If they made a movie about us...
"this would be the soundtrack." Thanks, Lesley. (That's a big compliment, so I'm going to brag about it!)
Has everyone gotten my mix yet? (Except for Sarah, because I don't have her address, and Hannah, because I'm waiting to fill a package.)
It was so much fun putting this together. Some CDs I needed to dust off, for I hadn't listened to them in years. Others, like the Spin Doctors, make really good cleaning music. (You can't help but dance along to their retrospective album.) And I have recently rediscovered Suzanne Vega and listen to her often.
It's interesting talking to Tim, about music and music memories. He worships at the altar of sound, the transformative power of music, and has so many albums and songs that evoke particular times and emotions in his life. It makes me think, actually, about how sheltered we were from contemporary music and, unfortunately, how much we missed out on.
In recent years, I've gone back and caught up on post punk and new wave: The Cure, The Smiths, Depeche Mode, and so on. Also old-school rap: Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep, De La Soul, all of the Native Tongues collective. And I think about how different things would have been for us--for me--if we had access to this music as teenagers.
For one, I would have discovered all-black costumes a lot sooner, and my sense of style would be drastically different. (No doubt the next step would have been goth clubs.) But in new wave, all that angst that I only knew how to express through bad poetry would have had a voice and a good melody.
Pour deux, I probably would be a better dancer today, and would have become more aware of social issues and the world around me.
Lesley and I were discussing how music moves us. Some of you may have read my paean (yes, that's a link to the entry) to Ani DiFranco's album Little Plastic Castles and have your own album that harken a specific time for you. It seems that the older we get, the fewer albums we discover that define our lives in the moment. Because we don't have as many "coming of age" moments now.
So that's why I wish I could have had more access to music as a teen. My parents' record collection gave me a great foundation into '60s rock and folk--for which I am eternally grateful and will someday plunder once I buy my own record player--but I still miss the critical discovery of my own generation's music. It's just not the same if you hear it when you're knocking on 30.
Has everyone gotten my mix yet? (Except for Sarah, because I don't have her address, and Hannah, because I'm waiting to fill a package.)
It was so much fun putting this together. Some CDs I needed to dust off, for I hadn't listened to them in years. Others, like the Spin Doctors, make really good cleaning music. (You can't help but dance along to their retrospective album.) And I have recently rediscovered Suzanne Vega and listen to her often.
It's interesting talking to Tim, about music and music memories. He worships at the altar of sound, the transformative power of music, and has so many albums and songs that evoke particular times and emotions in his life. It makes me think, actually, about how sheltered we were from contemporary music and, unfortunately, how much we missed out on.
In recent years, I've gone back and caught up on post punk and new wave: The Cure, The Smiths, Depeche Mode, and so on. Also old-school rap: Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep, De La Soul, all of the Native Tongues collective. And I think about how different things would have been for us--for me--if we had access to this music as teenagers.
For one, I would have discovered all-black costumes a lot sooner, and my sense of style would be drastically different. (No doubt the next step would have been goth clubs.) But in new wave, all that angst that I only knew how to express through bad poetry would have had a voice and a good melody.
Pour deux, I probably would be a better dancer today, and would have become more aware of social issues and the world around me.
Lesley and I were discussing how music moves us. Some of you may have read my paean (yes, that's a link to the entry) to Ani DiFranco's album Little Plastic Castles and have your own album that harken a specific time for you. It seems that the older we get, the fewer albums we discover that define our lives in the moment. Because we don't have as many "coming of age" moments now.
So that's why I wish I could have had more access to music as a teen. My parents' record collection gave me a great foundation into '60s rock and folk--for which I am eternally grateful and will someday plunder once I buy my own record player--but I still miss the critical discovery of my own generation's music. It's just not the same if you hear it when you're knocking on 30.
posted by LE at 9:06 AM
6 Comments:
You know, I've often thought a lot about this issue, too -- that is, not hearing certain music until later in life, and wondering why I hadn't heard it before when (I think) it would have been more moving, useful, or timely. But aren't our memories also (or entirely) caught up not only in the music but who introduced it to us? And when? And isn't that just the crazy romp through time that is our life? So when we find the music, we may be meant to find it at that time-- at 13 or 30?
