Why I Became A Web Designer
Since I went to and returned from the Laura Branigan Spirit Of Love gathering I have been thinking a lot about Laura and what she meant to me as an artist and the impact she had on my life as both a listener and a person. At one point during the event we were asked to share any stories we had about Laura and how she changed our lives. I felt bad because I didn't have a story to share. In fact for the year prior to her death I hadn't been following her career as closely as I had in the past. You can imagine how guilty I felt once she died. It's true that you never appreciate something until it is gone.
With that weight on my mind and the incredible experience of meeting such passionate and devoted fans I have since turned to some deep introspection. I have thought back to when I first discovered Laura "officially" It was the summer of 98 and I saw her Branigan 2 LP in a Goodwill thrift store. I was instantly drawn to it and couldn't put it down. I was mesmerized. In reading the songs on the back I recognized the song How Am I Supposed To Live Without You? I never knew Laura was the vocalist on that song and had always liked her version. I would soon learn that there were many songs by her that I loved but never knew were hers. The LP was in crappy condition so I didn't buy it. Instead I did something I never do. I went to a CD shop and bought the CD unheard at full price (mind you I was a poor student at the time!). That night I took it home, played it, and fell in love from that moment onward.
Over the course of that summer I bought all of her albums that were still available on CD. It took me another 8 months to collect the other 3 that were out of print and hard to find. My passion for Laura's music was insatiable and despite the fact that money was scarce I had to have all her albums on CD. I listened to her albums again and again and when I finally had a regular Internet connection scoured the net for information and resources on her.
One thing I noticed was that there was a lack of lyrics. Most of Laura's albums did not come with lyrics, and the Internet surprisingly enough did not provide much in the way of lyrics. A few songs here and there, many of which were not accurate or had conflicting lyrics to another listing on another site. People had basically listened to the songs and written what they thought they had heard, which isn't easy and lends itself to error. Picking up on this gap in information about my new favorite artist I began looking for accurate lyrical information, and listening to the songs 100 times at high volumes, carefully noting each word and vocal inflection. As a result I developed a keen audiophilic ear and a burning passion to spread the magical knowledge I was unlocking with the world at large.
It was around this time that I had begun showing an interest in building websites. I had always had the interest but had not made much of an effort. Once my Branigan obsessions began I knew immediately that I had to build a website devoted to Laura's lyrics. But even more so I wanted to build the greatest Branigan fan site ever. I had big dreams and high aspirations and over the course of two years built what would eventually be known as the "The Laura Branigan Lyric Archive."
All of my heart and soul went into building that site and gathering the lyrics. It brought me closer to Laura as an artist and closer to myself as an artist and young designer. The site was immense and intricate. I didn't have just lyrics, but historical information on songs and even notes about alterations Laura made to a song's lyrics.
The majority of "The Laura Branigan Lyric Archive" was developed while taking classes in basic web development at school. My skill and passion earned the highest mark in all the sections. The mostly finished version of the site was my end of term project for the course and netted me an A+ as well as praise from the instructor as a natural talent. I was so proud. And unbeknownst to me, I had stumbled into a creative field that would become my future career path. Back then it was just for fun, it never entered my mind I could make a living building websites.
Alas the site was never completed fully or launched. Life for me changed after those two years and I spent a considerable number of years after that digging out of a very deep depression. Once I was relatively stable and back on my feet I began working again and after doing additional training eventually got into web design and construction as a career. I still have the files for "The Laura Branigan Lyric Archive" and hope one day to complete the work I started so many years ago.
So what is the real point in this long, reminiscent rambling? Well, I became a web designer as a result of Laura's influence on my life at that time. The passion and love she gave me through her music helped me find a career doing something that I love that is both creative and pays the bills. Which if you are an artist or know any, is always a major concern. Art pays in many ways, but not always monetarily.
I wish I had remembered this story at the SOL gathering. I would have loved to have shared it with everyone there. But even though I didn't remember it then I have remembered it now and it is never too late to share a special memory. It is part of a defining moment in my life and while Laura is no longer here, that memory will live within me forever.
Remembering this now has reminded me just how close Laura was to my heart, even though in the last years I didn't pay as much attention to her music. Her love and passion will always live within my heart and serve as an inspiration. I owe more to her than I ever realized before and I cannot express my gratitude enough. She is one of my heroes and muses. I will never forget what she has done for me through the gift of her art and one day I hope to return that gift, even if it is only in a small way.
