Sing Along and Chill: The Mental Health Benefits of Music

Have you ever found yourself singing along to a song and feeling like you are transported to another world? That's the magical power of a sing-along. It is a truly enchanting experience that can bring people together, create lasting memories, and evoke strong emotions. A magical sing-along transcends age, language, and background. It has the ability to unite people from different walks of life and make them feel connected through the power of music. Whether it's a group of friends gathered around a bonfire, a family singing carols during the holidays, or a crowd at a concert singing their hearts out, a sing-along has a way of creating an atmosphere of pure joy and unity. The magic of a sing-along lies in its ability to lift spirits, evoke nostalgia, and create a sense of belonging.

The magic of a sing-along lies in its ability to lift spirits, evoke nostalgia, and create a sense of belonging. When people sing together, they tap into the universal language of music, casting aside any differences or barriers that might separate them. It has the power to heal, inspire, and uplift, making it a truly transformative experience.

They Call Me Magic review – Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson is calm, pleasant and lacking a sense of humour

This drama-free, non-gripping documentary on the basketball star’s career sees him chuckling at banal anecdotes and breezing so easily through life that there’s only one winner – and it’s not the viewer

I n the fourth and final episode of They Call Me Magic (Apple TV+), Earvin “Magic” Johnson – one of the finest basketball players of all time – sits comfortably, smiles widely and assesses his own merits. “All the things I was on the basketball court, I am as a businessman. Disciplined. Focused. Building a strategy.” While these may well be the qualities needed to become a multimillionaire sporting hero, they are not the traits that make for a gripping sports documentary.

They Call Me Magic is a story of obstacles overcome, but Johnson hurdles them all so easily that no drama develops. He grows up in an honest, blue-collar family in Lansing, Michigan, his mother working in a school cafeteria while his father does long shifts at a car plant. Honing his basketball skills in pickup games against grown men, Earvin Johnson Jr soon has scalpers trading tickets outside his high school matches, is given the nickname “Magic” and proceeds smoothly to college level, where he leads Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA championship. The cloud of his unglamorous upbringing clears.

Johnson skips the final year of college and turns pro, joining the Los Angeles Lakers and helping them reach the 1980 NBA finals. When star player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gets injured and is absent for the crucial Game 6, the 20-year-old Johnson takes over, operating out of position at center instead of point guard and turning in one of the greatest single-game performances in NBA history. The Lakers win and go on to dominate the 1980s, with Johnson coming out on top in his rivalry with the Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird. Meanwhile, Magic enjoys the celebrity lifestyle, refusing for years to commit to childhood sweetheart, Cookie, although in interview this doesn’t seem to have caused Cookie Johnson – so we know how that story ends – any great distress. Magic is worth dutifully waiting for: he’s busy being the best.

It’s not obvious as to how exactly Johnson ruled his sport since, although it has plenty of cracking archive footage of the media hoopla around the Lakers, the series features hardly any basketball action. Perhaps it’s afraid of alienating those with little knowledge of a game that, because it is high-scoring and based on gradually asserted supremacy rather than spectacular moments, is hard to sum up in clips. Combine basketball’s opacity with the blandly pleasant positivity of the interviewees, and you have a documentary where everything seems to just happen naturally.

Johnson is a calm, pleasant presence throughout, often laughing heartily at the end of the most banal anecdotes, in the manner of someone who has never failed for long enough to sharpen a sense of humour. The way serious issues pose virtually no threat to him does, however, border on comical. The NBA at the dawn of the 1980s is a ratty spectacle blighted by violence, scant live TV coverage and racial tensions, but Johnson’s arrival seems to fix all this overnight. The shock of him being diagnosed as HIV positive in 1991 leads only to a brief period of introspection before he cheerfully embraces the challenge of destigmatising the condition. Even the Rodney King riots in LA serve mainly as inspiration for Johnson’s post-retirement entrepreneurialism, giving him the idea to open cinemas, gyms and Starbucks franchises in previously desolate inner cities. This goes so well that he ends up buying the LA Dodgers, who duly win baseball’s World Series. Which is nice.

