A Playlist for The Great Lockdown

In times of strong and dramatic words like quarantine, isolation and confinement, I decided to use one of the most powerful weapons of freedom: music.

Financial markets and the economy have a very strong component of emotions, with special emphasis on fear and (lack of) confidence.

Music has this power to help face fear and build confidence.

This year we will hardly have concerts or festivals, but the pleasure of listening to a good sound and even playing, for our happiness, will continue to be possible.

So I decided to make a playlist, which is a very difficult task, with a selection of 33 songs that could well be 3300.

As a guide I used the strong words mentioned above. I defined a wide spectrum of genres, languages, emotions and even origins to try to build a rollercoaster-style Playlist. I have included themes for feeling fear, for trusting the future, for celebrating, for those on the front lines, for depressing, for walking, as an alert to the mountain of debt that lies ahead and even to guarantee freedom. The last theme is just an epic movement, and with the emotional charge it carries, it needs no introduction.

The Great Escape is a way to escape The Great Lockdown, as defined by the IMF in its April Outlook, which can be consulted here.

Because this time it's (really) different:

• It's a global crisis
• It is not just focused on countries with lower levels of wealth
• It didn't start in the financial sector (but it can get there)
• The world is increasingly integrated
• Interest rates are too low and debt levels high
• There are violent shocks in supply and demand.

And even without being able to quantify the real impact that this crisis will have, we can safely conclude that:

• China's role in the world is increasingly important
• The decision center is shifting from west to east
• In the future there will be less globalization
• Our digital security (and freedom) is compromised
• The advance of nationalism and populism is a reality
• And life goes on and will go on!

So let's focus on what we can control. But stay at home is not about relaxing. It's about revisiting our model (business or life), adapting it, making it even more agile, preparing for D-day and welcoming the normal new with open arms… and listening to music!

And remember, for a The Great Lockdown there is always a The Great Escape!