I believe in the power of music. Once upon a time, when I listened to music I’d open the album, read the liner notes and pour over the words searching for meaning in the lyrics while singing along. Now, I listen to what sounds good, what has a good beat, and I don’t worry about the words, though sometimes I listen carefully or think I know the words.

When the British alternative rock band Coldplay announced they were coming to Chicago, B decided she wanted to go. I had heard a few of their songs and seen their Super Bowl 50 half-time show. With O by my side, I bought the tickets in February right after the Super Bowl. I put the event on the calendar and got back to the business of life.

Oh, and I downloaded a couple of their albums – Head Full of Dreams, their latest and Mylo Xyloto.

One song, “Up&Up,” became a quick favorite. I’d play and listen, and replay. I liked the song – it fit middle-aged music criteria – it sounded good, had a good beat, and it had an added bonus – I could hear the chorus and it spoke to me.

we’re going to get it get it together right now
going to get it get it together somehow
going to get it get it together and flower
oh oh oh oh oh oh
we’re going to get it get it together I know
going to get it get it together and flow
going to get it get it together and go
up and up and up

“Up&Up” landed in my life just when I needed it. The past couple of years have been a tough stretch for our family. We’ve experienced several losses and we haven’t completely come to grips with it all. The weekend after I bought the tickets, we drove to B’s hometown and began packing and sorting furniture and household goods in her parent’s home to be split between she and her older sister. It was a tough weekend.

The house sold in March and the house she knew as home, is someone else’s home now. It’s been a struggle. So “Up&Up,” provided the lift I needed, exactly when I needed it.

we’re going to get it get it together I know
going to get it get it together and flow
going to get it get it together and go
up and up and up

Fast forward to this past weekend. The concert was this past Sunday night. Coldplay was in Chicago for two shows in Soldier Field – Saturday and Sunday nights. As luck would have it, severe weather and thunderstorms rolled through the Chicago area just as the concert was to begin. Both nights.

Saturday evening, we drove home through the storm and watched the amazing lightning show and Sunday evening we waited for the ‘all clear’ before we could enter the stadium and go to our seats.

After the storms passed the temperature dropped from a miserable mid-90s (35C) with high humidity to the a more comfortable low 80s (27/28C) and lower humidity. The all clear was given and we entered Soldier Field and reached our seats.

We waited patiently for the crew to reset the stage and for the crowd to file in. B and O took a couple of selfies and we watched the crowd and the crew.

We saw the announcement that the two opening acts – Foxes and Alessia Cara – were cancelled and Coldplay would take the stage as soon as it was ready.

At 9:30, Coldplay took the stage and the light show began with fireworks. The music was amazing and I recognized most of the songs, though I couldn’t name most of them. I did know they saved “Up&Up” for the last song as I had suspected they would. It was a great show and we all danced and clapped and sang (or hummed, in my case).

empty stadium awaiting the all clear

we all wore wristbands that changed colors and flashed – amazing technology

a photo of a selfie

the skies begin to clear

Up&Up

one of the first songs

Soldier Field stands – red, purple, yellow, green – amazing

Coldplay put on a wonderful show. And I sang that last song, at least the parts I knew.

we’re going to get it get it together I know
going to get it get it together and flow
going to get it get it together and go
up and up and up

The week has evaporated before me – I started writing this post Sunday morning, I worked on it Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings after I got home from school and the conference I’ve been attending at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. It’s been a great week, hectic and busy, but a great week. The canoe race is this weekend and August 1 is Monday. The very thought of August gives me the shivers. The last lkines of the song put everything in perspective.

fixing up a car to drive in it again
when you’re in pain
when you think you’ve had enough
don’t ever give up
don’t ever give up

“I am going to get it together I know….” Today is gonna be a great day and tomorrow could possibly be a million and six times better, but for now I have today so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day before it seizes me. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, one song, one chorus – Up&Up.

When was the last time a song has given you the kick you needed? What was the song?

Up&Up
written and performed by Coldplay
in concert and on the album, Head Full of Dreams

fixing up a car to drive in it again
searching for the water hoping for the rain
up and up, up and up
down upon the canvas, working meal to meal
waiting for a chance to pick your orange field
up and up, up and up
see a pearl form, a diamond in the rough
see a bird soaring high above the flood
it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood
underneath the storm an umbrella is saying
sitting with the poison takes away the pain
up and up, up and up it’s saying

we’re going to get it get it together right now
going to get it get it together somehow
going to get it get it together and flower
oh oh oh oh oh oh
we’re going to get it get it together I know
going to get it get it together and flow
going to get it get it together and go
up and up and up

lying in the gutter, aiming for the moon
trying to empty out the ocean with a spoon
up and up, up and up
how come people suffer how come people part?
how come people struggle how come people break your heart?
break your heart
yes I want to grow yes I want to feel
yes I want to know show me how to heal it up
heal it up
see the forest there in every seed
angels in the marble waiting to be freed
just need love just need love
when the going is rough saying

we’re going to get it get it together right now
going to get it get it together somehow
going to get it get it together and flower
oh oh oh oh oh oh
we’re going to get it get it together I know
going to get it get it together and flow
going to get it get it together and go
up and up and up

and you can say what is, or fight for it
close your mind or take a risk
you can say it’s mine and clench your fist
or see each sunrise as a gift

we’re going to get it get it together right now
going to get it get it together somehow
going to get it get it together and flower
oh oh oh oh oh oh
we’re going to get it get it together I know
going to get it get it together and flow
going to get it get it together and go

up and up and up

we’re going to get it get it together right now
going to get it get it together somehow
going to get it get it together and flower
oh oh oh oh oh oh
we’re going to get it get it together I know
going to get it get it together and flow
going to get it get it together and go

up and up and up

oh-oh oh, oh-oh oh oh oh oh

fixing up a car to drive in it again
when you’re in pain
when you think you’ve had enough
don’t ever give up
don’t ever give up