Tales from Burkeland: Tale Seven
I stood, eyes closed, among a crowd of thousands, at the Disturbed concert. Pounding drums and electric guitar shook the floor beneath my feet, and David Draiman’s deep, clear voice cut through my thoughts as the metal band performed “The Light.”
A glow penetrated the darkness behind my eyelids. I opened my eyes. Waving cell phone lights lit up the arena like lighthouse beacons. For a few minutes, the bout of depression I’d been struggling with dissipated. For the first time in what felt like weeks, I smiled genuinely.
That’s the power of live music. And I love being in the audience. There’s magic in the way performers bring crowds together and, for a few hours, nothing matters but the music. Thankfully, that power isn’t limited to live performances. Music, like story, seeps into our psyche, activating all parts of our brains and wielding the power to alter thought and mood. I bend that power to my will whenever I need to.
Spotify is by far the most used app on my phone, and I’ve nearly always got something playing. Here are a few of my favorite artists.
The Killers. They were my first concert back when I was 16. I still remember watching Brandon Flowers strut across the stage singing “Mr. Brightside.” If they’re performing within driving distance of me, there’s a good chance I’ll be there.
Pop Evil. This hard rock band got me through physical therapy and recovery after I tore my ACL in 2021. As I struggled to get my knee to bend, extend, and push weights, I blasted their hard rock songs through my earbuds to drown out the roaring pain I thought sure meant my knee would explode apart.
Taylor Swift. Since we’re about the same age, I can always count on Taylor to release a song perfectly capturing the stage of life I’m in. Her music reminds me that I’m not alone in my experiences.
Backstreet Boys. I hardly remember a time I wasn’t listening to them. Not surprising considering I was five when they released their first album. Obviously, I was team BSB in the 1990s and 2000s (sorry not sorry N*Sync).
Ludovico Einaudi. This Italian pianist and composer crafts the most beautiful piano songs I’ve heard. Listening to them often feels like riding ocean waves or soaring on air currents. It’s on my bucket list to see him live, and I may or may not have spent a long while daydreaming about being in his audience in Rome when I looked up his tour dates for this year. Alas, none near me.
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What you missed in this month’s newsletter:
From the Drafts — My Writing Playlist.
Remember You Shine — Go-to Songs for Empowerment.
Myths and Magic — Phasing with the Moon.
From My Shelf — Kpop Demon Hunters on Netflix.