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Katie Flanders The Songs of the Year

January- The start to the new year always seems a bit out of place. It’s a celebration in the middle of blistering cold weather in which nobody really wants to leave their house because of the severe cold. And as the month goes on we have a moment of silence before the world starts spinning high speed once again. Life can throw anything at you at a single moment and we have to be ready, but for now, we’re here. While living in this crazy world that seems to not make sense and make sense all at the same time, listen to “Sweet Disposition” to take it all in. Feel the pull of order and the pull of unpredictability play tug of war with your head.

February- The days are short and the nights are long. Use “Clair de Lune” to swing your mind into a majesty of dreams and ambiguity of darkness. Get away from the dreaded cold with a nice touch of sweet song to fill your brain. Let it leave your troubles with the winds and soar past the snow into the bright moon.

March- With March comes the change from winter to spring. For this season, choose songs with a more uplifting musical atmosphere. Maybe listen to “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield or “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” by Coldplay and do a jig to the nice sound of every tune. Lift your heart up and get it pumping. Return to spring and be enlightened. See every canvas of the world with a rainbow and green hills and maybe you’ll find your pot of gold.

April- Rain pours and pours and washes away all the left over dirty snow still lying by the side of the road. Birds chirp at the feeders once again and maybe a flower or two will pop out of the ground to say hello. For this month, listen to “Hello” and let the electronic mood help you to greet the warm air. The smell of mud may be heavy, but don’t scrunch up your nose, jump into that mush! Be happy that the world can say hello in such a unique fashion.

May- A billion colors paint the world as the flowers bloom. Shoot up with the flowers, and rise above all that dirty rubble that weighs on your mind. Think about the good times that were important instead of depressing yourself with the saddened past. Listen to “Seasons of the Sun” and feel the happiness without any pain. Spring is here so let the new coming heat fill your mind with pleasure.

June- The end of school is finally here! Run out of the student lined walls and jump into the pool of sunshine. Listen to “School’s Out for Summer” to burst away from everything. Jump up and shout for joy! Your worries are over and you can relax. The whole world is yours so go out there and be who you want to be. The summer only comes once a year so let your light shine bright.

July- The sun beats down and it’s party time. Join and sing to the wonderful “Waka Waka” by Shakira as you dance on the porch with loved ones. Go to the beach with a hum of Español floating through the soft sea air. Or maybe go for a totally different feel like Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me” and simply float away as you sit in that pool. Vacation is here so live as you want to live.

August- The summers come and go too fast. It’s time for you to make it last. Go out to the beach one last time and have that one last bonfire with your friends. While sitting around the fire, listen to “Brighter than the Sun” by Colbie Caillat. Take that last breath of summer as you dive down deep into the chilled ocean water. Sink your toes down into the sand and cleanse your body with that summertime sea air one last time. Look at the pure white stars dancing above your souls, celebrating the warmness of the night. And drift away, because summer can only last so long.

September- The end of summer comes and days of sunlight slowly melt away with your popsicle. Students from age 5 to 18 flood the malls shopping for new pencils and pants for school. So, in order to pump up your mood for that homecoming football game, listen to “We Are the Champions” and show your school spirit. On that first day, listen to “I’m Like a Bird” by Nelly Furtado to stretch those wings for a new experience.The school year brings a fresh start, so be confident and enjoy, for this time passes way too quickly.

October- It’s the time of raking and jumping, of carving and walking in a sea of reds, oranges, and browns. As the leaves change, maybe you do too. Maybe the walk in the woods can take you above the clouds and another perspective of life gives way. Think of the people around you as you float along the sky. Every person is a different color and every heart floats through the air on it’s own path. We could all be considered leaves of the world, living our lives each differently, only by chance being able to blow in the wind with another. While you are in this other world of flying colors that whisk through the air, listen to “Think of Me” and swim in the sweet autumn air with the thoughts of your friends.

November- As the winter starts to roll around listen to some enchanted music. Guitar solos like in “Black Magic Woman” give that mystical feel. Not knowing what the song means doesn’t matter because you make it up what is lost as you ponder your thoughts. The leaves have fallen, the air is brisk, and all there really is to do is think. The atmosphere is so quiet. Give Jimi Hendrix’s “Sunshine of Your Love” that reason to bring you to a sense of feeling alive in your mind. You are still here, but your thoughts go into the unknown.

December- Shopping is in season! Shop for your family, your friends, your third cousin once removed, your best friend Sue and your crazy Uncle Dave. Shop for the love you have for everyone in the world and give because it just feels so good. While your out there spending all your money in the extravegently decorated streets, listen to the classic “Jingle Bell Rock” or skid along the ice to “Walking in a Winter Wonderland.” Enjoy your holidays with others and sing and dance from the heart with each passing moment. The year has come to an end, but to enjoy is to love.