The other day the lovely Holly over a Bloomin' Rouge shared a great idea for a post called Soundtrack To My Life, and being the absolute music nut that I am, I had to jump on the bandwagon. I've always been one of those types that can remember the lyrics to songs from the first time I hear them. I associate music with times and places and memories from my life, and can still hear certain songs play in my head when I drive down certain roads. Some think it's weird, I'd call it a gift.
Here are some of songs that kind of make up the soundtrack of memorable moments in my life, take a peek (and listen!)
You can listen to my 'Soundtrack to my Life' playlist at the bottom of this post!
'Good Thing' - Fine Young Cannibals
My childhood summers consisted of my parents packing us kids up in the van and driving up the coast. Neither my brother nor I were good in the car for long periods of time and music was a bit of solace to keep us distracted from car-sickness and generally trying to kill each other. My brother would have been 3 or 4 when he decided that this song was the best thing ever, and we subsequently played the cassette tape (yep thats pre-cd era for you young'ins) until the tape actually unraveled. It will forever hold a special place in my heart.
'Run Through The Jungle' - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Saturdays was always my mum's grocery shopping day, which inevitably meant the minute she stepped foot out the house Dad would crank the stereo up. There were plenty of favourites, but CCR was well played in our household and every time I hear it I think of Dad our back in the garage, music blaring.
'Good Vibrations' - The Beach Boys
I have such a specific memory here of the family loading up the car and heading to the beach when I was about 8 for an after dinner swim. I had gotten a new bathing suit that summer that was neon blue and yellow with a zipper (don't judge it was '91 and I swear it was all the rage) We pulled up to our favourite spot just as the sun was pulling down and the sky was orange and purple, and this song was playing on the radio. I can remember thinking I'd remember that moment years from now, and I have.
'Second Hand News' - Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac was always well loved in my family, but when I was about 13 I got a set of giant Sony headphones for Christmas and promptly stole my parents 'Rumours' cd. Every night I listened to the full album front to back for about a year, until it got to the point where I couldn't sleep until I had. This song will always remind me of the first album I really obsessed over.
'Time' - Pink Floyd
When I was about 15 I bought myself a copy of 'Dark Side of the Moon' and immediately became one of those kids who had Floyd posters on her wall and school binders covered in 'Comfortably Numb' lyrics. I've bought every album by the band since, and would probably trade my entire makeup collection to see the band reunited live (the love runs that deep). My first favourite from 'Dark Side' was always 'Time' - the ticking of the clocks and build of drums in the beginning with lyrics like "Then one day you find, ten years have gone behind you. No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun" get me. Ever. Single. Time.
'Me and Bobby McGee' - Janis Joplin
The summer I turned 18 I drove up the Sunshine Coast and spent a week by myself. I can remember driving up the highway, windows down in my little Jetta and this song coming on the radio. The warm summer wind was on my face and I was asserting my independence for the first time, thinking all was right with the world for that very moment.
'Going to California' - Led Zeppelin
I went to a work party turned all night rager the Christmas I was 18. At about 3am there was a momentary lull when we realized someone had turned on the clock radio in the room we were in and this song came on. Slowly but surely everyone in the room just started singing. Rather than in a loud obnoxious party goer way, it was more like a quiet whisper, as if we all knew that the song deserved more respect than our drunken rowdiness.
'Thank You' - Led Zeppelin
On a rainy Monday in 2006, my much adored Grandmother passed away. I got in my car and drove towards Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver in silence. As I hit the bridge, I turned on the stereo and this song came on. At that same moment the sun came out and the lyrics "If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you. If mountains crumbled to the sea, there would still be you and me" played. 'Thank You' quite frankly is the perfect title for this song.
'That's All' - Genesis
Mr. GLG and I couldn't be more different in our music tastes but one thing we will always agree on is that it's always a good time for "a little Phil". Early into us dating we were driving on a rainy day, stuck in traffic when this came on and it's the only time I can remember him joining me singing in the car. Phil does that to people.
I hoped you enjoyed something a little different for a Sunday post! I warned you I was a music nut, and had very specific memories (my family thinks it's nuts I remember these things, but I love having such vivid memories and I think it helps me appreciate knowing when I am making new memories)
I'd love if you joined in and did this tag, and do let me know in the comments below if you've done it!
