I was just reading the experience that Amy Tenderich shared in her blog, Diabetes Mine. Besides the fact that her story was all too familiar (just two days ago I had one of those nasty high BG days that would not leave me until the following morning…) it occurred to me that certain songs really come to the rescue when we’re going through this kind of stuff.
For her, it was Peter Gabriel’s choice (“Excellent choice!” -with a French accent). I would say I find solace as well in a 1979 song by Vangelis, called “Antarctic Echoes”. Think of the vast expanse in Antarctica… if it had a soundtrack, it would be that song. So, when I need peace, I just listen to it: not in vain is BY far the most played song in my iTunes ever!
So, what song comes to the rescue for you during those rough times?
Oh yeah, I love everything by The Band. The Weight is such a curious song - I’ve never been able to figure out what the lyrics meant. Somebody told me that the “I pulled into Nazareth” referred to Nazareth Pennsylvania, where the Martin Guitar factory is.
The few that I tend to turn to the most when frustrated are:
Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata & Fur Elise
-My mom used to play these on the piano when I was a little girl, and they’ve always been very relaxing and calming to me. (these are also REALLY good to play when driving in Atlanta traffic - helps to keep my road rage in check! LOL)
Little River Band: Cool Change
-nothing in particular in the words, but it’s the music that is so calming for me. Plus I do like to be ON the water (not in it! LOL) … sailing on the ocean, under a beautiful star filled sky, well it’s like nothing else in the world to me.
The summer that Griffin was diagnosed the song “Breakdown” by Jack Johnson came out. It really summed up how I felt then and sometime still feel…
“Breakdown”
I hope this old train breaks down
Then I could take a walk around
And, see what there is to see
And time is just a melody
All the people in the street
Walk as fast as their feet can take them
I just roll through town
And though my windows got a view
The frame im looking through
Seems to have no concern for now
So for now
I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
This engine screams out loud
Centipede gunna crawl westbound
So I don’t even make a sound
Cause it’s gunna sting me when I leave this town
All the people in the street
That i’ll never get to meet
If these tracks don’t bend somehow
And I got no time
That I got to get to
Where I don’t need to be
So I
I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I wanna break on down
But I cant stop now
Let me break on down
But you cant stop nothing
If you got no control
Of the thoughts in your mind
That you kept in, you know
You don’t know nothing
But you don’t need to know
The wisdoms in the trees
Not the glass windows
You cant stop wishing
If you don’t let go
But things that you find
And you lose, and you know
You keep on rolling
Put the moment on hold
The frames too bright
So put the blinds down low
I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I wanna break on down
But I cant stop now
-anyway by martina mcbride
-learning to breathe by switchfoot
-life support and will i, from the rent soundtrack
-everything in its time by corrinne may.
and i think there are more, but i can’t remember them off the top of my head.
“Give me three steps” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
“Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
“You don’t call me by my name” David Allen Cole
"Turn the Page" by Bob Segar
"Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" by Big and Rich
Yep, I sure do. You know the Southern US, we try have our own version of everything. First there was Rock, then Hard Rock, and thanks to Lynrd Skynrd, 38 Special, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Allman Brothers Band, Charlie Daniels Band, etc. we have Southern Rock! I think it is the best. I also like a lot of country music.
My co-worker always plays “Kung Fu Fighting” whenever he’s in a bad mood, and I’ve been finding it works for me too.
I find that “Always Love” by Nada Surf can be pretty inspiring when the need arises, and I especially enjoy Cake’s cover of “I Will Survive”, but what REALLY makes me happy is listening to some ska. You can’t be unhappy or discouraged when music makes you tap your toes that much. In fact, I could probably benefit from listening to some Reel Big Fish right now!
Oh, and also my favorite song for bad times is “IOU” by Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer. It’s fun, it’s bouncy, and the end of the song has some pretty-well-concealed cussing for really venting your frustrations. The lines just generally reflect how I feel sometimes…“It’s not gonna be okay, but it’s okay…it’s not gonna be a blast, but it will pass, yeah it will pass…”
There’s nothing like Southern Rock! I love it! I live in Tn and I have to agree with you we do it our way down here. You named some great bands! I also like to listen to country songs. Some though make me cry.
I have a playlist on my iPod that’s all tunes in my library that I haven’t listened to yet. I shuffle it around until I find something that I can get into, but there are the old reliables…
“Two Step” or “All Along The Watchtower”- Dave Matthews Band (any of the live versions)
“Tubular Bells” - Mike Oldfield
"Carol Of The Bells" - Barenaked Ladies
"A Warm Place" or “Hurt” - Nine Inch Nails
We just had a iPod Shuffle discussion over at the musicians/music lover’s group - you should join us there.
Watchtower has been covered by many people, but I still like the Dylan version. In fact, the last three D concerts that I have been to, Watchtower was the final encore.
