The other day as we were driving (because really, other than being in/around your house what else is there to do?) and listening to music I got thinking about the power of music to really draw you back into a moment. Perhaps this is just a personal thing, but there are certain songs and certain music that pulls me back like nothing else can. It brings me back to the emotions, thoughts, situations and sometimes I physically feel how it all felt- which is pretty dang powerful. I would say that my family really values music, particularly on my father's side. There are a lot of incredibly talented people in my family so I grew up surrounded by people who immersed themselves in and loved music. Around Christmas Eve I always have this memory come to mind of my cousins all singing in a choir at the church they went to. I wish that I could import the memory into my computer because the memory is so warm and peaceful and content, but for some reason I am struggling to put it all down. Not for lack of trying...I tried 4 or 5 times to start and then decided it perhaps wasn't worth it right now.
When I was younger- around grade 6- I would listen to the radio sometimes after I got into bed. I would just listen to the radio and get lost in my thoughts. They were probably the typically embarrassing thoughts of a fairly reflective 12 year old but I remember really enjoying that time of "wind-down". There's one song in particular that brings me back to that time. I'm almost mortified to mention it but anytime I hear it on the radio...which isn't often unless we're listening to a radio station up at the cottage...I'm immediately brought back to lying in my bed with my bright blue IKEA comforter. How many of you remember the song "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker? Oh man! Even typing the artist name is making me laugh and cringe all at once. I can feel all the insecurity, uncertainty, confidence and certainty that tumbled around inside me at that age. I can remember listening to it and trying to imagine the adult life I might have lived listening to this song; what would have been different about me? Who would I be living with? Who would I BE? All this wrapped up in a song.
So, all this thinking got me...thinking more...and I decided it could be fun to put my playlist on shuffle and see what songs popped up that sparked a memory and then to share it with you. I probably won't do every song because some don't really have memories connected to them. But we'll see. I'll stick to somewhere between 5-10 songs just because I'm not sure the length of memories that will be attached to this exercise.
#1 Damien Rice- Eskimo
When I switched schools in grade 11 to a school closer to our home I generally hung out with my brother's friends (much to my parent's chagrin I believe). However, in my biology class I met a girl named Danielle who was also in band with me. She was one of the first people to reach out to me and was incredibly kind. Generally, whenever I listen to Damien Rice that biology class and Danielle pops into my head. I remember we were sitting at the back of the class (I recall it smelt oddly chemical) in those uncomfortable seats where the chair is attached to the desk and she had offered for me to listen to what she was listening to. I don't think that it was Damien Rice that she shared with me then but this is the memory that sticks out when I hear this song. I remember feeling so worried about making friends but she was so kind and calm...she didn't seem anxious or "over the top" like some of the other people in my classes did. It meant so much to me that she reached out and talked to me as I wasn't (and still am not) good at meeting new people and introducing myself. She welcomed me into her group of friends so easily and they were all really welcoming and kind. I didn't go on to hang out with that group of people a lot but they definitely made my transition smoother. I guess this isn't so much a specific memory, but that song does spark the memory of that time for me.
#2 DC Talk- Take it to the Lord
I'm not sure if it was this album that my cousin Robbie introduced us to, but instantly all I could think of was the summer he brought DC Talk to the cottage for us to listen to. I have this memory of him trying to get my Dad to play it in the car which was quite the battle as my Dad likes to have control over the music. Finally after some hassling DC Talk was finally playing. The windows were all open in the car (hello before AC being standard in most cars) and the sun was pouring in. My brother, Robbie and I were all squished in the backseat. If I close my arms I can feel the warmth of the car seat on my back and the heat of the plastic of the car door on my arm as I leaned against it to have my face more in the sun and wind. We ended up blasting most of the tape he brought with him, and my Dad was definitely a new fan by the end of it. In fact, I can remember my Dad playing one of the songs loudly when we pulled up beside another car at a stoplight that was blasting some sort of R&B or something. I was young enough to find it funny and not embarrassing and I remember the people in the other car laughing as well and giving us a thumbs up. Who knows how reliable that memory is...but it's there none-the-less.
