If Music Was The Cure……

The world, as we know it, has clearly changed in the past few weeks.  As we continue to pray and uplift one another through these uncertain times, we all are searching for some type of silver lining, some type of solace to get us through.  I’ve definitely found mine. If music was the cure, we’d be back to our “normal” lives.

My first relief came in the form of what legendary DJ, DJ D-Nice, is calling “Club Quarantine.”  Although I only stayed on about an hour or so dancing in my living room (you should have seen me; it was a moment), D-Nice stayed on for over eight hours on multiple days providing a soundtrack to the quarantine, uplifting our spirits through music, and giving us something to smile about, if only  for a moment. Because of the icon that is D-Nice, I can now say I’ve clubbed with the likes of Michelle Obama, Ellen DeGeneres, P Diddy, Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige, Oprah, Will and Jada Smith, Jimmy Fallon; yes they were all there, and that’s only a few of the names!  Shout out to all the DJs who have been spinning nonstop and inviting us to their sets via live streams, getting us through this moment! I feel like my younger self in my club-hopping days; however, my older self can still enjoy from the comfort of my living room….and kitchen where I go to prepare my quarantine snacks. 

If that wasn’t enough music to get you through or just wasn’t what you were looking for, how about live concerts.  Yes, free concerts from some of your favorite artists from the comfort of their homes to the comfort of yours.  Just hop on your social media on any given day during the last few weeks and you can be front row VIP at concerts for H.E.R., Miguel, Anthony Hamilton, Mariah Carey, Garth Brooks, John Legend, and Chris Martin to name a few.  This got me really excited as I’m an avid concert goer and could not attend a couple of shows I had planned due to cancellations. I’m so thankful artists are willing to show their appreciation to the fans and their love for what they do.  Another place I would recommend seeing live concerts, if you’re not already aware, is Tiny Desk Concerts, a great source for live music from some of your favorite artist.  

But if DJ sets and live concerts aren’t your thing, I mean but why wouldn’t they be? But I digress; if they are not your thing, and you wanted something more, let’s say interactive, competitive if you will, you would need to tune into the songwriter, producer challenges going on live on social media.  Now this may have been the climax of musical experience for me. If you didn’t catch these, I’m sure you can find them somewhere.  Just to witness artist put their catalogs against their peers whom they respect, the results were legendary. I first witnessed Timberland and Swizz Beatz put their catalogs against one another. The talent that these two have, the contributions they’ve given to the music world, and are still giving, cannot be quantified.  I could not come up with a clear winner as with every round it became evident that these two living legends were at the pinnacle of success as far as music production.  The face-offs didn’t stop there. My favorite matchup, as admittedly R&B is my favorite genre, was when the two pen game giants Johnta Austin and Ne-yo faced off. Hit after hit spanning over a decade (This s%!t was bananas B-A-N-A-N-A-S).  What was most remarkable to watch was the mutual respect each artist had for one another, and the mutual love they had for the music, and what they bring to it.  In both battles there could be no losers, just living legends announcing themselves and cementing their legacies.

Music may not be the cure for the heartbreaking pandemic going on in the world right now, but it’s been my healing tool. Being able to escape the harsh realities of the moment and lose myself in the many platforms and styles that music is providing right now is essentially what’s getting me through, and for the moment, music is my cure.