"Cranes in the Sky" by Solange is Important to Me

Solange told us in this song that distracting ourselves with work, isolation, and material possessions would not heal us. We need genuine community, honest reflection, and even interdependency (I learned that word yesterday). Through my work I’ve found wins to be proud of, stress from the elements, and satisfaction in the process. Through my solitude I’ve found comfort in silence, strength behind my decisions, and vital moments of reflection that help me overcome the challenges that meet me.

Through community I’ve found an unlimited list. Support behind my vision, my art, and my well being. I’ve felt seen in ways I cannot produce on my own. I’ve been held accountable for my mistakes or miscommunications and given opportunities to grow, learn, and evolve. I’ve heard someone say that the word “community” gets thrown around too much these days, but in reality I think we are hearing it so much because it’s needed now more than ever.

The majority of my life has been spent in search of stability and focused on survival. It’s possible to do things on your own, many things. But, I’ve learned that accepting help from those who offer does not make you a burden. In fact, accepting help can strengthen your relationship with them and yourself. I used to have a fear that if I let people in to help me that they would weaponize the favor, leading me to owing them more than what my threshold would allow. Those people do exist, but in a world of duality, that means the ones who have your best interest at heart coexist potentially tenfold.

The first time I heard “Cranes In The Sky” by Solange, I remember it doing that thing where your eyes are open but you’re not seeing anything. I don’t know if this happens to everyone, but when my body enters that state I start to think and feel in colors — almost like the gradients of auras or when Remy eats cool combinations of food in Ratatouille (walk with me). The lyrics felt like I was listening to my older self way in the future tell someone my old habits.

I tried to keep myself busy I ran around circles Think I made myself dizzy I slept it away, I sexed it away I read it away

Keeping busy is escapism. Sex represents using pleasure as a means of distraction or even a chase to fill the void. This song is simple and yet so powerful to me. In many ice breakers or interviews I’ve been asked, “What is a song you think describes you?” Or something — I’ve always said “Cranes In The Sky” by Solange.

This is the color I felt when I first listened to the song.