I love music. Music has been an integral part of me my entire life. All kinds of music. Rock, heavy metal, jazz, classical, christian, country, even some rap (though not much), and lots of novelty music. I like it all. I enjoy it all. Some of it is because it is honestly good music, and some of it is because of the memories.
I've heard several times over the years about the connection that chocolate plays with memories. Experts say that there is a chemical in chocolate that causes a person's subconscious memory to remember the sensations felt every other time the person ate chocolate. So, if you experienced pain when you ate chocolate, you would have an aversion. If you incorporated chocolate in your loveplay at some point, chocolate would be a kind of exciting release every time you eat it after that.
Do I believe that? Yes! I also believe that to me, music is similar to chocolate. When I hear a song, I remember. When I hear "our" song, I remember the night I first heard the song, sitting on the metal bleachers of the football stadium at school, shivering in the cold, and snuggling next to my new boyfriend, laughing at the words, "they're coming to take me away, ha, ha.........".
I have a Reba McIntyre tape from the country phase I went through in high school. Every song on there reminds me of a guy I knew then. Especially the song "And Still" about a woman who sees a lost love years later, still feels the same way, and after his enthusiastic greeting, is shattered upon meeting his wife. I told him once that I always pictured that as us, and he told me he always thought it would be the other way around. Funny thing is, less than a year later I introduced him to my fiance. Nine years later, he still hasn't dated anyone seriously.
The song from Don Juan de Marco, "Have you ever really loved a woman?" is fraught with memories. They remind me of a group of girlfriends in high school. We used to go out together alot, and one night we went to the theater and argued over what movie to see, Don Juan de Marco, or Tommy Boy. One of my friends and I both liked guys a year younger than us, hers named Tom, mine named Donnie. You can figure out which of us wanted to see which movie, but I won. After the movie, the four of us went out to a Diner for dinner and we just had a great evening. Ten years later, we still talk about the movie (I sent them copies on DVD a couple of years ago for Christmas), and the song reminds me of great friendships.
This past Sunday I heard a song that brought back bittersweet memories. I was helping out in Children's Church, since so many of the kids were in my choir that sang earlier that morning, and the lady leading asked the kids if they knew a song called "Father Abraham". A few of them did, and the other adults, too, so we taught them the song. I was smiling and trying to to cry all at the same time, because I remembered when I learned that song. I was very young, and I was at Vacation Bible School at my Grandfather's church in Arkansas. My grandfather was the one that taught us the song, even though his voice was not much better than my dad's. It was such a happy time in my life, and some of the best memories I have of my grandfather. I don't have an opportunity for more of those since this summer. My last memory of him is sitting in his hospital room, watching with my grandmother, father, and aunt, as he took his last breath and was still. Forevermore, that children's song will bring a smile and tears.
Are there any songs, any music, that evokes memories for you? Care to share?
I really could use some chocolate about now, but my blood sugar is too high. I guess I'll have to go listen to some music with good memories instead. And wait to hear your memories.......