Music & Memories

Hell N Back by Bakar. One of the very many songs that remind me of my dad. I find that when I press play on my “Papa '' playlist on Apple Music (no, not Spotify) I get flooded with various memories. Here are some of those memories….

Wait A Minute! By Willow, it was a late summer day. My dad and I were driving home from something (those details are fuzzy) but what I do remember is this song. The sunroof opened, and the warm air on my face. For once I wasn't thinking about the fact that my dad was sick and dying. The music took over, and it was one of the last peaceful moments I had with him.

Sparks by Coldplay. My dad loved Coldplay and now I love Coldplay: “My heart is yours/ It's you that I hold on to/Yeah, that's what I do.” 

The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd. This was a song we never heard together, as I was not into Pink Floyd (I was 14, big surprise). All I think about is my dad and his warmth when I hear this song, not the bad things that followed. It allows me to forget, which sometimes is the greatest gift. 

Heartless by Kanye West. I don't support Kanye, or the person he is however this song aside from the artist is important to me. My dad knew this song by heart. I still remember being at Northeastern University for the first time. I was just leaving when this song began to play. Somehow I knew that my dad was there with me. I know that it's stupid to associate a Kanye West song with my dad, but he did love it. 

Someone New by Hozier. I just remember flying to Costa Rica, to see my dad as he was doing intensive treatment to help with ALS (shocker it didn't work). I remember thinking that this was going to be a new chapter in my life. It was one of the first times that I properly acknowledged that my dad was sick and there was possibly no coming back from it. Since then I have become “someone new” and this song will forever remind me of that change.