Lost in music

Music can be a very powerful tool to help us change our mood and also to distract us. I suggest to some of my clients that they get together a playlist of their favourite tunes which they can listen to when they are beginning to feel down. Or maybe if they are being tempted by their addiction. And it is extraordinary what a difference a song can make. 

I have listed below 20 of my up-beat favourites which I hope you will enjoy. I realise that my younger clients (most of you then) may not have been born before some these were released but trust me either the words or the beat will get you going. And to finish I have a special short video that I look at occasionally when I wonder why the world is sometimes not as good as I would like it. It inspires me (and makes me shed a few tears). 

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Now some of you amateur therapists, or even the professional ones, may try to analyse me based on what I have chosen. Please don’t. Sometimes I choose a song because of the nice music, sometimes because of the words and sometimes because it makes my feet tap. Please just accept them for what they are or perhaps what they may mean to you!

You can find all the songs on YouTube.

1. Netta - Toy.  Israel’s winning entry in the 2018 Eurovision song contest. An important theme that we, especially women, are not playthings for others. We have feelings and all of us should be respected for who we are regardless.
2. ‘Shine’ by Take That. Now this is a song that could be the theme song for therapists. I certainly would like it to be mine!!
3. ‘Feel so real' by Steve Arrington. I love the beat of this tune but also how it focuses on how people can have such a strong influence on others, especially when in love. And I hope that we all try to have a positive influence on those we are in daily contact with.
4. ‘I will survive' from Gloria Gaynor. I think this should be the theme tune for everyone who is going through the breakup of a relationship. With a little help all of us can survive.
5.  My first Flashmob video. I just love how everyone gets involved and the amazed and                         confused faces at the start. It’s ‘Let Mr Blue Sky In’ from Cork City in 2009.
6. 'Count on me' by Bruno Mars. This tune is about how if you have close friends they will be there for you. I believe that people are basically good and most of the time, even if it is difficult, can be counted on. This song, I think, reflects this nicely
7. Jerusalema is  very catchy song from one of my favourite countries, South Africa, that flashed across the world during the 2020 lockdown. I’m not sure whether it is the dance or the tune that made this so popular, but I just love how a song with words that most people won’t understand brought the world together. There is hope for our future.
8.  One singer, Mylène Farmer, is not well known on these shores but her song, ‘Je T'aime             Mélancolie’ has, in my opinion, such a catchy beat and her voice is amazing.
9. Barbra Streisand - The Way We Were. A beautifully sung song with an important question for those in therapy - do we mainly only remember the good things in our lives and try to forget the bad times. Of course if we want to believe the best in people then yes we will focus on the good times.
10. Jess Glynne has a great voice, one that makes me want to sing with her. Not sure if, in 'Hold My Hand', she's talking about a lover or the support that a therapist can give. Probably the former but remember the relationship with a therapist is also close and supportive.
11. I think it's time to include some toe-tappers. So my first is ‘Relight My Fire’ with Take That and Lulu. I must listen to the words more carefully as i think there is a dependency issue here!
12.  Now I have to admit that I am so old that I used to do aerobics to this next one and it still gets me on my feet. Go on, try listening to ‘I’m so Excited’ by the Pointer Sisters without wanting to move!
13. The Korgis - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime. Not alot of words in this song and perhaps they don’t make much sense! But I just love the haunting and peaceful tune.
14.  The words in this next song are quite important and should, I feel, be everyone’s theme song. Gloria Gainer’s powerful song ‘I am what I am’ was adopted by the gay community in the ’80’s and if you listen to it carefully you’ll understand why. But it really is everyone’s song.
15.  Perhaps time to introduce another Flashmob. This one, from 2012, comes from ELO and is called ‘All Over The World’. Great song but I particularly like the thought of everyone across the world getting together the good things of life. I just so wish there was less trouble in the world.
16. A lot of people feel they are falling in love soon after they meet ‘the one’. But usually it’s infatuation. Love takes time to grow and depends on you getting to know the person. Liza Minnelli’s song Losing My Mind is a really good example of this first stage of a potential love match.
17. A beautiful song, No One Like You,  from this Canadian Group, Blue Hawaii. A bit of an ear-worm as Sheldon would describe it in The Big Bang Theory.  I’m not sure, as a therapist, that we should need someone for our happiness but it is so nice to have someone. And as a dog features quite a bit, maybe she is referring to the unquestioning love that dogs tend to give us.
18.  Following on from Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I will Survive’ M People’s “Moving On Up’ covers how we can all move on from a relationship especially if we have been hurt by the actions of our partner.
19.  Again the words in this song ‘C’est La Vie’ from Robbie Nevil may hit a chord with some   people especially my busy, busy clients in Canary Wharf.
20.  And finally my last video. What can I say - I am just an old romantic and I love the effort  that Alex put in to surprise Anna at this USC show. I’m warning you it’s very difficult not to cry at the end.