Music Therapy

If there’s one thing I love about music, it’s the sheer breadth of choice available. Using a popular online streaming service (Spotify – other music services are available) means tunes to suit any mood are available at the stroke of my touchpad, missus.

Give the plethora (a much under-used word) of aural pleasures out there it is nigh on impossible to make a shortlist. However that was the challenge set for me by Simon a.k.a. the Musodad when he generously tagged me in the Music Therapy meme (from an original idea by Mammywoo).

The premise is to pick three songs by three different artists which hit a nerve, tug a heart string or perhaps even weaken a knee joint or two. Just three. Gawd…

1) The Smiths: What Difference Does It Make

All men have secrets and here is mine, so let it be known… this song makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I love the infectious riff and the way the way it rises in intensity. I owned this first time round on a compilation album, and every time it comes to an end in all its abrupt glory, I expect Feels Like Heaven by Fiction Factory to kick in, so strongly is it anchored in my head.

2) REM: Ignoreland

When I get angry at the world – yes dear reader, it happens – this song makes it all okay again. A song about US politics in the early 90s but much more: disaffection, disillusionment and distrust of those in power. When Stipe sings, “…I’m just profoundly frustrated by this, so fuck you, man…” you can smell the vitriol. My steering wheel has often taken a pounding to this track.

3) Air: All I Need

I can’t consider this list truly representative of music which touches my soul without including this song. I’ve blogged about it before. It reminds me of the night our firstborn came into the world. Every time I hear it I’m taken back to that point in time, the beginning of a brave new world.

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Thanks to Simon for tagging me and to Mammywoo for having the idea in the first place. As is customary I should spread the meme love, so tags to go:

Caroline at Middle Aged Cred

Kate at The Five Fs

Corinne at Journey Through Motherhood

Lorraine at Squeaky Baby

Kirsty at Things That Have Caught My Eye

Andie at Little Bits of Waffle

…plus anyone else who wishes to give their top three in the comments below *stares hard at Blake aka @Sign2ShineUK and the mysterious @BonbonsandBows*