As I've spent the entire week listening to a Huey Lewis and the News CD in my car all week, I've come to a realization. Nearly all of the music artists that I have come to rank as my favorites over the past three years were all artists I had previously listened to without taking a liking to them. Now, it is almost impossible for me to imagine being unable to appreciate artists such as Stevie Nicks, the Eagles, and Carly Simon, but not so long ago, I listened to the songs passively, not taking in the meaning behind the song or the careful instrumentation that comprised it.

I first heard Stevie Nicks's voice over ten years ago when I heard "Landslide" played in a movie. The song always stuck with me, but it wasn't until I heard "Dreams" on a classic rock station that I first took notice of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. I promptly bought a copy of their live album "The Dance," which I listened to without falling in love with the band. They fell under my radar for years until about three and a half years ago, when I began hearing their songs on classic rock radio more frequently and bought "Rumours" out of curiosity. From that point on, it has been a continuous journey of discovery with Fleetwood Mac, but mostly with musical sorceress Stevie Nicks, whose mystical presence, gravelly voice, and poetic lyrics hypnotized me. Ms. Nicks quickly took the title of my favorite artist, an inspiration as an artist, writer, and woman.

Fleetwood Mac has indirectly led to all of the rediscoveries I have had thereafter. The next was quite direct.

I first owned an Eagles CD prior to junior high. Until about three years ago, I was a passive fan of the band. I knew and liked their music, but I didn't know much about the band itself. The Eagles often came recommended alongside Fleetwood Mac, and drummer Don Henley had collaborated with Stevie Nicks on the duet "Leather and Lace" (aside from being romantically involved with her at one time). What I quickly discovered as I dug deeper into the Eagles catalog was that there was so much more to them than the sunny sounds of 70's southern California. Their songs were about environmental issues, L.A. excess, and social issues. Besides that, the members were perfectionists, determined to create beautiful arrangements in their songs and make their songs more than just incredible lyrics. They were truly great pieces of music. "Hotel California" wasn't simply a great classic rock sing-along. It was a morbid reflection of an overindulgent lifestyle. Those types of realizations, several years on, made the Eagles my favorite band the second time around.

Singer-songwriters have gradually become my favorite artists, with simple arrangements accompanied by powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Carly Simon was an artist I first listened to around seventh grade after discovering "You're So Vain" on the radio. I took note of a couple of songs before her CD retreated into my CD collection, not to be listened to again until last winter. Since then, I've been gradually rediscovering her work, unable to figure out how I missed such gems as "Anticipation" and "Jesse" before. I would now rank her among my favorite artists, and I am still working on listening to anything of hers I can get my hands on.

My most recent rediscovery has perhaps been Huey Lewis and the News. You will notice that this band does not fit the same criteria as the previous artists. While the band does write their own music, their sound is decidedly influenced by 1950's rock and roll sounds as well as old school R&B. I've always enjoyed the band's music, but lately, as I have given it another look, I've appreciated all the wonderful musical aspects of songs like "The Power of Love," "Do You Believe in Love," and "If This is It." The instrumentation is wonderful, and the influences are present but modernized and revamped, creating a fresh sound all its own. Though massively underrated in my opinion, Huey Lewis and the News most definitely are "The Heart of Rock and Roll."

What I've been able to glean from this rediscovery experience is that I am finally mature enough to understand the material these artists were putting forth. I needed experience in life before I could understand the plights and triumphs that these artists sang about. Now, I can truly appreciate how talented each of these individuals is and feel their emotions deep in my soul. I've become a much more detailed listener, actively analyzing a song and the writer