Dance Apocalyptic: A pandemic playlist & more

Posted on November 3, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Susan Goertz

Lately, random songs have been popping into my head, often playing on loop, until I give in altogether and play the same track 20 times in a row while dancing in my pajamas. Maybe you are experiencing something similar. (No judgment. All feelings deserve to be felt.)

With a quick online search, you’ll find many reports about the positive effects of music and dancing on mental and physical health. Here’s an article from Harvard Medical School on the subject.

This got me thinking that maybe we all deserve a playlist as we wander through this strange new dance scape created by the pandemic.

Here is my tongue-in-cheek, anxiety-ridden, time-disoriented musical playlist. Of course, in any other moment in time, this playlist would seem absurd and lacking in cohesiveness. A year or two ago, it would have even seemed anachronistic.

Right now, to me anyway, this playlist seems perfectly appropriate and dance-worthy. And all of the songs are available to you through our digital resource hoopla!

DANCE APOCALYPTIC PLAYLIST

• “Keep Yourself Alive” – Queen
• “So Far Away” – Carole King
• “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” – The Police
• “Somebody That I Used To Know” – Gotye ft. Kimbra
• “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye ft. Tammi Terrell
• “Germ Free Adolescents” – X-ray Specs
• “Fever” – Peggy Lee
• “Enjoy The Silence” – Tori Amos cover of Depeche Mode
• “I Melt with You” – Modern English
• “Counting Flowers on the Wall” – Statler Brothers
• “Dancing with Myself” – Billy Idol
• “How to Disappear” – Lana Del Rey
• “It’s the End of the World” – REM
• “Stuck in the Middle with You” – Stealers Wheel
• “Antisocial” – Ed Sheeran ft. Travis Scott
• “I Wanna Be Sedated” – The Ramones
• “bury a friend” –  Billie Eilish
• “I Can’t Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)” – James Brown  
• “Love Lockdown” – Kanye West
• “Lean on Me” – Bill Withers
• “Hospital beds” – Cold War Kids
• “Shake the Disease” – Depeche Mode
• “Tomorrow” – Amanda Balon (Annie soundtrack)
• “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor

Hopefully you have been taking advantage of the amazing concerts musicians all over the world are streaming from their homes. I’ve seen some truly astounding group performances as well.

Now is also a great opportunity to help the musicians whose work means so much to us. Check out their social media pages to see how you can help your favorite artists, find out what causes they are supporting right now, and maybe catch a live concert.

If you want to discover and support local talent, check out the Spokane Creators website, featuring talented and creative people from all around Spokane County.

Isolation reveals how necessary it is to find connection to others through art and music. Unfortunately, every cancelled concert or fair can make or break an artist or small music venue.

Here are some great ways to reach out, watch local livestream shows, and donate to the arts community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Spokane Artists and Creatives Emergency Fund: Created by Spokane Arts to assist artists in the Spokane area.
• COVID-19 Artist Trust Relief Fund: Helps artists throughout Washington state.
• Terrain: Spokane arts organization supporting local artists through festivals, large-scale events, and retail space.
• Spokane Comedy Club: They have a GoFundMe page to support employees.
• Lucky You Lounge: Check out the Live at Lucky You Fall 2020 Concert Series. This series of livestream prerecorded concerts highlights local artists and nonprofits. They have a GoFundMe page to support employees. Even more great news, their kitchen has recently opened up for dine in and brunch, as well as curbside.
• Neato Burrito/Baby Bar: At the end of September this beloved dive bar started broadcasting livestream shows. Check out their schedule.
• Bing Crosby: They are encouraging donations to Friends of the Bing to offset losses for canceled events.
• Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture: They reopened at the end of August for touch-free, socially distanced exhibits. Right now you can see POP Power from Warhol to Koons and Music Finds a Way: The Spokane Symphony. You can reserve a Family Museum Pass from the library (while supplies last).
• Spokane Symphony: Although their 75th season has been postponed to 2021–22, you can still bolster the symphony by donating directly or purchasing a ticket to their Gala 2020 Benefit Concert, streaming November 19.
• Art Spirit Gallery: They have a GoFundMe page to support employees who are currently working for free to keep doors open.
• Emerge: They experienced a fire in January, had the cost of the subsequent move to a new location, and then the pandemic happened. They are accepting donations on GoFundMe and are selling gift certificates.
• Save Our Stages Act of 2020: This bill is designed to provide financial relief to smaller, independent live music venues across the U.S. in the hopes that they will still exist when live performances are safe again. Although the Save Our Stages Act 2020 has bipartisan support, it is currently languishing as it awaits a vote in the Senate. You can champion this cause at www.saveourstages.com by donating directly, signing the petition, or even buying merchandise.

I encourage you to purchase and download the albums of your favorite musicians on Bandcamp. Keep the applause coming and let artists know how much you appreciate them and their art with a letter to their fan club or a kind word on social media.

I can’t wait to see you on the dance floor when this is all through. Stay well, and don’t stop grooving!

Tags: adults, artist, community, dancing, hoopla, music, musicians, support