"What is a song that instantly brings you back to a specific memory in your life?
I've been sitting on this blog for a while.
"What is a song that instantly brings you back to a specific memory in your life? What is the song and what is the memory"
Some back story. This blog kind of came together after a few things. One- First off, hat tip to Robbie Fox who's "What Was The First CD You Bought ? " blog . Two - I remember having a casual conversation with my sister after hearing a one hit wonder on the radio and how no matter what it always made her think of high school parties, and no matter what it was almost like you were back in that spot. It didn't matter how many years had passed since you heard it, or how long removed you were from the memory- you were right back there any time you heard it. For the record- hers was Weekends Are For The Warriors. Third, I've always been fascinated with how music can move people. As Big Cat has said music is the most subjective thing in the world. It can also be the msot shared. Your siblings, friends, coworkers , parents etc can teach you a new band, a new song and change your entire style a little or a lot over the years, or in a split second. Listen to any musician talk about the first time they heard The Rolling Stones, or Jimi Hendrix, and say "that's the moment I knew I wanted to be a rockstar." That always fascinated me. I also think musicians have the most respect for each other of any profession ever. I think that was cemented to me, when MCA of the Beastie Boys died, and Chris Martin performed a beautiful version of "Fight For Your Right" in his concert that night.
Additionally, while doing the Sopranos Snake Draft with the Chicago Boys, we got to talking about the scene with Carmela talking to Tony in a coma about the time down the shore they played American Girl in his car all weekend.
I know it's a tv show, but that stuff is real. Your friends, your family, past girlfriends and boyfriends etc- songs can bring you back to those moments. They can be happy, sad. or bittersweet but I think the main lesson is music is moving. There's no denying that.
I'll start.
"What is a song that instantly brings you back to a specific memory in your life? What is the song and what is the memory"
To me it's Mr.Brightside by The Killers
It was released in 2004, and I distinctly remember it being ultra popular in the fall of my senior year (and into the entire year of 2005 for that matter. One night in particular it was playing at one of the best bars I have ever been to, The Irish Circle in Rockaway (RIP). I was a senior in high school with the usual crew of morons - Mikeyy Blingzz, Seabiscuit, JT, Cino, Vinny Minsk etc. It was starting to get late into the night, and the DJ played Mr. Brightside to give one final jolt to the dance floor and crowd to make it to last call. I think subconsciously we were all on a high of being at a point where school was a breeze, we all had cars, we were in bars, we kind of did whatever we wanted, but there was a little hint of it was the beginning of the end of high school. I'll always remember that uncertain time of balancing the known and the unknown together.
That's an exact memory of that song but if we're being honest I've probably heard it 4-500 times in bars and for my money it's a no question top tier bar song, and in my opinion - it's the best. And no matter how many times I hear it, I'm instantly back at a bar at 2am on the dance floor laughing with my buddies from high school, or my hometown, or college- all of whom I've shared a ton of great nights with over the years with Mr.Brightside as the soundtrack.
Answers :
Big Ev - Beautiful by Snoop Dogg and Pharrell
Summer of 2003 waking up early at my grandparents shore house on LBI and going to Wawa with my uncle to get bagels and the. paper. Was the moment I fell in love with rap/hip hop, and have been hooked since. I'll never forget it.
Smitty - Float On by Modest Mouse
College lawn boozing. Glory days.
White Sox Dave - Summertime by Kenny Chesney -
Very first song that popped in my head is Kenny Chesney - Summertime. Brings me back to baseball between my freshman and sophomore year of college. Summer ball, team was stacked with a bunch of D1 guys, we killed everyone and did it all hungover as fuck. I had a couple red necks from virginia on the team that blasted this song all the time. This was the most fun ive ever had playing baseball because we were loaded, played other loaded teams, and even though we wanted to win every game we partied out dicks off while doing so
Kate - Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Yeoo! Sorry if this is too long: So my first year in NYC with Barstool a group of us from work went out for New Years Eve. I don't really remember anything special about midnight, but after party-hopping for awhile we wound up at this fantastic, hole-in-the-wall karaoke bar down some side street where we stayed until they closed the bar (3am? 4am?) and the staff was pushing everyone out. As all of us spilled out into the street someone started singing Bohemian Rhapsody & everyone else began joining in. Soon other people passing on the sidewalks joined in, too, and people were yelling it out of their windows, and more people were turning onto this street just to join us, too, and it felt like one of those scenes in a musical when suddenly the whole town sings a song together. And people were doing the harmonies and all the back & forth parts (Let him go!) (We will not let you go!) and it was just this impromptu 'flash mob' in the freezing cold in the middle of the night. We were all beaming. It was one of those magic NYC moments that makes living here worth all the other crap you go through and I floated off it the whole over-priced cab ride home. Whenever I hear that song I think about how cool that moment was & how much I love New York.
Ken Jac - 'We Found Love' by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
For me, the answer will always be 'We Found Love' by Rihanna ft. Calvin HarrisI went to Manhattan College, and this song came out my freshman semester. Me and every other freshman woud to this bar called Cannons on 108th street because it was the bar that wouldn't ID anybody. It was jam packed full of sweaty, horny college kids and We Found Love was on a constant rotation for my entire freshman year. I danced with my first college love, made memories with my buddies, and got absolutely obliterated while that song blared over the speakers.
Kayce Smith- Apple Bottom Jeans by Flo Rida
This song IMMEDIATELY sends me back to freshman year college. I can still taste the shots poured from plastic bottles every time I hear it. My girlfriends and I thought we looked so hot (we actually looked like assholes) dropping it low, smacking each other's asses thinking "everybody's looking at her" meant us. Plus, who actually thought wearing boots with fur was cute?!
Robbie Fox - 'Detroit Rock City' by KISS
For me, it's 'Detroit Rock City' by KISS….one of my favorite rock n' roll songs of all time. It immediately brings me back to being 3-4 years old and playing with my KISS action figures in - funny enough - my mom's basement, and going to live "KISS Expo" events (basically a mini-Comic Con for KISS fans only) with my older brother a few years later. I had a whole stage playset and everything, and I'd put on the albums and act out the concerts with the figures to the best of my ability, and then my brother would help me cut construction paper into super fine little pieces to serve as "confetti" at the end of 'em.
Bizarre that a song featuring the lyrics, "First I drink, then I smoke" brings me back to my childhood? Definitely. Maybe that explains some shit tho.
Donnie Does- Thong Song by Sisqo
Dry humping a pillow after learning how to beat off for the first time. I later learned dry humping pillows is not the correct way to beat off.
Chief - "Calling Baton Rouge"--Garth Brooks
We had a kid on our hockey team that played violin/fiddle. He'd play this in the locker room and we'd all sing along. Circa 2004.
PFT Commenter - My Real Girlfriend by Pup Punk
Every time I hear the song “my real girlfriend” instantly think about how Pup Punk is playing a show this Friday night at Toads Place in New Haven Connecticut and there are limited number of tickets available HERE !
Fran - Levels by Avicii
Played it at EVERY party senior year of high school. Came out around Halloween and played it every weekend for 10 months before leaving for college.
Kelly Keegs - Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
it was ALWAYS on the radio when I had my drivers permit, so any time I was out driving with my dad it was the only song he'd let me really crank up even though I was supposed to be paying extra "new driver" attention to the road. Still love it to this day and I always turn it up as loud as it'll go!
and in the most Frank way possible , as only he could weigh in :
Frank The Tank by Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
Reminds me of the 2007 Mets collapse every time I hear that fucking song I see Tom Glavine getting lit up.
Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into everyone's love of music, and why certain songs mean so much to them. Look forward to hearing yours.