WILT_2020-13

A playlist of songs that intrigued me from Sunday to Saturday. Week of 20 Dec 2020 to 26 Dec 2020.

1. All I Need (Rudimental Remix) – James Bugg, Rudimental
2. More Milk – Penguin Cafe
3. Bookmarks – Richard Luke
4. A Sea of Love – Huerco S.
5. Intro – Mayer Hawthorne
6. The Other Lover – Little Dragon, Moses Sumney
7. Aura – Ambient Jazz Ensamble
8. Titanic Berlin – Joha
9. Moonlit Sky – Colleen
10. Clockworking – María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir, Nordic Affect
11. Wheels Within Wheels – Penguin Cafe
12. Believe In Me – Makoto, Paul T & Edwards Oberon
13. 誰にも言わない (Darenimo Iwanai) – Hikaru Utada
14. Pain (Live) – The War on Drugs

Hyperlink to Spotify playlist: WILT_2020-13

Notes

What a whirlwind of a week! But also, what a marvelous time of catching up with family and friends, especially with blessings of fellowship, unity and delicious food and drink. I never used to be very festive in my youth, but it is something I am learning to be a more active participant in through my marriage. Jenna is an extremely dedicated individual, and she chooses to make a difference in the lives of the people around her by being there for them through symbols and gestures. The Christmas season is a sparkling opportunity of seeing that good heart in action, and I consider it a privillege even if I’m just provding an extra pair of hands to her efforts.

Speaking of action, one other thing stood out for me as I attended church service. To maintain safe management measures, there is no live music or singing in the pews. So to work around this, the worship session is now a pre-recorded music session with a volunteer team performing actions to the lyrics of songs! Now this might sound awfully childish, as if we were being led through a children’s TV show segment, but I actually found it incredibly liberating.

On a surface reflection, it’s because sometimes I get distracted by music performance or arrangement, as well as my own singing, struggling to stay in pitch for an arrangement that was not catered for my range. In essence, it takes a while to surrender your pride to actually worship with an abandon. However, through this novel workaround, I found myself absored in following the gestures that were being taught to me. Yes, I had to surrender some personal pride to participate, but what the heck, it’s Christmas time and I thought I would try something new instead of being my usual critical self.

And I am really glad I tried this out. It was actually liberating because while we could not speak or sing out loud, through action we were also able to express what was inside. And that is bolstering because resilience will find a way. In times of crisis, perhaps we can find another way. Perhaps if we allowed another way, we can continue to be there for others and help break the cycle of whatever is holding us back.

It is the thirteenth installment of WILT_2020 and I am really heartened that it has been going on for as long as it has. Thirteen has always been a symbolic number for me. It is known as the unlucky number but I always tried to specially look out for it because I did not want to believe that it was a bad sign. I think it had to do with a youthful exuberance of not wanting to allow superstition and limits to oppress the limitless imagination.

I look forward to doing WILT_2021 for a full 52 weeks and seeing what new musical adventures and reflections await us, but the fourteenth installation first.

PS

I would like to make a mention that this is the second time that Pain (Live) by The War on Drugs has made an appearance on WILT. The first time was on WILT_2020-03, I think when the single version was first released or at least brought to my attention. However, I’ve been spending more time with this live album these past two weeks and everything in the lyrics, arrangements and performance of this song really stood out for me. Lyrically, I interpret the song as being about depression, but the performance is full of a desparate anguish and melancholic surrender, which is so achingly and beautifully presented in the way Adam Granduciel sings, almost shouts, or mutters under his breath “I resist what I cannot change / Like a demon in the doorway / I want to find what can’t be found.” All this is encapsulated in the closing guitar solo after the last sung line, and Granduciel plays the same guitar note for at least twenty four counts. As the chord changes and instrumentation progress under it, the pitch of his note stays the same but the dynamics increase in aggression. It is a hugely emotional moment in the song, that bears multiple listens and perspectives. As a band leader, he’s taking the band on incredible highs and lows, but as a band, they are incredibly consistent. Not boring mind you, but extremely dependable to never outshine their leader, but giving him all the support needed to exorcise whatever demons are within, to participate in whatever conjuration necessary to deliver healing in this shamanistic ritual.