Junos 2019 host is our very own Canadian Sarah McLachlan who grew up in Halifax and moved to Vancouver. She pursued music because her childhood really didn’t give her love and at the age of seventeen Sarah played her first gig at the Dalhousie University student union building.
In Vancouver, Sarah recorded many albums and one of her songs is the well known Angel which was written in a time when many musicians were taking their own lives…spend all your time waiting for that second chance and there’s always some reason not to feel good enough. The line that resonates the most for me is “Do something that has purpose…you will find yourself in that.” (McLachlan 2019) Sarah firmly believes that music unites people in an upbeat manner and why not celebrate and focus these moments. We can all express ourselves through music whether it’s discovering our identity, helping us through difficult times, celebrating many occasions or quietly listening to our own playlists.
One might ask, “What songs are on your playlist?” One evening while visiting with our friends at the lake many songs were on his playlist and memories quickly ran through my mind…where was I when this song made the top charts? It’s worth taking a trip back in time and here are a few of my songs that resonate with me:
Life is a highway-Tom Cochrane
Hallelujah- Leonard Cohen
Should I Stay…The Clash
Living on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
Under Pressure – Queen
You needed me – Anne Murray
Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen
My heart will go on – Céline Dion
Tears are not enough – Northern Lights
Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Surfing USA – Beach Boys
Every Step you Take – The Police
Jump – van Halen
Can’t get no satisfaction- Rolling Stones
The list goes on…listening to music is influential and every song paints a picture of where I was during that time. Music is more than listening to a song; it’s something to feel. Music can play on our emotions and it is powerful when many songs brings us together as a community.
Uncommon Beauty in Writing 