Posts

Showing posts from February 8, 2026

Music Monday: "The Stars of Track and Field" - Belle and Sebastian

Image
This song is honestly a little hateful. I think that is purposeful though. Or, well, at least it is very honest. "The Stars of Track and Field" is an imagined description of the lives lead guitarist and vocalist Stuart Murdoch imagines other young people with fit, healthy bodies are leading, specifically young people who excel in track and field, obviously. Murdoch enjoyed running when he was young, and perhaps a version of the lives he describes in this song match with the future he imagined for himself. Instead Murdoch dropped out of school and spent seven years living in his parents' home as he battled Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or myalgic encephalmyelitis.  Common symptoms include fever, aching joints, brain fog, dizziness and unrefreshing sleep. And activity will only make these symptoms worse. It can be nearly impossible to find a balance between activity and rest, and there is no known cure, just treatments for the symptoms and time to figure what ways of managing t...