Pandemic Playlist: 5 thoughtful songs on poverty that will remind us to lend a helping hand to those in need
There are too many people going through financial struggles during the coronavirus era. A note that needs no reminder, but it is without question, a certain motivational pick-me-up can often be found in music. It can put a smile on our face in times of trouble, but when a smile just isn't enough, music can give us a reminder that someone out there has made it through. Just the thought that you are not alone is sometimes all you need. Listen to our top five thoughtful and motivational songs about dealing with financial woes.
Emerson Drive: 'Moments'
Released in 2006, 'Moments' is a country ballad that tells the story of a young man intending to commit suicide as he approaches a bridge. He is followed by an old, homeless man who rises from his cardboard box shelter to share that his own life hasn't always been difficult. "I've had my moments, days in the sun. Moments I was second to none. Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do. Like that plane ride coming home from the war. That summer my son was born. And memories like a coat so warm. A cold wind can't get through. Lookin' at me now you might not know it. But I've had my moments." The tender exchange distracts the young man long enough for him to rethink his decision. Perhaps the expression "it can't get any worse" distracts us from the fact that it can get better.
Listen to 'Moments' here.
Ed Sheeran: 'The A Team'
This meaningful song is Ed Sheeran's debut single and was written after he visited a homeless shelter and heard some of the stories of the lives people had been living. This time the story centers around a young woman, more specifically, a prostitute addicted to crack cocaine, a Class A drug. The folk ballad gets an upbeat rhythm, dealing with the heavy subject matter, as Sheeran sings, "White lips, pale face. Breathing in snowflakes. Burnt lungs, sour taste. Light's gone, day's end. Struggling to pay rent. Long nights, strange men."
Tracy Chapman: 'Fast Car'
We know the feeling of wanting to hop into a car and drive away from our burdens. Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' manages to hit that sweet spot on the calming sensation that comes with being on the road and far away from such troubles. The folk rock song tells a story of a working poor woman who dreams of something better as she tries to escape the continuous cycle of poverty. The song is realistic, personal and enriching in its tone without any yearn for modern glamor and success.
Phil Collins: 'Another Day in Paradise'
This massive hit song released in 1989 is hard to forget. Hitting on notes more toward those with privilege, the track is rather apt in this time when the world could do with a helping hand. Phil Collins, a songwriter whose emotive words have proven to heighten the attention of listeners since his days with Genesis, sings, "She calls out to the man on the street. 'Sir, can you help me? It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep. Is there somewhere you can tell me?' He walks on, doesn't look back. He pretends he can't hear her. He starts to whistle as he crosses the street. She's embarrassed to be there." The lyrics boldly capture the awkward exchange between someone in need and someone not so in need, and the music sonically envisions the sad result of turning away, ignoring fellow human beings who struggle.
Queen: 'Is this the World We Created...?'
A spiritual brother of the previous track and with its introspective message, Queen's 'Is this the World We Created...?' is the perfect ender of today's five-track Pandemic Playlist. Perhaps looking inwardly is always the first step in bettering oneself and one's challenging situation, whether our circumstances are the result of our own choices or someone else's. Freddie Mercury's lyrics on this song tie well into the state of the world today and raises the notion that we are all somehow responsible in some way. Listen to the lyrics from the song below. Queen was always ahead of its time.
Pandemic Playlist is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained instead of feeling drained while you're isolated at home. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEAWW to refresh your mood every day