#3 The New and Improved Bunny Song- Veggies Tales
For some reason every time I hear this song I'm reminded of another Veggie Tales song (Everybody's Got a Water Buffalo) and a friend from camp (Tim/Burt) who used to always sing that song with me. I remember it really made us laugh. We would attempt to do the British voice of the man who interrupted in the middle of the song furious that Larry the Cucumber was setting them up for complaints from people who didn't have a Water Buffalo. I remember singing it with him in the school bus on the way back from camp. The windows were all open and the wind was just whipping around...we were all happy and exhausted from yet another week of camp. When I think back to those times I feel a warm, peaceful, happiness...and a comfort from knowing I was accepted and loved for who I was.
#4 Moving Too Fast- The Last Five Years
In my first year of university I went to see this play with a new friend I had met. It had been so nice to connect to someone, as I felt that everyone had been connecting and I had found no one. It was easy to spend time with her, which was a lovely break from constantly finding it a bit difficult. We were both currently working through some stuff with either current or past boyfriends and this play hit each of us in different ways. The version that I have on my phone is from the movie that was made a few years ago...which I don't remember finding as moving as the play. But it could just be the headspace I'm in now as compared to then. When watching the play I remember feeling this strange combination of sadness and also...beauty (I'm not sure if you can "feel" beauty but it seems to be the only word that "fits"). There was beauty in the raw, reality of the play...that not everything works out, that sometimes one person is more attached or hurt than the other. I loved this play when I watched it. I think it also made me feel very adult, sitting and watching a play with my university friend...I was only 18 at the time I believe...so really just legally an adult. But suddenly I felt my independence.
#5 Loving You- Paolo Nutini
Anything by Paolo Nutini reminds me of the first book I attempted to write. It was during my second year at university, during November (National Novel Writing Month for those who didn't know!) when I decided to take on the challenge of writing 1,667 words a day for the whole month. Needless to say I didn't do it. However, I created a playlist and it had a bunch of his songs in it so whenever I hear them I'm immediately brought back to the world of that story and it makes me want to dive back into it...then my kids start fighting and I abandon that idea.
#6 Savannah- Relient K
This makes me think of summer...probably in grade 11? I can feel the summer sun on my face and shoulders as I walk down the street listening to my mp3 player. I feel oddly confident about my future and about myself to some extent...partly because I'm in a relationship and my grade 11 self feels that gives me some sense of worth...says something about me being enough. I'm also brought back to my grade 11/12 boyfriend's parents Toyota Corolla and listening to music as we drove somewhere. There's a sense of independence I feel when I hear this song, of freedom too perhaps. I'm carefree when I hear this song, carefree and comfortable/confident in my skin (even if it's temporary).
I should probably stop there. I fear this may not be a very interesting post to anyone else. I also think it probably would have worked out better if I had just listened to my music throughout the week and noted which music reminded me of something and took note of it. But, alas, I didn't.
I hope this was fun for you to read...even if not particularly thought provoking.
When I was younger- around grade 6- I would listen to the radio sometimes after I got into bed. I would just listen to the radio and get lost in my thoughts. They were probably the typically embarrassing thoughts of a fairly reflective 12 year old but I remember really enjoying that time of "wind-down". There's one song in particular that brings me back to that time. I'm almost mortified to mention it but anytime I hear it on the radio...which isn't often unless we're listening to a radio station up at the cottage...I'm immediately brought back to lying in my bed with my bright blue IKEA comforter. How many of you remember the song "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker? Oh man! Even typing the artist name is making me laugh and cringe all at once. I can feel all the insecurity, uncertainty, confidence and certainty that tumbled around inside me at that age. I can remember listening to it and trying to imagine the adult life I might have lived listening to this song; what would have been different about me? Who would I be living with? Who would I BE? All this wrapped up in a song.
So, all this thinking got me...thinking more...and I decided it could be fun to put my playlist on shuffle and see what songs popped up that sparked a memory and then to share it with you. I probably won't do every song because some don't really have memories connected to them. But we'll see. I'll stick to somewhere between 5-10 songs just because I'm not sure the length of memories that will be attached to this exercise.
#1 Damien Rice- Eskimo
When I switched schools in grade 11 to a school closer to our home I generally hung out with my brother's friends (much to my parent's chagrin I believe). However, in my biology class I met a girl named Danielle who was also in band with me. She was one of the first people to reach out to me and was incredibly kind. Generally, whenever I listen to Damien Rice that biology class and Danielle pops into my head. I remember we were sitting at the back of the class (I recall it smelt oddly chemical) in those uncomfortable seats where the chair is attached to the desk and she had offered for me to listen to what she was listening to. I don't think that it was Damien Rice that she shared with me then but this is the memory that sticks out when I hear this song. I remember feeling so worried about making friends but she was so kind and calm...she didn't seem anxious or "over the top" like some of the other people in my classes did. It meant so much to me that she reached out and talked to me as I wasn't (and still am not) good at meeting new people and introducing myself. She welcomed me into her group of friends so easily and they were all really welcoming and kind. I didn't go on to hang out with that group of people a lot but they definitely made my transition smoother. I guess this isn't so much a specific memory, but that song does spark the memory of that time for me.
