the comfort of music...

HOME, by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

I remember this song when it first came out two years ago. Somehow, it had gotten buried in the music vault in my subconscious and I had completely forgotten about it. A good friend, one of my closest actually, re-introduced me to this track/band and thank goodness he did! Something about this track is just comforting… maybe it has to do with the fact that the lyrics are applicable to my relationship with said friend? (But that’s a whole other blog post I’ll delve into later.) Getting back on track… the lyrics are witty, simple & just plain wonderful. I love the whistling and the back & forth banter between the vocalists. This song not only comforts, it also puts a big smile on my face, always evoking the comforts of home.

However the real reason my friend shared this song with me is because this reminds him of his home, London. Unless you happen to have been under a rock with no internet access, you probably have heard about the recent London Riots. The riots have devastated the city as well as spurring a few others in cities within the UK. It is out of control. It is selfish. It is ignorant. It is without reason. It is uncalled for. It is a sad study of man at its worst. At this time you can still view smoke in the London skyline. Take a walk through the city and you see remnants of shops & people's livelihood destroyed. There's a melancholy about. People are walking around confused as to how all this could have escalated so quickly. Mostly however, people's spirits have been destroyed because their home, their city has been violated, not by outsiders, but by people who also claim to call this place home. I can't even begin to fathom what locals feel at this time. I can only hope for peace and their safety. 


Although I do not call London home, it has a very important place in heart. It is a city I often visit. It is my home away from home. My best friend, the closest thing I have to a soul mate lives there. It is the place of my dreams and my future. London is the city I hope to call my home someday soon. Whatever destruction may currently be found in the streets of London, it's appeal, it's charm & it's draw has not been lost nor diminished in my eyes. The reaction of locals affected by the riots alone has been quite inspiring. Grassroots clean up efforts organized via social networking sites like twitter & facebook (although we must keep in mind that the rioters also organized the same way) has inspired people, my friend included, to take a stand and help repair the city of London from all the senseless destruction. This massive outpouring of support, pride & defiance against odds is the true reflection of London. This is what Londontown is truly about. Established by Romans in 43 A.D., this city has repeatedly been burnt, blitzed & destroyed. But each time, out of the rubble, people have gathered & rebuilt, no matter how insurmountable the restoration.

If you are interested in helping, continually check the hashtag #RiotCleanup and #CatchaLooter on twitter to see what you can do. As my friend said (via twitter: @imjustabloke) after a day's worth of volunteering, "Incredibly touched by all involved in this morning's #riotcleanup. Come on Londontown, let's show em what Londoners are really about." & "Let's get back on our feet. Get involved with @riotcleanup. Let's show em who the true Londoners really are. #riotcleanup..."