Top 6 Comfort Songs Playlist

 

On this dreary rainy August afternoon, I pulled out my Playlist of comfort songs. These are the songs that uplift me, like an earnest tug at my heart, like a cool breeze on a summer day, like a hug on a sad day, like a loving embrace, and at other times, like a warm blanket on a cold night

These comfort songs are an eclectic list and range from romantic to spiritual. The rest of my playlist is instrumental; others are head-banging and mind-clearing melodies. They calm and encourage; my list is an emotional first aid kit and a self-love exercise. They're not only for those times of melancholy or turbulence but mostly when I feel introspective and sentimental. 

 Here are my top 6 comfort songs. I listen to them quite often, even during happy times. I put my headphones on and let the music wash over me, ease my mind, and lift my spirits. Just me and my music.

HAVING YOU NEAR ME

Bugoy Drilon - (cover)

An original song by Air Supply. Written by Rex Goh, Clive Davis & Graham Russell and released in 1980. I love Bugoy Drillon’s cover of it. He’s one of my favorite Filipino singers and he infused this love song with some swag and a sexy twist. “Tagos sa puso”. Although a romantic love song, this song appeals to me on a higher level. When you have your loved ones close to your heart, that’s being content and at peace. Sometimes, knowing you're loved is enough. Or it could be as mundane as your dog snuggling up to you. It will be alright.

 

FIX YOU

BTS Performs 'Fix You' (Coldplay Cover) | MTV Unplugged Presents: BTS

This is a Coldplay original song released in 2005. This British rock band collaborated on this song, started by Chris Martin, to comfort his then-wife Gwyneth who was grieving her father’s death. There is something especially romantic when someone offers to fix your broken heart. My new obsession, the supergroup BTS, performed an MTV unplugged version. They said that this song comforted them during the pandemic isolation. Coldplay tweeted their approval and praised the BTS cover with this: 아름다운 (which means beautiful).

 

 

YESTERDAY

Reneé Dominique-  The Beatles (cover)

 Although "Yesterday" was written by Paul McCartney as a heartbreak song in 1965, I never thought of it that way. Maybe this song is just symbolic to me of the Beatles' genius and greatness. As sung by Renee Dominique, another Filipino musician, this song is an aesthetic eargasm.

 

EPIPHANY

BTS (방탄소년단) LOVE YOURSELF 結 Answer 'Epiphany' Comeback Trailer

Okay, I confess, my “bias” ('favorite' in modern lingo) in BTS is Kim Seok-Jin, Mr. Worldwide Handsome. But I love Epiphany for its beautiful melody, its anthemic celebration, and its inspiration of/for self-love. In live concerts, the Army fans sing along to the chorus, “I’m the one I should love,” their purple lights swaying to Jin’s emotional performance. 

This epiphany is an unapologetic discovery of the importance of loving yourself first. You cannot give when you're running on empty. I can listen to this song continuously in a one-hour loop.

 

3 THINGS

Jason Mraz - 3 Things (Official Audio)

Simply put, the lyrics explain why it’s a comfort song.

 

There are three things I do when my life falls apart

Number one I cry my eyes out and I dry up my heart

Not until I do this will my new life start

So that's the first thing that I do when my life falls apart

Oh the second thing I would do is I close both of my eyes

And say my thank-yous to each and every moment of my life

I go where I know the love is and let it fill me up inside

Gathering new strength from sorrow,

I'm glad to be alive

And things are looking up

I know above the clouds the sun is shining

Things are looking up

Love is still the answer I'm relying, oh right

Three little things

Things are looking up

Oh, the third thing that I do now when my world caves in,

Is I pause, I take a breath, and bow and I let that chapter end

I design my future bright not by where my life has been

And I try, try, try, try, try again

Yes I try, try, try, try, try again

 

HOW GREAT THOU ART

 Josh Turner - How Great Thou Art (feat. Sonya Isaacs) (Official Audio) ft. Sonya Isaacs

Sam Santiago

This Christian hymn started as a Swedish traditional melody and a poem. It was translated from Russian to English and is now considered the second most favorite hymn after "Amazing Grace" of all time. This song was covered by Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Anne Murray, Carrie Underwood, Pentatonix, Home Free, and then 9-year-old Sam Santiago (now 19 y/o).

