I Got Some New Tunes and It Made Me Feel Good
I’ve been listening to the same old music almost all of 2019. Good music, but same songs. The only excitement is I put them on shuffle and sometimes it feels brand new, almost like a little surprise.
When my 2019 Spotify Year in Review came out, I wasn’t the least bit excited to find out what my year in music looked like. But because it was everywhere, every Instagram story, every Christmas dinner conversation, I decided to sneak a peek into what mine was, just out of curiosity.
Maybe I had the tiniest glimmer of hope that my top song, or genre would be something cool, or something I would feel proud sharing, or inspire me, the way music usually does or at least used to.
Unsurprisingly so, my top song came from my yoga playlist — one I usually save for the best part of class, Savasana. I felt my heart sink a little, realising that my top song was a work song, not even a personal choice, but easily shrugged it off because work is work. And work takes up time, but it’s work. And work takes up life, but it’s work — a means to live.
Then I ventured into the list a little deeper. My 2019 songs completely revolved around two main playlists — my yoga playlist, and another that completely took me by surprise. A calming, Praise and Worship playlist I usually play at night to stay calm when anxiety and acute loneliness creeps in — a mainstay emotion of 2019. I knew I listened to these songs a lot, but it was almost always at bedtime, so I never paid as much attention to it as my subconscious did. It definitely did help, but it didn’t make me feel alive. As much as it calmed me down and kept me feeling grounded, it made me feel wrapped up in those emotions. Like peace and calm were the highs of my anxiety, chaotic and lonely emotional spectrum.
Till a couple of days ago in 2020, for some reason I can’t quite define yet, other than maybe a change (and a drastic one at that) was needed, I found myself listening to music I was so accustomed to applying the Thank You, Next strategy to. What caught me even more by surprise was how much I was enjoying this more upbeat, happy music. It was a far cry from the peaceful, grounding music I thought my fragile soul needed. It had a beat, in fact many different beats layered over, and I felt alive and hopeful. Inspired again. Inspired by the unknown. Scared almost. An emotion that calmness and peace restricts.
I never realised how the subtle everyday choices I was making was adding up to that big chunk of emotion I often found myself trying to decipher each night. My music was limiting my way of living to the emotional spectrum I had carefully curated and carved out for myself.
I can assure you the situation of my life hasn’t changed much. But it is crazy and mind-blowing how reflective evolving your Spotify playlists can alter your outlook of life. At the end of the day, it’s how you see your life in your mind’s eye that really matters, right?
I’m listening to these tunes right now, and it’s putting a smile on my face each time. Have a listen if you wish.
PREP — Who’s Got You Singing Again
Deep Chills — Waikiki
Peter Cat Recording Co. — I’m This
