How some great tunes made our days of isolation bearable
NI celebrities talk about the music that kept their spirits high in the pandemic
NORTHERN Ireland celebrities have told how music is helping them get through lockdown.
According to a study by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), 25% of people are listening to more tunes than before.
It is a statistic DJ Ivan Martin can relate to. He said lockdown and a bit of decluttering had given him an opportunity to revisit an old favourite he played while working on Downtown Radio’s First Edition breakfast show with Richard Young.
“At one stage, we played this song by Ray Stevens called the Mississippi Squirrel Revival. When I came across it, I thought I hadn’t played it in years, so I asked Alexa to play it,” he said.
“You would have to hear it — it’s one of those songs that would put a smile on your face.
“It’s not one of his best-known songs, like Misty or Everything is Beautiful, but it just struck a chord with listeners.
“During lockdown, if I’m having one of those days that makes you go ‘oh God, more of this’, I stick it on. It makes me smile.”
Rebecca Mckinney, who co-presents Cool FM’S breakfast show with Pete Snodden, uses music to lift her mood.
“Getting in the car and turning up the radio has always felt therapeutic to me,” she said.
“During the first lockdown, I was shielding at home after being ill. Niall Horan’s Heartbreak Weather album was the one. This lockdown, the song Alright by Red Carpet is also on repeat.”
Pete Snodden said: “I have a huge record collection that in normal times sits there and gathers dust and I don’t really have time to use it so during lockdown I’ve been Djing at home on a Saturday night.
“I’ve been able to use my vinyl collection that hasn’t been touched in 20 years.
“My favourite album of all time is Urban Hymns by The Verve. I’ve listened to that quite a bit and with old music, it brings back memories and takes you back to old times. I’ve been quite reflective with albums.”
Conor Hogan, otherwise known as the Belfast Food Blogger, loves listening to music while working in the kitchen.
“I’ve been doing lots of cooking while we’ve been at home. Alexa is my new best friend to get a playlist going while I’m doing that,” he said. “I love listening to Counting Crows, Michael Jackson and Elvis. My favourite track of Michael Jackson’s would be Stranger in Moscow.
“We also listen to Dance Monkey by Tones And I about three times a day because my daughter, Lily (2), loves dancing to it.”
For comedian Shane Todd, who presented the Rave Lockdown on BBC Radio Ulster, Maniac 2000 has been the track of the pandemic. He said: “It was the undisputed anthem of the Rave Lockdown. Songs like that invoke memories of my youth and long summers.”
Belfast-based businesswoman Cathy Martin found solace not in single songs but in whole lives shows. She said: “Gok Wan’s live DJ sets on Facebook and Instagram made for an awesome kitchen party atmosphere, even if it was just ourselves.”
According to the BPI survey, the jump in listening was most pronounced among the 16-to-24 age group, with almost half saying they consumed more music now than previously. The results also suggested people relied on their favourite songs for a boost when separated from friends or loved ones.
‘Alexa is my new best friend to get on playlists’