2024: The Music Made It Better

As I reflect on the music that defined my year, certain songs become more than just background noise, they are the ones that shaped my journey and provide the soundtrack to my life. Here are the songs that played a pivotal role in my 2024, guiding me through challenges and triumphs alike.

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“It’s Only Love” by Donna Summer (2008)

2024 began unsuspectingly, like any other year—nothing special, just more of the same. My friend, Jenni Lonman, and I were sitting upstairs in my mom’s room while Mom was sleeping. In the background, a playlist I’d curated on Tidal was playing. We were talking about the upcoming presidential election and agreed we’d both be voting for Joe Biden.

Jenni had recently become a U.S. citizen in December 2023, so this was going to be her first time voting in the United States. As we chatted, the song *It’s Only Love* by Donna Summer came on. I pointed it out, saying, “This is my favorite song by Donna Summer.” I turned up the volume, and we sat quietly, listening to the entire five-minute song without interruption.

Jenni, a huge music enthusiast, immediately fell in love with it. She said she liked its rave-like energy. She asked for the name of the song and the album it was from, then added it to her growing Apple Music playlist. To this day, we reference the song regularly.

“(You’ve Got to Be) Your Own Best Friend” by the Walter Murphy Band (1976)

Toward the end of 2023 and into 2024, I struck up a mutual friendship with a fellow Vocalite, Grz Colm. I had always enjoyed reading his stream-of-consciousness free verse poems; they offer so many great life lessons and insights.

One day, I noticed he hadn’t been writing much, though he was still reading and commenting on my stories. Through conversations in the comment sections of four or five of his and my Vocal stories, Grz admitted he had been feeling down and uninspired to write.

We chatted back and forth for a while, and I offered a listening ear if he ever needed someone to talk to. Then I shared the song ”(You’ve Got to Be) Your Own Best Friend” by the Walter Murphy Band with him.

A few weeks later, Grz mentioned how much the song and our conversations had helped him snap out of his depression. He said his perspective on life was improving and thanked me for both the song and our talks.

“The Blue” – David Gilmour (2005)

David Gilmour is consistently one of my favorites. His music follows me everywhere I go. I love his smooth string-bending techniques, which contribute to his rich sonic textures. “The Blue” helped me tremendously as this song was transformative in my life. Throughout the year, the mellow guitar chords and Gilmour’s pacifying voice helped to calm my nerves, thus creating a meditative state in my mind.

“Thang (Hips)” – Esperanza Spalding (2019)

Like David Gilmour, Esperanza Spalding is a permanent fixture in my playlist of life. 2024 has been an especially tough year for me physically. I recently turned 65, and I am in extraordinary shape for my age. I have the strength, stamina, and endurance of someone in their 20s. That being said, 2024 has found me injuring myself while lifting and transferring my mom. This never happened before, as I am extensively trained in proper lifting and transferring techniques, but for some reason, I have injured the muscles in the back of my neck, which has caused me severe headaches.

I believe the reason I am injuring myself over and over has more to do with mentality than physicality. I have lost my confidence. The song “Thang” is about having confidence in who you are and what you do in life. A key phrase that has been helpful in my life is:

“Stride grease

For to loosen up your hip

Joints and sink into (and sink into your thang)

Your thang, your thang.”

The term “stride grease” has helped me realize I must prepare my body for the day by getting the juices flowing in the morning. Now, each day, I do a series of stretches that help loosen up my hips, legs, neck, arms, etc. The stretching is helping.

“Popsicle Toes” – Michael Franks (1976)

“Popsicle Toes” is a song that follows me year after year after year. It’s a whimsical tune with fun lyrics. The smooth jazz feel puts me into a relaxed state, which helps my body recover from a long day of pain. 2024 has been a year of physical recovery.

“Ese Camino” – Julieta Venegas (2015)

My understanding of the Spanish language is, at best, average. If I were to put a number on it, I understand about 40% of the language. This is enough to understand and communicate but with a lot of holes in it. “Ese Camino” has been another song of healing for me throughout 2024.

Julieta wrote and produced the song, as well as played several instruments, including the accordion.

