Singing Buddies
COVID-19 created a peculiar silence. Due to an increased risk of viral transmission, singing in public places was banned. The absence of singing was particularly felt in nurseries, schools, funerals, and celebrations.
From birth, we learn and thrive through rhythm and music. Many of our life and death events are marked with song and coming together in collective acts of singing. Abbey and Lily met Robert Howat in phase 1 when he spoke of overwhelming feelings of loss and grief since the death of his wife Julia before the pandemic.
Due to this, Robert found being at home in lockdown a very lonely experience. Since the restrictions were lifted, Robert has taken every opportunity to reconnect with people by resuming playing the accordion and collecting money for charity. He has also even become an honorary member of The Singing Buddies.
Discover our Singing Buddies songs and playlists, and listen to Accordionist Robert's medleys; click here.
Angus Remembers discovered how The Singing Buddies, a social singing group largely made up of retired people led by Abbey Craig, moved online during the pandemic and how the group was galvanised through this shared experience. The Singing Buddies share songs, stories and happy and sad memories with us, recorded through interviews and music. Their ‘pandemic playlist’ speaks of their Scotland and of lockdown, loss, love, hope, remembrance and moving forward.
The group dedicates this playlist to Marie Welsh and Mary Robertson, very fondly remembered and greatly missed.
The Singing Buddies have made a pandemic playlist for you to sing along with. You could make your own with music or sounds that mean something to you. During the pandemic, we heard some sounds louder than usual, like bird songs, because there was less traffic noise. You could make a playlist for any time in your life or create one for someone you know.
