“What song keeps you going when life gets hard?” we asked dozens of pilgrims we met along the Camino de Santiago. Behind every song is a story of our shared humanity, flowing rivers merging into one.
Thank you Amy for sharing the Musical aspect of your Camino journey. Music has always been a huge part of my own life in celebration and in getting through hard times. I have my own Playlist somewhat similarly curated, not on a beautiful pilgrimage, but through social media. It's called Music for Challenging Times. 🙏
Music and sharing songs has also been an integral part of travels and when meeting folks from various places. In the old days, exchanged mix-tapes, then CDs, and then YouTube Playlist, now Spotify. ♡
As for me, there are many songs I turn to and it's challenging for me to choose just one. I'll simply choose one from this last year, It's Alright by Ren. Ren has lived with undiagnosed (until just 18 months ago) Lyme disease which ravaged his body & led to debilitating pain physically and mentally starting at just 19 years of age. Bed ridden at 25 for an entire year, Music; whether guitar, piano, creating beats, lyrics, vocals have been Ren's medicine and lifeline. He's extended this lifeline to thousands of people suffering from chronic illnesses. 🙏https://youtu.be/hCsQDY8A6og?si=4stjHxN7HI0VNJ1T
Kristin, I love that you have a playlist called Music for Challenging Times and that for you, too, music is an inspirational and healing force in your life and part of your travels and cultural sharing. Thank you for sharing the story of Ren and that song, which I've listened to and love. But I didn't know his story and now his music moves me even more. Thanks for sharing that. I look forward to getting to know his lyrical genius better. And so young!
I have just added your beautifully curated playlist to my Spotify. Thank you for sharing this, I have this dream of walking the Camino and reading about your experience makes it more likely that I will follow through. I am going through a really tough time right now and the song that encourages me to keep going is "Keep your head up" by Ben Howard.
Thank you Marbellys, I am so glad you liked the playlist. I love Ben Howard but didn't know this song and I am so grateful to have been introduced to it. It really speaks to me, too. And how happy it make both me and Marielle that reading about our Camino is making your more likely to take your own beautiful journey on that path. My heart sees your heart on the tough time you are going through. Wishing you ease and grace, and the hope that the light on the other side is just ahead for you.
Fantastic playlist! “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac is my song, also one of my most performed karaoke songs!
As you mention “My Heart Will Go On,” I was playing it this week when my in-laws brought their piano home from their mountain house—it’s the only song I have memorized at this point of my life, 27 years after I first played it. I played it on top of Grouse Mountain when we saw pianos on the street in Vancouver in 2015 and had a similar experience a couple days ago.
Hi Elizabeth, thanks so much for dropping by to add your song. Marielle and I both love "Dreams," in fact she performed it in a high school talent show with her sister, with her younger sister on the piano. It's a great karaoke choice! I enjoyed the story about playing "My Heart Will Go On." I am sure there's a reason this song stays in your heart and your fingers, and you no doubt brought pleasure to your listeners in Vancouver and where ever else you play it.
And thank you Lynn for reading and for stopping by to comment. And if you care to share your song that keeps you going when life gets hard, I'd love to know.
I so enjoyed this last part of what was a delightful series, Amy! Music truly is the universal language.
As to your playlist, I love anything and everything by Mumford & Sons or Queen. I’ve seen Mumford & Sons in concert 4 times and they are incredibly talented. I just love their energy. I never heard that song by Stevie so I’m going to listen to all of it next.
One song that I turn to quite a bit these days is Heartlight by Neil Diamond. It was a song my dad and I loved listening to together when I was a kid. I miss my father’s playful nature so when I want to drop into that feeling, I’ll listen to that song.
Hi Allison! Thank you so much for commenting and for reading our series and your kind words. It means so much to both of us. I do love Mumford & Sons and Queen, too. You'll see "Bohemian Rapsody" made our playlist. Will be my honor to add Heartlight. My mom was a huge Neil Diamond fan too.
I love this theme that carried you through and sparked so many interesting conversations and contemplations during your pilgrimage. It was an ingenious idea! I'm listening to your playlist now and enjoying it. Thanks, Amy and Marielle, for putting this together for us to enjoy. Also, Marielle's poem is really beautiful!
What a fabulous idea for making connections Amy! Sounds like an amazing and maybe life-changing journey. 💕
Thanks Holly. It was certainly that kind of journey.
