(My blogging is likely to be a little sporadic for the next week or two. I’m sure you can work out why.)
Music can often be very powerful at capturing an emotion, a feeling, a memory.
After that post a couple of months ago about songs on a theme, here’s another theme that’s become relevant to me since three months ago today.
The Living Years, by Mike and the Mechanics. I sometimes hear this one in shops and so on. It’s peppy enough that for most of the song you can ignore the story of it, but if you listen closely, they’re quite moving.
Tank Park Salute, by Billy Bragg. I found this one emotional enough when I first heard it, years ago. I find the lyrics incredibly powerful. To be honest I haven’t wanted to listen to it since my dad passed on.
No doubt there are other songs on this theme out there, though I can’t think of any others I know well.
A different theme, but due to family circumstances both when I was growing up, and in my adult life, Weddings Parties Anything’s Father’s Day is also one that resonates very powerfully with me.
8 replies on “The power of music”
No. Are you running for parliament?
@Andrew, hell no! I’d have flagged it earlier if so. But the election is keeping my mind on things other than blogging.
It’s funny, but reading a passage in a book can have an emotional effect on me (eg remind me of some sad event or a loved-one who’s died ), more so than music. But I can understand what you mean.
“For A Short Time” also by Weddings Parties Anything is pretty emotional too, I feel, especially due to the background to writing it.
@Gav, definitely, yes, that song strikes a very emotional chord.
Ah yes. It’s 5 years on for me, but some of the things we played at the funeral still tear me up sometimes.
I’m always reminded of my Dad when I listen to Deeper Water by Paul Kelly, as my dad often took me out in the surf at Cronulla beach.
Into My Arms, Nick Cave. Heard it while driving somewhere recently; my partner offered to switch it over when I told her it was played at my friend’s funeral, but I explained to her it now served to remind me of the good times we shared. The black and white video is heart-wrenching.