Oldies and Revivals

 

When they were in grade school, my son and my nieces were held captive to Oldies music as I drove them around in my SUV. Back then, they were content in listening to 106.7 Easy Listening radio. In truth, they did not have a choice because they were “forbidden” to change to any other radio channel.  Thankfully, this was after my son tired of his obsession with Barney and kid songs and he, obediently, ceded the radio control to me. As they grew older, they led their own lives and listened to their own music. Years later, I was pleasantly surprised that they actually appreciated my Oldies music to this day; thankfully (again), they abhor those curse-laden rap songs. (P.S. After my son read this post, he cautioned me against generalizing against Rap music. I clarified that there are some rap songs that I actually like, but I do cringe at the profanity on most of the songs).

Oldies music covers the beautiful music of the mid-1950s to the 1980s: pop, rock and roll, and doo-wop. It is the music of my youth, the songs that I heard growing up in the Philippines. I am glad to hear their music recreated by the youth of today. And when I am being nostalgic and sentimental, I happily search for new covers.

 

I'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER YOU

A 1964 single by the Australian group The Seekers with strong-voiced Judith Durham as the lead vocal. The song reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom pop chart and No. 4 in the United States pop chart and No. 2 Easy Listening on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The lyrics make me cry; the song a paean to everlasting love. For those lucky ones who will be together with their loved ones "forever and a day" in the promised land.

When the group toured for their farewell concert in 2013, the guitar intro still thrilled the audience and the then70-year old Judith's voice still soared beautifully and with conviction. This song has become my latest LSS (Last Song Syndrome).

The Seekers - (1964)

Keith Potger and Nicki Gillis (2017)

Keith Pother was an original member of the Seekers.

Mirusia Louwerse (2020)

There's a new world somewhere

They call the promised land

And I'll be there someday

If you could hold my hand

I still need you there beside me

No matter what I do

For I know I'll never find another you

 

There is always someone

For each of us, they say

And you'll be my someone

Forever and a day

I could search the whole world over

Until my life is through

But I know I'll never find another you

 

 

CRAZY

The ballad was composed by Willie Nelson, but the most popular version was by Patsy Cline. My first memory of the song was that of or waitress in my grandmother’s restaurant who used to sing along to the jukebox. She said it was a song for her crush who was in love with another woman.  

Patsy Cline  (1961)

Allison Young (2018)

BEYOND THE SEA

The song was written in 1945 and has been recorded by many artists, but Bobby Darin's version is the most popular one. There was a Navajo version in the movie Finding Nemo.

Bobby Darin- (1960)

Reneé Dominique (2017)

 

HAPPY TOGETHER

A song by American rock band the Turtles. The groovy folk- oriented song was featured in several tv shows and movies: Big Bang Theory, King of the Hill, a Stephen King movie, and the Super Smash Bros.

The Turtles (1967)

REO Brothers - (2020)

IMAGINE

John Lennon wrote his biggest single of his solo career, apart from the Beatles. The song was quite controversial but for me, it was a hymn of comfort, a promise, and an encouragement to imagine a world in peace. Ironically, I remember sobbing in the movie theater as the music played in the end credits of  “The Killing Fields” of the war in Cambodia.

John Lennon (1971)

Davina Michelle (2018)

REO Brothers (2020)

THAT'S LIFE

Written in 1963, Frank Sinatra recorded it later. The song's uplifting lyrics told us to pick up ourselves from any setback whether you were just a "puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn, a king".

