We all have songs that take us back to a certain place, a certain point in our lives. We often attach them to a memory or a person. Perhaps we even reach a pivital moment where we can no longer listen to a particular tune in the same way without rehashing that distant recollection.
I have a lot of songs that remind me of my past -- both good and bad -- hilarious and sad. My brain can somehow remember a song in such a vivid manner, where I was and who I was with when those first beats come on the radio; meanwhile I can't remember much about the first year of my daughter's life and I'm beginning to forget the first few years of my marriage (and most things before that too).
A few days ago I began thinking of the songs that make up the soundtrack of my life (thus far). I wrote down the first tunes that came to my mind. These songs take me back to riding in the car with my parents as a child, my first love, my silly days of gym class in middle school, my first sense of real freedom in college and the moment when I found my wedding song and thereafter.
What are some of the songs of your life? What artists and lyrics stick out in your mind?
Here is my list of songs (including cheezy tunes and one-hit wonders) that I could never forget:
My Early Years -
"China Grove" by The Doobie Brothers - This song reminds me of my parents, mostly of my mom. I can still picture her rockin' out to this song while driving or riding in the car. The lyrics themselves don't have much meaning to me and I'm not sure that they do for my mother either. I think she just likes the beat and guitar rhythms.
"In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins - This song reminds me of my dad. He would always crank up this tune, especially when the drums errupt in the final chorus and release the built up tension from the lyrics. Now though, when I hear this song I also think of that movie scene in "The Hangover" where Mike Tyson is playing this song in his home. So I can hardly listen to this melody without laughing and remembering that film.
There are many other songs that remind me of my folks -- Kenny Rogers, Cher, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine and a half-dozen others. But the above two were what popped into my head first when I thought of Ginny and Larry ("Mia" and "Buddy").
Middle School -
"Lost in Your Eyes" by Debbie Gibson - This song takes me back to the first boy I ever had a massive crush on, Ryan M. He had these big, brown eyes. The kind that captivated me. I was so in love with this boy. So of course this quintessential, cheezy song from the late 1980's was my theme song in the seventh and eighth grades as I was over the moon for this fella. From the mall cruising days to thinking that Tiffany was a better singer, Debbie Gibson was all the rage back in the day. That boy - Ryan M. - he did give me my first kiss, by the way. I was barely twelve and it was amazing. But thankfully (for me) we never dated seriously or had a courtship longer than a homecoming dance beyond that.
"Hey, What's Going On" by 4 Non Blondes" - This one-hit wonder will always and forever remind me of my best friend Jynell, the girl who has known me since we were in diapers. We used to sing this song, very loudly in the middle of gym class in seventh, eighth, and perhaps even ninth grade. Just for kicks! Just randomly start belting out the song, line by line. To this day, we still sing this song to each other on the phone. Or we'll post lyrics on each other's facebook page. Jynell and I lost touch for almost ten years but reconnected over a year ago. Thankfully it was like we never missed a beat. I will always cherish this song and my friendship with her. I heard this song on the radio recently and immediately called her while it was playing. Don't you love it when songs do that to you?
The entire soundtrack from the movie "Singles" - This CD also reminds me of my friend Jynell but on a bigger picture, it takes me back to the musical scene where grunge artists from Seattle were emerging and teenagers everywhere stopped showering, shaving and giving a damn. To this day, I still love this gem of a CD (with artists like
Pearl Jam,
Alice in Chains, etc.) and the movie that goes along with it -- it's about finding love, finding yourself and making choices as a single adult. Plus it has great actors like Matt Dillon, Bridget Fonda and Kyra Sedgwick.
The College Years
For some reason, not many songs in high school stick out in my mind. Or maybe I block them out? Perhaps I was too busy being involved in extracurricular activities and trying to keep up with schoolwork. None really jump out at me from tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades. So.... let's move on to the college years and beyond, shall we?
"Strawberry Wine" by Deana Carter - (yes a country song, from me? Can you believe it?) Surprisingly, I used to listen to a lot of Country music. Not so much anymore though.... But this particular, sweet song reminds me of a road trip I took in college with my wonderful friend Tracy. I don't remember exactly where we went but I know we became lost at some point. That is the way it was with my college friends -- get in the car and go with not a lot of planning behind it. Expect to take the long journey home and expect for somone to lose their wallet or lock their keys in the car. Still, it was a blast in my late teens and early twenties. To have that sense of freedom that you can only have while at a university with no real parental authority. This was when I really discovered the kind of person I was and who I wanted to become. (
Note: Anytime I hear a Pat Benatar song, I also think of my friend Tracy who had this sensational move to "We Belong" that no one else can emulate.)
"You'll Be In My Heart" by Phil Collins - This was the song that ended my college days. I remember driving back to Gray, Louisiana after I had graduated and packed up the remains of my apartment. I cried the whole route home. I was feeling very emotional about the new chapter in my life -- the friends I was leaving behind, some of whom I knew that I'd not remain close with much after that event. I cried over the uncertainty of my future, as I didn't have a job lined up yet. (and I didn't have a clue what it was like to begin a career!) Even though this song was written for the Disney animated movie "Tarzan" about the love between a mother and son, the lyrics will always remind me of the life I was leaving behind -- my college years -- those mostly care-free days of little responsibility -- for the very last time.
