I love music. When I’m at home I have on Music Choice TV, and if I’m in my car I have on the radio or a CD. I watch all of the musically topical reality TV shows (even the really bad ones; translation - “Grease: You’re the One that I Want“).
Music has been a constant in my life. I can’t carry a note to save my life, but I love listening to all genres. The thing I especially like about music is how it can transport me back through time. When I hear an ABBA song I think of my childhood and how I used to think “Dancing Queen” was about me. When I hear anything from Madonna’s Immaculate Conception CD, I remember that was the first CD that I ever had. My dad bought me that CD and a $150 boom box (yeah, they were expensive back then), and I was on top of the world. Every so often I’ll hear a Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam song and it reminds me of riding the bus to high school. Apparently our bus driver listened to Top 40. And what child of the 80s doesn’t get transported back in time when listening to anything from Prince’s Purple Rain CD? Yaz, Rob Base, and 2 Live Crew songs remind me of partying in college. If I hear a Garbage song, I think of my late 20s and my angry and bitter phase. Then there are my staples… Elton John, Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Earth Wind & Fire, & Barry Manilow (yes, I’m a hardcore Fanilow; when I marry Barry, my name will be Carrie Manilow – how cool does that sound?). J Turn on anything by any of them and I’m captivated.
I was so obsessed with music as a teenager that I used to sit and listen to my little radio/tape recorder and press Record/Play every time one of my favorite songs came on the radio. I can’t tell you how many times I recorded Sheena Easton’s “Sugar Walls” (obviously I had no clue what that really meant back then), or the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited”. My obsession carried over into TV theme show songs. I remember sitting poised in front of the TV waiting for “Cheers” to start so that I could record the theme song. I also recorded the theme songs to “Hill Street Blues”, “The Greatest American Hero” (try getting that tune out of your head now!), and “Hardcastle & McCormick”. Those were the days.
The interesting thing is I couldn’t tell you what songs are making an impression on me right now. It’s 5-10 years later that I think back and remember, “Oh yeah…that’s when I was…” It’s kind of like when you smell a certain scent and it takes you back to a fond memory. I couldn’t tell you half the names of people in my HS graduating class, but I could sure tell you what music I was listening to in 1987. It amazes me that music has such an impact on my life, especially since I’m so vocally and rhythmically challenged. I hope to pass my love of music along to my children.
Catgirl1007
OMG, I used to do exactly the same thing - sit there with my little red “ghettoblaster” and hit the record button whenever a song I liked came on the radio. Then I’d dance around the kitchen and sing to it, over and over again. I was such a dork, but I loved my music!