There are a few songs out there that stay precious to me. Each spread in a vast ocean, and when I hear one, I ride the waves steady, swelling with feel-good reminiscence.
They have the power of the positive, fixed on repeat and blasted, the car’s windows down and sunroof open, my hair lashing my face as I drive.
On more times than I can count I’ve felt a song was written for the time being, for the moment lived, no matter what the artist’s intent was, or when the song was actually created. This is about me, this is about us. This was meant for right now.
Some take me to the rock beaches of Cape Cod, others to house parties in North Carolina. One to the stone piazzas of Florence, then the snowy peaks of the Alps. One to a lonely and studious semester in Brooklyn Heights, my room light dim and the song on a mix tape, the only tape I’ve ever kept in lieu of a CD. One to a hot, steamy night under the lights of Bowery. One to a cool roof deck in Midtown and a chilled glass of white. One to a morning when I held my future on a string, as dappled sun danced across Gothic buildings and Sycamore trees.
These songs contain me, wrangle me back from the self-imposed stresses of the world. Money problems, uncertainties of purpose, questioning whether I’ll ever be good enough. These songs are constant, never turn away from me, never let me down.
They are my past in parts, and the flickering hope of my potential.
They have the power of the positive, fixed on repeat and blasted, the car’s windows down and sunroof open, my hair lashing my face as I drive.
On more times than I can count I’ve felt a song was written for the time being, for the moment lived, no matter what the artist’s intent was, or when the song was actually created. This is about me, this is about us. This was meant for right now.
Some take me to the rock beaches of Cape Cod, others to house parties in North Carolina. One to the stone piazzas of Florence, then the snowy peaks of the Alps. One to a lonely and studious semester in Brooklyn Heights, my room light dim and the song on a mix tape, the only tape I’ve ever kept in lieu of a CD. One to a hot, steamy night under the lights of Bowery. One to a cool roof deck in Midtown and a chilled glass of white. One to a morning when I held my future on a string, as dappled sun danced across Gothic buildings and Sycamore trees.
These songs contain me, wrangle me back from the self-imposed stresses of the world. Money problems, uncertainties of purpose, questioning whether I’ll ever be good enough. These songs are constant, never turn away from me, never let me down.
They are my past in parts, and the flickering hope of my potential.
(What are the songs that give this to you?)
20 comments:
There is the idea that the Divine speaks to you in all the ways it can - through music, coincidences, friends, movies etc...as long as you're paying attention!
A song that always moves me is Elsewhere by Sarah McLachlan:
I love the time and in between
the calm inside me
In the space where I can breathe
I believe there is a
distance I have wandered
To touch upon the years of
Reaching out and reaching in
Holding out and holding in
I believe this is heaven
to no one else but me
And I’ll defend it as long as I can be
Left here to linger in silence
If I choose to
The Grateful Dead's, "Box of Rain" brings me back to a skipped day of high school and all the shenanigans that transpired.
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Van Morrison's, "Tupelo Honey" paints such a vivid picture of my ex that I can barely listen to it anymore.
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Arlo Guthrie's, "City of New Orleans" makes me 6 years old again, sitting shotgun in my dad's jalopi, hoping the song and the ride will last forever.
Thanks for your comment on my blog. I cherish the memories made through music. I love listening to old cd's and remembering what was going on in my life at that time.
Like you, I didn't care for NYC very much, that's why I got out. I'll keep reading! ~Jodi
aw man. i just posted a bunch of songs, and blogger deleted my comment.
i give up. but i'll just say that i'm the type to play songs over and over again, especially at certain points in my life. i should have a list, and i could, but i won't!
I don't listen to the radio much anymore, but when I was in high school, there were certain songs that reminded me of people, situations, events, etc. My first slow dance ever was with a cute guy named Carl and the song we danced to was Journey's "Open Arms". It was a high school dance, after the football game and I felt brave.
ecomg, coolest...blog...EVER. can i link to you? i would list my songs but i'm in a hurry because i have to get off the computer.
um, that was supposed to say *omg* not *ecomg*. bleeeeeh.
great post, but I've lived too long and haven't a clue the names and artists of most of the meaningful songs of my life to list
*grin* Probably dating myself by listing some of these, but here's what I listen to when I want to get back in a good mood:
Erasure's Just Can't Get Enough
Dexy's Midnight Runners Come on Irene
Violent Femme's Blister in the Sun
Shaggy's Carolina
Baby Bash and Akon Baby, I'm Back
Ying Yang Twins Wait
The Gossip's Listen Up
Ben Harper's Steal My Kisses
Just about anything by Smashmouth
PCD's Sway
I know, it's a very eclectic mix. It makes me happy, and that's all that counts. I try really hard not to associate them with places, people or things. It's just better that way.
I was just listening to one of my 80s compilation CDs. And even though some of the songs weren't necessarily sad, they took me back to memories that make me cry. My list is so long, but I guess I can name a few.
Get Money (Remix)- Junior Mafia: S.T.O.P. after school program. I lived for that program.
Flava In Ya Ear (Remix) - Craig Mack: S.T.O.P field trips. All the boys on the bus would rap this song.
Hero - Bonnie Tyler: I fell in love with Ren McCormack during that tractor chicken fight. Footloose rules!!!
Shake Ya Ass - Mystikal: Parties at the Nell. I spent the entire song in compromising positions.
How Do I Live - Lee Ann Rhimes: Summer College 1997
Mo Money, Mo Problems (Notorious BIG f/ Mase and Puff Daddy) - Senior class at the homecoming pep rally. We did a hot dance to that song.
Okay, I have to stop, cause my eyes are watering. I miss those times.
All of Sarah McLachlan's surfacing reminds me of freshman year heartache.
There's a load but some hightlights.
Beautiful - Marillion off Afraid of Sunlight
The Space between - Dave Matthews Band
Map of the World - Marillion
Fantastic Place - Marillion
There's a theme here I think!
I love hearing an old song i ahve forgotten about it always puts me in a good mood.
I'm one of the many who collect songs like they're (I was going to say pennies, but it's not quite what I'm going for...)
Why Georgia--John Mayer
Tainted Love--Soft Cell
Blame it On Me--BNL
One Week--BNL
Counting Blue Cars--Dishwalla
Anything by DMB, The Sundays, off Fiona Apple's 1st cd or Sarah McLachlan
Right there with Peachy. Lately I've been rediscovering the 80s.
I adore how one song...one lyric... can transport you instantly back to a different time and/or memory. Too many to name, K.
I love the 80s!! Buffy you are so right!
The Railway Children
‘Carolina in my Mind’ - brings on college nostalgia my hunky husband, or wedding
‘Another Suitcase In Another Hall’ from the Evita soundtrack – it shores me up and reminds me every time I need it that this too shall pass
yeah - it's like in High Fidelity where he re-arranges them Auto-biographically - "if I want to liten to a song I have to think back to when and where I was when I first hear it"
memories often play with soundtrack
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