The power of music for wellness and happiness
The power of music
There have been many scientific studies on the benefits of listening and playing music and it is one of suggestions for implementing to our daily habits. For example, creating a dedicated playlist of your favourite songs for your daily walks to keep you motivated. I also had an idea of listing the top ten songs that have made an impact to me personally below. I would like to make this a regular aspect of the bi-annual magazine feature, so if you are passionate about music and would like to share your story please review the contributors page.
The benefits of listening to music
1.Music can reduce stress
This is a key benefit and as you know stress management is one of the key objectives for a healthy lifestyle. I have mentioned in some of my previous articles how poor stress management can lead to unhealthy eating habits, lack of motivation, reduced exercise and an increase in coping mechanisms such as recreational drugs and increased alcohol consumption. There are many scientific studies on the benefits of music and music therapy is a growing industry. Listening to music has a positive impact to our human stress response. Add music to your list of goals and changes to your positive daily habits. For example, create a playlist for your commute, a playlist for your daily walk(s), a specific playlist of relaxing music before bed to help you improve the quality of sleep. Please read my article on the importance of quality sleep for your overall wellbeing.
2.Music can help you sleep better
Insomnia and the inability to get a good night’s sleep is a growing global issue. During the pandemic and the aftermath, the rates of insomnia increased dramatically as we worried about our families, job insecurity and the future for our children and grandchildren. Listening to relaxing music such as classical music, or sleep apps has proven to relax the mind the improve the quality of sleep.
3. Improve your motivation
Sports scientists have proven that listening to music at the correct temp has a direct correlation with an improvement in performance. If it works for the professionals, then we should try to add to our daily goals and habits. On music apps such as Spotify there are dedicated playlists for walking, running and working out in the gym, give them a go and track the improvement,!
4. improve your mood
For me personally, this is a key benefit of music and you can see my top 10 songs that have shaped my life. Again, scientific studies have proven that music has the power to make us self aware and achieve a better mood. Music is very emotive and it has the power to bring out all types of motions from our memories.
5. Music can help reduce the symptoms of depression
Studies have shown that music therapy is a safe and low risk way to reduce depression and anxiety in patients suffering from neurological conditions such as dementia, stroke and Parkinson’s disease.
I have personally seen the benefits of music therapy as my late uncle was living with dementia towards the end of his life, but he could remember all the words of his favourite traditional Irish songs. This is one of my motivations to create the social media campaign to ask your parents or Grand parents to list and discuss their 10 favourite songs from their life so far. I can guarantee that children and adults will find some interesting stories and experiences linked to each song! Please see my selection below.
My top 10 song selection
The challenge is to try and select 10 songs that have impacted your life, inspired you, trigger an emotion, a track to improve your mood or a track that will make you run to the dance floor. (Everyone loves dad dancing). My list is in no particular order and as you can see is an eclectic mix of music genres.
The stone roses - waterfall
I could have selected a number of songs from the debut album originally release in 1989 but this song was always a classic. I was 17 years old and in sixth form and this album was the backdrop of all house parties and numerous 18th birthday parties. For example, one weekend a large group us decided to take the central line tube to Epping and then walk into Epping Forest and set up a camp for the weekend. Waterfall always reminds me of that great, impromptu weekend and dancing around the campfire. The 1980’s was a tough time economically and this song resonated with many people as Ian Brown confirmed it is a song about escape. It is a song about escaping poverty and working-class hopelessness and there is always a way out.
For me personally, this album and new “Indie music” scene was the backdrop of my informative years trying to complete my A-levels and prepare to apply for university. Looking back, it was a fantastic period in my life and I am really proud of my determination and perseverance to work hard and achieve my goals. I was the first person from my family to go to university and the first person from my council estate to attend university. Family members and kids from my council estate have told me (normally after a few drinks) that I inspired them to set career goals and attend university and that really makes me proud and happy.
In my articles, blogs and research there are many references to the importance of friendship, not being lonely and selecting friends that support and inspire you. June 2013 The Stone Roses rereleased this album to celebrate 25 years and I attended Wembley stadium with 5 of my friends and if I closed my eyes, I was dancing around the camp fire in Epping Forest again!
