What’s your mood music?

Thursday, December 6th, 2007

[mp3]/mp3s/Fiddle_and_the_Drum.mp3[/mp3]

Do you have any songs that you turn to when you’re upset about something? This one, by A Perfect Circle, is one that I return to time and time again. It’s a powerful anti-war song, no musical instruments, just voices (yeah, that’s what they call acapella, I know).

The lyrics are wonderful but the words never need to match my situation—by which I mean, if I’ve ever had my heart broken I’ve rarely turned my ear to songs about broken hearts. I learned my lesson back in the mid-90s with Celine Dion. Ugh. A relationship break-up was bad enough at the time but the Canadian dispenser of melodic depression can send the strongest of people right over the edge. Be warned. She really ought to carry a warning label like cigarette packets. But then, so should Pete Doherty. Not because he depresses but because he’s a bit rubbish.

So, back to my point: The Fiddle and the Drum is a track that comforts me when I’m feeling down. The male vocals are deep, and somehow reassuring. The song reminds me that not everyone enthuses about war, or money; that there are others in the world whose sensitivity at times leaves them feeling melancholic or even raw.

If I’m feeling joyous it’s pap pop all the way. You can’t beat the vacuous but lively Steps or the more worthy (but still fun) Abba. If I’m feeling mushy, A Whole New World from Aladdin is one of his and mine significant songs from way back when we met in 1998. Yeah I know, it’s very gay but we are two gay men so give us a break, will you? A gay man who doesn’t have a soft spot for all things Disney is a rare and callous beast who fails to get in touch with his inner boy.

So, as the headline asks, what’s your mood music? Is there a song or album that lifts your spirits or brings out tears you’ve been wanting to shed but couldn’t find any other way to get them to come out? Come on, spill the beans!

As I’m mindful of copyright issues I’m not going to keep the track available to listen to here for very long. If you like it, the album is called Emotive and is available to buy DRM-free from iTunes. Just click on the link. Easy. The album also contains a fantastically moody take on John Lennon’s Imagine, Depeche Mode’s People are People and a number of other anti-war, anti-violence songs.

categories: choons