Sing a Song
Updated: Dec 19, 2021
It has come to my attention that I am not listening to enough music these days.
I've been engaged in a deep love affair with podcasts, especially those having to do with paranormal topics like ghosties, UFOs, and Bigfoot. Yeah, I know. That probably sounds a little weird, but I don't care. They have helped me escape the stress of being a human during the COVID Age, and that's no small feat. They take me back to simpler times, like friends who show up on your doorstep and say, "Get in, loser. Let's go (fill in the blank)."
Today on the way to work—the day that schools around the country were dealing with the latest dumb TikTok trend of threatening bombings and shootings right before winter break—I realized I had to dig deep to find something to raise my vibe: ABBA.
Ahhhh...it felt so GOOD to SING at the top of my lungs. I didn't care who saw me, either (in fact, I hoped "Dancing Queen" was playing loud enough to inspire others in the parking lot to join in!). And you know what? It was the perfect beginning to what was probably the best, most normal day I've had all year as a junior high English teacher.
On the way home, I got to wondering how Little Me is handing everything—you know, the version of me that used to ride her bike through the field with wild abandon and stomp around the woods with her dog for hours. It had been a hot minute since I had even thought about her—I've been too busy doing the next right thing to get by and get through. I checked in, and she looked at me with big brown eyes and said—please play my music.
So that's what I did. And you know what? I was able to FEEL something again. Feeling deeply isn't super convenient right now (and there are times when I wonder if I've forgotten how). But I cried at the beauty of the moment, and I didn't care if anyone saw me do that, either. :)
Sometimes the best way to combat big negativity is to drown it out with music with a love vibe. It can give you the courage get up every day and do something to make the world more beautiful.
• • •
Here's my List of Little Me Songs, which is influenced heavily by my brothers and sister who helped raise me in the 1970s and 1980s on the Iron Range of Minnesota. Whenever possible, I chose videos that showed the Glory of the Old Days.
These are not really in any sort of order— I just love them all.
Rock the Boat, by The Hues Corporation
Bridge Over Troubled Water, by Simon and Garfunkel
Take a Chance on Me, by ABBA
Country Roads, by John Denver
The One That You Love, by Air Supply
Can't Smile Without You, by Barry Manilow
Close to You, by The Carpenters
Do You Believe in Love, by Huey Lewis and the News
Crocodile Rock, by Elton John
December, 1963, by The Four Seasons
You May Be Right, by Billy Joel
Everytime I Think of You, by The Babys
The Things You Do For Love, by 10cc
Hotel California, by The Eagles
Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen
September, by Earth, Wind, and Fire
Easy, by The Commodores
Sailing, by Christopher Cross
I'd Really Like to See You Tonight, by England Dan and John Ford Coley
Love Will Keep Us Together, by Captain and Tennille
There will be other lists...oldies, soul, high school jams...but this one was exactly what I needed today. I'd love to hear your Little Me List!