Soundtrack of Life

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The first song I remember trying to memorize was Billy Joel’s song “The Stranger”. I sat in my sister’s room (because she had a stereo) and played the song, wrote down the lyrics in my diary, line by line, rewinding and fast-forwarding for hours. I’m not sure why I chose this song. Maybe it was around the same time a man in a white van tried to kidnap me by telling me if I gave him my Keds (white leather ones), he would give me $20. Mom told me to “Not Talk to Strangers” (a song by Rick Springfield) so I sprinted home and have been suspicious of white vans ever since. This may have been the motivation behind memorizing Billy Joel’s song.

Another time I remember attempting music memorizations was when the Blues Traveler’s song “The Hook” came out. My friend Mike and I sat in his living room all day with the determination to get every word down. What a huge accomplishment when we finally sang it by heart! We did the same thing with “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Mike is much better at memorizing songs than I am. In fact, he and some college friends made a video of Snow’s song “Informer”, which is not exactly an easy song to commit to memory. That takes talent. He also wooed his bride on his wedding day by putting a white bandana on his head and performing Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”

Here is a list of songs I would put on a soundtrack of my life, let’s say if I somehow got a movie deal by someone who somehow came across my blog and thought my stories would make a good movie! (I think Natalie Portman would be a good pick to play me in this hypothetical movie). It is a list of songs that help define me, my personality, my life…or just songs I really like.

I will explain why I have put some of the songs on there, but some are self-explanatory.These songs have made me feel something, have moved me in some way. If you really enjoy this soundtrack, perhaps I can make a mixed tape for you! Here is another assignment for you. After reading my life soundtrack, let me know what you would put on yours! Can’t wait to hear from you!

Here it goes:

“I’m Only Happy When it Rains”-Garbage

It’s only water. Water falling from the sky in tiny droplets bouncing off of the mighty ground with hundreds of little splashes. Leaping down from the clouds, using the ground as its trampoline. And this brings creases around my mouth towards the direction of the rain’s origin. The harder it falls, the happier I feel. I sit comfortably watching the rain water the Earth as I stay dry and warm inside. Maybe when Courtney Love sang this song she meant the water brings her alive, like she is a thirsty plant and without it, she can’t survive. Or maybe she meant she is only happy when it rains because it gives her an excuse to stay inside her house, in comfy clothes and be a recluse. Or maybe that’s just me.

“Let it Be”- The Beatles

My Gramma Tommy always used to say “Whatever will be will be. Que sera sera! Just let it be!” I value her words as I do the words John and Paul wrote many years ago. Sometimes you can’t control or change a situation and it is extremely frustrating. It took me a long time to accept the things I could not change. I learned to change my reaction to things, rather than trying to change or control them. Thanks Tom, John and Paul!

“Black Bird”-The Beatles

This one is simple. I have always wanted to be a bird. To fly high and soar across the sky, the wind in my hair, carefree and open.

“Can’t Always Get What You Want”-The Rolling Stones

Pretty self-explanatory. But the best line is “If you try some time, you just might find, you get what you need.”

“Strong Enough”-Sheryl Crow

Let’s me be honest with you and myself….I am not easy to deal with. I am stubborn, independent, moody, I’m a procrastinator, I’m anxious, paranoid and wheat intolerant. So I ask…Are you strong enough to be my man?

“You are My Sunshine”

My mom used to sing this song to me when I was little. Bill sometimes calls me sunshine. Apparently, despite my ability to be difficult, as I have mentioned above, I guess I also have the ability to brighten lives. I also chose this song because it is the song I sang to my nephew Nicholas when he cried as a baby. It usually helped. He definitely makes me happy when my skies are gray.

“A Change is Gonna Come”-Sam Cooke

With the Presidential Election 2 days away, I hope Mr. Cooke’s words from years ago are true!

“Crazy”- Gnarls Barkley

This is how I feel a lot of the time. I think this is how a lot of people feel a lot of the time. Plus, it’s a great song to boogie down to!

“Momma Said There’d Be Days Like This”-Sam Cooke

Whether I was freaking out because I was afraid to fly across the world to Indonesia, or freaking out because I couldn’t find my keys (which happens often) or freaking out because I lost my keys and tried to get into my apartment and accidentally broke my roommate’s window, my mom was always there attempting to calm me down and assure me that this too shall pass. There are lots of days like this my momma said.

