Addiction scares the shit out of me. It's easy to look at people who succumb and wonder just how they let it happen, and yet for me it really is often "There but for the grace of God go I."
It's easy to see the down side - the broken families, the shattered trust, the emptied bank accounts and frayed bodies and yet - to quote from another Scottish writer:
Whether you're dampening down a memory or looking to create an awesome new one - the the road to addiction is the same for everyone - it's downhill, super easy with little effort required.
But that's not what this track is about - this track is about recovery from addiction and how hard it is even when you think you've got it beat.
When it comes to grief I've always thought addiction and the loss of a loved one had many similarities. The addict isn't really there - they're either under the influence or dead and so it's the ones left behind - the ones that cared for and loved the addict that have to cope.
Shows like intervention have given us a deep insight into what addiction does, even if you haven't been touched by it yourself you can easily identify with the horrors that the families go through every week. When the end credits roll and you get the 1 year / 18 month follow up - it's always a toss up as to whether the person maintained their recovery or whether the fell back.
Demi Lovato's incredibly honest track outlines the harsh reality that even five years into being sober everything can slip and you're starting from scratch again. She knows the impact it will have on her friends, her family, her fans. She's not running from it but acknowledging it, admitting and taking responsibility for her actions and asking for forgiveness, once again.
"I'm sorry that I'm here again,
I promise I'll get help
It wasn't my intention,
I'm sorry to myself."
For every addict who has stumbled on the road to recovery, this song is likely to be a familiar beacon. We know through our discussions with counselors like Sharon Ehlers that half the battle of grief is to connect with other human beings who can relate and to know you're not alone - hopefully this track can do that.
Thanks to Glenn from Music to Get Wild to for sending this my way.
Follow us here
You can learn more about Demi Lovato 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.