This past week I’ve felt a mix of emotions about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our country and the world. Those emotions have definitely shown up in the tunes that landed in this week’s playlist.
Iris DeMent’s romp, Trouble, hits with the certainty of the blues we all know during difficult times and The Beatles’ Help! reminds us there are people around us we can turn to, if only we reach out and ask them.
When you’ve had enough trouble, sometimes there’s nothing left to do but dance. KC and The Sunshine Band showed up this week with Shake, Shake, Shake to bring disco grooves to my kitchen dance party. My favorite version of the Grateful Dead’s Sugaree was also to get my feet moving.
“We don’t stop dancing when we get old, we get old when we stop dancing”
When the dancing was done, defiance and resilience arrived for me with the Down with Disease by Phish, Redesigning Women by the Highwomen, and Won’t Get Fooled Again by The Who. The playlist ends where my week ended, thinking about what lies ahead for my son’s generation. Teach Your Children by CSN&Y has the hope and practical optimism I needed.
This week the world lost a great American songwriter, John Prine, to the coronavirus. I’ve included one his most poignant observations on the hope and power of love, In Spite of Ourselves. Rest in peace, John.
So that’s it, a rollercoaster of a week and a playlist to match. I hope it helps you find hope and resilience within yourself, and gets your feet moving, too.
Peace and love,
Paul