Keep on Keepin' On

Photo by Jens Thekkeveettil on Unsplash

Since I began writing on Substack, my goal has been to write with authenticity - to share what is on my mind, but not to feel obligated to publish on a set schedule. My writing pace has slowed a bit of late, as I've been a tad preoccupied since my last essay, "Everybody Has a Story," LINKED HERE.

What has been on my mind since then?

Surprise. It's the election.

But don't worry -- I'm not going to write about the candidates or the election. I don't think there's anything new I could possibly contribute.

I am, however, going to share some ways in which I have been coping with the unsettledness that seems to be everywhere. It won't surprise you to learn that they involve music.

I'm now deep into Daniel Levitin's new book, I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine. (BTW, the first part of the title references the first line of Leonard Cohen's song, Hallelujah.) Levitin has taken me on a fascinating journey into understanding how music and its various components (e.g., pitch, loudness, rhythm, tonality, timbre, harmony, lyrics, etc.) affect my brain and yours... and furthermore, how we use music on our own behalf every day.

"We are all budding music therapists.... Most people in the world today use music in some medicinal fashion, and most people know what music to reach for when they want to maintain or alter their mood state.... We know what combination of sound waves will change our brain waves. Our individual differences, however, cannot be ignored. There is no such thing as "relaxing" music, there is only music that you find relaxing." (p. 100)

I'm now devouring the fascinating chapters on the use of music therapeutically with conditions such as Parkinson's Disease, Trauma, Dementia, Stroke, Pain, Depression, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and others. I was excited to begin reading about Bobby McFerrin, who was creative director of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (1994 - 1998) while we lived in the Twin Cities. I was saddened to learn, however, that McFerrin subsequently developed Parkinson's. Levitin's personal relationship with McFerrin allowed him to share with us a rare glimpse of how a famous musician has been able to use his own art in service of his health. You see, in addition to being a neuroscientist, Levitin is also a musician, and he's made music with with many great artists, including McFerrin.

Overall, I have found the book to be innovative and energizing. I also applaud Levitin's skill as a writer. His ability to translate the worlds of cognitive neuroscience and music into language that is engaging and enjoyable to read is remarkable. Did I say how much I'm enjoying this book? But I digress -- back to coping.

Even though my playlist for coping in dark times won't necessarily map directly on to your playlist, I'd like to share three songs that I rely on for encouragement, energy, and solace, respectively. I'd love to hear about your playlist.

For encouragement, I turn to Raul Midón's version of "Keep on Keepin' On." I've written about Raul before --- and I'd say that this song's combination of rhythm, energy, and lyrics gives me hope and gets me moving. Take a quick listen…

For sheer energy, I sometimes turn to Niall Horan's "Meltdown." The key lyrics are "When it all melts down, I'll be there. I'm tellin' you now, tellin' you now ... When it all melts down, I'll be there." Simple -- and speaks to a key theme I've been exploring in these essays -- being there for each other, with love. The special thing about this piece is that you can visualize anyone else you'd like to be on that other side. Who would you like to be singing this to you? This upbeat song will get you moving.

For solace, I have to turn to Arvo Pärt's "Spiegel im Spiegel," the version for cello and piano. I know I've shared this one before, but I constantly turn to it in times of need. The fact that this video has gotten over 5.2 million views on YouTube suggests it resonates to others too.

These are just a few of many possible songs that I could nominate. Over this coming week, I encourage you to connect with the music that provides whatever kind of affective or spiritual lift you need. It’s OK to mute the TV. Google says that Spotify has over 100 million songs in its library and adds around 60,000 new ones every day. So there's bound to be something right for you out there. You can probably name a bunch of them right now. I'd love to hear your recommendations. For an earlier discussion on this theme, see my essay, "Music That Moves Me," (8/8/24 LINK) and the comments that follow, which contain further great ideas.

And PS: Be sure to vote. I voted 3 weeks ago. Yep. I'll see you on the other side, and we'll make more music together, whatever happens. Keep on keepin’ on.