World Alzheimer’s Month 2024 Theme Mix Tape (Side C)
The I Will Remind You: World Alzheimer’s Month 2024 Mix Tape – Side C can be found on Spotify. Listen in-blog below for a more rich experience, or on Spotify for uninterrupted music. Please note below each song is a link to song lyrics for accessibility. Check out more details on how to best enjoy mix tapes.
Good day! I’m DJ Ponyboy. Welcome to the I’ll Remind You: World Alzheimer’s Month 2024 Theme Mix Tape – Side C on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I begin this mix tape with a content warning. Our topic today is very sad and the songs are even sadder, especially if you have a personal connection with the devastating diseases of dementia. There is no shame in sitting this one out if you don’t have the capacity today; I totally understand – nobody will fault you and I will see you next month when we celebrate the spooky season! 🥰
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and September 21st is World Alzheimer’s Day.
With the Alzheimer’s Association’s Fall Match Challenge, your gift can be matched up to $200,000, to accelerate global research and provide much-needed care and support for those suffering from this terrible disease.
Follow this link to donate to help further the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association.
I have personal connections with the disease through my great-grandparents and my grandmother; I hope someday we can rid the world of this terrible illness.
In this exclusive “I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying” Very Special Episode – the third of three themed around the subject of Alzheimer’s and dementia (check out Side A here and check out Side B here) – I attempt to capture what it’s like being a caregiver to someone succumbing to memory loss.
Whether in a professional capacity or as a family member, giving care to someone struggling with Alzheimer’s and dementia is a difficult and emotionally draining task. I looked for songs that reflect the love, connection, frustration, and loss that comes with giving care to someone experiencing cognitive decline.
Today’s first song explores a caregiving transition – a man who has been caring for his spouse at home entrusts the care of her to a nursing home, knowing he is one step closer to losing her forever.
Here is Reba McEntire with “Moving Oleta” on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
Good caregiving is more than physical; truly taking care of someone (especially someone experiencing dementia) requires patience, creativity, understanding, compassion, and holding space for people – both those suffering from illness and their loved ones.
Thank you to all those who do this difficult work; you make the world a better place.
The protagonist of our next song supports the person he cares for by simply being there, singing, “Instead of telling you, ‘You’ll be alright’, I’m just gon’ be that someone by your side, yeah, let me be that distant satellite – a constant in the sky”.
I’m DJ Ponyboy. This is Guy Sebastian and “Standing With You”.
I’m DJ Ponyboy on KMTJ-DB – Denver, Colorado; I’d like to take this opportunity to honour the aides, doctors, and especially nurses who work with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. What you do is difficult, but it makes such a big difference in people’s lives. Thank you for all the hard work – physical and emotional – you pour into caring for those going through possibly the worst time of their lives.
While caregiving is a challenging task, it isn’t without its rewards. The protagonist of our next song, a caregiver at Ashbury Hills, shares his special relationship with Katherine, who believes he is her deceased son: “She goes on about the weather, how she can’t believe it’s already 1943. She calls me Raymond and that’s all right by me.”
Here is Brett Eldredge and “Raymond”.
Brett Eldredge with “Raymond”. If you are giving care to someone, especially someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementia, remember to take care of yourself also. You need time to yourself, time to recover, time to de-stress, and time to return a better caregiver. Put on your mask first before helping others.
You may have noticed the high percentage of country songs over these three dementia-themed playlists. That wasn’t intentional – I found many more country songs exploring this topic than any other genre. 🤔
Why do you think that is? Did I miss any non-country songs I should have included? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Head over to the Mix Tape Journeyers Facebook group to share!
Our next song is a contemporary pop song, telling the story of the artist’s friend succumbing to a mental illness not dissimilar to dementia.
“I miss her even though she’s still here. You need to listen – don’t let her disappear.”
Jessie J with “I Miss Her” on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
On Side A of this month’s themed mix tape (Remember Who I Was), we heard the last song Glen Campbell recorded before his death, a poignant yet lighthearted tune about his struggle with Alzheimer’s, called “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”.
Glen fathered nine children, and our next song, from the perspective of one of his daughters, shares how she will take care of him as he has always taken care of her, singing, “We can talk until you can’t even remember my name. Daddy, don’t you worry – I’ll do the remembering”.
Here is Ashley Campbell’s touching song “Remembering”.
I’m not crying; you’re crying! 😭
I’m DJ Ponyboy and I am so grateful you are here with me today. Sharing this time with you makes my day better and I hope it brightens yours as well. Speaking of appreciation, make sure to come back in November for my gratitude-themed mix tapes!
If you are a family member or a caregiver to someone experiencing Alzheimer’s, the Alzheimer’s Association has a helpline at 1-800-272-3900 offering 24/7 resources for those suffering from dementia and their families. Dial 1-800-272-3900 for support to help you give the best care possible.
Steve Goodman is next with his song “The Dutchman” about an elderly woman living in Amsterdam caring for her husband as he loses his memory.
“Let us go to the banks of the ocean, where the walls rise above the Zuider Zee. Long ago, I used to be a young man and dear Margaret remembers that for me”.
I’m DJ Ponyboy. This is Steve Goodman with “The Dutchman” on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
Liz Longley with her heartbreaking song “Unraveling”.
While this has been a difficult topic, I hope you have been able to receive some comfort, support, and healing throughout these three tapes. I’d love to hear your stories on our Mix Tape Journeyers Facebook group.
Thank you for joining me – DJ Ponyboy – on KMTJ-DB, Denver. William Michael Morgan with our next song, singing about his father, “I don’t mind at all rememberin’ for him. He doesn’t have to get why I adore him. He don’t have to know me; I know who he is”.
While our next song isn’t Alzheimer’s specific, I think it does a great job of encapsulating what it’s like to care for someone.
Written as a lullaby for the vocalist’s younger brother, the song “Be Still” feels like a secular hymn. The protagonist shares how he will protect and care for his sibling allowing him to sleep in peace.
“And I will say your name if terror falls upon your bed and sleep no longer comes. … Be still and know that I’m with you”.
The Fray and “Be Still”.
Ultimately, caregiving is an act of love, something done out of empathy and compassion.
While the theme “I’ll Remind You” has been woven throughout, in our last song we come to the namesake of today’s mix tape.
Brian Asselin sings, “When you look at me and say you see a face without a name, perfect strangers in the frame, I will remind you”, on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
I’m DJ Ponyboy. Thank you for joining me across these mix tapes exploring the struggle of those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s from three different perspectives. Remember Who I Was is from the point-of-view of the patient, It Hurts to Watch You Leave is from the perspective of their family members, and I’ll Remind You reflects the experience of caregivers.
Make sure to join me next week for the September New Music Mix Tape, celebrating the very best new music from this month – I’m super-excited to share some great new music with you. 🥰
Thank you for your attention.
On KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado – I’m DJ Ponyboy.
Until next time, stay gold.