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One of the goals of the Grieve to list this year was to open it up to guest curators - where people can come in and share their story through a track that resonated deeply with them when they were “going through it” - I think it’ll make the list more eclectic and hopefully touch more people.
This weekend I was hanging with an old friend who had lost both her parents in the last few years - we’re both music junkies and while Robin typically has a South American flair to her playlists I couldn’t help but notice her reaction to this track. I asked her if she wouldn’t mind writing about it - here’s what she had to say:
“Staring out the window on a beautiful day in Monterey, in an emotional coma for the last 4 days. I can’t cry and I can’t stop trying to rationalize it, shouldn’t this be illegal? Can’t I write a law? But it’s nature. It’s life. How humbling, how little control we have really. I can’t write a law. I can’t write a grievance. I can’t slam the door and walk away.
This song comfortably immerses me in grief, the profound sadness I feel inside is gently playing through the air. It’s playing what I cannot express. Later, as I go back to listen, I’m back on my couch on a visibly beautiful day, a newly battered, bruised and naive orphan. I don’t get it. I’m numb with the sense of brutal unfairness. All I want to do is sit quietly with her, my mom, and watch tv. Watch her fall asleep on my couch, even snore away. The symphony of instruments, the soul of the vocals and pokes of the drum have me swimming in reveries. I don’t want to be a part of this club. But this song holds me, sways, hums, until I drift away again.”
You can learn more about Michael Kiwanuka 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
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
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 write creatively 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 believe that music can make the world better.
What I'm doing now