I've talked a whole lot about the influence of music on my life, so as I sit here listening to Lady Gaga sing "Bad Romance," I thought it would be fitting that I write about some of my favorite songs and why. Yes, that sounds incredibly boring. However, I think you'll find my song choices oddly fascinating.
First, let's take it back to 1996. There I was, 15 years old, taking drivers ed, eating cafeteria lunches having crushes on boys who don't know I'm even alive. Cue "Flood" by Jars of Clay as it pours over the speakers in the school cafeteria. No one else in the cafeteria knows it, but I know this is a Christian song. I love that its playing at school and no one knows what its really about. I can still smell the Taco Salad (I LOVED Wednesdays), I can still feel the swish of my extremely cool soccer warmups, and just waiting for *insert name here* to walk by. Its funny, of all the places I hung out in high school, this old cafeteria that has since been renovated, is my most vivid, lasting memory of high school.
1998. A close friend of mine through church mainly listened to Boston, Steve Miller Band... pretty much anything in that genre was in his collection. I'd say that friend was the only reason I ever had an "oldies phase." I moved on to bands like Fleetwood Mac, Madonna, and finally... CHICAGO. Yep you guessed it, I was suddenly hooked on "You're the Inspiration" about a decade too late. I was frequently caught busting out the mad lip-syncing skills whenever it came on the radio (back when you had to WAIT for the right song to play and couldn't listen to it on Spotify like I am now). It was also the cause of most of my infatuations turning into crushes. Pretty much if you were a boy, and were moderately cute, I had a crush on you. Just sayin. I blame this song for making me entirely too silly for my own good.
Only a few months into college in 2000, my love affair with country music began. Ever since then its been at the forefront of my music choices (in addition to Evanescence and System of a Down, but we'll get to that later). Nickel Creek was the band that made me DREAM of playing violin on a broader level someday, and I discovered I had an okay voice. "When You Come Back Down" was one song that spoke to me and pulled me in. I remember lying on my bed with my eyes closed listening to the mix of all the instruments, dreaming of being in that world... getting to perform and play music with people who loved it as much as I did. Still not there... but maybe someday.
Ahh, Amy from Evanescence. That girl has some pipes. She can sing the way I FEEL. The year 2003... I had too many road trips between Spokane and Seattle NOT to pump up the music and shout at the top of my lungs with no regard to how crazy I looked. When I met Aaron, I had been listening to Evanescence constantly through my car stereo. Then cue "Toxicity" by System of a Down, and you have me pretty much pegged for that time period. Sweet and senstive, with a crazy but moderately clean style in music. :) Don't even get me started on their song "BYOB"... if you are anywhere above the age of 50, I don't suggest even trying to listen to this, but I think its AWESOME. I freaked out when I first heard it on the radio.
And finally, here we are in the year 2011. Do me a favor, and watch this music video. Even just the first 20 seconds, when you see this innocently handsome man appear on screen with the deepest voice I have ever heard.
Why Don't We Just Dance . And try to tell me you didn't swoon for a moment. :)
That's all I have. I'd post things about what I've been up to, but most likely you've all read my Facebook status updates for the past many years, and know everything about me. :)