Thank you Amy for sharing the Musical aspect of your Camino journey. Music has always been a huge part of my own life in celebration and in getting through hard times. I have my own Playlist somewhat similarly curated, not on a beautiful pilgrimage, but through social media. It's called Music for Challenging Times. 🙏
Music and sharing songs has also been an integral part of travels and when meeting folks from various places. In the old days, exchanged mix-tapes, then CDs, and then YouTube Playlist, now Spotify. ♡
As for me, there are many songs I turn to and it's challenging for me to choose just one. I'll simply choose one from this last year, It's Alright by Ren. Ren has lived with undiagnosed (until just 18 months ago) Lyme disease which ravaged his body & led to debilitating pain physically and mentally starting at just 19 years of age. Bed ridden at 25 for an entire year, Music; whether guitar, piano, creating beats, lyrics, vocals have been Ren's medicine and lifeline. He's extended this lifeline to thousands of people suffering from chronic illnesses. 🙏https://youtu.be/hCsQDY8A6og?si=4stjHxN7HI0VNJ1T
I'm posting Hi Ren too https://youtu.be/s_nc1IVoMxc?si=ifR1JPFoKkHDmoC-
I highly recommend checking his entire catalog, he's now 34 and many of us view him as a lyrical genius
Kristin, I love that you have a playlist called Music for Challenging Times and that for you, too, music is an inspirational and healing force in your life and part of your travels and cultural sharing. Thank you for sharing the story of Ren and that song, which I've listened to and love. But I didn't know his story and now his music moves me even more. Thanks for sharing that. I look forward to getting to know his lyrical genius better. And so young!
I have just added your beautifully curated playlist to my Spotify. Thank you for sharing this, I have this dream of walking the Camino and reading about your experience makes it more likely that I will follow through. I am going through a really tough time right now and the song that encourages me to keep going is "Keep your head up" by Ben Howard.
Thank you Marbellys, I am so glad you liked the playlist. I love Ben Howard but didn't know this song and I am so grateful to have been introduced to it. It really speaks to me, too. And how happy it make both me and Marielle that reading about our Camino is making your more likely to take your own beautiful journey on that path. My heart sees your heart on the tough time you are going through. Wishing you ease and grace, and the hope that the light on the other side is just ahead for you.
Thank you
Fantastic playlist! “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac is my song, also one of my most performed karaoke songs!
As you mention “My Heart Will Go On,” I was playing it this week when my in-laws brought their piano home from their mountain house—it’s the only song I have memorized at this point of my life, 27 years after I first played it. I played it on top of Grouse Mountain when we saw pianos on the street in Vancouver in 2015 and had a similar experience a couple days ago.
Hi Elizabeth, thanks so much for dropping by to add your song. Marielle and I both love "Dreams," in fact she performed it in a high school talent show with her sister, with her younger sister on the piano. It's a great karaoke choice! I enjoyed the story about playing "My Heart Will Go On." I am sure there's a reason this song stays in your heart and your fingers, and you no doubt brought pleasure to your listeners in Vancouver and where ever else you play it.
Patience by Guns N Roses.
Thanks for that contribution, Vannessa!
What a cool way to connect with others deeply. Thank you for writing this!
And thank you Lynn for reading and for stopping by to comment. And if you care to share your song that keeps you going when life gets hard, I'd love to know.
I recently found a lot of comfort in Be Still by The Frey (I believe this is derived from a Christian hymn/passage).
I so enjoyed this last part of what was a delightful series, Amy! Music truly is the universal language.
As to your playlist, I love anything and everything by Mumford & Sons or Queen. I’ve seen Mumford & Sons in concert 4 times and they are incredibly talented. I just love their energy. I never heard that song by Stevie so I’m going to listen to all of it next.
One song that I turn to quite a bit these days is Heartlight by Neil Diamond. It was a song my dad and I loved listening to together when I was a kid. I miss my father’s playful nature so when I want to drop into that feeling, I’ll listen to that song.
Hi Allison! Thank you so much for commenting and for reading our series and your kind words. It means so much to both of us. I do love Mumford & Sons and Queen, too. You'll see "Bohemian Rapsody" made our playlist. Will be my honor to add Heartlight. My mom was a huge Neil Diamond fan too.
I love this theme that carried you through and sparked so many interesting conversations and contemplations during your pilgrimage. It was an ingenious idea! I'm listening to your playlist now and enjoying it. Thanks, Amy and Marielle, for putting this together for us to enjoy. Also, Marielle's poem is really beautiful!
Thank you Louisa for reading, listening and enjoying our musical take on the Camino journey. The ingenious idea was all Marielle’s.
Amy - This sounds like such an incredible experience! What a playlist!
Thanks, Sarah, for stopping in to read and comment. Appreciate it so much. Glad you enjoyed the playlist. We had so much fun building it.