How Music Is Getting Me Through The Coronavirus Outbreak

Music has always been therapeutic for me, especially now more than ever. There has been a lot of stress and worrying going on with the coronavirus outbreak; with schools shutting down and people losing their jobs temporarily, it’s hard not to live in fear for what the future holds in store for us. Though it is understandable, and we need to take precautions, I feel like we also need to find activities to take our minds off of this situation. Some people may call it not caring, but I call it relaxation! Since I have more time to myself now, I’ve used that time to watch more Def Leppard and Bon Jovi concerts, and let me tell you I’ve never felt more relaxed than I have in my entire life, even in a crisis like this!

There’s just something about listening to a good song that makes it all worthwhile. With music, it takes me to a whole new world, and I feel like I can do anything! I love watching concerts on YouTube because there’s nothing like watching your favorite band perform live, escaping your everyday problems, and enjoying the music. In some cases, it’s not the beat that turns me on, but it’s the lyrics themselves. I fell in love with Richie Sambora’s music because his lyrics speak to me and are very comforting to hear during times of stress. Some of his songs sound so much like me that I wish I wrote them myself. My favorites include “Stranger In This Town,” “Hard Times Come Easy,” “Seven Years Gone,” “Ballad of Youth,” and “Fallen From Graceland.”

Def Leppard’s music has been my latest obsession because not only are they talented musicians, but they have endured so much throughout their career. With Rick Allen’s car accident in 1984, Steve Clark’s death in 1991, and Vivian Campbell’s cancer scare in 2013 (he is still undergoing treatment), to name a few. I love their hard rock sound, but their ballads are phenomenal too! “When Love & Hate Collide” and “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” capture the struggles I faced during the past seven years, and I didn’t even know this band existed back then! It’s always remarkable watching footage of Def Leppard, looking at their memories with Steve and seeing how far they’ve come since his death. It shows that they are “undefeated”! I know the coronavirus is a stressful time, but NOTHING will stop me from jamming out and screaming at the top of my lungs to “Rock of Ages,” NOTHING!

My friend got me into Bon Jovi, and I’ve loved every minute of it! I’m sad knowing that I’ll never get a chance to see Richie with Bon Jovi live ever, but I’m thankful we have old footage of the band and the songs he wrote to look back on. I still have some hope that he’ll come back, but Bon Jovi is doing well as of right now, so that’s all that matters! Maybe I’m more of a Richie Sambora fan than a Bon Jovi fan, but they have some great songs overall. I made “It’s My Life” my ringtone because I’ve always liked that song, but I got into it more when I started listening to Bon Jovi! I’ve learned two things from watching their concerts for the past three weeks. 1) Tico Torres has so much energy when he plays drums, and 2) Bon Jovi would not get out alive unless they play “Livin’ On A Prayer” and “Wanted Dead Or Alive.”

If I’m in a really bad mood, my go-to-songs would be “Nothin’ But A Good Time” by Poison, “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard, “Same Ol’ Situation (S.O.S.)” by Mötley Crüe, and “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi. “Sad But True” by Metallica has a good rhythm for me to bang my head to and as weird as it may sound, I find it very comforting! Yes, my taste in music may be old, but I became fascinated with everything 70s, 80s, and 90s. I feel like people are longing for music like that because music is not the same as it was 30 years ago. Hair metal died down, rap and K-pop took over, lyrics are not as meaningful, and the feel-good vibes of the 80s are gone! That’s why it’s my job to keep the 80s alive no matter what!

I am not saying that music is the best way to deal with stressful situations, this is something that works for me, and it may not work for everyone. But the point is to encourage you guys to find activities (reading, writing, redecorating your room, etc.) to take your mind off of the outbreak! Relax and have fun, but be safe! We’re going to get through this together, ok?

Take care and see ya real soon!
Lana