Although I didn’t want to leave the bliss of being curled up with the man I love this morning, Monday still demanded my presence. I soothed my Monday mourning by deciding to re-read (or in this case re-listen) to my favorite book of all-time (God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo). Listening to Beatrice and Jacob meeting for the first time reminded me of Chris and I meeting for the first time. I found myself nodding in recognition more than a few times, and at one moment tearing up as I remembered how it felt to first see each other in-person. Those butterflies, they still come when I see his face every day. They’ve never gone away.
As I drove on through the city I had this overwhelming feeling of hope. Now granted, I do tend to be a hopeless hopeful person. No matter how much life has tried to beat that out of me, I’m an optimist. I believe in good things. And, for the most part, I trust in things working out. But this was a stronger feeling than my default hopefulness. I think this week will be gifting us good things. I feel it in my gut, and in my bones.
Although I didn’t listen to any music on my drive in, there is music in God-Shaped Hole. Lots of it. And, one of the albums and songs mentioned informed my first choice of albums to play this morning. From Miles Davis’ Seven Steps to Heaven, I went on to check out this week’s Spotify Discover Playlist, as well as check-out the new Beach House album, 7, again (the first time it really didn’t grab me), after talking to a friend briefly about it yesterday. It is starting to grow on me, I must admit.
From those listening Monday morning endeavors, today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions were borne. I’d love to hear what music is obsessing you, as well. If you want to share, leave some music in the comments below.
Top 5 Music Obsessions of the Day – July 16, 2018
1. “No Hard Feelings” by The Avett Brothers
“Will I join with the ocean blue,
or run into the savior true,
and shake hands laughing,
and walk through the night,
straight to the light,
holding the love I’ve known in my life,
and no hard feelings.”
The Avett Brothers’ beautiful and bittersweet song “No Hard Feelings” was the first track on this week’s Spotify Discovery playlist. Some of that hope I mentioned above, and how my normal state is hopeful, is in this song to me. The sentiment of no hard feelings, of letting things go, of seeing the good and deciding that love is all that really matters. That all the rest will sort itself out. And that bitterness and regret are not worth holding on to. That’s what I hear in this. Even though this song is about death, to me it also speaks (sings) about living.
2. “Alchemy” by Bill Patton
“History tells us you don’t want to be native,
but you don’t want to leave home either.”
I’ve been told I’m naive more times than I can count. Its usually packaged up with being stupid, misguided, and over-emotional. But honestly, I don’t think I’m naive at all. I see things much clearer and realistic than most people realize. I just refuse to see the world as ugly and negative. I choose to believe in love and hope and happiness. If that’s naive, then so be it, but I don’t think that’s what it is. Sometimes it is very lonely to be this way. Misery loves company, as they say, so us believers are usually left out in the cold. But maybe, if I keep trying, I can coax more people into being naive, and hopeful, too.
The first two lines of this song remind me of all that.
3. “I Fall In Love Too Easily” by Miles Davis
Instrumental
When Beatrice (Trixie) and Jacob first meet, in God-Shaped Hole, they go to a used record store and pick out a record for each other. Jacob picks Miles Davis’ Seven Steps to Heaven and tells Trixie that this is his favorite song. I’d remembered it was a Miles Davis album that he picked out (and that hers was a Nick Drake album, for him), but I didn’t remember which one. When I got to work I played the entire album while I pulled reports and answered emails. I let it play twice, actually.
This is a really beautiful track.
4. “Angel From Montgomery” (live) by Bonnie Raitt and John Prine
“Make me an angel that flies from Montgom’ry.
Make me a poster of an old rodeo.
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to.
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go.”
I’ve loved this song since I was a little girl. I had no idea that John Prine wrote it, as I’d only ever heard Bonnie Raitt sing it (and later, Susan Tedeschi). I love this live version of John and Bonnie singing it together.
5. “Pay No Mind” by Beach House
“Baby at night when I look at you,
nothing in this world keeps me confused.
All it takes: look in your eyes.”
The album is starting to grow on me. Especially this song.
