18. Between a Musicophile and a Hard Spot

In October 2021, Spotify reported 365 million users. If you are listening to me right now, you are most likely one of them. Listening to music releases dopamine. Dopamine makes you feel good, real good. Euphoric, even. Musicophiles, melophiles, ... Welcome to Musing Interruptus. Today, a peek into a moment between friends, who love music a little too much. You can find a playlist on Spotify by the same name as this episode: Between a Musicophile and a Hard Spot, listen to the songs referenced in this episode, and by all means, tell me what you think. The conversation is set in a park. It is autumn and the light has changed along with the crispness of the air. We see a rock wall sprawl across the park, which actually seems more like a clearing in the woods. They sit, side by side, with a cup of coffee and heavy sweaters. They were hell-bent on developing their game: Not a Musical - conversations through lyrics- Friends since college, best friends. In good times and bad times, birthdays, conversations spanning over years, boring Wednesdays and hangover Sundays, 3 am calls, always on call. Their backs are visible to us. Cotton sweaters in earth tones and the steam from their coffee cups escaping back into the sky. I need to tell you something, says the sweater on the left. I have a feeling that things are going to change, and soon.  - Ahh, you mean the winds of change, says sweater on the right. Well, not the end of the cold war, change… but change. Like, cha cha cha changes. Ahh, Ra ra ra right. Answered sweater on the right. So, what’s going on? Sweater on the left clears throat… mmm mm, It comes easy to me, to communicate through songs, because there are words that sometimes cannot come out in the right order. The added bonuses are the beats and sounds that come along with it, giving the message an assured release of dopamine. Go on, said Sweater on the Right. Sweater on the left shoots a glare peeping under the eyebrows. Ok, I basically asked you know who to Sway my Way… Wait… exclaimed Sweater on the Right, Michael Bublé or Bic Runga? Bic Runga… said Sweater on the Left. I finally did it. It was perfectly horrible and wonderful at once, in a single breath it's like the Earth shifted on its axis. I’m walking on the Moon, Police Style. Standing there, face to face. Snow Patrol’s Life on Earth coursing through my veins and out my voice. - huuuuu , exhaled Sweater on the Right. Finally. You know, whatever happens after this, you will forever have that moment, when the inside words became outside words. Bravely. Sweater on the left continued… I can’t tell you how many times I imagined that moment. Intoxicated, caged, and then set free. I became an expansive wave of energy. I can’t tell you how many times I backed down before that moment. But today… today, I walked away,  in a very New Radicals, You Get What You Give way. We both have great loves in our lives. Music is one of them. It’s not the most important. The people who make that music relevant are the most important. The experiences we craft can be as magical as we imagine. And the moments that surprise us, those treasures. Well, I’m sure you know what to do with those. Thank you for listening, thank you for clicking. Send me audios or write me, on Anchor, Facebook, Instagram. Tell me about your bravest moment in front of someone else. Have you curated a playlist for special moments… or your life? Are you brave with your feelings? Do any of the songs on the list have a special meaning for you? I’m listening.