Frank Sinatra (1966)

Dennis van Aarssen (2019)

The Best of Renee Dominique Cover Playlist

 

REO Brothers' Top Favorites (compilation)

 

As an Oldies fan, I am happy to discover young ones preserving this beautiful music. There is still hope for this world. These songs will stand the test of time, and hopefully, the profane and demeaning rap songs will just die a natural death, forever consigned in music hell. 

 Update: 6/21- Because of my new-found enjoyment of K-pop BTS music, I am now enamored of 'some" rap songs. Who knew that this Oldies fan will bop along the rapid-fire raps of the BTS. Consider me part of Army nation now, hahaha!

 

The Mighty Ukulele

Credit: Renee Dominique





I almost learned how to play the ukulele. As a teenager, I tried to strum along on a cheap ukulele that we bought in Cebu, Philippines. Back then, my father used to blast Don Ho’s “Tiny Bubbles” and the “Hukilau Song” throughout the house. The ukulele made me think of Hawaii, of its gentle breeze, of ocean air, of swaying palm trees, and of graceful hula girls. A ukulele is a portable music on the go; instantly bringing you to a place of simple, happy tunes.

The mighty ukulele fascinated me; just a diminutive instrument that did not scare me like the guitar did. I told myself, "I can do this, surely it couldn't be too hard". Just four strings... not intimidating at all. The ukulele is folksy and carefree, innocent but exotic. The sound is described as “chunk-chunk” but the instrument is much more welcoming of someone like me with chunky fingers. Even Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam took a fancy on the ukulele and called it “less strings, more melody”.

Don Ho- “Tiny Bubbles”





A new find

Just recently, I heard that distinctive sound of the ukulele again. Instantly, I remembered that long-ago moment in time, with my father’s music as we both swayed to the music of the “Hukilau’ song, grass skirts and all. In my later years, I now understand that the ukulele is not just for Hawaiian songs; that it is actually versatile and can sound just as good in any kind of genre. Albeit a nostalgic reminder of my father's music, the mighty ukulele has retained its magic and its carefree appeal.

The ukulele brought a new discovery for me. Renee Dominique is an 18 y/o Filipina musician who weaves magic with her ukulele and her airy, soothing voice. Her songs are eargasmic pudding in the brain. She is proficient in different musical instruments, but she exerts a compelling presence with her ukulele as she croons oldies and contemporary songs with a combination of pixieness and sultriness. Her wide repertoire appeals to both young and old.

Renee's original songs are beautiful poems sung with her unique sound, part-millennial, part old-soul. Her videos have metamorphosed into stunning visuals but there is still that soothing voice of a woman with her mighty ukulele. The songs she write are odes to her own journey. Her angst is familiar to me; similar feelings from a long time ago, but nevertheless, something that reached out to me. She is a gem.







And then there are more ukulele sensations:

Jake Shimabukuro went viral (before the word was invented) with his rendition of the Beatles’ “My Guitar Gently Weeps”.





Israel Kamakawiwo'ole- The Iz- 'Over The Rainbow' & 'What A Wonderful World'





Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon-Levitt- “What Are You Doing New Years Eve?”




Uhm, I must confess, I still have not learned how the play the ukulele. It's not the chunky fingers; I just don't have rhythm.

Songs of Praise

Even in quiet reflection, my heart swells with love and inspiration when I listen to songs of praise. My voice may not soar with a melodious tone, but my soul is energized by the music and the lyrics. These songs of praise bring comfort and hope. Several years ago, in a time of personal turmoil, these songs strengthened me and reminded me that I have God by my side. The spiritual gifts are heaven-sent.


How Great Thou Art by Anne Murray




How Great Thou Art by Sam Santiago





The Prayer by Yongxin Chen




You Raise Me UP by Jai McDowall & KHS





You Raise Me UP- Jeffrey and Celine Tam




Hallelujah by Pentatonix





Hallelujah by Renee Dominique






Amazing Grace by Home Free





Amazing Grace by BYU Noteworthy






Gethsemane by Claire Ryann