Music That Makes You Feel...

Just in case you weren't already in the loop, my 25 year old body houses the mind of someone much older.  I like staying in over going out on a bender; I fall asleep with a blanket at 9pm; I take my blanket camping rather than a five litre bottle of cider.  I'm sure you get the idea.

So, now you know I'm completely qualified when I say "chart music today... it all sounds that same".  I'm sure that statement is entirely incorrect, but I genuinely struggle to distinguish one 'artist' (I use the word artist as loosely as I might if someone tried to potato print the Mona Lisa) from the next.

Fine, pop music is exactly what it says on the tin - it's popular, so clearly my opinion is in the minority.  It's designed to be catchy and easy to listen to (which some might translate as repetitive and challenging).  If I said there were no chart songs that I enjoyed or that got into my head like a little ear worm, I'd be lying, but it's certainly a minority.

But, before you all go away knowing nothing more about me than I'm the youngest OAP you've ever come across and I appear to have some kind of music superiority complex, let me just explain myself.  The problem with music nowadays (yes I did just say that) is that it doesn't make me feel anything.  Except disappointment - which as anyone with a parent willing to use emotional blackmail will know, is much worse than feeling angry.

Perhaps it's the monotonous backing tracks or perhaps it's a lack of meaning in the lyrics.  For example, consider the Black Eyed Peas track I Gotta Feeling - "Fill up my cup, Mazel tov".  More effort making the words rhyme than worrying about what they're actually saying.

And that's why, to me, finding music that really makes me feel something is a joy.  The song doesn't need to make me feel happy, just feel something... anything!! There are songs that remind me of friends I miss, tracks that I love to listen to when I feel sad or angry, and sometimes it's as simple as giving me a bit of a shiver if I love it.

So, I'd like to officially launch a short series of music that makes me feel something.... my aim was two weeks of posts but the list changes every time I review it, so let's just play it by ear shall we...?