My Early Twenties
"Cheeseburger in Paradise" and the entire Jimmy Buffet greatest hits CD - Nothing says carefree and fun more than a Jimmy Buffet song. That perfectly describes my state of mind at age 22. I was single and living alone in an apartment in a suburb of New Orleans working at my first job out of college. After months of planning, I took my first ever solo trip to visit friends Kari and Sandy in San Francisco, California. To date, this venture is the best vacation ever. I spent ten days sightseeing along the Pacific coast -- walking in downtown SF, wine tasting in Napa Valley, being amazed by redwood trees at a national park, and imagining myself as a criminal at Alcatraz Island. During that visit, I listened to a lot of Buffet. At one point, while driving along CA's famous highway 1, my friend Sandy and I began screaming, "
I like mine with lettuce and potatoes, Heinz 57 and french-fried potatoes, Big koscher pickle and a cold draft deer - Well good God almighty, which way do I steer for my Cheeseburger in Paradise" And when I say scream, I mean
SCREAM out the car window at people walking by or riding their bikes. We received a lot of strange looks but damn, it was fun! Such a great point in my life and just a few months before I met Kirk.
Meeting Kirk, The Love of My Life
Last year on our wedding anniversary, I posted
the story of how Kirk and I met and how our virtual courtship began. From the very beginning, even in our emails, we talked about music and past relationships. We were very open and honest about our previous bad experiences. I'll never forget when Kirk mentioned this below song to me:
"The Heart of the Matter" by Don Henley - About a year prior to meeting me, Kirk dated a woman who really put his heart and emotions through the ringer. When he finally saw that their relationship was toxic and not working out for him, he ended it. He gave himself time to heal and move on and by the time we met, he had. Still despite every cruel and selfish thing that lady did to him, Kirk still looked back at the relationship in a positive manner. In fact, he referenced this song when he told me the story, saying it was about "forgiveness." When he said this to me and when he revealed what happened, I knew he was the one for me. Crazy as it may sound. And I will always remember this song as his connection to the past that helped him move on to his future with me. I'm glad that he went through his ordeals so he can appreciate what real love can be now. Whenever I hear this song on the radio today, I listen intently and fondly thanking Henley for his words that helped Kirk let go of his past.
Getting Married and Beyond
Although Kirk and I shared a love for the same music and artists, when it came time to planning our wedding, nothing immediately came to our minds for a wedding song. We both really love U2 but none of Bono's songs felt right for our union. Then we heard this song.....
"True Companion" by Marc Cohn - When I first heard the words to this beautiful song, tears immediately came streaming down my face. Kirk and I were sitting upstairs at his computer desk in our condo. We were months away from our wedding day. We looked at each other and "knew" that this would be our song. I bought the CD the next day and played it in my car for weeks leading up to our wedding, hoping that on our special day, I could resist the urge to cry like I did every time I heard the chorus begin. Somehow I did manage not to have tears flowing while we danced on our wedding day, but every other day I do tear up listening to this song. I absolutely love it and feel lucky that we heard it and chose it to represent us. Because after all, we are each other's "True Companion."
Click here to read the lyrics and see why we love this song.
"Ever the Same" by Rob Thomas - Several years and a diva of a daughter into my marriage, I was having a particularly difficult week, maybe even month.... I was stressed about motherhood, stressed over working full-time. I wasn't feeling quite like myself. I remember crying to Kirk and him holding me for a long time. Later that same day he shared with me the lyrics to this song.... 'Just let me hold you while you're falling apart/ Just let me hold you and we'll both fall down/ Fall on me/ Tell me everything you want me to be/ Forever with you/ Forever in me/ Ever in same....." Well needless to say, when he told me that these lyrics made him think of me and how all he wants to do is hold me and take my pain away, I only cried more (of course). But the song did make me feel better, just like Kirk made me feel better. And now this song will always have a special place in my heart. When I hear it, I know that it's okay to fall apart sometimes and that I'm lucky to have someone who will lift a hand and pick me back up again.
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So far, this completes the soundtrack of my life. Volumes 1 and 2, that is. Quite a mix of tunes, don't you think? Surprisingly, most of my favorite singers didn't even make the cut (like U2, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Journey, Elvis, Otis Redding, Fleetwood Mac, Lionel Richie etc. etc.). Plus, I didn't even mention my angry chick song phase either - Alanis Morissette, Courtney Love and more. But that's the strange thing about music -- just because you love a particular artist, that doesn't mean that the musician is a representative of your life, other than you simply adoring their music.
Friends have told me that certain songs remind them of me, like "Footloose" for example, since that is one tune that causes me to get up and line-dance. However, that song didn't make this list either. Although I enjoy it, the lyrics aren't particularly special to me or remind me of a specific event (but rather several drunken weddings and parties I've attended)....
I wonder what songs will be added to the next phase in my life's soundtrack (volumes 3, 4 and more). I can't wait to see what songs will remind me of Vivian as she ages and we make memories together. Or if/when we add another kid to our wacky family.... seeing what that will do to us all....
What a great life so far! Now I've got the soundtrack and the written meaning behind it to prove it. I'm ready to rock on and rock out to these songs then see what moves me next....
Tell me about a song or two that takes you to your past. Do you have one that would surprise most people?
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