Friday, September 10, 2010

Music is my time machine

Music is incredibly connected to my emotions and memories. One song can take me back to a single moment... a single day.. a person.. a feeling. The brain is an incredible thing; the connections that are made are fascinating and sometimes incomprehensible.

So this is my experiment: My ipod is on shuffle. For every song that comes on that has a specific memory or feeling connected with it, I am going to document it here. (If it is particularly depressing or private I will skip it.) Some will be more specific. Others will be generic feelings or events that I don't want to describe in great detail.

Here we go.

"Not My Friend" by Norah Jones
The friendships that I have lost recently.

"Gollum's Song" by Emiliana Torrini (Lord of the Rings)

And now it gets embarrassing. Seventh Grade: sitting on my bedroom floor with the lights off and several candles lit. I was listening to the song on repeat and I think writing something about Lord of the Rings, or just writing poetry.

"Happiness Is A Warm Gun" by The Beatles

Driving home from orchestra rehearsal with my sister, belting this song at the top of our lungs.

"Like A Sad Song" by John Denver

I was a particularly emotional fifth grader. There was one afternoon where I sat on my bed and listened to John Denver... and cried. For no real reason either.

"Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

Um. Fall 2009. Fall retreat. Driving to Warm Beach. Peace. A friend. Daddy.

"Keep It All" by Lisa Hannigan

Camp 2010. Living in Schloman. Stanwood runs.

"There Is A River" by Jars of Clay

A particular epiphany I had while working out at the YMCA.

"Armour Love" by La Roux

Driving to Warm Beach... I think I may have listened to it on repeat one time. And a friend.

"Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga

So many memories with this song: my Biology girls in Fall 2009, my sister and her best friend, the very unfortunate cover, and belting this song in the car with a friend from camp.

"The Sons of Katie Elder: Theme"

Yes, I have a cd of Western movie themes. This is actually an excellent piece to run to. Takes me back to running last summer.

"Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap

Working in my aunt's library. Going to New York. Riding the bus. Spring 2010.

"Strong Tower" by Kutless

CILT summer. Warm Beach.

"Voulez Vous" from Mamma Mia

Running... lots of running comes to mind. And a friend: Mamma Mia is our soundtrack. Summer 2009.

"Lacrymosa" by Evanescence

June 2010. Getting coffee at Starbucks. Finals. Driving to school.

"Sing For Your Supper" by The Mamas and the Papas

My sister and I had this song memorized. Driving home from Bellingham singing this song, rather loudly as usual.

Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor Movement 1 - Jacqueline Du Pre

Walking around Marysville, feeling rather serious.

"Hurtful" by Erik Hassle

Riding the bus (another instance of listening to the song over and over again on repeat). Spring 2009. A friend.

"The Ballad Of Love And Hate" by The Avett Brothers

Riding the bus (I rode the bus a lot, listening to music. I think this was another song I played on repeat.) The night of youth group before Forklift 2010.

"Doomsday" from the Doctor Who soundtrack

Driving to the cabin. Going on long, serious walks. Gram and Pop.

"Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)" by ABBA

Sitting on an airplane. I literally listened to ABBA all the way to Malawi. That's how I was introduced to ABBA.. how sad.

"Muscle Museum" by Muse

Sitting in the computer lab at school. Blogging. Going to the cabin. Eating issues.

"Prayer For A Friend" by Casting Crowns

A friend. Fall 2009.

"Feel It In My Bones" by Tiësto, featuring Tegan and Sara

Running. March 2010. Getting accepted the UW.

"Two Birds" by Regina Spektor

Flying to New York. New York trip. Spring 2010. Riding the bus. A friend.

"E lucevan le stelle" from Tosca - Placido Domingo

Fifth grade during my opera obsession.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen

So much. Camp 2010. Mama. Arrow. IYC/Mexico trip. Annoying a friend by singing waay to much. Glee. Essentially the song of summer 2010.

Well, I could go on forever. This is rather addicting. I like diving into memories using music. But unfortunately, it also makes for a boring blog entry. Oh well...

More topics to come... Frida Kahlo and Virginia Woolf, possibly a word rant, and a bit of Dostoevsky.

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