9.07.2011

Music Challenge, Day 22: A Song You Listen To When You're Sad

I definitely listen to music the most when I'm sad. To be all emo about it, art is my therapist when I'm suffering.

Therefore, I'm going to post multiple videos for this entry, to show my therapeutic process:

Phase One: Recognizing Pain

This is the moment you come out of denial and realize that, yes, you are suffering. I've been learning, in my old age, not to run from this feeling, but to let it run it's course in me. This is the mourning period, if you will. Of course, the saddest of songs come out at this stage, such as Sheryl Crow's "My Favorite Mistake," or Otis Redding's "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." There's also this gem:





Phase Two: Coming Out of Pain

After being all cried out of phase 1, you realize that it's time to move on. This is the period where I'll play hybrid sad songs (sad songs that have an optimistic twist), as a band-aid of sorts. This includes Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" ( I love his version the best), Travis's "Side," or my favorite song for this category:




Phase Three: Forgiveness and Closure

Instead of letting my sadness turn into rage, I always try to work on the healthier avenue: forgiveness. My favorite saying on forgiveness is "Not forgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." Through this last step, I let go of the fantasy, face reality and learn how to truly say farewell. For this, I play such songs as "Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley, or my favorite (and a song that has actually taught me how to forgive):



All of these songs have at one time or another brought me to tears. I usually try to hide and hold back tears, but I've been teaching myself to embrace my humanity more often, as to not slowly turn into a robot.


The Challenge so far:
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio

5 comments:

  1. I definitely SIT and listen to music more when I'm sad. I often have it on just as noise in the background without listening, but when I'm in a MOOD I listen :)

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  2. I loved the last bit about not letting it turn into angry but forgiveness! I think that is so so so important.

    Recently I've been listening to a lot of Al Green, when I am happy AND when I am sad.

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  3. I like to listen to "Walkin' On Sunshine" when I have the blues. My special Monday morning tape, FOR YOU!!!!

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  4. hahaha. thanks for that, chris :)

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  5. Very nice selections, excellent post! Thanks for sharing the thoughts behind them.

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