Song

There are probably multiple playlists that I could share but for this post, I’m sharing my ‘COVID funk’ playlist. I’m not sure it requires that much explanation. My mood over the past few months, like most people on the planet, is not what it was at the start of this new decade. At the beginning of 2020, I was all about ringing the changes, making postive moves and owning my actions. None of that has changed but COVID-19 had put a slight dent in the way that I might have wanted to do these things. My mood has been up and down and I have probably maintained a veener of calmness and tranqulity. However, the inside, oh inside, has been something else.

1. Container – Southern Creek Players

This is the theme tune for the HBO series ‘The Affair’. I stumbled across this series on Amazon in June. It provided a much needed distraction from the various stresses of the pandemic and lockdown. Why worry about the COVID when I could disappear to Montauk or New York for an hour at time. I wonder if I prefer the version on the small screen as it some how appears more dramatic with watery scenes and ethereal appearances of the main cast members.

2. If I Had A Heart – Fever Ray

Vikings! Nacho and I were very much into this Amazon series, although we have to say, less impressed by the latter seasons. However despite that the theme tune is haunting and addictive. I used to play it when I was walking around our local park in the early days of lockdown.

3. Work Song – Hozier.

First heard this one a road trip with a few good friends a couple of years ago. It moves me for reasons I cannot explain and try not to explore. It somehow works its way onto any of my ‘moody’ playlists. Every time I hear it I have to sing it. Except now. It’s six in the morning.

4. Changed the Locks – Lucinda Williams

This song appears in a so called classic scene in ‘The Affair’. Somehow once I heard it, I could not get it out of my head and here it sits on my playlist. At the time I was rearranging my letters and correspondance at home and spent a whole weekend shredding paperwork, while watching Season 2 of ‘The Affair’. Random, unecessary piece of information…

5. I can’t make you love me – Bonnie Raitt

I actually prefer the George Michael version of this song. However it felt that this song flowed on this playlist – just seemed the next natural song. Despite the content of this song, I still find it soothing, it makes me ‘stop’ for a few precious minutes.

6. Promise Me – Beverley Craven

Not sure that this has to do with anything COVID related funk, but it’s another song that calms me.

7. The Wind That Shakes The Barley – Dead Can Dance

Just listen.

Nacho loves this band. Sometimes the flat or the car is filled with this beautiful etheral music

8. The Whole of the Moon – The Waterboys

Yes, ‘The Affair’…

Again.

Did I already mention, I spend the time between one work day and the next, binge watching this series? Escapism, there’s no COVID in Montauk. I feel like I just spent the summer with the Sollaways.

It’s so cheesy it’s embarrassing but I could not help myself. I was just reminded of how much joy a wedding can bring. I was reminded of how much people have had to sacrife to keep themselves and their families safe. Actually I did love this song about 30 years ago – every note and every word (OMG – feel so old now). I’ve found this a great song to drive into the carpark at work to, windows down and music blaring. What’s not to love about this song.

9. Army of me – Bjork

My get up and get on with it Fran! Stop the pity party.

10. Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? – Moby

In April/May my heart felt very bad. You probably wouldn’t know it from anything I posted on social media (there were plenty of posts about cycling and cooking) but it was there. A deep deep sadness about the profound loss that many in the world are currently experiencing. One does not have to have experienced the same loss, to have empathy for those who have lost so much. I was in fact taken back in time to the loss of my own father 6 years ago, which I know that I still have not fully processed. I feel like I still haven’t carved out the emotional space and airbags that I would need to dealt with onslaught of feelings. So instead, those feeling of grief and loss remain in a box in the attic in my head. Sometimes I climb up to the room open the lid – I found listening to this, somehow, helpful.

Well, that’s all folks. Now I have to get up and ‘go to work’.