I love
going to the cinema, and sometimes secretly wish that I had music playing in
the background to accompany my everyday life.
Music, whether lyrics or the tune, can be so powerful in capturing
feelings or a mood. There are a lot of songs
that I strongly associate with a person or a time of my life (both good and
bad). I saw this idea on a similar 30:30
blog, and thought I would give it a go.
The 13 themes are a mixture of ones that were on this other person’s list,
and some that I’ve added in myself. If
you don’t know the songs, look them up on YouTube/ iTunes for a listen.
Opening Credits
The Arcade Fire – Wake Up
This is an epic song which makes me want to soar
like a bird or stand on top of a hill with my arms flung open. It also features on one of my favourite
films, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Part of the film is about overcoming fears
and taking that step out to have adventures.
To go places, to see and do things, to have courage, and to see life
beyond the mundane. Opening credits
often set the tone and pace of a film, and I would love this to be the same for
me – breaking free and embracing the fullness of life.
The Young Years
Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around
Released in May 1994 (when I
was 9), this song stayed at number 1 in the charts for 15 consecutive
weeks. I remember being really upset the
day it was knocked off the top spot by Whigfield’s Saturday Night.
First Single
Take That – Back For Good
I bought this on cassette, in fact I think I still
have it in a box in the attic at home. I
checked on the internet and it was released in 1995. Nearly 20 years ago – eek!! It’s still a great song (although less can be
said for the music video – mid 90s cringe!).
Fighting
Mike + The Mechanics – Over
My Shoulder
You may be familiar with the Now, That’s What I Call Music CDs, the latest one being Now 89
(seriously?!). I vividly remember having
a fight with my brother over which one of us could buy Now 30 on cassette (also
released in 1995), and I eventually won.
I was reading back over the play list the other day – a lot of one hit
wonders in there! But there was also
this song from Mike + The Mechanics, which I think is still a great song.
Teenage Angst Years
Savage Garden – Truly, Madly, Deeply
Wow, this is an embarrassing
one to admit to! I listened to this song
on repeat on my Walkman in my early teenage years and felt the anguish and pain
of every word. I am so glad those days
are over!
High School Days
Toploader – Dancing In The Moonlight
I made an effort to develop my music tastes during
high school, and jumped on board the late nineties/ early noughties train of
bands like Coldplay, Feeder, Toploader etc.
This song reminds me of school discos, my awesome school friends,
feeling even more socially awkward than I do now, and growing up.
First Gig
Delirious – Deeper
I went to my first proper gig
when I was 16 or 17. Delirious are a
Christian band who were playing at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. It was sweaty, loud and awesome.
Prom
Blink-182 – I Miss You
I was dating my first boyfriend when I went to my
senior prom in 6th year, and (not that I miss him) this song makes
me think of driving around in his car (the one with the windscreen wipers that
fell off – a joy to be in during a downpour).
Uni Days
Sean Paul feat Blu Cantrell – Breathe
I don’t particularly like this
song, but it always reminds me of being in first year at Glasgow Uni, going to
the GU Union with my flatmates and trying to pretend that I was having a great
time. I have two left feet and just
didn’t know what to do with myself. I’m
gradually getting over the fear of what other people think, and feel slightly
more able to have fun on the dance floor!
Dark Times
Snow Patrol – Open Your Eyes
While I was depressed at Uni, I was all about the
meaningful lyrics. I had a lot of built
up anger inside and didn’t know how to put it into words, and there were also
times when I felt very numb inside.
Thankfully over time I learned how to cope a bit better with my feelings. I try to see this song as a reminder of how
far I’ve come rather than a reminder of dark times.
Falling In Love
Jonny Cash & June Carter
– Jackson
My ex-boyfriend from a few years ago loved Jonny Cash, and we used to listen to
this song a lot in his car. It makes me
feel sad to listen to it now, but it also reminds me of that period of my life
– being in my early twenties, a bit naïve and falling in love for the first
time.
Flashback
The Piano Guys feat Alex Boye – Peponi
The Piano Guys feat Alex Boye – Peponi
It’s true that music can transport you to
somewhere else. I can listen to this
song, close my eyes and imagine that I’m back in Rwanda. When I was there in 2012, Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto album was played a lot by
our team, especially while we were sticking labels on jam jars or in the van on
a long journey. The Piano Guys did this
amazing cover of Paradise (peponi is
Swahili for paradise). Those 4 months
meant a lot to me, and this song brings back good memories.
Life’s Okay
Coldplay – Sky Full Of Stars
2014 has been one of the best and worst years I’ve
had for a while. I love this song,
however it was played during a funeral I was at in the summer, so feels
somewhat bittersweet now. But there’s
something about it that hits the nail on the head – you get lighter the more it gets dark… I feel like I need this reminder. That despite the difficult things, there can
be light, there can be hope, there can be joy, there is a sky full of stars.
*This replaces the item I
had on my original list – fly first class.
No comments:
Post a Comment