“I Can’t Make You Love Me”

I was watching Adele’s Live At Royal Albert Hall concert and I came across a song that really struck a nerve. Adele covered Bonnie Ray’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me”, and to quote the Brit herself, “it’s fucking stunning.” It’s so moving and so well done. Now, I have an interesting relationship with music. Growing up I was never encouraged to cry or talk to my family or friends about anything deep. It was just shut your mouth and, “Oh well. Move on.” I soon discovered a companion in music because you were allowed and even encouraged to be vulnerable. There wasn’t the ever-looming certainty that you would be mocked or made fun of. As an adult I am learning that music is often an identifying factor of something I’ve been through. It’s the left over conversation from a long time friend that listens to me. It empathizes and agrees with me. It understands me. It unlocks me and takes away one story from a book of burden. It never lies to me or deceives me in any way. It never does me wrong. It is a constant comfort. Music and all it’s unrelenting kinship will never cease to amaze me.