Any personal demons are soon straightened out, while Johnson’s enemies are charmed or easily vanquished, or both. The closest the Magic story has to an antagonist is probably Isaiah Thomas, the Detroit Pistons point guard who is Johnson’s practice buddy in the off season for years, until the Pistons face the Lakers in the 1988 NBA Finals. Johnson remorselessly smashes Thomas on the court, their friendship ends, and the Magic carnival moves frictionlessly on. You long for him to display the childish inadequacy of Paul Gascoigne, the cold supervillain vibes of Tom Brady or the addiction to conflict of Michael Jordan. Not that Jordan has any conflict with Johnson, despite helping to end his career by succeeding him as the NBA’s most dominant player: they hug after matches and then team up as the USA flatten all comers at the 1992 Olympics.

The makers of They Call Me Magic can essentially get whoever they like to appear, such is Johnson’s pull, giving the show a rich, luxury feel. The Lakers superfan celebrating how the team lit up life in his tough LA neighbourhood? Snoop Dogg. The old guy who remembers how big a deal it was when the NCAA regional final saw his local team, Arkansas, take on Larry Bird’s Indiana side? Bill Clinton. Barack Obama pops up a couple of times to say nothing of note.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is the cream, the best, on a level above the A list – but when there’s such an overwhelming winner, there’s no sport.

In a sing-along, everyone becomes a part of something bigger than themselves. It is a collective expression of joy, love, and passion that can be felt by all. It is a reminder that we are not alone in this world, that we are all connected through the shared experience of music. Whether it's belting out your favorite karaoke song, joining a choir, or simply singing along to the radio in your car, don't underestimate the power of a magical sing-along. It has the ability to ignite your soul, unleash your inner artist, and remind you of the beauty and wonder of life. So, the next time you find yourself humming along to a song, don't fight the urge to sing out loud. Embrace the magic of a sing-along and let yourself be carried away by the music. You never know the kind of joy and connection it might bring to your life..

Reviews for "The Magic Wand of Music: How Singing Along Can Transform Your Life"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magical Sing Along". Although the concept of a magical singing adventure sounded intriguing, the execution fell flat for me. The songs were uninspiring and lacked creativity, and the characters were forgettable. Additionally, the animation was below average and didn't captivate my attention. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone looking for an entertaining and magical experience.

2. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Magical Sing Along" to be a complete waste of time. The songs were cheesy and poorly written, and the story was predictable and unengaging. I also found the animation to be subpar, with stiff movements and lackluster visuals. The voice acting was mediocre, and none of the characters stood out or made a lasting impression. Save your money and skip this forgettable musical adventure.

3. David - 2 stars - "Magical Sing Along" failed to captivate me on any level. The songs felt forced and lacked originality, leaving me uninterested in the story or characters. The animation was mediocre at best, with a lack of attention to detail and vibrant visuals. I was hoping for an enchanting and magical experience, but instead, I was left bored and unimpressed. I cannot recommend this film to anyone seeking a memorable and enjoyable musical adventure.

4. Jennifer - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magical Sing Along", but sadly, it fell short in many aspects. The songs lacked catchiness and failed to resonate with me emotionally. The plotline was weak and predictable, offering no surprises or moments of genuine magic. The animation was average and didn't bring anything unique or visually stunning to the table. Overall, I was disappointed in this film and wouldn't recommend it to others seeking a truly magical singing adventure.

5. Michael - 1 star - "Magical Sing Along" was a complete letdown for me. The songs were forgettable and generic, making it hard to stay engaged with the story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, leaving me uninvested in their journey. The animation was lackluster, with uninspiring visuals and limited creativity. Overall, this film failed to deliver the promised magic and fell flat in every aspect. I would discourage anyone from wasting their time on this lackluster musical adventure.

Sing Along and Create Memories: The Joy of Music