Every week I fall in love with a new song or five. And by fall in love, I mean, I discover and then listen to on repeat ad nauseam.   I listen to a song for thirty minutes straight thinking that I will never tire of it. Of course, I eventually do. Then it either becomes a song I listen to once a day (while working out) or just forget about completely.  I suppose many can say the same thing about their relationships with people. You know what I am talking about. Anyway, music is an important part of my daily and weekly lived experience. I cannot exercise without music. I listen to music to fall asleep. I hum notes at work.  I can write to a beat.  Thus, my falling in love with a song or five or ten each week is really key to my sanity.

I had an interesting musical interlude at work a few days back. Last week, while out at lunch with a colleague, he saw a young man trying to play the guitar.  My colleague motioned to the guy, leaving me wondering what was going on. I thought I had missed something as I was sleepy from annoyance. But that is a different story. The young man brought his guitar over and my colleague grabbed the guitar and starting performing a serenade, of sorts.  He played the guitar and sang a whole song. I was in shock. Music can truly be so peaceful yet energizing. I went back revived to my desk.  I wish I could play the guitar. I own one. Yet, my thumbs have not cooperated.

While, I myself cannot play, I sure do appreciate a guitar heavy song. This weekend, I rediscovered John Mayer’s Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.  It is sad and maybe ironic that when you catch it on YouTube one of the comments is that the riff can cure cancer. If only it could!

Some of the lyrics include,

“We’re going down
And you can see it, too
We’re going down
And you know that we’re doomed
My dear, we’re slow dancing in a burning room”

I also have the song called The Funeral, by Band Of Horses, running in my head again. I used to sing this song a lot a few years ago thinking about my mother. It is a haunting song and I hope I can get it out of my head.

At every occasion, I’ll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion once more, it’s called the funeral
Every occasion, oh, I’m ready for the funeral
At every occasion, oh, one billion day funeral

I am open to upbeat, fun songs such as Youngblood and I will need to play that on repeat for the next week.  Music is a great way through which to process emotional events, both positive and negative. And, I am excited for whatever catches my ear and becomes my earworm for the week.