Tag: music saved my life

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With or without lyrics

Depending on my mood and mind, I listen to music with or without lyrics. Not long ago, someone said to me that they disregard lyrics when listening to music, but they also don’t like to listen to instrumental music – not postrock, not ambient, not classic. They listen to mainstream music and are touched too, but on a completely different level than I am.

I listen to instrumental music to write, and the tone of the music, the melody, the tempo, the intensity, they guide my words and writing.

I also listen to a lot of other music – I am not limited to a particular genre, though I have favourites too. If there are lyrics, they have to be powerful and inspire stories or poems in my head. It doesn’t matter which genre it is.

Is it because I am a writer that I think lyrics matter? Is it because I am a writer that I admire music without lyrics?

I try keeping an open mind when it comes to music and genres. Not everything is for me, and I am quite picky and peculiar. I know what I like and what I don’t like. For me, music needs to touch something in me. It needs to make me feel, and it doesn’t matter if other listeners like it; for me, it is a subjective experience.

Not long ago, I was asked to write a review for an album that was released yesterday. ‘Are you in love?’ by Basia Bulat. It was published on a blog called ‘At the Barrier’. I felt humbled and proud that the creator of that site offered me to write about music. And apparently, I am not all that bad because he got in touch again and sent new music to review. It feels surreal, but maybe I was made to do this, it comes naturally to me, and there is always this melody or that lyric, this tune or that progression that I like or can imagine other listeners to like.

There are days when I am like music without lyrics. Intense but raw and real, overwhelming too. On other days I am like music with lyrics. Chatty, bubbly, always real, but a bit shallow.

Some people say that there is no good new music. I say: there is a lot of talent, often enough it is hidden and not what mainstream charts suggest. But if you stay curious and open-minded, you can find beautiful music and talented artists that touch you on every corner.

Music is a passion, and I understand that others don’t share it, but for me, music is like a life’s breath. I need it to exist. It saved me more than once, and it keeps me sane.

Here I am, a 37-year-old woman. Mother, wife, educator, writer, poet, lover, and I admit that music is what keeps me alive.

What is your biggest passion?

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Song of the Day (Saturday)

Annie Lennox – Money can’t buy it

This song is from the album Diva, 1992 (Arista Records)

If I am asked about my favourite female singer, I will reply: Annie Lennox. She is an awesome singer and I like the person she is. The humanitarian and the fighter. I really like her.

It is Saturday, I am still in bed. The sun is shining through the blinds, and I can hear some kind of normalcy outside. Birds and lawnmowers. There was the sound of a car accelerating on road, and the noise of a plane getting ready for takeoff.

If I didn’t know about our new normal, I wouldn’t suspect anything being different. It is a scary thought. Because, nothing is the same anymore.

Phew… Heavy thoughts this morning. I wish you all a nice day.

xx

Cathy

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Album 3/10

And already you know the drill. 10 days, 10 album covers. No explanations. If you want to take part in the challenge, please consider yourself nominated.

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Album 2/10

I was nominated to take part in a ten-day challenge. Every day, I will share the cover of an album that changed my life or helped shape me into the person I am today. No explanations will be given, but questions are allowed.

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Song of the Day (Thursday)

The Cure – trust

 

From the album “Wish” released in 1992.

There’s no-one left in the world
That I can hold onto
There is really no-one left at all
There is only you
And if you leave me now
You leave all that we were
Undone
There is really no-one left
You are the only one
And still the hardest part for you
To put your trust in me
I love you more than I can say
Why won’t you just believe?
Lyrics by the Cure.
I love the Cure. Not everything, but most. “Pictures of You” is another favourite. Trivial fact: both my favourite albums of The Cure aren’t on Spotify: “wish” and “bloodflowers”
It is 9:25 in the morning, and my mood is not the best. My shoulder hurts, and my mind does too.
I am irritated and really not ready to face the world today. But the house is filled with people and I don’t have anywhere to hide.
xx
Cathy
If you need me, a chat, a distraction… I am here and you can find me on my social media channels. Don’t hesitate to get in touch. ❤
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Album Cover Challenge

My good friend Ollie invited me to take part in a challenge. In the next ten days, I will share a picture of an album cover daily. These records changed my life and made helped shaping the person I am today. There will be no explanation, but questions are allowed.

Let’s begin.

