Music has long been something that makes me come undone. I associate some songs with some periods. I remember periods of my life and they come with a ready-made soundtrack.
Siera mentioned “Lightning Crashes” in this post. I have it on my iPod. It reminds me of when I lived in Arlington, going to a posh high school and being terrifically un-posh. I used to walk through the torrential, screaming, angry Dallas thunderstorms, in the rain, listening to it endlessly. It got me through The Angry. I always had that song.
Sia’s “Breathe Me” is the song I play when walking from the tube to the suburb that is my Couch Man’s. It is often the only song I play. I put it on repeat because I’m an annoying bitch like that. I think I have listened to it thousands of times and know every part of it, from the opening chords to when she draws her first breath to sing. The beginning is almost always true, too: Help. I have done it again.
Josh Groban’s “Lullaby” with Ladysmith Black Mambazo is the song for my babies. It’s the one and only song for my pregnancy and their arrival. I played it endlessly, relentlessly, it gave me comfort and life and to this day I associate it with a taut, swollen stomach and excitement at meeting two of the most important people in my life.
Dave Matthew’s “Crash Into Me” is my university song. I lived in a small apartment on campus all on my own, me and my grey cat named Nick. I would lay on the floor of my crappy apartment, look at the base of my third-or fourth-hand sofa with Nick on my chest, and play this song loud. Sweet you rock and sweet you roll, baby. Lost for you, I’m so lost for you.
Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” was the song my first husband and I had (as did everyone else, thank you John Cusack.) My second husband and I had Etta James’ “At Last”. Both songs are songs I still adore. Alastair and I have had a number of songs, and each time it fits with the stage of our lives that we’re in. When we cook we often listen to old time music – Frank Sinatra, Big Bands. I like the light-heartedness of it.
Heather Nova’s “London Rain” is a song I would listen to when I flew in and out of London, which I did a lot. I used to dream of a London flat with a skylight where the grey rain would pling, and I would jump up and down on a bed under the skylight until my laughing lover pulled me into the bed, kissing my breathless mouth. It never happened but it’s still a nice image.
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” is what I play when I want to push myself too hard. I play it loud and fast when I am exercising, and I make myself go faster, lift harder, do more, shut the fuck up and just do it, this isn’t enough it’s never enough. I enjoy the song. I don’t enjoy how it makes me treat myself.
The La’s “There She Goes” is the song for my friend Jim and I. We were best friends, so close that we could finish each other’s sentences. We now only speak a few times a year but it’s as though we just spoke yesterday. Together he and I can recite the lines from So I Married an Ax Murderer and he’s the kind of friend that if you called him at 2am, asked him to come over and bring pizza to watch a Buffy marathon, he wouldn’t hesitate.
Lene Marlin, a Norwegian singer, sang a song called “Sitting Down Here”. That song is the song for my move from the US to Sweden. I was living in Raleigh, NC, and flying to Sweden every other week. I discovered Lene Marlin while at a conference hotel getting drunk with two other project managers. She stayed with me for my move.
Likewise Nina Gordon’s “Tonight and the Rest of My Life” was the song when I flew back and forth to the UK for ages. Circling over the crazy green landscape of England I would play it on my CD player (those were the days) endlessly. Something about the song made sense. Something worked. It was meant to be played while on the flight to England. I never played it on the way home.
It’s funny how these songs are something that evokes a specific memory, a specific image. I can play them anytime, anywhere, but it takes me all back to that one time in my life. No matter what. Looking at the list it’s clear that I lean towards softer, calmer music. I think it’s because fast and hard music stresses me out, it’s usually too much for me to take.
I’m always on the lookout for a new theme song. This evening I’m tooling around London, probably to take photos and act like a kooky foreign tourist. Suggestions on a song that will be My Song For Tonight welcome.
-S.
I don’t know the title: Let me take you by the hand and walk you through the streets of London…
Very special to me, being German but having lived with an Englishman (from and in London) for nearly eight years. It ended badly but the song always reminds me of the good times.
If you’re down by the river, the Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” and the Clash’s “London Calling”… this time of year always makes me think of the Lovin’ Spoonful and “Summer in the City”, too. Or you could try Elbow and “One Day Like This” – very uplifting for a sunny day, lost in doing your own thing.
i’m reading this as i’m listening to ‘Hotter than July’ by Stevie Wonder – an album my parents used to play when i was a kid an it never fails to make me smile. And i love that you can quote So i married an Axe Murderer – that’s something me an my sister do whenever we get together. I enjoy doing it, especially when most other people don’t know what you’re talking about. “His heed’s like sputnik on a toothpick!”
“Float on” by Modest Mouse is a special song for me and I think it should be your song for tonight!
I Missed the Point by Neko Case :-). The lyrics are beautiful and I always find it calming. Have fun on your trek and hope to see some of the photos!
I second Steve on Waterloo Sunset – but try the Elliott Smith version!
It’s part of my soundtrack of the ‘hopelessly in love with a Swedish boy and waiting to move to Ireland with him while still walking around Paris’ part of my life.
“Streets of London” by “Blackmore’s Night”
a great one.
Personal favorite: “Sister Moon” by Sting
I love music and I have so many songs that remind me of certain times in my life. I think one of my favorite songs ever is “Touched” by VAST. VAST is just such a fabulous group all around.
