Hooks!
They’re strange things, commonly associated with Peter Pan and not generally looked upon with favor. However in the music world, they’re the holy grail of songwriting, performing the same piratical function of piercing your body and getting stuck deep inside your soul.
I woke up at 2:30 am this morning with “It Was good While It Lasted” stuck in my head, it had been there yesterday afternoon as well, occupying the same space it had taken over for 2 hours the previous day. I could attempt to break it down, deconstruct the lyric, the melody and why I believe it resonates - but really, what’s the point. This isn’t rocket science - this is life.
If you’re one of the very few who met their true love in your first ever romantic relationship, then, not only - Wow! - congratulations, but while the song may not speak to you, you should definitely still give it a listen ‘cos it speaks to just about everyone else on the planet! Love and Loss are just part of the human condition and while we’re all gung-ho for the love bit, we’re not terribly good at coping with the loss!
As Radharani says: “I wish more people acknowledged that we need playlists for this kind of thing!” and we agree. There’s something so liberatingly cathartic about being present in grief. Yes it looks scary from the outside and we tend to naturally avoid things like that, but if you can get yourself to a place where you are truly feeling it, living it, experiencing it in the moment - chances are you’re going to feel much better afterwards.
Relationship break ups are hard - it’s the love / hate thing - half the time you’re mourning the loss of a shared future together while other times you’re having to hold back the tide of bitterness before it drowns you. How to manage the conflicting emotions as you go through the grieving process can be a challenge but it’s songs like this that can make it easier.
Add to the fact that Radharani has one of the warmest voices I’ve heard in a while - I was making connections with Karen Carpenter - the track is a must listen for anyone going through it.
Follow us hereYou can learn more about Radharani here:
About the Curator - 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.
After my dad died I was very sad - I couldn't play for a while and when I did, the music that came out reflected my grieving state. I wrote an album of solo piano music called Music to Grieve to - from which the idea of the Music to community originated.
If you'd like to know more you should read Nicole's fabulous article on why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
Latest Posts
Don’t Give Up – Peter Gabriel
24 September 2022
What’s the point?
You ever find yourself asking that?
The point of this playlist is to bring succor to people who are grieving. That’s it. We listen to and feature songs that we hope people can resonate with and perhaps elicit a cathartic release – at the very least – to help them feel less alone…
Strange Beauty – First Aid Kit
18 September 2022
It’s still September. We’re still talking about Suicide. We’re doing this because the experts tell us that the more we talk about it – the more we bring it into the open – the less likely it is that people will go through with it.
And yet – people still do…
Open Letter – Mr. Phelps
11 September 2022
So it’s September – and for the Grieve To list – that means our thoughts turn to suicide.
Yep – if you didn’t know – September is Suicide Awareness Month – it’s also National Suicide Prevention Month and in fact right now – between the 8th and the 14th – it’s actually National Suicide Prevention Week. If you are in any doubt as to the impact suicide has on society – spend a minute here: Suicide Statistics – the rate inches up every year – and as a middle aged white male – well – I’m slap bang in the highest risk group…
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.