The lyrics have been profound and strength-building for me. The English translation in a pivotal part of the song is as follows:

“I walked that road, I found its light

That is a truth that will live in me forever"

I relate to these lyrics, and right now, the road I am walking has enlightened me more than at any other time in my life. I am learning that I am an extraordinarily strong and dedicated person. I am one of those people who can start a project and see it through to its finish. Knowing and realizing this about myself in 2024 has been very encouraging and has helped me to heal and regain my physical and emotional strength. Reflecting on the lyrics of “Ese Camino” and listening to the joyful music has helped me get through this place of strength.

“The Amazing Mr. Repeat” – Sparks (2017)

I love quirky music with unusual beats and thought-provoking lyrics. Though this song was released several years ago, it has been a source of much joy in my life this past year. This is one of the songs that is on my workout playlist, and it gets me moving every time.

“Blackbird Fly” – Rick Henry Christopher Project (2024)

I have been a songwriter, singer, and musician since 1976 (age 16). Over the last twenty years, I have not written or recorded any new music. That was a part of my life that I reluctantly put away. However, in 2024, I discovered AI music. With this discovery, I have started again, writing lyrics and putting together songs. This has brought great joy into my life and has been one of the major healing aspects of my entire life. I am back into the art of creating music, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it.

“Blackbird Fly” has been my most successful song so far. It has more than 7,000 streams across the various streaming platforms, including nearly 5,000 streams on Spotify alone. The song is a companion piece to my "Blackbird Fly" story series, which I published on the media platform, Vocal Media. My friend Tiffany Gordon has been instrumental in helping me develop the story and this song. Thank you very much, Tiffany, for the patience and the love you put into being my friend and helping me with my various artistic projects.

Tiffany Gordon adds the following regarding the song "Blackbird Fly":

Blackbird Fly is a phenomenal debut. Every time that I hear it, I feel as if I'm being baptized in love and serenaded by an angel from above. It is an upbeat sonic blessing with the power to chase your blues away the moment that you hear it.

Blackbird Fly has a special place in my heart because it is the theme song for an extraordinary, action-packed fiction series of the same name penned by Rick Henry Christopher that captures the power of true love with two scoops of resiliency.

I believe that the world needs more songs like Blackbird Fly in it to balance out its spiritual sourness. I am super-confident that you will agree once you have a listen. 💕

“Isabel (You’re My Mother)” – Rick Henry Christopher Project (2024)

This is another one of my AI tunes. The song is about my mom and how much she inspires me to keep going each day. I love this lady tremendously, and she will forever be a major source of inspiration and hope in my life. Thank you very much, Isabel.

“Hyperwave” – Gary Clark Jr. (2024)

I was super elated when I received the news that Gary Clark Jr. released a new album earlier this year. Clark is one of my ultimate favorites. He places on this playlist for the simple fact that I love his music!

“My Kind of Bite” – Little Sister (2016)

2024 was a banner year for me and my relationship with the South African band Little Sister. I have been friends with Little Sister lead singer Jenn Lonmon since July 2022. In the past 2 ½ years, she has become family to me as she so lovingly helps care for my mom. This year, my relationship with the band Little Sister expanded when I finally got to meet Jenn’s big sister, guitarist/songwriter Debbi Lonmon. She was visiting from South Africa. The second I answered the door and saw Deb standing there, I immediately felt a sense of kinship and quickly gave her a big hug. She looked happy and healthy. During their visit, they played a few songs on the guitars I had here in my house. We had a great time, and I felt like a “lucky charm” as I sat and chatted with Little Sister, one of South Africa’s most popular musical duos of the 1990s.

“Let’s All Chant” – Michael Zager Band (1977)

As you know by now, my dear friend Jenn Lonmon has been a huge source of joy and a big musical influence in my life throughout the entire year of 2024. I am ending my 2024 playlist with a song both Jenn and I love, “Let’s All Chant,” a classic disco tune that topped the dance charts around the world. The song elicits a feeling of carefree joy.

A few years back, I had the opportunity to interview the keyboard player on the song, Rob Mounsey. He did a great job on the song, and his part is one of the aspects that makes the song very special. Rob, however, states he never really cared for the song. Despite Rob’s feelings, I love it, and both Jenn and I have enjoyed listening to it countless times throughout the year.

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This is it my friends!!! I hope you enjoyed this musical trip with me. I look forward to making great new memories with my friends in 2025!!! 😎🙂

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With Love, RHC ❤️