In collaboration with the Psychiatry & Neurology Interest Group, the Medical Humanities Group collaborated on compiling a playlist and stories about the place of music in student's lives. Inspired by KEXP Music Heals and Global Mental Health Day, the project emphasizes the healing power of music and inspires resilience among our medical community.
"The song is Kettering by the Antlers. The singer was a nurse in oncology for some time, and the lyrics detail an experience that helped him decide he no longer wanted to work in the medical field. While the song is a bit dramatic, it is nice to give in to the silly, overwhelming drama and emotion at times. Plus, I feel like this song reminds me that even though this may be our 20th patient of the day, they are experiencing disease in its entirety, and their suffering is real, and it is their world for the time being."
"These songs are in my regular repertoire. No Roots is very relatable to the clerkship experience, I like upbeat stuff, and who doesn't like 80's music every now and again? Also Take on Me is the plea of many a med student."
"I like to take Sunday mornings to relax, maybe have friends over for brunch or just have a lazy morning with my partner and my cat. For years I’ve liked to start Sunday morning with TheVelvet Underground song of the same name, and about a year ago I finally made a whole playlist of songs about Sundays, mornings, and coffee."
"This song [Falling Up by Fearless] and other songs by this artist were there in some very hard times many, many years ago. Now revisiting it as an adult (in the process of sorting out related, completely un-sorted trauma), I've been taken with the beauty of the sound. It conjures up images of the places where I've lived, where I want to live, and the places I want to explore: many western and Pacific landscapes. While I'm still sorting out the trauma, this song has made me feel, inexplicably and more than ever, like I've made the right decisions about my career in rural medicine and research, and it makes me so glad that I've given myself all the dignity I have all along."
"This song [The Best Day by Atmosphere] reminds me we all live in an imperfect world together and all we can do is our best. Things don't always work out, but we can still celebrate and enjoy the little things!"
"This album [A Moment Apart by Odesza] has gotten me through a lot. It came out just before my grandmother, who is a large reason why I decided to pursue medicine, passed away. It also came out just after I started dating my amazing girlfriend. Seeing this album performed live with some of the most important people in my life was one of the best nights of my life."
"This song [Heal me] has been my jam in medical school: Lady Gaga's voice is pure gold and the medicine-y lyrics are fun. No deep meaning, just a little bit of joy into my day-to-day."
"Damien Jurado writes a lot of story driven music, and honestly every album of his is deeply nourishing. At a concert I went to, he told the story of how the song Museum of Flight was inspired by something his son said to him at the Seattle museum before Jurado left on a tour, and the song always reminds me of the people in my life that love me and miss me when we are apart."
"I first listened to this song [My Only Swerving] when I was going through some hard things. It makes me believe in myself, plus it's so uplifting, AND I can study to it. Here's my plug for El Ten Eleven - amazing band :)"
"This song [The Weight of Lies by the Avett Brothers] always reminds me to let my passion drive my life instead of my fears. Running away from problems never works -- they will catch you eventually always."
"Crank the volume all the way up, sing it in the shower, dance it out for a three and a half minute study break - Somebody Loves You is just such a warm, affirming, and uplifting song that it always boosts my mood."
"This song [Prayer of the Children by Kurt Bestor] was originally written as a reflection on the Yugoslavian civil war. We sung this song in my final year of undergrad chorale. It was our final performance and I knew I would never again be in a group that talented, singing with some of my best friends in such beautiful spaces. This was the only time I remember crying while performing. We were concurrently studying the genocides and civil wars throughout Latin America specifically looking at the regimes in Chile and Argentina. These studies partially prompted a yearlong trip to South and Central America and this song brought me some comfort when wrestling with humanity's incomprehensible capacity for hate and evil."
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” - Rumi [Loveless by My Bloody Valentine]"
"This song [Rise by Solange] is such a good reminder of the importance of allowing ourselves to feel what we need to feel. “Fall in your ways, so you can crumble... so you can sleep at night” It’s a good reminder of it being okay - or necessary - to acknowledge and embrace your own humanity - let yourself fall, be, sleep at night so you can rise."
"This song [Back to Life by Soul II Soul] is fun to dance to and reminds us to be grounded and present in the reality we actually have. It’s also a good reminder we’re not alone and can be there for each other and can be there for ourselves too as we make the positive changes we need at our own pace."
"[Feeling Good] is such a reassuring song. Nina Simone is an incredible artist"
"I love how honest this song [i by Kendrick Lamar] is about living in the world, keeping dreams alive, and taking things one day at a time"
"Justin Vernon's music [Bon Iver - Holocene] is meaningful to me in so many ways, but this song in particular has become a sort of anchor for me when I feel lost, off-center, or out of control. "And at once I knew I was not magnificent" - this always snaps me out of my own head, back to a place of humility and gratitude for all the things that are so much more important than whatever I'm worried about in that moment."
"I can't count the number of times that I've been "saved by nature". Also sometimes you just need a mental forest fire to clear away all the shitty stuff and start over fresh, ya know? [James Blake & Bon Iver - I need a forest fire]"
"Sophie Peyton (Gordi) wrote this [a long way] while in medical school. I feel like she gets it."
"Grew up religious - not so much anymore so 'the hands that are holding you' has taken on various meanings throughout my journey, but it always gives me the feels and transports me back to a time when my 'problems' were so much more manageable. [By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North]"
"This album [Naked as We Came by Iron & Wine]provides a sense of calm and safety. I listen to it on every flight I take."
"Even after a difficult day/week/period of life, I always seem to find a sliver of peace from these songs [Going Homeby Aesgeir & Emotion by Hazey Eyes] no matter how I initially feel. I hope you find peace as well."
"This song [Wait by NoMBe] is from a playlist my friend and I created and is a reflection of our friendship."