Whisper on a Scream ~ Music for 2021

State of the World

Sing with me, sing for a year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear

Aerosmith

I am a realist.

I strive to be a positive person but I do not have my head in the clouds (not ever, about anything, which admittedly has its downsides… mostly for the people I’m in relationships with who — at least while “in love limerance” — don’t like to have their fantasy bubbles popped). If something is out of my control, I accept that fact (sometimes begrudgingly). I try to see the possibilities in What Could Be and strive toward better things rather than dwell on What Was or spiraling into negativity, but I face reality head-on (with all the confrontational stampeding grace of a charging rhinoceros) and I am pragmatic to a fault.

Coming out of 2020… While it was a relief to at least have a time-marker for a new calendar start, it was also clear — this year more than ever for many, I think — that there is nothing magical about that date. If anything, January 1st was the impetus for spiking the punch 2020 had us guzzling. So far, 2021 has looked back at its drunken asshole compatriat 2020 and said, “Ima one-up you, bud. Here. Hold my beer,” and then proceeded to vomit all over us while attempting to dance with a lampshade on its head.

So yes: Last year sucked. So far, this year does too. It’s not going to improve quickly or soon.

But also: I absolutely refuse to not keep the faith.

And so, with an acknowledgement of those two truths, I have put together a playlist for 2021.

I’ll list the song titles individually, and you can click the menu button inside the playlist to choose an individual title if you’d like, but if you’d rather just listen to the whole thing (it’s basically an hour-long set), scroll to the bottom and click play.

Songs for 2021

This post came about because a fellow blogger posted a musical prompt with the following question going into 2021:

What song(s) give you hope for a positive new year? Which songs get your juices flowing and make you want to dance out the bad to make room for the new?

I struggled with that a little bit, to tell you the truth.

Because I feel a lot of different things right now, both about the year that’s just passed and the one that’s recently begun, and those emotional responses don’t all work together well. I’m frustrated yet ambivalent; I experience both anxiety and numbness; the wish for bonding and closeness with family and loved ones clashes with my desire for strict boundaries and my insistence on independence. Living on a prayer is nothing new to me and yet I still get a rush when I make it through whatever challenges life throws my way, because goddammit, I’m still standing. I acknowledge that the world is running off the rails on a crazy train, yet there is an impossibly bright ember of hope flickering in the ashes of my burnt-out trust in humanity that makes me want to sit around the fire, hold hands (not really — don’t touch me please), and sing Kumbaya.

But you know what? Those mixed responses are part of being a multi-dimensional human. And I’m only human, after all.

So rather than *a* song, or even two or three, I decided to make a full playlist:

• Land of Confusion by Genesis — this is the world we live in, and these are the hands we’re given
• Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd (I’m sure we’re all feeling this by now; explanation is unnecessary)
• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — for my people: I’ll be there in a hurry, you don’t have to worry
• My Life by Billy Joel — go ahead with your own life; leave me alone
• Freewill by Rush — no his mind is not for rent, to any god or government
• Blue on Black by Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band (from whence the title of this post originates — I’m not going to explain; listen if you like, you’ll figure it out)
• Calling All Angels by Train — when there is no place safe and no safe place to put my head, and you can feel the world shake from the words that I said
• If You’re Going Through Hell by Rodney Atkins — you might get out before the devil even knows you’re there
• Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey — the storyline of the song is not the point; the refrain is a message to myself, and no doubt one a multitude of others need to join the chorus on and sing from the heart
• The Best Is Yet To Come by Samantha Fox (it is, I promise — things will get better, I believe it)