August is here and it is that time of the year again where we are able to look out of the window, steaming cup of tea in hand, and enjoy the beauty that the monsoon brings with it. While the pandemic continues to be worrisome, listening to music reminds us that we are never truly alone. Whether one is actively listening, or enjoying background music, there is an added quality to life that enables us to appreciate the small things even during a crisis, in this case, the beauty of the rain.
Taylor Swift is ruling the charts at the moment with “Cardigan”, a folk, soft rock mix from her latest album Folklore, and “The 1”, both trending at the top ten. “Blinding Lights”, possibly an ode to a love lost, by The Weeknd continues to entertain with its up-tempo electro-pop track.
For the romantics who enjoy the iconic all-time favourites, there can be no better choice than “Endless Love” the ballad duet by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. “How Deep Is Your Love” by The Bee Gee’s brings back fond memories of the movie Saturday Night Fever and an era that can never be forgotten. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” written by Freddie Mercury in a flash of inspiration at a hotel in Munich brings tempo to love songs like only Queen can. And it is only Queen who can leave you weeping with “Bohemian Rhapsody”, unique in arrangement and structure and possibly intended by Freddie Mercury to be a symbolic representation of his life.
If your mind is travelling to wide open spaces while being confined at home, there is no better song to listen to than John Denver’s classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. In this beautiful rendition, the opening words “almost heaven” take the senses on an imaginative journey and also somehow remind one that home is the place to be.
Coming in strong on my list of recommended hearing this month is the Dire Straits album, “Brothers in Arms”. “Money for Nothing” and “Walk of Life” from this album with a decorated history need no introduction and retain their all-time fervour. While we continue to adjust to an ever-evolving situation with the pandemic, there is one song that resonates deeply while imparting a powerful message “Life is Life” by Opus reminds us that:
“When we all give the power
We all give the best
Every minute of an hour
Don’t think about a rest
Then you all get the power
You all get the best
When everyone gives everything
And every song everybody sings
Then it’s life”
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