Song Spotlight: “Lady”
Mood: Romantic Themes: Country Music, Songwriters Tempo: Slow, Ballad-style Genre/Style: Country, R&B, Soul One great thing about love songs is that they can be relevant at any time of the year. They can support the feelings of new love or long lasting love, and they can express the challenges that can happen while experiencing love.…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “You Can’t Hurry Love”
Mood: Optimistic Themes: Advice, Motown Tempo: Upbeat Genre/Style: Soul/R&B The Supremes formed as a group in 1959, with the original name of The Primettes. They were one of the most commercially successful Motown groups and were America’s most successful vocal group, with a total of twelve number one singles. They reached the peak of their…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “Penny Lane”
“Penny Lane” is an iconic song by The Beatles about a real place, known by the band members who grew up in Liverpool. Paul McCartney wrote a majority of this song, setting it around an area that he lived in when he was growing up. McCartney noted that his writing was primarily around shared experiences…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “Soul Bossa Nova”
Mood: Light hearted Themes: Jazz, Movie Themes Tempo: Moderate Genre/Style: Jazz, Soul, Funk Television and film soundtracks are incredibly important to set the mood of the finished product, and in some cases, they can become a key part of pop culture. “Soul Bossa Nova” is a song that was written and produced by Quincy Jones…
Read MoreOn Progression VS Decline in Work with Older Adults
How do we talk about the end of life? End-of-life care has changed in so many ways from when I was first starting as a music therapist, especially in the way we talk to and about the folks we serve and how we communicate with them and their families about what they are experiencing. Over…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “Easy”
Mood: Self Assured, Reflective Themes: Relationships, Days of the Week Tempo: Moderate Genre/Style: Soul, R&B, Pop “Easy” is a song that was written by Lionel Richie during his time as the lead singer for the group Commodores. It captures the sound of “going with the flow” and being assured that one has made the right…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “John Henry”
Mood: Determined Themes: Songs about the railroad, folk songs Tempo: Moderate with an accelerando through the song Genre/Style: Traditional circa 1870 Folk songs have traditionally been passed down from generation to generation through singing. Only more recently have collectors recorded and written down these songs. They often feature melodies that can easily be sung along…
Read More3 Updated Songs for Thanksgiving or Gratitude
November is often a great time to share songs about gratitude in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.* If you’ve been using the same songs for the last couple of decades, though, it might be time to refresh your repertoire list to connect with the older adults who might not remember Bing Crosby.…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “You Can’t Make Old Friends”
Mood: Sentimental, Nostalgic, Reflective Themes: Friendship, Country, Companionship Tempo: Moderate Genre/Style: Country, Country Ballad “You Can’t Make Old Friends” is a touching duet by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton released as part of Kenny Rogers’s 2013 album of the same name. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton are two country musicians who shared a lasting friendship…
Read MoreSong Spotlight: “You’ve Got A Friend”
Mood: Comforting, Supportive Themes: Friends, Friendships, Emotions Tempo: Slow & Relaxed Genre/Style: Folk-rock, Soft Rock “You’ve Got A Friend” is a song written by Carole King for her 1971 album Tapestry. The song’s comforting melody and heartfelt lyrics have made it an enduring anthem of friendship and support. In a world filled with uncertainties and…
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