Courtesy of Alzheimer’s AssociationSting, Joan Jett and other artists have contributed either new or unreleased tracks to Music Moments, a music and video series designed to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.
In the video series, each artist discusses their personal connection to the disease, and why the song they contributed “captures a special time in their lives” — a moment they’d never want to lose to the disease. The compilation album rounds up those songs.
Sting, whose mother-in-law died of premature Alzheimer’s, contributed a cover of Otis Redding‘s classic “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.”
“‘Dock of the Bay’…came out when I was like 15, 16,” Sting says in the accompanying video. “I think when you’re 16, the music you hear is so powerful and evocative of that time.”
He adds, “I was a fan of Otis Redding and normally he was known for energetic soul music, and this was very contemplative and sad. It reminds me of me at that age, just being a little lost. Very lost, actually.”
Sting calls Alzheimer’s a “tragic and horrifying disease,” noting, “It’s a possibility…in all of our lives. So whatever research we can do at this present time is absolutely important.”
Jett contributed an acoustic version of her 2013 song “Hard to Grow Up,” which, she reveals in her video, was written shortly after her mother died.
She says that losing her mom made her realize, “I’ve got to grow up. I have to be responsible.”
Joan also suggests that music artists can help “open up conversations about Alzheimer’s…by writing songs about it, [b]ecause it would connect with other people who are going through it.”
Music Moments is now available on major streaming platforms.
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
