10 Songs
“Do me a playlist,” he said.
“What about?” I said.
“Reasons to be Cheerful” said Mark.
Now I love a playlist, they are my thing. I do 10 songs every week to expand my musical cannon and to keep myself amused and happy. Normally I need a bit more detail, normally I want to know more so I can make something I know the listener will enjoy, but this one was simple.
If it doesn’t make you smile in the first few bars or you aren’t smiling by the end of the tune it’s not in.
“Oh and write a blog post too” he said.
To be honest I prefer listening and talking to writing, but I like a challenge too so here goes...
Does music give me many reasons to be cheerful? Can I get a hell yeah?!!
Here are a few of my reasons.
Music’s ability to transport you to other places and other times surprises and delights me every time. Do a little test for me? Have a listen to the first song on the accompanying playlist list and let it take you to a place in your mind. Our places may not match and that doesn’t matter, in fact that is part of the delight, it takes me to a small pub in Ireland. I can smell the beer, I can hear each instrument firing up as the song picks up, I can see the off-white walls, the dark wood bar, the dancers and the revellers, and listening to this song puts me right in the heart of it with a big smile on my face.
Emotions enhance memories, they make them stronger and richer. Music can evoke strong emotions which are then associated with the song, the moment, a person or place. Mix this little lot up in the cocktail shaker of a great tune and it creates a powerful thing. A tune has the power to remind you of a certain someone, a place you visited or a moment in your life, every time. Granted these won’t all be happy memories but, if the good outnumber the bad then you’re winning.
The joy of discovery and the thrill of recommendation is another musical reason to be cheerful. Introducing myself and others to new stuff is always a driver for me and I love a good recommendation, both ways. New can be brand new, see Parcels and Frank Moody in the list, or new to me, the father of Afro Funk - William Onyeabor. You may not have heard them before, but they will give you that walk tall feeling, the smile, that feeling at the base of your skull which makes you wanna nod your head. To use Mark’s vernacular, it also grabs you in the “naughty bits”, if you let it.
“It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing”. Did he mean the song or your hips? For me it’s both. You gotta have a wiggle, when it’s time to boogie you need a boogie song. The genre that has helped me do this over the years more than any other is D.I.S.C.O. and you will find a couple of wonderful examples of up to date disco in this playlist which will make you want to head straight to the nearest dance floor or kitchen and give it some.
I love the fact that different music is different, it’s not worse or better it’s different. Nowhere is this more apparent than the cover or the remix. Take a vibe, take inherent parts of the tune and make it new. When an existing song is covered well you have a different song different instruments, but the same love and joy comes through. Listen to Thinking of You from the list and I hope you will get that feeling.
I love music, It has regenerative qualities, it centers and constantly surprises and delights me. The joy of a perfected crafted pop song, the pain of a song about loss. The power of one acoustic instrument to move you and the complexities of a big band to get lost in. It doesn’t matter if it’s the cutters, scratchers, electronic recording wizards, the joy of a horn section, the hands in the air piano moment, the guitar solo, the big chunky bass-line, the electronic bagpipes, flute or harmonium. Joy and pain, sunshine and rain, I’m all in.
So here are 10 songs to give you reasons to be cheerful. I hope you enjoy them.
Music For a Found Harmonium – Patrick Street
I Want You Back – Bobby Shand and The Bad Men
Fantastic Man – William Onyeabor
Thinking of You – Lord Echo
Feel it Still – Portugal. The Man
Bongo Bong – Manu Chao
So Hooked on Your Lovin – Selace, Mousse T
Tieduprightnow – Parcels
Dance Moves – Franc Moody
Rocket Fuel – DJ Shadow feat De La Soul
Pete Davies