Musical Memories

I engage in what I like to call musical roulette. I don't own too many cd's (I never bounced back after all of mine were stolen from my car as part of my "Miami Initiation"), and although I own an Ipod, I havent updated the songs since pre-2007 (no, really). I do things the old-fashioned way. I turn on the radio, and see what comes out.

My musical tastes are as eclectic as they come - different tunes for different moods. But, what I found myself thinking about lately is the way a song can conjure up some pretty detailed memories - you know, put you in a place. It's not at all a novel idea. My friends and I were just discussing the olfactory version of this phenomenon - the way a whiff of Tommy Girl or Clinique Happy can whisk me back to 1997 (and the horrors of junior high) is almost creepy.

But, the more I brainstormed which songs could take me where, the more I realized that I could create an audio album...


Let me explain. I love photos. Scrapbooks are great, in theory, but I'm absolutely the kind of person that has a box full of scrapbooking supplies from 10 years ago and nothing to show for it. Who has that kind of time? But, sometimes a girl just needs a trip down memory lane, you know? To cleanse the soul... or, whatever.


So, I made myself a memory playlist. I have to say, listening to these songs (especially in chronological order), conjured up more feelings of nostalgia than any scrapbook that I thought about making and never did....


What follows is a sampling of my life playlist. Most of us (especially those of a similar age) probably have some overlap... but the memory associations - that's what's different for everyone. Enjoy! (and create your own....)


1. You Say, Lisa Loeb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3ZryyTDaOk

This is one of the first songs I can remember knowing every single word to (a feat, I might add, I was quite proud of). This one brings me back to the early 90's, singing with my friends on the bus (with all the passion of an elementary school kid who has been in love).


2. Rock Steady, The Whispers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPJz3syNbtE


The song came out in 1987, but takes me back to Louisville, KY, 1994-ish. I was very into dancing, but not very talented (some things never change). The recital for the last dance class I ever took as a kid was a jazz routine to this song. Every time I hear it, I can still do the moves.


3. Bennie and the Jets, Elton John
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EtCrHBq7Ds

Ok, so, I was notsomuch alive when this song was released, howeverrr - my daddy was. Yes, this song reminds me of a sunny day, a car wash, and driving around with my dad. This was the dad-is-a-superhero era (not that he still isn't, but his old magic tricks dont work so well on me anymore). Dad used to tell us what lyrics were going to come up before they did, so that we could all sing along.


4. Sex and Candy, Macy's Playground
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KT-r2vHeMM
Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg
Interstate Love Song, Stone Temple Pilots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppJLI3YqwaQ


Each of these songs reminds me of the same era in my life... when I first got into music.. and my DiscMan. These songs all take me back to teenage angst and Claire Danes in My So-Called Life. Me, 10-12, headphones in my ears, and talking to no one, in the car with the fam.


5. Sittin' Up in My Room, Brandy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM3AMfsvfzw


This song reminds me of a time before Ray J (or reality tv, or Kim K) and... well... sitting in my room... literally. It was that awkward age, when I didn't really want to be around my family, yet didn't really have other plans, other than the occasional mall date. So, instead, I did a lot of waiting by the radio, waiting for my fave songs to come on to record (on a tape, naturally) - or - on a special day - making requests/dedications on the radio. Yeh, that's right. Brandy was really there for me.


6. Waterfalls, TLC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WEtxJ4-sh4
You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPcyTyilmYY


And, when my social life developed past my bedroom - but close-by to the cul-de-sac park, we would listen to these songs on the boom box and practice cheerleading jumps.... and our Alicia Silverstone impressions.


7. I Ain't Mad at Cha, 2Pac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krxu9_dRUwQ


Then I fell in love, at the age of 13. And this was our song. (Only because we, of course, faught constantly and broke up every other day, and this was more the make-up song.) And I spent a significant amount of my time filling my planners with our weekly anniversaries and decorating my binders with his name. <3

8. I Don't Want to Be a Playa No More, Big Pun ft. Joe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHRSBUjvKow

And then, the most important thing to me became... needing a pager! If you asked my mom, they were for drug dealers - but, to me, all the cool kids did. Remember how you could have a song intro (which many of my clients STILL do on their phones) -- this was mine, forever. Because, yeh, I was so tired of bein' a playa (when I was 14).

9. In Da Club, 50 Cent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss

This takes me back to Vanderbilt - pregaming in the dorms. Specifically, my 19th birthday - when we hit the streets of Nashville and pretended it was my 21st. Goooood times.

10. Like a Prayer, Madonna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fzeNUqQbQ

I know - it seems a little out of order - but it isn't at all. Spring Break, 2003, Brownsville, TX. I was on a community service-based Alternative Spring Break Trip. One of the best times of my life with some of my favorite people ever. We played this song every morning as an "alarm" - and I can't hear it without thinking of that. Love.

Once I got going, I kept thinking of more and more... but I'll leave you with the top ten - in honor of TRL, another fave memory ;-) Thanks for coming on this magical, musical journey!