#2 DC Talk- Take it to the Lord
I'm not sure if it was this album that my cousin Robbie introduced us to, but instantly all I could think of was the summer he brought DC Talk to the cottage for us to listen to. I have this memory of him trying to get my Dad to play it in the car which was quite the battle as my Dad likes to have control over the music. Finally after some hassling DC Talk was finally playing. The windows were all open in the car (hello before AC being standard in most cars) and the sun was pouring in. My brother, Robbie and I were all squished in the backseat. If I close my arms I can feel the warmth of the car seat on my back and the heat of the plastic of the car door on my arm as I leaned against it to have my face more in the sun and wind. We ended up blasting most of the tape he brought with him, and my Dad was definitely a new fan by the end of it. In fact, I can remember my Dad playing one of the songs loudly when we pulled up beside another car at a stoplight that was blasting some sort of R&B or something. I was young enough to find it funny and not embarrassing and I remember the people in the other car laughing as well and giving us a thumbs up. Who knows how reliable that memory is...but it's there none-the-less.
#3 The New and Improved Bunny Song- Veggies Tales
For some reason every time I hear this song I'm reminded of another Veggie Tales song (Everybody's Got a Water Buffalo) and a friend from camp (Tim/Burt) who used to always sing that song with me. I remember it really made us laugh. We would attempt to do the British voice of the man who interrupted in the middle of the song furious that Larry the Cucumber was setting them up for complaints from people who didn't have a Water Buffalo. I remember singing it with him in the school bus on the way back from camp. The windows were all open and the wind was just whipping around...we were all happy and exhausted from yet another week of camp. When I think back to those times I feel a warm, peaceful, happiness...and a comfort from knowing I was accepted and loved for who I was.
#4 Moving Too Fast- The Last Five Years
In my first year of university I went to see this play with a new friend I had met. It had been so nice to connect to someone, as I felt that everyone had been connecting and I had found no one. It was easy to spend time with her, which was a lovely break from constantly finding it a bit difficult. We were both currently working through some stuff with either current or past boyfriends and this play hit each of us in different ways. The version that I have on my phone is from the movie that was made a few years ago...which I don't remember finding as moving as the play. But it could just be the headspace I'm in now as compared to then. When watching the play I remember feeling this strange combination of sadness and also...beauty (I'm not sure if you can "feel" beauty but it seems to be the only word that "fits"). There was beauty in the raw, reality of the play...that not everything works out, that sometimes one person is more attached or hurt than the other. I loved this play when I watched it. I think it also made me feel very adult, sitting and watching a play with my university friend...I was only 18 at the time I believe...so really just legally an adult. But suddenly I felt my independence.
#5 Loving You- Paolo Nutini
Anything by Paolo Nutini reminds me of the first book I attempted to write. It was during my second year at university, during November (National Novel Writing Month for those who didn't know!) when I decided to take on the challenge of writing 1,667 words a day for the whole month. Needless to say I didn't do it. However, I created a playlist and it had a bunch of his songs in it so whenever I hear them I'm immediately brought back to the world of that story and it makes me want to dive back into it...then my kids start fighting and I abandon that idea.
#6 Savannah- Relient K
This makes me think of summer...probably in grade 11? I can feel the summer sun on my face and shoulders as I walk down the street listening to my mp3 player. I feel oddly confident about my future and about myself to some extent...partly because I'm in a relationship and my grade 11 self feels that gives me some sense of worth...says something about me being enough. I'm also brought back to my grade 11/12 boyfriend's parents Toyota Corolla and listening to music as we drove somewhere. There's a sense of independence I feel when I hear this song, of freedom too perhaps. I'm carefree when I hear this song, carefree and comfortable/confident in my skin (even if it's temporary).
I should probably stop there. I fear this may not be a very interesting post to anyone else. I also think it probably would have worked out better if I had just listened to my music throughout the week and noted which music reminded me of something and took note of it. But, alas, I didn't.
I hope this was fun for you to read...even if not particularly thought provoking.
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