My cultural awakening: ‘The Specials helped me to stop fixating on death’

The Specials' 'Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)' became an unlikely catalyst for my own personal transformation. For years, I'd been fixated on death, not just as a natural part of life, but as an impending reality that lurked around every corner. But when those around me began to pass away – and I mean a lot – it was like the entire fabric of existence had shifted.

At first, I thought I was fine. My friends and partners asked if everything was okay, but I didn't see any problem. However, soon I found myself retreating from social events and instead filling my days with anorexic routines – intense workouts followed by meditation sessions – a self-imposed regime that left me feeling empty and unfulfilled.

I had developed a peculiar relationship with death, one that turned my thoughts into a constant cycle of anxiety. Every sound could be a heart attack, every pause a stroke. The panic attacks that ensued were all too real, leaving me gasping for air, convinced I was staring into the abyss.

Then came a wake where the Specials' infectious energy washed over me like a balm to my battered soul. 'Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)' – the very song I once deemed cheesy as an angsty teenager – became my lifeline. Its carefree message, a defiant chorus that celebrates life's fleeting nature, flipped a switch within me.

For the first time in months, I felt like I was living a lie. The Specials' song painted a picture that contradicted everything I'd built up – that it didn't have to be so bleak all the time; that life doesn't need to be extreme or desperate to be meaningful.

I'm not saying my journey has been smooth sailing since then. There's still the occasional bout of self-doubt, and perhaps a questionable decision or two. But I've struck a balance – one where I say yes to myself, to others, and to life itself. When that pesky voice of anxiety whispers 'you're not doing enough,' my mantra becomes a defiant reply: enjoy yourself.

The Specials' song became my own personal therapy, helping me shift from an existence defined by fear to one marked by living in the moment. Not always easy, but I wouldn't trade it for the world – and that's what 'Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)' truly teaches us: life is precious and fleeting, and we'd do well to make the most of every second.

The more I think about this song, the more I realize how messed up our relationship with death can be . We're always so focused on the end that we forget to live in the moment. It's like we're all stuck in some kind of existential rut, just waiting for the other shoe to drop . But what if that shoe never drops? What if life just keeps going and going? The Specials' song is all about finding joy in the present, not getting bogged down by our mortality . It's time we start focusing on the good stuff, you know?

I had the craziest experience with a song recently... I was at this music festival and someone started playing The Police's 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic'. At first, it just got me pumped up like any other energetic tune but then something weird happened - I started getting really emotional. I think it was because the music reminded me of my teenage years when life was a bit more carefree for me. My grandma passed away a year ago and ever since I've been going through this existential crisis, so hearing that song just brought back all these memories... it was like a mix of sadness and nostalgia . Anyway, after the festival I started looking up The Police's discography and discovered some of their old hits... now they're my go-to playlist when I need to lift my mood

so this song literally changed their life for the better...like what was going through their mind when they were feeling all that anxiety about death? did they not think there were other ways to cope than just retreating into some sort of routine? and now they're spreading this positive message like 'enjoy yourself' is the answer

So what did you think of this person's story? Did it make them realize that life can be about more than just being anxious about death? I'm curious, how do you think music can change our perspective on life? What songs have helped you shift from a negative to a positive outlook on things?

I just got back from the weirdest dream last night I was walking through a beach with my grandma who passed away like 5 years ago... anyway, I started thinking about how music can literally change your life, you know? Like, 'Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)' is such a iconic song, but have you ever noticed how different it sounds when played in a crowded room versus a quiet one? It's like the energy of the people around you completely changes the vibe

just read this thread about how someones song "Enjoy Yourself" by The Specials changed their perspective on life from being super anxious about death to actually living in the moment it's wild how music can have such a profound impact on our mental state and I think that's something we all need to remember more often - to enjoy ourselves, you know? life is too short to be stuck in fear mode all the time. we should try to find our own "Enjoy Yourself" moment and run with it

omg u guys i just heard about this song "enjoy yourself its later than u think" by The Specials & it literally changed my perspective on life i used to be super anxious all the time thinking death is around every corner but now that i've been through some tough times & lost people close to me i realize that life isnt so bad after all its like we get so caught up in being scared of dying that we forget how to enjoy living u should def check out this song it literally saved my life

omg i feel u i know how it feels when anxiety becomes overwhelming but i'm so glad u found that specials song to help shift ur perspective i think it's super cool that u were able to take those intense workouts and meditation sessions and find a new balance in life like, don't get me wrong they're still important but maybe not at the expense of enjoying the little things too? anyway i love how u've found a new way of living where u can be more present and just... enjoy urself

just listened to that song and i'm feeling super nostalgic, reminds me of my uni days when i used to overthink everything lol anyway i think its cool how that one song helped you turn your life around, but can we talk about the forum for a sec? its so hard to find relevant discussions anymore, always getting stuck on the same old threads and it feels like no one's really having in-depth conversations. can't we just have a more nuanced discussion platform without all the drama and self-promotion?

just another celeb sharing their sob story about how some song saved them from depression lol like what a surprise. i mean its cool that they found solace in music but its not like its a new concept or anything... people use art as therapy all the time and its usually pretty effective . also idk why they're making such a big deal out of this song like it's some kinda life-changing revelation . newsflash, just enjoy yourself and move on from the anxiety

Just listened to this story about how The Specials' song changed their perspective on life . It's crazy how music can be like that for some people. They went from being all about death to realizing life is way more precious than we give it credit for . I mean, who doesn't need a little reminder to enjoy themselves every now and then?

omg i'm literally speechless lol i just listened to The Specials' 'Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)' for the 10th time and it's like my soul is singing along i've been feeling so stuck lately but that song always gets me pumped up and reminds me to live in the moment, you know? i was feeling really anxious about death too (i mean who isn't right?) but that song literally flipped a switch for me and now i'm all about embracing life's little moments and not taking myself too seriously it's like they're speaking straight to my soul or something, i don't know what it is but 'Enjoy Yourself' has become my ultimate anthem

I can totally relate to this song becoming a catalyst for personal transformation I went through something similar when my grandma passed away - it was like everything changed overnight. I had this morbid fascination with death but then suddenly, I was like "wait, what's life even about?" It took me a while to figure out how to live in the moment again, but music played a huge role in that process for me too

The fact that you needed a song to snap out of that dark place says a lot about our society. Everyone's struggling with anxiety and depression, but it takes someone like you sharing your story for people to realize they're not alone