The Friday Fix

Category: 2022

  • Nothing Stays The Same – Luke Sital-Singh

    Gill writes:

    The first time that I heard Luke Sital Singh was from quite a distance. In fact, his set started just as we began walking our son (aged 9 at the time) back to our tent at Greenbelt (being conscientious parents, we’d opted for a late-night the next night as Sinead O’Connor was headlining then).

    Luke’s music echoed through the trees and across the camping fields, and I remember thinking “I need to listen to this guy’s music when I get home.” Of course, I got home and didn’t really think much more about Luke Sital Singh and his music. That’s until Spotify decided a couple of years ago that I needed to hear his music again. Algorithms are a blessing sometimes I guess!

    I’ve been playing this song a lot lately. It helps me to feel grounded. It reminds me that you’re meant to feel life. We can’t know for sure but the first few weeks of human life must be an incredibly painful and shocking time really. Coming from a cocooned, warm world into a bright, cold, noisy place. That’s where the opening lines take me – to that moment of birth; that moment when we gasp our first breath –

    I can taste it in my mouth
    I am hanging upside down
    All the faces gathered round
    To wait and see, to breath relief
    To call my name for the first time

    It feels like life is rather surreal at the moment. We had COP26 and it’s looking like it was all ‘blah, blah, blah.’ after all. We’ve had a year without Trump in the White House but US politics still seems to be on fragile ground. Lies, deceit, corruption, abuse of power and trust seem to be our daily diet in the UK, all wrapped up in relentless reporting of Covid statistics and stories.

    I really connect with the visceral sense of both the music and lyrics of this song. It reminds us what life is all about. We hurt, we lie, we bleed, we breathe. We’re organic beings, not mechanical systems. We’re unpredictable, creative, envious, empathic, disgusted, in love, furious, entranced and so on, and so on.

    I can face it just about
    I’d rather hurt than live without
    But I will rage and scream and shout
    A love, a life, it’s dark and bright
    It’s beautiful and it’s alright

    And there is something within us that keeps us going and pulls us through. A belief and knowledge that nothing lasts forever. That tomorrow is a new day bringing hope, and with it is the potential for us to change. That’s not to say that we should gloss things over because hope is on the horizon, but because hope is on the horizon, we can own up to and handle our very human thoughts and feelings.

    Everyone is yearning for a reason for a cause
    Somewhere deep inside we’re holding on for dear life

    So whatever you are feeling on this Friday in January, you are an amazing human creation that was born to live and to feel life. And you are loved. So cry your eyes out, fill your lungs up. We all lie, we all hurt and nothing stays the same.

    Find out more about Luke and his music at https://www.lukesitalsingh.com/

  • Midnight Chorus – Kathryn Williams & Carol Ann Duffy

    Jane writes:

    I first bought an album by Kathryn Williams in the year 2000. That is such a scary thought. It remains a firm favourite, and it also happens to have some excellent cello playing in it. What’s not to love.

    Imagine my joy then, when it became clear that she had recently collaborated with Carol Ann Duffy – of the Poet Laureate fame – on a seasonal album.

    I love the NEW in new music but I have an on-off relationship with the idea of New Year and the associated celebrations. I have tales of bad parties, endlessly depressing hours in bed wishing life away, fabulous fun with dear friends at Ten Pin bowling, Safari Suppers, family laughter, fireworks, sofa-weeping, and a now-infamous story of seeing in the New Year with a gang of people drinking cups of tea on a settee with no-one making any kind of effort! My view is, if you’re going to bother then bother, and if you’re not then don’t – but whatever you chose don’t do half of it. I wonder what you did a few days ago?

    12 cold gold bells rang so we formed a circle with our hands

    So when you’re with people – the enforced mad joy of Auld Lang Syne, kissing the cheeks of those you know (and maybe the odd one you don’t), and raising a glass to absent friends seems really important in terms of ritual. Something that’s been disrupted along with many other aspects of life these last 2 years. Step in then Kathryn and Carol:

    I could wish you wealth

    But I wish you health

    Without you here I wouldn’t be myself when

    The brand new year arrives

    Here you go

    Mind how you go

    a fresh start for everyone

    In the midnight chorus of our united hearts

    There is a little bit of something that brings pressure with New Year. The need to be a better version of yourself – when you have only just managed to hang on to the last one. The need to put stuff behind you that you haven’t even started to get to grips with. The need to be optimistic about the days and months to come, when frankly the pattern of the last lot has left little to be desired. BUT. There is something kind of refreshing about it too though. A ‘circle of life’ thing (yes I know but it’s not a track for today). A new perspective. A chance for new commitments and if you want to take it – a hope in it being different.

    So maybe have your praying head on each day. Pray for good health for those you love, those you don’t, and those that try to help. Mind, body and soul. Oh and pray for wealth too – I don’t mean vast amounts – just enough to end the perpetual poverty faced by half the known world. Oh, and pray that people may be united in heart and not only interested in themselves. Oh, and if you need praying for then be assured there’s a ton of people out there doing it and you can rest in their energy and the love of God that comes with it.

    The midnight chorus carrying on day after day.

    Mind how you go!

    You can find out more about Kathryn Williams here https://www.kathrynwilliams.co.uk/

    Carol Ann Duffy here https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poet/carol-ann-duffy/