March is usually known for basketball, daylight savings time (in the US), and the first signs of spring. For me, March was about appreciating what I have currently in my life, enjoying moments for what they were, acknowledging that situations, people, places, and things made me happier than a clam in sand and that what didn’t bring me joy was okay as well and that it was even more than okay to let what doesn’t bring you joy go. There is something to be said about being in love with yourself and acknowledging what makes you happy and doing what you can to create more abundance of that in one’s life. Life doesn’t come with a guidebook, but if we listen closely, there is guidance from our hearts, our guts, The Universe, and sometimes sound advice from those we trust as well.
“Our War” by Neon Trees
It was the speaking at the beginning of this song that caught my attention: “Love would heal if we stayed true to the dreams of our youth…” It just kind of set the mood for March.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_UmAQ27iV0]
“If Still It Can’t Be Found” by Joe Pug
This song is here for these lyrics: “If it’s not around this corner, it’s around the next. If it’s not beyond this river, it’s beyond the rest. And if still it can’t be found, it’s probably for the best. So I’ll keep walking on…You can hear the echoes of my steps…There’s a road I have known I could always find…” Being lost on your emotional, spiritual, mental journey sucks. I get that. I’ve fallen off the yellow brick road more than once, but you keep going and you stumble back on it where you’re meant to be. As long as you get to where you want, doesn’t matter the road you took. You got there. You survived.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLbhitsE4Tc]
“Lose Yourself” by Sponge (cover)
I was in a cafe in Surry Hills and it was quietly rocking a crap ton of Eminem. Everyone in the cafe were young business folks, hipsters, and those people who looked as if they stepped out of a magazine, but quietly on the overhead, this song was their soundtrack to their lunch, brunch, coffee, whatever. I liked the juxtaposition of the midweek people lost in their worlds and phones and not even knowing or perhaps even unaware of the music that was sinking slowly into their subconscious. I chose this version of the song because I love how Sponge makes it a rock song by keeping that grit and grunge that they’re known for and infusing it into the song.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2i6kdRuqwM]
“Clair De Lune” by Flight Facilities featuring Christine Hoberg
I was sitting in Pepe’s in Wollongong when I heard this song and it just complimented the picture postcard day perfectly. The lyrics “don’t go, tell me that the lights won’t change, tell me that it’ll stay the same…” was describing how I felt about the sun shining, the light breeze and ocean view. I just didn’t want that moment I had enjoying The Universe to end.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcu1AHaTchM]
“Doing it to Death” by The Kills
New song from The Kills. That is all. Pre-order the album now. This duo can do no wrong.
Though I absolutely love these lyrics: “But when the waves come, you face them…” I have used that line talking to friends more this month than I probably have ever in my life and there it is in a song.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=498zUzNGQxY]
“Give” by Tori Amos
This song was gifted to me by an Uber driver. He kept flipping music until this song. I had forgotten what a great song this was and what a great album Abnormally Attracted to Sin was. The song just reminded me that to grow and learn as a person sometimes we have to give pieces of ourselves away and let walls come down. Sure as hell ain’t easy, but a tiny step in the right direction is better than running away and in the wrong direction. These lyrics kind of sum it all up: “So you heard I crossed over the line. Do I have regrets, well, not yet…I know that I must give so that I can live…”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIa1Z0nk23s]
“Without Me” by Eminem
I don’t know what it is about this particular Eminem song, but it makes me smile. I heard it at the cafe from above but I also heard it on the radio here in AUS and thought “you know, I just need to add the song to March”. Let’s face it, we all think this: “Cuz it feels so empty without me!”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVkUvmDQ3HY&w=420&h=315]
“Tempted” by Duran Duran
From their Red Carpet Massacre album comes this great little D2 gem. I’m pretty sure the song is about being tempted by sex and so on, but I found myself thinking about how we can be tempted to stay put in our same never ending cycles or we can be tempted to break those cycles and live a new life. I think some temptation is good for the soul. Especially if you grow as a person.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk9GacbC9Kk&w=420&h=315]
“Time to Wander” by Gypsy & the Cat
This is just a fun song I heard playing in a restaurant. It was catchy enough to catch my ear and make me “shazam” it.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN0JZJ4MA6c&w=560&h=315]
“Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
Sometimes you just need someone to tell you “don’t worry about a thing cuz every little thing will be all right” at a certain moment and when you don’t have a someone to do that, The Universe gives you Bob Marley playing on an overhead PA in a cafe as you order a coffee.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGYAAsHT4QE&w=560&h=315]
“Tired of Talking” by LEON
When The Universe doesn’t give you music, it can come from your best friends. Ronnie, aka “The Hubby”, sends me the best music and the song usually is a song needed at the moment. This song wasn’t needed per say but the lyric: “I’m tired of talking” just clicked because sometimes talk is talk and you need to see the action in motion.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v1xL0Epakc&w=560&h=315]
“Wild Horses” by Birdy
Another one from Ronnie. I just loved the lyrics: “I’m a dreamer, but it’s hard to sleep when your head’s not in it. I’ve been restless…Our human hearts forget how strong they are and they get lost along the way. It’s not giving up, it’s letting go and moving to a better place…”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCP6sXi33JE&w=560&h=315]
“Kingfisher” by PHOX
This was a gift from iTunes on shuffle…I just liked the light airiness feel of this song
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiWBwxk0HXo&w=560&h=315]
“Year of Living Dangerously” by Scissor Sisters
These lyrics. That is all: “This is my life, this is my dream. This is my belief, it’s my fantasy. I still haven’t found what’s gonna set me free. This is my year of living dangerously. This is my time, just let me be. This is my design, it comes naturally. I still gotta find what’s gonna set me free. This is my year of living dangerously.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4gu7x56_wc]
“Mesmerized” by Faith Evans
I have RuPaul’s Drag Race back in my life. Yes, I am obsessed with this show but not only is it entertaining, it always inspires and pushes people (The Queens) out of their comfort zones. I really just dug this song that was a “Lip Sync for Your Life” Song.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d23lKq6pY8Y]
“Tie Me Down” by Jack Savoretti
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this song is a reminder to me to not give up. “We’re here to live, we’re here to love. We’re here to touch, feel and see. When the lows get too heavy, I must teach myself to climb…When the tears get too heavy, I must teach myself to cry…There’s got to be a way, I’m a hunter for a better day…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBBpLzZXR80]
“Nobody Said It Was Easy” by The Four Horsemen
Life does not come with an instruction manual and nobody said it was easy. This song sums that up.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcveGZv799w]
“Golden Years” by David Bowie
First, did a little research on this song. It’s as old as I am. In fact, if the facts are correct, then I am actually 5 days older than the release date of the song. That has nothing to do with why the song is on the March list. I just found it interesting. Bowie was an artist ahead of his time. Appreciated by creative, artsy, music types, not so much by others. Any way, while listening to Earthling by Bowie with someone, this song popped up. It was a stark contrast to Earthling era Bowie. Lyrically, the song stuck with me as it played. “Don’t let me hear you say life’s taking you nowhere. Look at that sky, life’s begun. Nights are warm and the days are young…In walked luck and you looked in time, never look back, walk tall, act fine…”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKUy6ygUgP0]