30 Day Song Challenge: Days 4 + 5

Well, since I was busy with my boyfriend all of yesterday (which, by the way, was a strange experience as I have never spent an entire day with him before — but it was great!) so I didn’t get a chance to post and I’m sure you’re all dying to know what the next songs I’ve posted.  Bazinga.  I’m sure you’re all too busy with deciding who won the federal debate the past two days.

Day 4 was a song that makes you sad.  Now that’s a topic I know lots about.  So many songs make me sad in different ways, but surprisingly (or maybe not), one of the first songs that popped into my head was “Without You” from the movie/musical Rent.  I can’t remember how I felt about it when I saw the movie for the first time but it was definitely after my first bf and I had broken up that the meaning of the song just devastated me.  I would cry every time I heard it, including one time when I was walking down the street, listening to the Rent soundtrack and I was a crying mess walking on the sidewalk.  I eventually had to find a quiet place to control myself.  And when I played it on the piano and sang, it would be the same thing.  Once after I finished playing it, I just burst into tears.  No other song has ever done that to me.

I had originally posted Sarah McLachlan’s “Sweet Surrender” for the song for Day 5 – A song that reminds you of someone, but I decided a few minutes ago to change it to something that I wrote.  Last night, I played a few songs for a fundraiser my friend Stephen Emery had organized to collect donations for the relief effort in Japan and I had originally planned to sing “You Will Never Know These Words”.  But after I saw the small crowd at J Lounge, I decided that it probably wasn’t the best audience to rant about my father (I sang “Goodbye Spain” instead, since it seems to the a favourite amongst people).  Every time I’ve sang YWNKTW, I’ve dedicated it to my dad, who still hasn’t ever come to see me perform.  I know he will probably never truly understand me and the things I love to do.

“Sweet Surrender” — Sarah McLachlan

It’s been a few days since I’ve posted anything but the internet at home was down and I couldn’t do anything about it until last night but I was super tired (and still am).  So!  I am going to allow myself to cheat a few days and double post some stuff that will make up for the few days I missed.  Yay for cheating!

As those who know me already know, I have been a huge fan of Ms. McLachlan since I first heard her music in the ’90s.  Her music has taken on a lot of meanings for me and it’s so diverse and fantastic, that I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t like this wonderful woman.  “Sweet Surrender” is probably my favourite song of hers which is hard to say since she has so many awesome songs, but the reason I like this one so much is because of the subtly of the lyrics.  It’s one of those songs where you like it instantly and it’s only later in life where an experience allows you to suddenly realize the meaning of the song and for the song to completely click with you.  It’s sort of like a musical epiphany, you could say.

I had an experience of a sort and after, I suddenly understood the song.  It also helps that I have the sheet music to it and am able to play/sing it as much as I want.  I want to play a live version of it one day… maybe in the summer when I’ll have more time.