2. primal scream - Movin’on up
I can just look at the album cover of Screamadelica below and it just makes me smile with memories. Released in 1991 but my happiest memory is seeing them live on the NME stage at Glastonbury in 1992. Please listen to the lyrics of Loaded and I have included a link below to purchase a printed copy. They really sum up my experience between the ages of 17 and 23, there was plenty of doom and gloom in the media and the economy was suffering but I feel lucky and fortunate that my parents provided me with the freedom to be young and enjoy life…..but also study!
I have only been to Glastonbury once, but I do watch it every year and it was a fantastic experience and opened my eyes and ears to so many different genres of music, meeting new and interesting people and listening to the main sponsor Greenpeace and their mission to save the planet. Here we are ,31 years later and we are in a climate change catastrophe and it could have been avoided if we just listened to the campaigners over the years.
3. U2 - I strill haven’t found what I am looking for?
This song was released in 1987 on the Joshua Tree album and I remember buying the album on cassette and playing it all the time on my Sony walkman. (Explain that to your kids and Grandkids). Born to Irish immigrants living in London I have always been passionate about my heritage and U2 was another soundtrack to my teenage years. My dad would always tell me to take off my headphones at the dinner table, turn down the music and get some singing lessons as you sound like a bag of cats! Turns out he was correct, as I am writing this blog I am waiting for an appointment with an ear specialist to discuss the tinnitus in my left ear!
Every summer as a child we would visit my family in Kerry, Ireland and I would be allowed to visit the nightclub at the Atlantic hotel, Ballybunion, Kerry and dance the night away to all the U2 classics.
4. U2 - When love comes to town, Rattle and Hum
I have added this on my list, as I believe music is a powerful medium to open your mind to different genres, cultures, countries, politics and view points. Released in 1988, this song blew my mind, especially the vocals and guitar playing from Blues legend B.B King. I was transfixed by his playing and below video is a clip from the documentary Rattle and Hum and the song was recorded in the historic sun studio Memphis. “The birthplace of Rock’n’roll” and the discovery location of not only B.B King but also Elvis and Johnny Cash.
As you get older you start to understand that music and experiences become interconnected, and I believe sub consciously it can influence your decisions in life and path the way from great experiences.
For example, in 2018, I was working for a company with a head office in Chicago and I was asked to travel to provide some training on a new software that we were implementing. What a fantastic opportunity and I happened to discuss my love of B.B King vocals and guitar playing and my colleague Rick Neal said “If you love B.B King and the blues you must visit Buddy Guy’s legends club in Chicago. I will be writing an article “On the power of kindness “but I love travelling to meet kind hearted people like Rick. He not only took me to the club but he also bought me tickets to see the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
If you are lucky enough to visit Chicago then please check out Buddy Guy’s legends club for some authentic Orleans food and great Blues music. I was also happy to see a B.B King guitar on the wall and if my memory serves me correct, next to the Eric Clapton guitar.
I added this song onto the list an example of how we should “Open our minds” to not only music but people, cultures, food and opportunities. I strongly believe that we should take opportunities and calculated risk to have new experiences and jump out of our comfort zone.
4. Beethoven 9th symphony
I had to include classical music and opera, for me it is another example of how individuals, experiences and your life can become interconnected. I really love writing these articles and blogs and our minds are so powerful and each word or memory can trigger a thought process that send me in complete tangents. (Hence the long post).
My first experience of classical music was 7 years old at St Patricks School, Wapping, East London 1979. We had a wonderful part-time teacher called Miss Cassey that taught us the recorder and she also played the Violin. I remember we would listen to classical music and she would accompany the music with her violin. As a 7 year old, you do not fully understand how fortunate we were to have this amazing woman share her knowledge of classical music but she also arranged for us to see a matinee performance at the famous Barbican concert hall. I want you to take this opportunity to think of a teacher or youth worker that inspired you and writing my notes for this article, I realized that Miss Cassey provided me and my friends a fantastic opportunity and was a true inspiration. We were in an inner city school in East London and surrounded by council estates and she provided this window into the world of classical music and a rest bite from my dad’s Dubliners vinyl.
Please visit the Barbican website and I am happy to see they have expanded their school cultural support and we should be thankful that the Miss Cassey’s of the world are inspiring our future generation.
