Thank You - Love, Funk Punk Lives
Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash.
Thanksgiving has been hard for me since the start of the coronavirus quarantine in the spring of 2020. Holidays usually involve travel to far away places and I haven’t been able to afford that for a long time. With my immediate family moving out of my state the summer of 2020, the thought of trying to book and plan trips, trying to coordinate FaceTime or Zoom calls (much less phone calls), is quite frankly a daunting task. Everyone in my family is scattered and separated now and I know I’m not the only one who is dreading those holiday blues.
The older I get though, the more I realize what’s important in this life. I can’t change the physical circumstances that keep my family apart — our celebrations will always be small, intimate and few and far in between. While I may be envious whenever I hear friends or coworkers talk about their large get-togethers with massive menus, the bright side is my appreciation for this time of year seems to be more intense than those around me due to my tiny circles of people. I savor every moment, every missing detail I get filled in on, every dish and decoration and photograph. I understand how fleeting it is, so my excitement for it is elevated.
Thanksgiving is a time of reflection and reflecting back on the past two years of running this blog, I’m in awe and amazed at how much the world around me has changed. I’ve changed a lot too, both as a journalist and a person. When I began this project, I was in the darkest place I’ve ever been. Through my brokenness though, I was able to find my center again, what I had been living for all along: music.
Since then I’ve accomplished so many things, including creating this beautiful platform where I can share the art I’m so passionate about. I’m damned grateful for all the growth and healing I’ve been able to do and for everyone who has supported me every step of the way, kin and buddies alike. I’ve been able to build this network of incredibly talented, genuine, authentic musicians and artists and it’s been a humbling journey to say the least.
As a gift back to you, I’d like to offer up a special playlist just for Thanksgiving, especially if you’re unable to celebrate with family for whatever reason, be it distance or discourse or absence. The following songs were hand-picked by me. They are songs that make me feel thankful for love, thankful for life and thankful for the human spirit. We are creatures that need connection and I hope this list resonates with someone.
You are here, you are loved and you are so, so special to me. I am thankful to have you.
Please enjoy, share and have a Happy Thanksgiving:
1. Tonight You’re Perfect by New Politics
2. The Weekend by Modern Baseball
3. We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monae) by fun.
4. Only The Wild Ones by Dispatch
5. We’re Going To Be Friends by The White Stripes
6. The Kids From Yesterday by My Chemical Romance
7. Post Humorous by Gus Dapperton
8. Happen To Me by Benee
9. Laughter Lines by Bastille
10. Resistance by Muse
11. When We First Met by Hellogoodbye
12. The King by Sarah Kinsley
Access to this playlist here: “Thankful 2021.”
UPDATE: The above link/playlist has been retired as of November 2022. Check out my latest blogs to stay on top of my most current music recommendations.
