Quixotic Quarantine

In my lifetime I have witnessed society’s rapid transformation into a more progressive entity. For those of us who choose to go against the grain, acceptance and celebration have replaced age-old traditions of mockery and exile. Now more than ever, individuality is showcased rather than discouraged. With a vast array of differences being brought to light it’s interesting to discover there’s one attribute we all share. Uniting us across every culture and religion around the world is this deeply rooted affinity for music. Even the most isolated tribes have been found to have some form of harmonic expression.

Impacting human beings on a profoundly primal and fundamental level, music is one of the most powerful art forms. Influencing our very brain function itself, it’s exposure opens us up to a wide range of behavioral and cognitive effects. From improving memory to reducing stress, the mental health benefits of listening to music are as numerous, as they are incredible. As a result, many of us rely on this dynamic coping mechanism to guide us through times of great adversity and hardship. Unsurprisingly, it has become a crutch for most of us during this unprecedented pandemic.

Almost overnight, a novel virus flipped the world upside down. Having more “unknowns” than answers, panic and hysteria quickly gripped the nation. In an effort to contain the spread of infection, communities have been virtually shut down. Public gatherings and events have been cancelled and prohibited until further notice. Only businesses deemed “essential” are allowed to continue operating, while a majority have been forced to close. R.E.M.’s hit “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It” from the 80’s has never been more relevant than it is now. With the implementation of strict social distancing guidelines, forced isolation has become our new normal.

For me, being restricted to a one bedroom apartment in the city with my live-in boyfriend has proven particularly challenging. With little else to do but watch and wait as history unfolds, cabin fever threatens to close in with each passing day. Starting as a way to drown out my annoying downstairs neighbor, music has become as crucial as toilet paper amongst staples of the Covid quarantine. I knew I would need a playlist as epic and ever-changing as the plague if I were to survive this thing with my sanity intact. That’s when I began compiling tracks for “quixotic quarantine.”

Affectionately named after Miguel de Cervante’s masterpiece, “quixotic quarantine” is a culmination of songs reminiscent of the nobleman Don Quixote. Relevant to current events, I drew inspiration from the opposing themes found throughout the novel. Truth vs. lies, madness vs. sanity, realism vs. idealism, and intention vs. consequence were among the prominent ones used. Proving to be a worthy muse, there are undeniable parallels between the fictional character and the impact of music on my life. Choosing to remake himself entirely before setting out on his adventure, I relate heavily as music has always given me a sense of identity through self-invention. Renaming himself a Knight-errant, this title translates literally to “a wandering Knight”. With music’s innate ability to allow one’s mind to wander peacefully, it’s a fitting comparison. By incorporating tracks that align with these motifs, I set out to capture the essence of one of the best literary works arguably ever written.

In my daily life it wasn’t before long that I became desperate in my need for a change in scenery. Unable to go anywhere without risking my safety, music was the obvious choice in escaping the familiar walls of my confinement. Allowing me to live vicariously through the narrator, songs like The Script’s heart-wrenching “Breakeven”, Coldplay’s chilling “Scientist”, or Bastille’s recounting of “Pompeii” tell a story with their powerful lyrics, making you feel like you’re there. When that’s not enough, my elliptical can be programmed to take you anywhere in the world, making my scope of reality feel less small. Times when I can feel myself going stir crazy, running to any of the Linkin Park/Jay-Z mash-ups in some exotic corner of the world is my exercise of choice. My problems and worries are left in the dust along with my competition. Similarly, playing empowering songs while lifting or squatting motivates me to push myself. Queen B’s “Run the World”, Jordin Spark’s “Battlefield”, and Fifth Harmony’s “Work from Home” awaken my inner goddess. The commanding female vocalists steal my attention, overriding signals of fatigue trying to reach my brain. With the help of music, I am able to go further for longer, killing my workout.

Maintaining your mental well-being is just as important as keeping up with your fitness goals. As such, I do everything in my power to stay busy. Sparking my imagination, listening to my favorite band Evans Blue helps me to harness my creative energy. Their song “Beg” gives me goosebumps no matter how many times I play it. Offering an endless source of inspiration, music has been the greatest tool in focusing my talents. Songs like Mumford and Son’s “Little Lion Man”, The Lumineer’s “Ho Hey”, and Philip Philip’s “Home” quiet my racing thoughts with their calming melodies. Offering me peace of mind, they allow me to express myself through various media’s without being impeded. Among my favorite are writing, painting and various other arts and crafts. No matter the outlet, there’s no greater feeling than finishing a project or the sense of pride and accomplished that comes with it.

Since the nation wide shutdown, cases of depression have skyrocketed. For me, lonliness is not the biggest threat I face. Living in close quarters with my long-term boyfriend has shown me just how much of a slob men can truly be. The novelty of spending every waking moment together wore off after the first week. Now I find myself following him around only to clean up the whirlwind left in his wake. Having a good playlist makes mundane household chores slightly more tolerable, even when your boyfriend isn’t. If not for the elevating power of music, I would have murdered him for sure by now. Foul play aside, I would not be able to do the dishes or fold the endless pile of laundry without some music to break up the monotony. As for break-ups, getting under each other’s skin is almost unavoidable at this point. But I know if things get too uneasy all I have to do to shatter the tension is fire up a Matchbox 20 song. It’s almost an unspoken agreement that no matter what we are doing at the time it plays, we will stop to break into song. Ending predictably with fruitless claims as to who is the most “Rob Thomas”, second best must accept the title of “Bob Tomas”. Headphones are another essential life hack when you need to take space and there’s no space to be had.

Although necessary in every relationship, alone time isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when you’re missing the ones you love. Unable to see my friends and family during this uncertain time, my playlist has served to bridge the gap between us. I’ve included songs that remind me of my favorite people and our best memories. Helping me to forget about the physical distance seperating us, these carefully chosen tracks take the “isolation” aspect out of social distancing. Incubus said it best with their song “I wish you were here”, but my memories are all I have for now. Adding a few oldies that make me think of my mom, I can almost see her dancing in the kitchen anytime I hear Michael Jackson’s “Bad”. Or hear her voice as she sings along to Jefferson Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”. And although I’d rather be listening alongside my closest friends, I made sure to include tracks that remind me of our inside jokes and hilarious escapades. Saturday’s in my early 20’s were spent at “DGAF” night at the club. “Internet Friends” by Knife Party instantly brings me back to the fog-filled dance floor of my juvenile days, raging under the laser lights. Meeting up for karaoke, obscure tracks like 3OH3’s “Don’t Trust Me”, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by the Darkness, Backstreet Boy’s hit “I Want it That Way”, the Proclaimers classic “I’m Gonna Be” and so many others make me feel like I am at the local dive bar. Belting out the lyrics in front of a group of strangers, I can picture my friends laughing hysterically at my antics. My favorite of all were the nights we’d gather at our hangout spot we called “the mound”. On these occasions we would stay up until the wee hours of the morning around a fire pit listening to throwbacks. When I hear Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” images from the motion picture Titanic are the last thing on my mind. I can almost smell the smoke from the fire and feel the heat from the flames as I recall us singing along, most of us on the wrong verse and almost all of us terribly out of key. Reminiscing about nights I felt most alive, it’s almost as if I am there once again surrounded by good music and even better friends. I have been able to keep it together this far with the knowledge that if I find myself in need of an escape, all I have to do is put on my playlist. From there I can embark on endless journeys.