been impacted by cancer and this time of year brings back both sad and happy memories. We remember by sharing stories, laughing, crying and being grateful for the time we had with our loved ones. We miss them.

And there are families and friends that are currently living with the reality of cancer on a daily basis. It’s an emotional time and one that is never far from the surface and consciousness of all impacted and affected by the disease.

SoundTrak!® The Music Game gives back to Cancer Research Institute and to BrainUP. When you purchase a game, we give a portion back to these two great organizations. It supports their efforts in finding a cure, funding research, supporting medical professionals, and providing comfort and encouragement to patients and their families.

Music and games can be a great diversion during challenging times. Buy SoundTrak!®, and give back.

Buy and Support Brain Up

Brain Up!

Buy and Support CRI

CRI

In 1977, Andy, his brother Ben and I piled into a car and took off for Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We had been there several times before with our families. But this was our time, our trip, our fun, our challenge and whatever happened, it was ours. I was 20 years old.

Sitting in the back seat as we left Cincinnati, the song "Strawberry Letter 23" by The Brothers Johnson was playing on WSAI. During the 13 hour drive to Hatteras we would hear it at least 13 more times. And at least that many times or more on the way back as we made a detour and stopped in Gatlinburg. That song is now a great vacation memory song.

Fast forward on another trip to North Carolina to visit UNC for my daughter and we heard Gotye's "Somebody That I used To Know" a whole bunch of times. It's also a great memory.

Music has a way of defining moments, both joyful and painful, in our lives. My brother-in-law loved U2 and it's what he listened to as he battled cancer. Joyfully, the music of Earth, Wind, and Fire has made our family dance, a lot! And then seeing the 1812 Overture played live during a thunder storm with the finale and the cannons and the lightening and thunder and then the rain pouring down, is something I will never forget!

And that's why SoundTrak!® The Music Game is such a great game. Music is universal, timeless, and spans generations. When you pick a card that has the topic "First Song to Rock Your World", or "Love", or favorite classical, rap, country, you can share it with your family and friends. And who knows, what they play and what you play may end up on everyone's play list.

Blog 3, November 2022

Memories and Music

By John Wagner

Music has always been an important part of my life. Some of my first exposures to live music were the free concerts performed annually at Wheaton College in Illinois. Every Fall as a kid I would enjoy heading to the big white concert hall and watch the college students play everything from Bach to popular movie soundtracks.

Growing up, my whole family listened to music constantly. Everything was fair game; the good old ‘50s, Abba in the ‘70s, and who can forget the Bee Gees? Most people who hear I like “older” music are very surprised given my 22 years of age. I think some of the best music has been made in decades past! I like newer music too. I grew up during the rise of contemporary bands like Imagine Dragons and Twenty-One Pilots.

In recent years, country music has become my favorite genre. This has been further supported by my fiancé, who practically only listens to country. I remember the first major country hit that became my favorite song, “Firecracker” by Josh Turner. Since then, I’ve been in love with country music, and the culture surrounding it. I’ve always loved exploring the history behind a particular type of music.

That’s the great thing about SoundTrak!® The Music Game, it allows people to bring their personal taste in music to light and share it with everyone. Sometimes people are surprised what kinds of music their friends and family like! I think two of the best aspects of SoundTrak!® are those moments of laughter and surprise at a song choice, and the shared entertainment the game offers. Here’s to your own SoundTrak!®

Blog 2, November 2022

My Musical Experience

by David Cimbalista

I would call myself a little bit (a lot pending who you ask) of a rebel when it comes to music. Back in the day I listened to Bread so much that I pitched that 8-track right out the car window while rolling down the interstate on a return trip to college. I’d had enough and it was time to move on. The eyes…. only if you were there to see the eyes on me. I then cut my teeth (vocals) on the Blues Brothers movie sound track doing my best to memorize and sing every lyric. Try it, you may find that’s impossible as I did, but had a good time trying. I have to admit a little Cheech and Chong got some airtime. I wrote a short story about the Rolling Stone’s “Start Me Up”…. which didn’t end well for my characters…. too fast.

Never had a vinyl playing stereo until I graduated from college. I bought my first system with bonus money. Do I remember that time? How did I listen to music you ask? On everyone else’s system. I grew up on car radio, car 8-track and car cassette players and not my car. I envied anyone who had a Sony Walkman and a stereo with turntable.

I didn’t own my own car until after college. So, growing up I was totally dependent on other for music. With all those obstacles, I came to love music no less than anyone else. Later, at about 50ish (age), about 25 years after buying my first turntable, I dug it out of storage, fixed the broken belt drive (via online retailer) and wallah! I was back to spinning vinyl. Ten years later, I’m still spinning. The old vinyl back in action, adding new old now classic rock vinyl to the collection and going strong. I call it classic rock on classic vinyl. It’s all about the experience of big art, cleaning a disc, putting on a turntable, cueing it up, and analog with some scratchy back. Crank it!! It is and sounds so good. Everything from Tubes, Stones, Doors, The Who, MJ, Boston, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, Yes, Styx, AC/DC, Al Jarreau, The Clash, B-52s and so many more, oh and Earth, Wind and Fire. I did I say Ohio Players?

And with that background in music, I give you (along with John, co-founder) SoundTrak!® The Music Game. I play to make others laugh and have a good time. It’s all about the experience, the journey through time and music.

Blog 1, November 2022