Music, loverly music…

If music be the food of love, play on; said the melancholic lovelorn Duke Orsino in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Even if you are not lovelorn like the pitiful Duke, in my opinion, music is not only the food of love but is the tonic to get you out of any emotional labyrinth you may be in. This is because, my friends, you can always find a song about your situation or mood, whatever that situation or mood maybe, which will help lift your spirits, provided you listen to the right kind of songs.

My love for music directly corresponds to my love for radio, particularly the car stereo which is where I actually get to listen to some music in peace and quiet these days, that also only when I am driving alone. (My nine-year-old son has suddenly developed a love for Rock around the Clock and drives me around the bend each time he travels in the car by repeatedly playing the song till I scream at him to remove the CD).

Leaving that aside, one thing that surprises me quite often when I listen to the radio is how a song that I have been thinking of suddenly comes on the air or the song that is playing is about "my situation” or "frame of mind' on the particular day. Talking of a situation song, a friend of mine once told me someone known to her was driving with the radio on when she met with an accident. And quite aptly the song playing on the car stereo was "Killing me softly with his song..." See what I mean about the right song playing at the right time?

Songs are a great mood fixer for me. I may be feeling sad or angry, depressed or experiencing some other emotion, but the right song helps lift me up (i.e. unless it happens to be a day I am feeling really, really down that no song can help, but thankfully I have few of those). There are the kinds of songs that I like to listen to more than others and I'll tell you why I like some and don't like some.

I am really not one for soppy love songs and just listening to them at most times makes me feel miserable – particularly women carrying over men who have ditched them and men going sob, sob 'cos some woman gave them the boot. So when such songs come on the air, most times I prefer to switch stations and hopefully find one playing a more positive song.

And for all those of you moping around, don't indulge yourself too much in sad songs since they are only intended to make you cry. Songs with lyrics such as, for e.g., "I'll never get over you, getting over me…" or "Although we've come to the end of the road still I can't let you go…." will only make you feel more sorry for yourself instead of cheering you up. So girls I suggest you switch to more uplifting songs such as "I will survive," and show the worthless guy the door, and guys if you are feeling vengeful, I think "Cry me a river" will help. So go for such songs than the over sentimental ones and it usually helps.

I am a sucker for rebellious songs so "Another Brick on the Wall" by Pink Floyd or Billy Joel's "My Life really get me." Can anyone resist "We don't need no education. We don't need no thought control." Nice isn't it to tell everyone to mind their own business and let you do things your way?

Inspirational songs too are among my favorites and I guess we can all take a cue from Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All" or "One Moment in Time" which really makes you want to reach for the stars.

Talking of inspirational songs, one song everyone should listen to is "Imagine" by John Lennon which I think is relevant to this country, and probably the entire world, now more than ever given all the violence around us – UN should probably make it the world anthem and then maybe people will realize the futility of war because I don't think anyone can stay uninspired by these words of Lennon.

"Imagine there are no countries, It isn't hard to do; Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too; Imagine all the people Living life in peace" Doesn't just listening to such meaningful words give you goose bumps and make you feel more serene and peaceful, wanting to embrace all, and shed differences? I hope you do because that is how I feel each time I listen to this song.

There are thousands and thousands of songs but there are always those special songs that we can never forget. On hearing them, we remember certain people, places and occasions. They take us back in time and make us nostalgic for days gone by and are in a strange way linked to our past, reminding us of the different phases of our lives.

So turn the dial on your radio and take a listen and I am sure you are going to find a song that is going to make you think that it was written especially for you and make you feel good.

P.S. Whether you like or dislike this article, please take the trouble to send your thoughts to stspectator@gmail.com and I promise to diligently read them all.