NPR pays tribute to some of those who gave their lives to COVID-19 by hearing their stories and the music they loved. This song is from Uttara Marty, who remembers her mother, Ushu Subrahmanyam, who loved the song “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones. NPR pays tribute to some of those who gave their lives to COVID-19 by hearing their stories and the music they loved. Uttara Marty’s mom loved Norah Jones’ song “Don’t Know Why.” Uttara Marti talks about her mother, Usha Subrahmanyam, who passed away in January at COWID-19. How can I become more like her? How can I absorb all that you know so that I can learn it myself and pass it on with the same care that you do? What will I do without your careful guidance in making decisions big and small? How will I be able to celebrate my victories, both worldly and mighty? How will you be proud of me? How will I be able to fulfill your deepest desires? What stories do you have left to tell? I hear you, now and always. In memory of some of those who have passed away, NPR shares the music that touched them and hears the stories of their friends and family. Sometimes when we hear a song, it may be the first time we’ve heard it, but we get a sense of nostalgia, even if we’ve never heard the song before. I guess it connected her not only with the song, but I think it connected with me, because I couldn’t be with her, at least in some way. More than half a million people have died of COVID-19 in the United States since the pandemic struck the country last year. And so “it” kept coming back to the song and, indeed, the entire first album. On WhatsApp – this is going to sound really crazy – but I texted my mom even when she was intubated. T’s a kind of nostalgia that comes through in her voice. NPR transcriptions are done on time by NPR’s contractor, Verb8tm, Inc, and are produced using a proprietary transcription process developed in collaboration with NPR.

Usha Subrahmanyam