Songs that made 2012 Part 1

1.      You Make My Dreams Come True – Hall & Oates

It’s a beautiful spring morning, and a young man walks through town with the kind of swagger that he’s not experienced before. Last night he plucked up the courage to tell the girl he fancies exactly how he feels and ended up kissing her. For him, this level of bravery is unheard of, so he’s rightfully proud of himself. He puts his Ipod on shuffle walking through the masses and this song comes on, and everything feels right in the world.

Ok, so it didn’t shuffle. I put it on because I saw Joseph Gordon Levitt bounce along happily to this song in (500) Days of Summer and wanted to know what it felt like. But still, listening to it at the time and feeling incredible is one of the stand-out moments of 2012. Sure, I went to some incredible places and had quite a few unique adventures, but to be able to pinpoint the exact moment when I felt completely, blissfully alive is unique. And thinking back to it now reminds me that it doesn’t need to take much to find that place again, and with a little bit of work it’s completely possible.

There will be times when I whine hopelessly about my romantic life, and for that I apologise in advance. But when you think back to the warm feeling it gives you inside, it’s easy to see why people crave it so much. At that moment, there was nothing in the world that would bring me down, even when I was completely lost in my thoughts and nearly slipped off the kerb. The next song I played was Girls and Boys in Love by The Rumble Strips, and the journey home continued in that vein.

A few days later, I willingly let my heart get trampled and listened to The Fray on my walk through town. Life’s fickle.

2.      Love is All – The Tallest Man on Earth

For me, there’s nothing better than hearing something which melts every problem away. Instead of constantly thinking about everything, you can just stop and appreciate what you’re listening to. At St Bartholemew’s Church in Brighton, I enjoyed one of the more spellbinding nights I can ever remember. If I was a technical music critic I would confidently use phrases like “the acoustics were incredible,” but I’m not. All I know is his guitar cut through the crowd like a chainsaw, and his voice was simply stunning.

Nights like these that make me believe there’s more to life than getting a plush job and earning a lot of money in a bid to be successful. The ones who have sussed it right are the ones living and loving every bit of this world they can. Right now I’m not worried about the future. As long as I take the chances to feel something and smile then I really don’t need much. Call me naïve, but happiness really is the most important thing in the world.  This song is bittersweet yet beautiful, and I would very much urge you to see him live if you get the chance one day.

This was the first gig I went to with Teddy, and I can’t wait to see many more with her in the future. She’s one of the truest friends I’ve made since starting University, who I can randomly meet up for a drink with to talk about anything. I just wanted to mention her in this because I know the last year wouldn’t have been half as good without her.

3.      The Ground – Orla Gartland

I think this girl is the reason I’m still writing. She reminds me that even if you aren’t a huge name, you can still find success by working hard and persevering. The first time I heard her voice was a chance discovery after looking for Little Lion Man covers on Youtube. Since then she’s moved to a whole new level. In fact as I write she’s in Brighton recording her newest EP.

This song in particular is one of the more beautiful I’ve heard in the last year. The way she seduces you in with her guitar at the start is quite striking. There’s a lesson in keeping strong and realising it’s ok to admit you’re struggling. Her music has been a revelation in the last year, and still a teenager she should have a big future in the industry if there’s any justice in the world. I hope she gets the chance to take her opportunities, just like I hope to take mine in the future.

For me though, she also represents an opportunity lost. As part of my course we have to interview someone of interest and do an audio piece as well. After initially getting a reply from her agent giving me the go ahead, he stopped replying to my emails and eventually I stopped pestering. I could have pushed it a little harder, but in the end my own lack of motivation and niggling doubts just stopped me giving it a go. Now I’ve properly started putting my focus to writing, I’m going to do my level best not to avoid these chances again.