Music has the power to allow us to feel a variety of emotions. For some people, listening to specific songs holds a deep significance. Mr. Felipe Camarotti, a physics teacher and an adviser to students of color, has always had an appreciation for music. Last week, I sat down with Mr. Camarotti to discover some songs he couldn’t live without.
- “Anything Could Happen,” by Ellie Goulding
Mr. Camarotti attended a music festival in 2016 in Maryland just to see Ellie Goulding perform. “I love this song because it’s fun and puts me in a really good mood,” said Mr. Camarotti. He likes to remind himself that, as he goes through life, anything could happen.
- “Hino do Elefante,” by Kinho Callou
The title of this famous Brazilian carnival song translates to “Elephant Song” in English. The tune is about Olinda, a city in Brazil where Mr. Camarotti’s grandmother lives and where his mom’s side of the family grew up. Olinda is best known for its festive carnivals in which people dance frevo — a colorful dance that incorporates umbrellas.
- “Mood Indigo,” by Duke Ellington and arranged by the Bowdoin College Meddiebempsters
Mr. Camarotti says that this arrangement, made by his college a cappella group, always brings to mind fond memories. The group, the Meddiebempsters of Bowdoin College, is the country’s third oldest collegiate a cappella group. “Mood Indigo” is the first song the group teaches to auditioning students and is also the last song that the graduating seniors perform. This song reminds Mr. Camarotti of his college years and the great friendships he made in his a cappella group.
- “Asa Branca” by Gilberto Gio
This song, which means “white wing” in English, is another Brazilian song that Mr. Camarotti loves. In 2008, Mr. Camarotti got to see the artist, Gilberto Gio, perform live. This song reminds Mr. Camarotti of a festival celebrated in his home region, the northeast of Brazil.
- “Tadow,” by Masego
Mr. Camarotti calls Masego “an amazing vocalist and instrumentalist.” The song boasts a beautiful arrangement of sounds that are easy to dance to. This is Mr. Camarotti’s go-to song when driving late at night.
- “Stop This Train,” by John Mayer
This song is about someone who can’t deal with the speed at which life moves. We can’t stop the train; it just keeps moving. As hard as it may be to understand in the moment, though, the beauty of life is that it keeps on moving. The song’s message gives hope to Mr. Camarotti, and reminds him of the special relationship he has with his parents.
- “Don’t Stop Me Now,” by Queen
Mr. Camarotti first listened to his “favorite song ever” in high school, hanging out with his best friend. He has a fond memory of jamming out to the song as the pair drove to take their high-school AP tests — nothing was going to stop them from succeeding!
