As I mentioned in my last post, I want to do things a little differently with my blog this year. There are things I’ve never written about here before simply because I didn’t think anyone would read it. But I’m realizing that it doesn’t really matter if no one reads it. If I want to write about something that is important to me why shouldn’t I? Blogging is my hobby after all and there are no rules to this!

With that being said, this is the first post of my Songversation series. (Thank you India.Arie for the term!)  It is what it sounds like: storytimes and conversations about music.

*Please note this post has embedded elements that may not show up in email*

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Let’s have a Songversation…

Music is so many things, a companion, a distraction, a teacher, a healer. It can connect us to each other in special ways. Remember making mix CDs for your friends? Carefully choosing which songs you wanted them to hear, whether you just wanted to share your most beloved tracks or if you had a message you were trying to share crafted by your song selection.

For a few years when I was in high school, I used to pick a song at the beginning of the year and call it my “song of the year”. It was a little tradition I did with an online friend of mine, and it was something I put some thought into. It was a big deal (to me) which song I’d choose to call my song of the year. I was reminded of this old tradition recently and thought, why did I ever stop doing that? Well, I know why. Choosing -one- song is hard!

But much like affirmations, resolutions, and goals, having a song or song/s to represent the kind of year you want to have is encouraging (and fun!) so I decided that I would take that old tradition and change it a bit.

I decided to choose 5 songs that I want to make my “Songs for 2020”. This short playlist consists of 5 songs that all mean something important to me, and inspire me for the year ahead. When I need a pick me up, or a reminder, I can put on this playlist.

Jeff Buckley – Eternal Life (Road Version)

How to talk about this song without going off on a massive tangent…I’ll start with, I used to say it’s impossible to pick a favorite song, but honestly, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is my favorite song and I need to just accept that no song will ever affect me the way this song does. I have loved many songs, had many tracks be *that* track that I listen to on repeat for days, but I’ve never had a song that I’ve loved like this one.

I tell anyone who will listen to Jeff that I named Julia (her middle name, Grace) after the album this song is on. This song is everything I love about Jeff and music in general. Passion, meaningful lyrics, energy, imperfect vocals, growling, vibrato, screaming — all in one song! I still remember the first time I heard this version of Eternal Life. I’ve always liked the song, it has some of my favorite lyrics ever, I love the message of the song. But this particular version is just otherworldly. If I had a magic bottle with three wishes you better believe my first wish would be to be there when this was recorded.

There’s no time for hatred
Only questions
Where is love?
Where is happiness?
What is life?
Where is peace?

This song is on my list for 2020, and first, because it’s the one piece of music I always find myself going back to. I could be stuck in the deepest lowest rut, this song wakes me up.

 

India.Arie – I Am Light

This song is so beautiful. I heard it for the first time last year and it quickly became a song I listen to almost every day. Listening to this song is healing. It is a reminder that we are all made of what we chose to be. You can choose to be light. You can choose to be loving and you can choose to love yourself, too.

I’m not the mistakes that I have made
Or any of the things that caused me pain
I am not the pieces of the dream I left behind, I am light

This song has powerful, yet simple lyrics accompanied by the beautifully soothing voice of India.Arie. I cannot recommend a listen enough. Her voice is pure soul medicine. I want this song on my list of songs for 2020 because realizing that I was more than my past, my struggles, my trauma was a big theme in 2019. Songs like I Am Light, have been a big part of my overall personal growth journey over the past year. It is definitely a song you hit repeat on. It is a great reminder.

The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize??

This is a song I feel like every human being needs to hear. This song would be the first page in the nonexistent handbook to being human. This song, musically, is so beautiful. Lyrics removed, it’s a beautiful piece of music that has this atmospheric, floating in space feel to it. But when you add the lyrics to the music it confirms that this song is a spark of genius! A song we all need to hear. It is a reminder of both the simple and random beauty of our existence and also a reminder that nothing is permanent. Life isn’t permanent. So love the ones you’ve got. Appreciate the gift that life really is.

Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It’s hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn’t go down
It’s just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

This song is on my 2020 songs list as a reminder of the fragility of life. Nothing is guaranteed. Tomorrow isn’t promised. The present moment is life. Don’t take anything for granted, especially the people you love.

Twenty One Pilots – The Hype

This song is my “I can get through anything song”. Tyler is a great lyricist and a man who has been through a lot of persevering in his life when it comes to mental health. This song to me is an ode to not giving up. Life can be difficult and confusing at times. Sometimes you can feel really lost like you really don’t know where you’re going.

Yeah, they might be talking behind your head
Your exterior world can step off instead
It might take some friends and a warmer shirt
But you don’t get thick skin without getting burnt

Nice to know my kind will be on my side
I don’t believe the hype
And you know you’re a terrible sight
But you’ll be just fine
Just don’t believe the hype

Tyler has said of this song, “an encouragement to keep going, to let things roll off your back that deserve to be put aside.”.

To me, it is also a reminder that in every one of my struggles, I’m not alone. Someone else has gone through what I’m going through – every single struggle. I know I’m capable of perseverance – we all are.

Blind Melon – Change

This is a song I have known and loved for many years. The message is simple, don’t give up when you’re discouraged. If life becomes too stagnant, you have to make a change. You cannot avoid change and achieve your goals at the same time. And – you have to believe in yourself even when nobody does.

When you feel your life ain’t worth living
You’ve got to stand up
And take a look around and you look way up to the sky
Yeah, and when your deepest thoughts are broken
Keep on dreaming boy, ’cause when you stop dreamin’ it’s time to die

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That wraps up my first Songversation series post! Do you have a song or songs for 2020? If you do let me know in the comments below!

Sending love & light,