Music Therapy

I saw on Pinterest recently a great tag line; “The problem with real life is there is no soundtrack playing in the background”  I couldn’t agree more!  With the emotions during a divorce;  sadness, loneliness, anger, happiness, confusion, and everything in between what better way to deal with it then some music therapy? There are so many ways to deal with these emotions (see Did You Take Your Happy Pill? for dealing with anger), however what is often overlooked is the power of music during these turbulent times.  Get the stereo out, remember that thing that has giant speakers and an amplifier attached?  Get your old CD’s out or records if you can go back that far.  Start being your own DJ for the evening.  Yes this will go well with a glass of wine.  Turntables are in fact seeing a rise in popularity again.  My daughter’s latest hobby is collecting vinyl.  Ya, they don’t call them records anymore.  Even the latest bands are releasing their latest albums in vinyl as well as the CD version.  I was surprised to know this too.  Okay so, you’ve got your glass of wine and you’ve got a mess of ‘albums’ in whatever format at your feet.  Pick an old favorite.  Turn up the volume, sing along.  Keep it goin’ sister because before you know it you’ll be dancing.  I bet you forgot about some of your old favorites?  There’s something inherently rewarding about putting your music on rather than mouse clicking on your i-tunes, am I right?  here are some song recommendations to match your emotion.  Yes, there are lots of those during divorce so lets set them to music!  Our soundtrack starts here…

Anger

Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Pat Benatar -I know this one has been overplayed but remember how powerful petite Pat was in the video and how original the idea of angry woman on revenge was at the time?

Rolling in the Deep, Adele  -How could I leave this one out?

Not Ready To Make Nice, The Dixie Chicks- one of my favorites

Get out of This House, Shawn Colvin

Fun House, Pink

So What, Pink

Since You’ve Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson

Ramble On, Led Zeppelin

You Give Love a Bad Name, Bon Jovi

I Will Survive, Gloria Gayner

Sadness -

Crying, Roy Orbison

Hallelujah, Beck (classic Leonard Cohen)

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me, Elton John

Taxi, Harry Chapin

Everybody Hurts, REM

The Winner Takes It All, Abba

Why?, Annie Lennox

Time, Chantal Kraviazuk

Like Knives, City and Colour

Just Somebody That I Used To Know, Gotye

Loneliness

All by Myself,  Eric Carmen, classic self pity (think Bridget Jones)

Circle of Friends, Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians

Tonight I Wanna Cry, Keith Urban

Shilo, Neil Diamond

Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles

Cruel Summer, The Bangles

Such a Lonely One, Prairie Oyster

Happiness

I’m Free, The Who

I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash

Daydream Believer, the Monkees

Up On The Roof, The Drifters

It’s My Life, Gwen Stefani

Holiday, Madonna

Girl, Put Your Records On, Corrine Bailey Rae

I’m Walking on Sunshine, Katrina and the Waves

Ants Marching, Dave Matthews Band

Bird On A Wire, Jennifer Warrens (lyrics Leonard Cohen)

Brand New Day, Sting

And there is oh, so much more!  What is your old favorite?  What’s your divorce theme song?  What song makes you cry?