The one thing I love about music is that everyone has their own story to tell – the musician, the lyrics, the way the fans decipher them and also the way a song can also create a memory or a meaning to someone. That is what this new article is all about. Each fortnight, we will take a look at a different song and I will take you as a trip down memory lane as to what it means to me. Welcome to Music Memories.

Track: Over and Over Again
Artist: Nathan Sykes
Original Release Date: 18th May 2015

Music can sometimes make a really bad situation a little bit bittersweet and help a little bit. Well, there are two sides to this story and I am going to start off with the negative part of the story first that is also related to music.

When I moved to Newcastle my first flat was nice but it came with a problem, I had a neighbour from hell. I was on the first floor and the flat on the top floor decided that their music was the most important thing to everyone in the building and would play it full volume into the early hours of the night. If you have had to deal with a noise nuisance then you will know just how awful it is and just how upsetting it can be. There was no escaping the loud noise, it was so bad, I used to have to try and sleep with music blasting into my ears. It was either that or try to cry myself to sleep (which I did a few times). In those situations it can be really difficult and the one way that I found I could try and combat it was by listening to music in my headphones. I made many sleep playlists that I used to try and use to listen to that were sleep mixes.

Around the time this was happening, Nathan Sykes from The Wanted decided to begin a solo music career and I would use one of his songs on repeat to fall asleep to. Over and over again is a lovely ballad and I really love the use of the piano throughout. It was a track I listened to a lot and always made me feel better. It was really weird but that same year he also performed a small set at the Christmas show at the Arena so I even saw him perform the tracks live which sort of rounded off that whole section of my life.

Music is a great aid in a time of need and that song I will always thank for helping me in a very rough time.

Facts About Over and Over Again

•  The song was written by Sykes, alongside Harmony Samuels, Carmen Reece and Major Johnson Finley
• A remix featuring American singer Ariana Grande was also released as a single on 15 January 2015
• Sykes performed the song live on The X Factor on 22 November 2015.
•  The song peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart.