School of Social and Political Science

Description

During the pandemic, lockdown conditions changed how music was played and heard. Not only were people listening to more music at home, they were also participating in new musical occasions such as balcony concerts, live-streamed performances and self-isolation recording projects.

This (first) playlist has brought together a variety of contributions curated by Dr Lisa McCormick. The playlist is wonderfully diverse and includes:

• Music that gained new significance during the pandemic
• Music discovered during the pandemic
• Music written about the pandemic
• Music performed or recorded in lockdown
• Music shared with others to support them during the pandemic

Listen to the playlist on YouTube here: 

Contributions

1. Easter Concert Inside Empty Milan Cathedral - Andrea Bocelli
   This poignant solo singing in the empty venue that could hold hundreds (thousands?) during a peak wave in Italy was brilliant. I am not fond of opera, but the collective experience of watching his live performance was memorable, striking and tear jerking.
   Submitted by Shanda Doherty, Research Office
    
2. In my dreams - Kali Uchis
   My time in lockdown was primarily marked by crocheting in my parents' back garden and trying to keep myself busy whilst on furlough from my previous job. I don't think I realised until well after the fact that I listened to this Kali Uchis song around 9 times a day for a good 4 months. In fact, it was only when I saw my Spotify Wrapped for the year in the December, and was told in swishy graphics that I had indeed listened to the track 1210 times in 2020 - the top 0.01% of listeners -  did it really become clear what a bonkers time I had in lockdown. This song has taken on a life of its own for me, and I still feel slightly giddy with the feeling of remembering lockdown when I listen to it.
   Submitted by Rohanie Campbell-Thakoordin, Student Development Office
    
3. Highland Cathedral - Oscar Gibbons  and Elian Heins
   This is a recording my son did during lockdown with his friend from nursery times who had moved to Exeter when they started school many years ago. This little music project was a wonderful way to connect our two families during the pandemic and is a reminder that both music and friendship can withstand any distance or crisis.
   Submitted by Elke Heins, Social Policy
    
4. Before the Lighthouse - Longshot Nelson and The Disjoints
   This song was released during the early stages of the lockdown.  Comes from a Scottish artist whose music I've been following way before coming to Scotland, indeed his music shaped my image of Scotland and played a role in me deciding to come here. The song is about a recluse occupier of an abandoned lighthouse, a theme that has been recurring in his songs, way before the infamous film.
   Submitted by Vassilis Galanos, STIS
    
5. I am 3 (and I want more)! - Nick Prior
   My son turned three during lockdown and this was a song and stop motion video I composed to mark the time. It features the lyric "lockdown is poo, nothing to do, but walking" which is certainly not going to win any literary prizes, but captures something of the exasperation we felt at that point.
   (Submitted by Nick Prior, Sociology.)
    
6. Memories - Bellanova - One Voice
   This was widely shared in December 2020 and captures the feelings of the time through the lyrics and the method of composition with each choir member isolated from each other.
   Submitted by Shanda Doherty, Research Office
    
7. Trøllabundin - Eivør
   Like many musicians, Eivør live streamed concerts during lockdown when concert venues were closed.
   Submitted by an academic staff member in Sociology
    
8. This Charming Man - The Smiths (Cover)
   I did a number of remote collaboration lockdown sesisons with friends to keep us sane and connected. This is one of them, a cover by The Smiths called This Charming Man. Despite this seeming like a real time performance we recorded our parts separately and they were meshed together later in software. The experience has informed a new research project which (with colleagues in Norway, Hungary, Austria and UK) looks at music production as a form of home making.  
   Submitted by Nick Prior, Sociology
    
9. Colores - Beta
   This song comes from an album that my brother and his band BETA (México) created during the lockdown. It is one of their best albums, and it made me feel closer to my family at a moment when we were not sure if we would be able to hug again.
   Submitted by a PG student in International Development
    
10. (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) - Beastie Boys
    Our three children were all under 5-years-old when we went into lockdown, so we had to become very creative and embrace the madness in order to maintain (or perhaps expand our baseline level for) sanity. This classic tune from my youth became a hit with our kids and was played frequently and at high volumes as we danced and sang along in our lounge, which had been converted into a 'home nursery'.
    Submitted by Steve Kirkwood, Social Work
     
11. The Keep Going Song - The Bengsons
    I think if you listen to the song lyrics it will immediately resonate why I picked it. (And listened to it a lot during the 2021 UK lockdown- the really long one from Dec-April). I think that anyone who lived through that time would identify with this song, and the feelings it evokes.
    Submitted by Jaclyn Grace, PG student in International Development.
     
12. Improv - Jamie Smith
    This is an improvisation I recorded in February 2022. At that point there was real light at the end of the tunnel in terms of life getting back to normal (most restrictions were lifted in the March). The mood of the music is quite reflective and optimistic. Being a live improvisation, I guess that's how I was feeling while I played it.
    Submitted by Jamie Smith, Web and systems team.