The Barbican also has a personal significance for me as my graduation ceremony from Kingston University took place in the main concert hall. This was a significant milestone for me personally, but I know my parents and friends were very proud. I also remember my dad being very nervous due to the formality of the situation. As a working-class man from Ireland, he told me he found the venue and occasion very intimidating. He managed to convince the bar manager at the Barbican to sell him a quick dram of Irish Whisky to calm his nerves!
Why did I select Beethoven 9th symphony ?
January 2001, I was working in Edinburgh for a New Jersey based company and again I was asked to travel for 2 weeks to provide some business training. I was very fortunate to have travelled to New York the previous year with my wife for a holiday, but I was keen to experience it from a local’s viewpoint. My boss in the New Jersey office had booked tickets to see the London Symphony orchestra at Carnegie hall in New York and they were reciting Beethoven 9th symphony. What a fantastic opportunity but the petulance of youth took over and I was really disappointed! I really wanted to visit Brooklyn or explore Manhattan.
As I have explained before, please take opportunities to try new experiences and expand our minds. The seats were amazing, and I had a fantastic view of the orchestra, and I was transfixed, and I had goosebumps through the entire performance. It was a superb opportunity and I know my wife was very jealous. After this trip and experience I explored more classical music and my wife, and I chose Ave Maria by Schuber as part of our service and found a fantastic vocalist for the performance. I have included a video below of an Andrea Bocelli performance of Ave Maria. (Still gives me goosebumps)
I also wanted to include classical music and opera as I believe that all music and culture should be open to all and children from all walks of life should have the opportunity to be inspired and learn.
When I look back on my life, a pivotal point for me was the 1990 worldcup in Italy and Pavorotti singing Nesson Dorma. I have included the below clip from the FIFA concert in Milan. I was 18 at the time and from a football perspective I have memories of the great player Toto Schillaci, Roger Milla still playing at 38, David O’Leary scoring a penalty and Gazza crying. But the great memories are still meeting your friends in the pub to watch all the games and celebrate or commiserate as a collective. From a music perspective, I believe Pavarotti exposed the world to this classic operatic recital and open the minds of a new generation to opera and classical music. If you experienced and remember the 1990 world cup, I can guarantee that listening to the below clip will bring all your memories flodding back.
5. Oasis - Wonderwall
I know my children would have guessed this a number one! I am a massive Oasis fan and love the album (“What’s the story), Morning glory ? Released in 1995, I was 23 and after graduating I was working for a bank in the City of London. I have been lucky enough to see Oasis a few times but I missed the famous Knebworth concert in 1996 but managed to see Liam Gallagher at Knebworth last year (2021).
I recently purchased the album on Vinyl and every track brings back brilliant memories of concerts at Wembley stadium, Earls Court and Milton Keynes Bowl. I was also very lucky to see them at the 100 club, Oxford Street, London.
Back in the 90s, we would often visit the 100 club to see the new and up and coming bands. I am not sure if it still happens with the world of social media but bands such as Oasis would perform under a pseudonym and perform their tracks or set to an unexpected audience. I was very fortunate to see Oasis before they hit the big time and I wish I could remember their made up band name…….let me know if you can remember?
Wonderwall in particular brings back memories of me and my friends belting it out at my surprise 40th birthday party, family car journeys, “Dad, not Oasis again.!” and dragging my kids around the Oasis photography exhibition at the London H club to celebrate 25 years of the release of Definitely Maybe. The exibition featured the works of Michael Spencer Jones, the band’s official photographer. Please visit his website www.Michaelspencerjones.com, warning if you are an Oasis or Verve fan you might be inspired to purchase some limited addition prints. Michael was the photographer of the iconin album covers for Suede - Stay together, (WHAT’S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY?, Be here now, definitely Maybe and The Verve- urban Hymns.
I suggest you click on the shop and it will take you to some exclusive limited prints via Spellbound galleries. For example, there is an amazing limited addition print of Be Here Now at night, The cover was intended to feature a night scene of a Rolls Royce submerged in a swimming pool but due to a generator failure the film came out under exposed and they used the daylight shot.
I would also highly recommend the microdot boutique based in Kendal in Cumbria, England. (On my list to visit). This company created the record sleeve artwork for everything released by Oasis and the Verve in the 1990’s. They also created the artwork for Suede, Cast, Ash, Super Furry animals and many more. Please visit the website for some fantastic prints, artwork, t-shirts and even items signed by Bonehead.
