There’s an ancient Chinese curse that states “may you live in interesting times” – the idea being that may your life be really frenetic with a load of things happening and no sense of calm or rest. I don’t know about you but – I get the sense that we’re living in those “interesting times” right now – particularly when it comes to knowing what the truth is.
Because – totally unsurprisingly – “may you live in interesting times” is itself a lie. It doesn’t originate in China – certainly isn’t ancient and its meaning tends to switch from curse to blessing depending on who’s using it – yet a cursory search will promulgate the lie and before you know it bullshit is accepted as common knowledge – alternative facts are a thing – democracy breaks down, and – aaah fuck it – bring on the aliens!
Of course before we reach this dystopian state of affairs (‘cos you know when the aliens come it’s gonna be bad (V!)) – there is one weapon – one last bastion of hope that can help us course correct – get us back on track – bring us together in a shared sense of reality – and that’s songs.
For centuries people have relied on songs to help them make sense of things – to pass down knowledge – to set the record straight and agree on set of facts. the (un)surprising thing is that the classic songs over the years all seem to speak to the same truths – consistently being discovered and laid down by generation after generation.
The songs on this list are just a smattering of the truths made available to the world through lyricists and their musical partners. When the lies are getting you down and it feels that you’re just about to drown in the bullshit – cue this playlist up – have a listen to the real underlying truths – remember that – regardless of what’s happening in the world right now – there are some things that we will always agree on – and that maybe – if we all spent more time listening to music – the world can be a better place.
Amen to that.
Track Listing
- Lost for Words – Plested
- Let It Go – Peter Broderick
- Dare You to Move – Alternative Version – Switchfoot
- Giant – Matthew Good Band
- Frank Bacon – Audiotree Live Version – Liam Kazar
- Roam – The B-52’s
- Ordinary World – Duran Duran
- The World I Know – Collective Soul
- Head Over Heels / Broken – Tears For Fears
- No Promises – ICEHOUSE
- Georgy Porgy – TOTO
- Dreamer – Supertramp
- Space Boogie – Jeff Beck
- The Rain Song – Remaster – Led Zeppelin
- Everybody Wants – Paddy Casey
- Currents – Dashboard Confessional
- The Fighter – The Fray
- One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces – Ben Folds Five
- This House Is Not For Sale – Ryan Adams
- The Golden Age – Beck
- Just Another – Pete Yorn
- Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? – Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
Playlist image by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
About the Curators
Hiram López
Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.
