This isn't a review of Up in Smoke or the sequel to Richard Linklater's Slacker. This is advice for moving beyond the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout if you're a smoker.
Today you won't have the rest of the country to support you as you quit. But you can have the power of music to fortify you.
Instead of stepping outside into the cold (if you're in Philly) or putting yourself at risk in the sun's rays (if you're in Phoenix), try taking five with a song instead of smoking.
The Industry powerfully equips the cigarette with chemicals to stimulate and chemicals to relax. (Boy, did they think of everything to hook you.) It's time to load some tunes into your iPod to plan a counterinsurgency.
You'll need songs to make you wanna set the world on fire, and songs to rock you to sleep. I suggest you try some new songs for your new life without the old addiction. Of course, don't include any you associate with smoking. If that means moving down the dial to the kids' station, it may be time to "get to Sesame Street."
Here are suggestions to start your song list if you want to stop smoking.
Songs to Get You Moving:
"Start Me Up" (M. Jagger, K. Richards)
"Ain't No Mountain Higher" (N. Ashford, V. Simpson)
"Hercules" (E. John, B. Taupin)
"A Little Bit of Soul" (J. Carter, K. Lewis)
"Living in the U.S.A." (S. Miller)
Songs to Help You Unwind:
"Lenny" (S.R. Vaughan)
"Melissa" (G. Allman)
"Miracles" (M. Balin)
"Winterlong" (N. Young)
Oh, we're gonna make it baby/
Oh, we're going to shake it, baby/
Oh, don't break it!
-S. Miller