Cases in point in point from my past: What would I have done had Jen not started me on Edie Brickell? Or if Kelly Janzen hadn't introduced me to Indigo Girls? What if Ellie had never introduced us to Trapezoid's Moon Run? (Ellie and I were talking about how that album is all about nostalgia, not so much about quality of sound) What if LeAnn had never talked about how much she loved the way the "bass walked through" Lenny Kravitz's "Are you gonna go my way?" I would certainly not be who I am, true.
BUT.....
Now you are all sending out the recommendations, groups I haven't heard of yet, people I should listen to more (Kate Bush, Suzanne Vega as examples), and I will remember this music, now, and not regret the earlier omissions.
So it's all about the now, baby!
Still, how wonderful the past is! I listened to Ellie's CD over and over and over yesterday. I nearly wanted to post response comments to every song, memories I had. I remembered so much that she wrote. I have a wonderful one of us all singing "Revolution Earth" in the car one night.
So it's all about the now.... and the past memories. And when we get to the music, we get to it for a reason at that time. I really believe that.
And yes, I AM the queen of contradictions today... :)
Oh, I can´t wait for new music! Here in Ecuador, I have a huge pile of CDs, but I´ve listened to every one of them so many times I would sometimes rather hear silence.
Anyone for andean folk music? Here´s a sad fact...before radios came, it was common to hear panpipes and other andean instruments being played in these mountains. Now, it´s just radios, playing that terrible, terrible puerto rican import, reggaeton. I hear it´s big in the states now, and that makes me sad. Still, I´m sure a lump will rise in my throat when I´m back in the states and hear Pobre Diablo...do you guys know what I´m talking about?
My life is such a skewed stew of american ecuadorianisms.
Lesley, and everyone else, I would love to hear your responses to the songs.
Some of my notes on Ellie's notes! I love ongoing conversations!
"Road Buddy" -- One of my Dar favorites -- I liked it even more when I heard it in the movie Smoke Signals
"Something to Say" -- Yes, definitely one of our CDs. And I mentioned this CD to a friend of mine today -- and she just screamed with immediate love for it, too! Now I have to pull that CD out and listen to the whole thing. You chose one of the best tracks, El.
"Supermodel" -- I remember I found Sobule on cassette after listening to your CD, Ellie. I think so, anyway. I love the Tori Spelling line!
AND OHMIGOSH THE SPIN DOCTORS THIS WAS MY FAVORITE SONG MY SENIOR YEAR AND I REMEMBER PLAYING IT AT GAMBINO'S AND CAN I USE ANY MORE CAPS I ALSO LOVE TWO PRINCES
"Cantaloop" -- I do remember LeAnn especially loving this song. I think it includes a remix of some Herbie Hancock in there.
"Garden" -- Eddie Vedder. Above mentioned friend Aleks does a great impersonation of him. Ha! And I will never forget listening to "10" with you all one New Year's Eve in my basement.
"Runaway Train" -- I remember this exact day at the lake, Ellie!
Ok, I should never post when I'm as tired as I was last night. My previous comment makes little sense. I meant to say, earlier in the comment, that I told one of my very good friends here in C-U, Aleksondra, about our recent mix CD swapping. Then, when I told her about the tracks Ellie had included, she nearly freaked. We were soon both talking about all those songs, CDs, etc, and how much we loved them. Also, this friend of mine has been known to do a fiercely impressive Eddie Vedder impression, so Pearl Jam's "10" provoked a great deal of enthusiasm from her.
And how could I not say something about "Revolution Earth"? The best song on that rather odd album. Excellent choice, Ellie. I remember a lot of us singing that song in someone's car. And Garrett told me an especially hilarious story/memory he has about hearing that song on the radio. Let me just say it involves his rant directed toward the entire city of Wichita and its poor taste in music. **Garrett, you need to post that memory! I was rolling**
I just have to say I am so excited about my new resolution to dive into music. I haven't listened to Ellie's mix yet but I plan to put it on today while Asher eats his lunch. Lesley, we listened to what you sent me the other day and we liked it bunches! Asher even seemed to be interested. I'm thinking of replacing his current bedtime CD with this one for a few weeks.
And I think I still have both that Us3 CD and the Lenny Kravitz CD that are mentioned here. :)
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