The Sun Always Shines on TV
In 1985 I was assured by Norwegian heart-throb Morten Harket that the sun always shines on TV. He was so sure of this that he said the line three times on every occasion he sang the song.
You know what? He was right! As my then colleagues watched neighbours and other associated 80’s drivel it became blindingly clear that the sun always shone on TV.
The front man of A-ha got this spot on?
Truth though is that for the most of us the sun does not always shine and often watching others enjoying sunshine on TV does the exact opposite, it depresses them into a black and gloomy world in which everything we lack is highlighted.
So, 36 years on from young Mr Harket’s lyrical warblings how do I now come to terms with this?
As with so many things in my life I turn to song again.
The opening words of Rose Garden sung by Lynn Anderson sum it up for me;
“I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden”
“Along with the sunshine there has to be a little rain sometimes”
Ain’t that the truth — no one, except TV advertisers, actually promise you a ‘rose garden’ and human nature knows that there has to be a ‘little rain sometimes’. Without rain nothing grows and the whole eco system crashes faster than a 90’s personal computer!
Fact is that life is filled with curves, bumps, obstacles and challenges but without them we have nothing and gain nothing. In fact those that try to live in a straight line and deny realities around them are emotionally and socially hampered — they can neither function or feel. They don’t live they just exist.
So there is an absolute need to have clearly installed that sometimes you just have to accept that clouds will hinder your personal sunshine but it won’t be forever and when those clouds clear you will experience the true joy of being alive and being real — at my ripe old age I feel like I may have learnt this although — don’t ask me on a down day!
Back in 1985 TV was the mainstream media — so many more media platforms now — all causing the sun to shine in many more places — clearly that would have ruined the the lyric for Mr Harket!
Yes you will see endless social media posts claiming a life style of unimaginable prosperity and event but challenge that thought for a moment — if they do have that lifestyle why do they need to tell you? Why not just enjoy it for themselves. The cynic in me says it isn’t all it is made up to be!
However much you try to fight it the images and lifestyles sold to us on modern day TV, social media and the internet could make you believe that you are missing out and not getting the best but take it from a crusty old person — it may seem like the sun always shines on TV but that is just a few extra lightbulbs!