“People Are Strange”-The Doors

People are definitely strange. This is especially true in NYC. Where else could you see a person dressed in a duck costume hailing a cab…in February, not on Halloween. I guess in Ithaca, where there was a he/she who wore a leotard and hot pink tights and rode around on a bike in the dead of winter. Or the lady in green in Brooklyn, who has dyed her hair green and wears only green clothes, green socks, green shoes, green pony tail holders, etc. Her bike is green too. But who am I to say who is strange? I eat green peas and ketchup. One of my best friends tweezes the hairs on her legs. We’re all strange.

“Layla”-Eric Clapton

There are no songs about my name so I pretend Mr. Clapton is actually singing about me. “Got me on my knees DAY-na! Beggin’ darling please DAY-na. Darling won’t you ease my worried mind!”

“Feel Like Making Love”- Dan Finnerty

Who doesn’t? We’re all animals and have needs! I love this head banging song. Brings out my inner air guitarist.

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”-Judy Garland

My favorite movie as a child was “The Wizard of Oz”. I would watch the movie over and over every time I was home sick or on a cold wintry day. I dreamed of being Dorothy and my large Golden Retriever, Honey, was Toto. I dreamed Honey and I could fly far away, behind the moon, beyond the rain, to a place where I could meet millions of little people and befriend men made of straw and tin and a wussy lion. Then get a makeover, kill a witch and wear some sparkly ruby kicks. Plus, I really wished I could sing as well as Judy Garland.

“Nightswimming”-R.E.M.

In college, I worked at the Athletic Center. I was an office manager and also worked in the gym. Three or four days a week I was in charge of closing up the building. Before I would close up, after everyone had left the building, my friend and I would go swimming in the pool. I felt so free, so laid back and open…and a little naughty since we weren’t really supposed to be there. This was our own nightswimming time. Alone, floating, enveloped by the water, protected by each other. Plus, the piano part of this song makes me melt.

“Superstition”-Stevie Wonder

Another song that makes me want to get up and dance. Gotta love Stevie! I can also play it on the clarinet. We played it in marching band. Yes, I was in the marching band. SO?! But I had to quit because it conflicted with my soccer schedule. My soccer team and coach (who happened to also be my dad) were very superstitious. We had a horse shoe we had to touch before every game. We were told picking up our feet over a railroad track was lucky, so we did that too. My dad believed stepping in poop was lucky, so he brought a pile of my dog’s poop to a soccer game once. We were a really good team, but I am sure it had nothing to do with horseshoes, railroad tracks, or poop.

“Think (Freedom)”-Aretha Franklin

Aretha, oh Aretha. She just has a voice like no other. Powerful, meaningful, moving, passionate, motivational. She just wows me. This song is no exception. “Think about what you’re trying to do to me!” Yeah, Aretha, you tell ‘em. She is a strong woman who won’t put up with any bullshit. Take that!

“Move it”

I like dancing. I like to move it move it. I like how this song makes you move and then pumps it up right in the middle and makes you move it even more. It makes me shake my rump like a rump shaker (another one I would have put on my list but I didn’t want to make it a 90s club mix).

“Stand By Me” Ben E. King

My friend Jamie and I used to sing this song on our way home from school. I have known her since we were five and she has stood by me for all the good and bad our lives has dealt us. This applies to a lot of my friends and family who, during the darkest times, stood by me. Thank you for that. I hope you know who you are.

“Eye of the Tiger”-Rocky Soundtrack

This song was a huge motivator for me. Rocky was my second favorite movie growing up. I had the 45 record of this song and would play it over and over and pretend to box around my room. All this came to a tragic end when my brother accidentally came in my room and stepped on the record. I was devastated….until I got the Rocky Soundtrack cassette tape for my 5th birthday (which was at the Ground Round…how great was that place!)!

There are lots more songs I can add and those of you who know me well, please feel free to suggest some songs you think I should add to my list.

Your turn! I want to hear your life soundtrack. Can’t wait to hear from you.

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