Hallelujah — the John Cale version.
I can certainly relate. I haven’t been true to listening to my own “soundtrack” for a long time and feel like a part of me is missing. I lean toward calmer music too, and would recommend “Everything’s Different Now” by Innocence Mission, “Mushaboom” by Feist, “The Lifting” by REM, “Uniform Grey” by Sarch Harmer, “3,000 Miles” by Ellis Paul, anything on the “Tempermental” album by Everything but the Girl (which is my personal soundtrack to London). I could go on and on.
Oh god, now I feel like I have to put together a playlist.
One thing I try hard to avoid is suggesting music to people. I consider musical tastes very personal and tuned specifically to each individual’s tastes. What may be heavenly to one’s ears and spirit might not mean shit to someone else. And such tastes tend to be dependent on one’s mood, current station in life, time period, etc. There are so many personal variables involved that I don’t even try, though I can’t resist the “do you like his/her/their other songs” when discussing a particular artist. And for most of us, certain songs are like a slice of time itself – they can take us back and actually have us relive a particular moment or period in our lives, something full of meaning only to that specific person. At least, that’s what music does for me.
Two songs I’ve lately been burning up my MP3 player with are Carnival by Natalie Merchant, and Circle by Big Head Todd and The Monsters. No particular reason why, other than they just sound good to me currently. And BTW, very rarely does a “new” or “the latest” artist or song catch my interest, at least initially.
Not sure about a personal theme song for you, but certainly for this post: “The Song Remembers When” by Trisha Yearwood.
Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”… Excellent choice. This one works very well for me for exercise and cycling too. Another one that is great pushing yourself for exercising, ESPECIALLY spinning, is Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”.
As I’m reading your blog this morning, I’m listening to “Ballerina Out of Control” by The Ocean Blue. I’m not thinking this would be your song for tonight, but I think it would be mine if I was walking through London tonight.
First time commenter, long time reader. Your children are precious.
As for songs, a few suggestions, if not for tonight maybe for some other time …. Lady in Spain by Ingrid Michaelson; Samson by Regina Spektor; Come On Come Out by Fine Frenzy; Make You Crazy by Brett Dennen; Easy Silence by the Dixie Chicks.
Thanks for the link! “Lightening Crashes” is a powerful song and the lyrics always get me thinking. It takes me back to grade 9 English class where one of our projects was to bring something (? I don’t quite remember the assignment) that meant something to us. One guy brought his Live cd and played that song and a class discussion ensued. My favorite 2 lines of the song are “The angel opens her eyes…” and “The angel closes her eyes” which is a get contrast between life and death.
One song that really gets me thinking lately is “Your Gonna Miss This” by Trace Adkins. Every time I hear it makes me want to cherish these moments I have with my son, as it won’t last long. It makes me no want to wish the time away as my Grandma would say if she were alive.
“Sleeping Lessons” by The Shins, “Do you Realize” by The Flaming Lips, and as Super Sarah said “Float On” is a good one too.
Hmmm… I have a jillion songs running through my mind to recommend, but I’ll stick to just a few. Breakable by Ingrid Michaelson, Undiscovered by James Morrison, and Life is Beautiful by Vega 4. All excellent, all mellow.
Ye folk who have recommended Ingrid Michaels, the Shins, Sting, Natalie Merchant, Feist, REM, “Hallelujah”, Regina Spector, and Streets of London? You’re my kind of people. All of those were already in my iPod, and you reminded me they were there. Many thanks. Want a glass of wine?
I’d go with “London” by Alanis Morissette. Methinks I may have sent you that awhile back. There’s also “Welcome to England” and her cover of “London Girls” by Tori Amos, if you’re into a geographical theme…same with “LDN” by Lily Allen. Or, just to be kooky, you could go with “American Girl.” Everytime I go to New York, I put on “Take Back the City” by Snow Patrol…
However, my ultimate suggestion is “Breakdown” by Jack Johnson. Definitely.
Amos Lee,Ray Lamontagne and Grace Potter..if you haven’t heard of them you should check them out. I think you’d really like their stuff.
Shannon –
Many of the songs you listed are in my internal ipod of my past as well.
I have really been digging an LA band called the Ruby Friedman Orchestra. She has a song called “Go About Your Day” which might reflect the mood you are in. One lyric is “I watch the still life nobody paints.” Good luck. Sounds like you have a lot of songs to sift through. By the way, last night, I drove while playing Sia (Soon We’ll Be Found) full blast and singing along. It was a very visceral therapy.
heartbeats-the knife
jenny again-tunng
somebody somewhere-cazals
nowhere girl-b-movie
these days-Nico
I always have these on my mixes.
I’m loving Ingrid Michaelson-discovered here in the comments!
Whoaaa.
Somebody already mentioned my fave band in Los Angeles, and everywhere else for that matter!
The Ruby Friedman Orchestra.
Listen to Shooting Stars.
You have NOOOOOOO idea!
This chick kicks serious ass and is other-worldly on stage…about to blow up.
http://www.myspace.com/rubyfriedman
Thanks for Blogging, Melanie
This City Never Sleeps – Eurythmics
I’ve done several posts about this, so I won’t bore you with them.
I find it interesting–and ironic–that one of your favorite songs is from a Christian rock band. *lol*