Nothing lasts forever? If there’s any hope in our current situation, is that all things must end (somehow, some way). Just last year I created a mix touching on music that paid a huge respect to its spiritual leanings. “The Coat Of Many Colors” tried to link our connection with the universal hymn one can only discover when one is truly by oneself. It was my attempt to comprehend something that might speak to someone trying to understand our initial round with COVID-19.
Now a year later, with glimmers of light at the end of this godforsaken tunnel, I kept thinking about how our focus has turned elsewhere. Now it’s far more important to stress our reliance on others more than ever. On my latest mix for LYL Radio I focused on closing the loop of the past year, to choose songs that were “empowering” — in an untraditional sense.
If you get any kind of counseling, or entertain any kind of physiological awareness, one of the first things you realize is how important it is to own up to what you can and can’t do. “Pride goeth before destruction” — as they say. And in this past yearly, seasonal cycle, we’ve all (with a capital “A”) experienced more needless destruction — in all its facets — than necessary.
So, what makes us any better than when we were young, infant, and more naive? A time we all can relate to as truly relying on the help of others. Our ideas on morality, values, and selflessness were all born from that melange of curiosity, humility, and self-process. Now, though, it seems, the more we age the more something that could be positive — a steadfast resolve — mutates into cowardice robbing us of our ability to get help when it’s sorely needed. If you’re in pain — help is on the way. If you’re a witness to any pain — it’s on you to lend a hand.
When kindness reigns supreme, I wholeheartedly believe it will be when we figure out that just us is never enough. We need each other (even if it’s at more than an arm’s length) because we’re of each other, but that’s on everyone of us, right?
Here’s to a few songs that speak to part of a universal truth…
It’s On You
Tracklist:
Pauline Murray and The Storm – Don’t Give Up/Aversion
Nadja (ナジャ) – 頬に紅い恋
Yoshitaki Minami (南佳孝) – Midnight Love Call
Kofi – Wishing Well
Fernanda Abreu – Você Prá Mim
Mio Takaki (高樹澪) – 夢みるコラソン
Naomi Akimoto (秋本奈緒美) – 0のTitle
Masayoshi Takanaka (高中 正義) – Chill Me Out
Motoaki Masuo (増尾元章) – Wind From Oahu
Joyce Cooling – It’s On You
Luis Miguel – Sunny
Lee Ritenour (Ft. Maxi Priest) – Waiting In Vain
Nina Catarina – Pecados Do Passado