Last year I’d borrowed the idea of blogging a '50 songs in 50 days' countdown to my 50th birthday, counting back (in no real particular order) my top favorite songs of all time. Most were ballads, some were classic pop tunes, but each was a song that defines an era, no matter how small, of my life. After December 21, 2015, I began to realize there were still so many songs I love, so naturally that led to this year’s 51 to 51. I feel like music is such a huge part of my day to day life (and it has been since the seventies) just as much as talking about or writing about myself is, for anyone willing to listen/read. Therefore, I present to you my Top 51 to 51 Countdown for 2016. I hope you enjoy it and that you will chime in with your own memories, even if to make fun and be silly. That’s what it’s all for, finding the joy. Today we start with a song that is the most current on the list, one with a beautiful melody and lyrics that talk about the difficulty of finding a light at the end of the tunnel. We medicate hoping to feel better, hoping for the sadness to dissipate; hoping that when the cough syrup goes down, the woes will go away. As someone who has fought against depression for more than half my life, I hear these lyrics and am reminded that every day is a new battle, but it’s not one I’m willing to lose. Here’s to hoping.
From the historical writing archive. Original date: October 31, 2016. Recovered from local source material; editorial review is still in progress.