Do you ever get that feeling that … no one, but no one, gets you? Not your partner, not your best friend … maybe not even your Mum?
Well I’m here to tell you that this is not a rare phenomenon. Even though sometimes you have the feeling that everyone else belongs … that everyone else fits in and that the only things you say are wrong, most of us feel like that, from time to time.
And how do I know this?
Well one of the ways is because I listen to the words of songs. If you’re a lyricist like me, you’ll notice the words of songs as the first thing that hits you, but from my experience, we are by far the minority. If it’s the beat or the melody that you usually hear, and if you find yourself singing away to songs but never having taken any notice of the words that you are singing, then it’s quite easy to change that. Just pause for a moment, and hear what the singer or band is singing about. It’s a really powerful tool, and once you start doing it, you won’t stop, because it can give you that real sense of connection. Sometimes it can give you a feeling of relief, just to know that others have been there too. At other times, it can also help you to gain some insight into those you love, by listening to their music.
And of course, it’s not always negative feelings that we connect with when we love a song. Often I connect with the joy of particular songs, the excitement, … sometimes they just bring up memories of different times in my life. I’m sure you’ve all heard people talk about what is on the soundtrack of their lives. Well if you relate to music as I do, you might already know about what makes it onto the soundtrack of your life so far, but remember this, it’s a work in progress, just as you are. I kind of think of my soundtrack of life as a box set, which can fit a lot of music inside it.
So, if you love music as much as I do, think about what would be in your box set. It might be that you have different albums or playlists, for each significant stage in your life … for different relationships, for particular holidays where you’ve remembered the music that was playing at the time … it can be a great way to relive memories and to express emotions that you’ve pushed down. I once made a whole CD of sad music for example, because my dog Garnet had died, and just making it helped me grieve.
And of course, there are playlists that don’t have to make it into your box set. They might be playlists for particular moods that you experience … for if you’re feeling happy as you prepare for dinner with friends, for if you’re feeling angry or frustrated and want to scream it out at the top of your lungs as you drive home from work, or Feeling the love bug and want to sing along with someone else whose also there. The concept is limitless, and if I can’t find the words myself, I can usually find them in someone else’s.