New Year’s is getting farther behind in the rearview mirror, and February is fast approaching. Have you kept up with the resolutions you set for yourself this year? Even if you’ve had a slip up or two, don’t worry! The year is just beginning, and you’ve got plenty of time to become your best self.
If you need encouragement, here are a few common resolutions, each paired with a favorite song of mine.
Travel with Ella Fitzgerald’s “Take the A Train”
Whether your travel resolutions will have you backpacking across Europe, or just taking the train to a new part of town, Ella Fitzgerald’s version of “Take the A Train” will inspire you to get out the door.
The song centers around New York City’s famous subway system. It highlights the A Train route to Sugar Hill, home to some of the Harlem Renaissance’s best musicians and writers. But you don’t have to be a New Yorker to feel the travel bug biting, when the horn section emulates train whistles. And when Ella breaks into her scat solo, it’s almost like a foreign language is whisking you away to a far-off place.
Commit to your vision with Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”
There’s a time for compromise, but in 2019, you deserve to make your voice heard. Listen to Ol’ Blue Eyes sing about the benefits of doing it your way.
One of Sinatra’s best-known songs, “My Way,” reflects on a lifetime of dancing to the beat of your own drum. Striking out on your own path can present difficulties that don’t affect those who do as they’re told. Sinatra mentions feeling regretful and overwhelmed at times. But in the end, it was all worth it to live a life according to his own moral compass.
Stay positive with Benny Goodman & Peggy Lee’s “On The Sunny Side of the Street”
If you’re looking to add an extra dose of positivity to your life, cross on over to the “Sunny Side of the Street.” The song’s a classic, and no one does it better than Peggy Lee.
The song reminds us that there’s always a positive way to look at our situation. You might have to cross the street, but you’ll find some sunshine eventually! Not only does Peggy Lee deliver a stunning vocal performance in this take, but she’s accompanied by Benny Goodman, who brings the song home with a beautiful clarinet solo.
Those are just a few resolutions, but I’d love to hear about any others you may be trying. Let me know in the comments. And if you haven’t listened to my album “Yesterday Once More” yet, make that a New Year’s Resolution, too!