Playlists and Playthings.

It’s funny how Friday nights have become, over the last few years, my very best time of quiet and focus. While it seems the rest of the world either settle in for a movie, or head out to rage until sunrise, this is my time, to think, write and invest fully focused energy into my work.

It is this time of the week that I save up songs for. It’s during this time that I savour the tunes that my friend Dylan spins up and weaves together (you should listen to his sweet mixes…they’re like pages from my own diaries, sometimes).

Aside from that, I have been saving up songs this week, for this time. When I woke up this morning, early, feeling refreshed…I promptly fell back asleep and had a gigantic nightmare about apocalyptic happenings. Fun. But, after the mental madness had subsided once I’d got my eyes open and was walking towards our dearly beloved coffee machine…

A quickfire mental jukebox started playing. These were the songs that popped into my head throughout today. I’m glad I saved them up for tonight’s twilight. They’re little capsules of things that have gone past, and tiny reminders of moments I will never, ever let go of.

I’ve never, ever been a fan of diamonds or gold, because I know that these are mined from the ground in wholly awful situations, by people paid minute salaries…I don’t agree with it, and I probably never will. But, these songs…these songs are some of the jewels of life for me.

This is a pretty slow tempo playlist, but it suits me today. I’m not in a rush this evening.

Because I own this album on cassette. I remember finding it in a store in the 90s, and dancing around excitedly. It was, somehow, portent for someone that would happen in my life. I haven’t listened to this song in years. I’m glad I am today.

And then, well.

By now, you’ve probably heard this. I think Eddie does it justice. It’s a gigantic song, no matter how it’s sung but, Eddie has an incredible way of bringing it to life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv9PpUMnuig

Because this is the very best version of this song you will ever hear. 

I realise you might roll your eyes at this one but, someone very special to me did something incredible recently and, well, it was this.

Because she did a very, very brave thing.

And, really, so should we all.