I upped the anty on music-listening last week (given that I've been doing far more reading than listening lately) because Jesse and I went on a road trip. And for road trips you must have music. That's a universal truth, right? However, since Jesse was doing the driving, I mainly let him listen to his music, except for one day. Where I got to play some old favourites out of nostalgia.
I'm still on an All-American Rejects high. And in keeping with that post's theme, I'm going to share another music-related memory - NOT about the Rejects. But about road trips and music.
In August 2005, Erica, myself, and a few others traveled from Rhode Island to her childhood home in Maine for Lobster Fest. I had recently bought Missy Elliot's The Cookbook, and loved it. But, again, I was not driving on the way up! There were four girls in the car, and all the windows were down. We sported our sunglasses and enjoyed the scenic ride up the northeast coast. At one point, in the middle of some slow-going traffic, Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" came on the radio and we immediately turned it up and started singing our lungs out. During our in-car karaoke, we passed by a bridge with three or four shirtless (& healthy-looking) young men who were suddenly jumping on the railing and then into the river below, where other swimmers were bathing on that hot summer day. We all hooted, hollered, and kept screaming Kelly Clarkson, while onlookers smiled and laughed at us. Then traffic picked up and the song ended and we were all left smiling.
Whenever I hear that song, I think of that four-minute moment. I know a lot of people associate "Since U Been Gone" with break-up vengeance and stuff, and that's cool. Do it! It's a wonderfully cathartic song if you just dumped a dirtbag. However, that wasn't the case for any of us girls at that time; we just dug the fact that sometimes even a radio-friendly pop song can bring out the silly in us. And for all the deep, meaningful and serious songs I have appreciation for, I still respect the power of any song, no matter pop or indie or emo, to elicit a response or assist in creating a treasured memory. Now I'm bordering on cliche, so I'll stop.
Okay, I absolutely LOVE hearing stories like this from other people - stories of ONE song that you associate with one moment or a person or something. In my last post, I was intrigued by all the albums associated with periods of time...so, what about that one song? What memory does it drudge up (for better or for worse)? Even if you never comment, leave one! Anonymously if need be! I'd love to know.