6. Paul weller - Wild wood
This song choice is probably controversial for the die hard Weller fans but it brings me back to a concert at Crystal Palace. He played Wild Wood as the sun was setting and Noel Gallagher joined him on the stage. I also think Weller is a fashion icon and probably inspired many fashion choices for men over the years.
Paul Weller had to be on the list as his music has really influenced me and I really enjoy listening to his tracks from The Jam, such as In the City, Going Underground and Beat Surrender. The Jam was before my time but I know people that were lucky enough to see them live and they were such an influential band.
For my 50th birthday, my lovely wife and kids bought me a new turntable and it was an opportunity to open the box of vinyl that my wife and I have carried from house for the last 22 years. One of the albums that I discovered (My wife’s collection) was Cafe Bleu by the Style Council that Paul Weller was also a member.
The album was released in March 1984 after Paul disbanded the Jam as he wanted to pivot towards a more soulful sound. I really enjoy listening to this album but what really caught my eye was a quote from the 18th Century French visionary, Jean Paul Marat,
“Don’t be deceived when they tell you things are better now. Even if there’s no poverty to be seen because the poverty’s been hidden. Even if you ever got more wages and could afford to buy more of these new and useless goods which industries foist on you and even if it seems to you that you never had so much, that is only the slogan of those who still have much more than you. Don’t be taken in when they paternally pat you on the shoulder and say that there’s no inequality worth speaking of and no more reason to fight because if you believe them they will be completely in charge in their marble homes and granite banks from which they rob the people of the world under the pretence of bringing them culture. Watch out, for as soon as it pleases them they’ll send you out to protect their gold in wars whose weapons, rapidly developed by servile scientists, will become more and more deadly until they can with a flick of the finger tear a million of you to pieces.””
The above really resonated with me as I know the 1980’s was a very challenging period for my dad and family due to the recession and industrial action. I can only imagine that The Style Council added this quote to the record sleeve as they were unhappy with the inequality. Fast forward, 38 years since this record was produced and in 2022 we are also facing a cost of living crisis, a recession and an imbalance in the distribution of wealth!
I also added Paul Weller as I have seen him play a few times at my favourite music venue, Brixton Academy, London. I would recommend this seller if you would like to buy an iconic print of your favourite music venue.
I have seen Happy Mondays, James, De La Soul, Carter USM, The Levellers, Ocean Colour scene, Verve, Corduroy and Lenny Kravitz to name a few.
7. Galliano - Prince of piece
My friend at university introduced me to Galliano and that started my journey of discovery for the Acid Jazz genre and in particular the Acid Jazz record label formed by Gilles Peterson and Eddie Piller. I really enjoyed this period of music discovery and followed bands such as The Brand New Heavies, Corduroy, The James Taylor Quartet, Jamiroquai, Mother Earth, Snowboy and Emperors New Clothes to name a few. I really loved the scene, especially the Acid Jazz night at the Jazz cafe in Camden London.
If you are visiting London, I highly recommend a visit to the Jazz cafe and you can combine with a visit to the famous Camden market.
Sorry if I am repeating myself, but my time at university really opened my mind to different music genres and I really enjoyed listening to Giles Peterson on Kiss FM radio station and he opened my mind to world music and i highly recommend listening to his Spotify playlists.
Listening to music van take you in different directions and for me it is a great education and provides a different perspective in terms of culture and expands your mind and knowledge. For example, Giles played a track from Beuna Vista Social club on his radio show and I was transfixed. I absolutely love this album and my wife bought me a vinyl copy to play with my new turntable. The Buena Vista Social Club is an ensemble of Cuban musicians established in 1996. The project was organized by World Circuit executive Nick Gold, produced by American guitarist Ry Cooder and directed by Juan de Marcos González. I also highly recommend the documentary that introduces us to this amazing band of Cuban artists and also provides a beautiful backdrop of Cuba, a city that is on my bucket list to visit.
I have included the image from the front cover from the album and to me it is an iconic image and a work of art. It is such an inspiring image and for me captures the beauty of Cuba and every time I play the record I just want to be transported to the recording studio.