Ollie is a great writer and beautiful soul. Take a look at his writing here:

https://picosgemeos.livejournal.com/

And follow his twitter and Instagram:

Check out Ollie (@olliefern): https://twitter.com/olliefern?s=09

https://instagram.com/olliefern?igshid=u9sruwd1f7gi

xx

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Song of the Day (Wednesday)

Lambert – sweet apocalypse

This piece is from an album with the same name. Sweet Apocalypse, 2017. Lambert is a German composer who is only ever seen wearing a mask.

As I mentioned before, I am writing a lot these days and today, I chose piano music to keep me company. I am listening to a playlist on Spotify called Atmospheric Piano.

I hope you are all well, I am busy busy busy. I am writing on my novel, there is some writing (and thinking) that has to be done for work. I am on leave because of the kids, but I offered my help anyway. And, I was asked to write a review for an album that should be released by the end of the month.

How are you keeping busy?

 

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Song of the Day (Tuesday)

solstafir – fjara

 

This Iclandic band released the album Svatir Sandar in 2011 (Season of Mist). Fjara means Beach. I chose this video over the original, because of the translated lyrics. They are quite poetic in places. I remember that I saw this band live around the time this was released. They were drunk before they got on stage, drank more while they were playing a weird set – as if they were playing together for the first time in ages, and then they staggered off stage. They left a lasting impression.

I hope you are well… I am productive these days and was working a lot on my novel. There are only 34 more pages to edit, but I keep adding paragraphs and noticing plotholes. I have some work to do. And after I am done with that, I need to revise the entire document again, because I am quite sure that there are still many spelling mistakes or missing words left.

big hugs

Cathy

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Song of the Day (Monday)

Her Name is Calla – meridian arc

 

This song is taken from an album called Navigator, released in 2014 via Function Records. You can support these artist via bandcamp, although it needs to be said that the band dismembered in 2019. Very well worth your time, and it is not the first (nor the last) time that I will mention them and share their music.

Meridian Arc is the ring tone on my phone.

So, it is Monday and the first day of a general lock down in Luxembourg. Schools and care facilities are closed, as well as bars, restaurants and anything from gyms to saunas, libraries and museums. It feels weird. Tension is palpable all around.

I admit, my anxiety is rising, and this, although I have been on kind of self-isolation and I have been social distancing since the beginning of the month. My shoulder has kept me away from everything, but it felt more like a choice. This feels a bit like being trapped in my walls, even though we are allowed (and encouraged) to take walks and go out – while keeping 2 metres of distance between us and the next person. It all feels surreal.

Last night, I took a walk. It was dark and quiet. Usually, there are many cars around and I am not living far from the Luxembourgish airport, there is always the backdrop noise of a plane. Yesterday, the silence was eerie. Again, it added to my inner tension. Perhaps, I have seen too many movies with a post-apocalyptic scenario. Our government is asking people to show solidarity with everyone. For now, it seems to be working. I am just wondering if it stays the same in a week or two. Money will become an issue for many (us included) and I guess after a while, everyone will be fighting for themselves. We are navigating towards an economical crisis, and I hope that people who are smarter than me will find a way to come out of it with as less damage as possible. Cathy the pessimist?

The weather is good, the sun is shining. Spring is coming. It is as if nature is waking up and society is going to sleep.

How is the situation developing where you are? How does it make you feel? Personally, I don’t know a person who is infected – or tested positive. How about you? Did you buy in bulk? (I didn’t and it is beginning to enhance my anxiety too, although our prime minster stressed yet again, that there will be no shortage of supplies anytime soon.) What are your plans to navigate this? For me, for now, it is to stay put and follow the rules and recommendations as best as I can.

The future is filled with uncertainty. The only thing that I am sure of is, that after Corona, nothing will ever be the same.

Cathy

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Song of the Day (Saturday)

Editors – ocean of night

This song is taken from the album In Dream, released in 2015.

I hope you are all well and are surviving this pandemic in the best way you can. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.

As for me personally, I won’t be at work for at least two weeks. Schools are closed and parents are allowed to stay with their children. The kids are home-schooled during this time, with content and support coming daily via email or WhatsApp groups. I hope we can muster enough discipline to get this done the right way.

For the time being, I am not allowed to visit my mother. She is in a care facility because of her multiple sclerosis. It is a weird feeling. I haven’t visited in a very long time. She is vulnerable and at risk of contracting the virus. If she does, I am almost certain that she will not survive. It’s an unsettling feeling.

But through it all, I also feel quite calm and confident that everything will be okay.

I’ll end this post with links to previous posts. I’d like you to read them. Not because they are important or anything, but because I like them.

Mystery Blogger Award

Friday 13th

If you need someone to talk, to distract you or just to rant and vent, or banter, I am always there.

xx