Only Love

I love those songs that make life seem suddenly calmer and slower paced, songs that just chase away your fears and pain, if only for 4 minutes. These kind of songs really make me feel clear-headed and calm and give me a fresh perspective on the things going on around me. Sometimes I just feel like running away from this life and becoming someone else and I guess these pretty little songs give me that chance. For a few moments I imagine I am flying over oceans or driving through hills in Switzerland or maybe walking down a beautiful deserted beach, and it’s a little reboot for the brain.

An example of a song like this is ‘Only Love’ by Ben Howard. I have to say this song is a piece of heaven.

There is a warmth in the song, and the repetition of the word ‘love’ just creates a sense of reassurance and happiness within me. Ben Howard’s voice is soft and mellifluous, not something that you can easily forget. Relatively new in the music scene, Howard’s music is a wonderful example of folk rock, or rather a contemporary take on folk music. I find myself enamoured by artists like Ben who have voices that need to be heard but are often overshadowed by bigger and [some] overrated names.

Mostly consisting of just bass, drums and acoustic guitar, ‘Only Love’ is a simplistic yet pleasurable listen. It is utterly addictive and has a ‘feel good’ tone to it which is impossible to ignore as Howard’s voice drifts into you. I highly recommend listening to this song if you’re going out for a drive or a walk, or simply sitting down to Sunday brunch with your family.

The lyrics are repetitive but are designed to be so, which make them more powerful like a mantra.

Darling you’re with me, always around me.

Only love, only love.

Darling I feel you, under my body.

Only love, only love.

Give me shelter, or show me heart

Come on love, come on love.

Watch me fall apart, watch me fall apart.
I absolutely adore everything about this song, including the music video which perfectly portrays my perception of the song. Check the song out and let me know what you guys think. :)

Here is a quick list of a few other songs that really calm me down when I’m angry, or give me that little escape from reality once in a while:

1. Litost by the Ambassadors

2. Alone Together by Daley feat Marsha Ambrosius

3. Valerie by Amy Winehouse 

4. Use Somebody by Kings of Leon

5. White Blank Page by Mumford and Sons

There are of course way more but I guess I need to stop typing at some point and go to bed. xD

Hope you enjoy some of the songs listed here. Each one of them is incredible in its own right, one sung by a fallen star and others by rising ones. Life is all about the little things, you guys. :)

Do comment and let me know about your favourite little heavenly songs.

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Take care <3

Losing A Legend

I can’t really call myself a ‘big fan of Whitney Houston’. In fact I was only deeply in love with one of her songs which is of course the eternal ‘I Will Always Love You’, so I’m not going to come at you sprouting lies of ‘oh I was always such a huge fan’ as most people are nowadays. But the morning my father told me that one of the greatest legends of music had passed away, I did feel an immense sadness well up within me.

Whitney has always been a topic of discussion across the globe, and to be honest the horrid things said about her toxic marriage, drug addictions, weight loss and music in the past few years has rivaled that of only Michael Jackson. Which brings us to the question: How long can a celebrity bear the pressure? How long before they crumble under the immense weight of the entire planet juggling around accusations, rumours and scandals?

Michael Jackson

The truth is the majority of us are immersed in the gossip of celebrity lives and no matter how much we want to convince ourselves that we are not a reason for them to feel pain, our words/actions and responses to their work have a lot to do with their troubled psyches. The way of the world is such that this pressure will not ease. Celebrities sign up for a life of  speculation and have to learn to balance the workload, the criticism and the praise. I know I’m being a little harsh, but a fact is a fact.

A lot of what decides the fate of a celebrity lies in their own hands. It’s all about how you cope with the cards handed to you. Sometimes celebrities shove their own fates down the toilet when they involve themselves in the world of drugs, alcohol and ceaseless partying. Examples of incredibly talented musicians we’ve lost due to this include Jimi Hendrix, Elvis, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson and most recently the beautiful Whitney. All these deaths either involved alcohol and/or prescription medication, all of which indicated these people were under some immense stress or carried a huge burden that they ended up succumbing to. It doesn’t help that they are constantly surrounded by people who lead them on the believe a snort of cocaine or a drink will fix all the problems.

Amy Winehouse

It’s incredible how much pain each of these human beings, humans like you and I, had faced in their lives. In most cases it seemed like things were turning around for them and they were ready to make amends for the mistakes they had made but were snatched away before it had all even begun. Michael was about embark on his incredible ‘This Is It’ tour. Amy was in the middle of recording a new album and was reconnecting with her fans. Whitney was all set to attend the Grammys which took place just a day or two after she died. It is so painfully ironic they left things unfinished just when they were on the path to recovery.

On a brighter note there are musicians in the industry who have tasted but conquered the hypnotic power of drugs and are living inspirations to people around the globe. Some of these courageous celebrities include Marshall Mathers aka Eminem, David Bowie, Keith Richards [The Rolling Stones], Ozzy Osborne [Black Sabbath], Dave Navarro [Jane's Addiction] and Elton John.

Dave Navarro

These musicians have proved that there is always a way to conquer your demons and though it might take time, money, strength and cause immense physical and emotional pain, the outcome is always worth it. It really is a tragedy when the world loses a musician of immense talent because the person had so much more to contribute to the music industry as was the case with Whitney Houston. There were so many songs left to sing,  people to meet and thousands of smiles to inspire.

One thing is for sure, however. We will always remember Whitney for her beautiful smile, immense talent and powerful voice. She is and will continue to be an inspiration for millions around the globe. Rest in peace Whitney. We will always love you.

AMY WINEHOUSE: The Fallen Star

Let us all take a moment to pay respect to one of music’s biggest and unique stars, Amy Winehouse. Though her death didn’t seem to shock fans worldwide, it certainly spread a gloom, globally. Midnight HeartBEAT salutes one of the most talented musicians the music industry has ever seen. Amy, you will live on through your music. R.I.P. ♥

This is my previous article on Amy, published last year:

http://midnightheartbeat.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/amy-winehouse-the-girl-who-was-lost-and-why-to-rehab-she-had-to-go-go-go-2/