I really still enjoy listening to Acid Jazz, Jazz, soul and world music and if you would like an introduction to the genre I would recommend the compilation album by the actor Martin Freeman and the founder of the Acid Jazz label Eddie Piller. *I have included the link to my Amazon shop for each recommendation and I am paid a small commission for purchase. However, like my book recommendations please purchase your music directly from the artist’s website or support your local record shop.
Listening to music is one of the pillars of support in a challenging world and I have also mentioned the power of meditation as a powerful tool to calm the mind. For me music is also a fantastic tool for relaxing, clear the mind and focus on your goals or just have a moment to think of things that you are grateful for in life.
8. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
I first heard Amy Winehouse on the Jools Holland show and her voice was just mesmerizing, and I loved the flexibility in her singing style including soul, rhythm and blues and Jazz. Amy was superb talent and an amazing song writer and performer that tragically died too young. Her family have set up the Amy Winehouse Foundation in her memory and they help young people to feel supported and how to manage their emotional wellbeing and make informed decisions. Please visit the website to view the work the foundation undertakes with young people and please support the foundation to keep the Amy Winehouse legacy alive. I have included the video below of her first live performance of Back to Black!
9. norman jay - various
I have already mentioned my love of Acid Jazz in the late 80s but I was also lucky enough to see Nornan Jay DJ at the famous Notting Hill Carnival in London.
However, Norman Jay was also very influential in the creation of the pirate radio station Kiss FM and when I was at university I attended a few of his warehouse parties in London. For the young readers, in the late 80s, early 90s there was no mobile phones or internet and we would listen to Kiss FM pirate radio station to listen for clues or encrypted directions to warehouse parties. Myself and my house mates would drive to London and try and find these secret venues. In my book club page, I have recommended Norman’s excellent book “Mister good times”. I highly recommend his book if you would like to understand his passion for music, travelling to New York to source new music, creating a pirate radio station, being an instrumental leads for the Notting Hill carnival and of course the challenges of creating the illegal warehouse parties. For me personally, this was an exciting period in my life and really opened my mind to not only music but the creative talent in the United Kingdom, (Yes, people would travel from all over the UK.). It would amaze me how some of the warehouses would be decorated in elaborate artwork and murals and street performers such as fire eaters on stilts would bounce around to the music.
This section is linked to Norman Jay but Judge Jules was one of the first DJ sets that I witnessed at the famous Ministry of Sound in London. Again, the pirate radio station was the source of great dance music from Judge Jules and to see him live was an amazing experience. He is a pioneer of dance music and he has the ability to connect with the crowd and create an amazing live experience. I enjoy the fact that my kids still listen to his mixes on Spotify and to his credit he has been the top dance DJ for nearly 3 decades. I added this for my kids to understand that us old fossils were young once and have great memories from the dance scene in the 90s. I have never been to Ibiza and I often threaten my teenage kids that we should all go together…..you can imagine the reaction!!
10. Christy Moore- Johnny Jump up (1976)
This choice is a call out to my Irish heritage and especially my late dad. I was born in 1972 and I have fond memories of my dad playing his Christy Moore and Dubliners vinyl records on his record player that was built into a sideboard furniture (I found the below example on ebay.)
Traditional Irish music was the backdrop to my childhood and especially on my summer trips to County Kerry in Ireland. The west coast of Ireland is beutiful and I would highly recommend for a holiday. As a write this section, I am currently listening to the Dave Grohl biography, “The Storyteller”, and he mentioned a trip to the famous “Ring of Kerry” and his visit to Dingle. I know I am biased, but it is a beautiful part of the world and you can visit the tourist guide here, Ring of Kerry | Ireland.com
For me personally, listening to Christy Moore or traditional Irish music will always make me smile and bring back great memories of my dad and the above record player!
Apologies, that this is a super long post but I am hoping for my campaign to “Ask a family member to list their top 10 songs that influenced their life” will be a fun game for the holiday season. The above is my 10 and I am really interested in other stories if you would like to add your top 10 for our new magazine. Or do you know someone who is passionate about music and maybe share a portrait and story.
I hope you enjoy this fun exercise, and there is a serious message to really find happiness through music and discuss and share your life through your musical experiences.
Message for the kids, please listen to our music and stories and humour us old fossils as you will definitely learn something your parents and Grandparents.
Love XX