Obsession

I just started a new playlist on iTunes. I’m calling it “OBSESSION.” It’s for those songs I play over and over on repeat. Right now, it’s Bruno Mars’ song, “Somewhere in Brooklyn.” Two weeks ago it was, “The World Should Revolve Around Me.” In Ukraine it was, “These Words.” So I obsess about songs. Why not?

I had a crush on a guy who wrote a few letters to me when I was in Ukraine. We answered questions in our letters. One of the questions was, “what song would you listen to if you could only listen to one for the rest of your life?” He didn’t answer. He said it was a horrible question and he couldn’t imagine such a life. Well, it’s a good thing my crush ended before we ever took a roadtrip or even drove to the movies together. I’m just sayin…

I think after the twelfth time I play it, I’ll change the playlist. Good idea?

Ah, the Little Mermaid song

I’m listening to Part of Your World on my computer. I recently downloaded most all of my CDs to my hard drive so as to rid myself of all extraneous items in my apartment. A bunch of CDs sitting in a box aren’t doing me any good, right?

Part of Your World is from the Disney Princess Collection CD. It has special memories for me. Many are from my childhood, when I’d hang out with my cousins and we’d sing our hearts out. I’m pretty sure we could have started a band if our parents would have put a little money in it. ☺

I think my favorite, most recent memory of this song happened in 2007. I was still living in Ukraine. I’d gone to Bar (a town in Vinnytska Oblast) to visit my friend, Sheryl. She looked through my iPod and found this song. She blasted it and sang to the whole thing. It was AMAZING. The best part was that she got down on the ground and acted like she was Ariel on the rock. She even pushed out her hands as if they were the waves shooting out from behind her. I laughed harder than I had in months.

I love memories like this. They really help make crummy days like today just a little more happy.

Bday ReCap

Please note:

BIRTHDAY WAS FANTASTIC!

Went to Sam Bonds, by far the best bar/music venue in Eugene and listened to SambaDa, a GREAT band that I have now fallen in love with!

Have a Happy WEEKEND folks!

Zoot Suit Riot

I never thought I’d be one to blog about a song. Oh, but I am. I’m on a train to Portland, working on a story for class, but I had to take a break to jot this down.

Music has a way of dictating so much of our lives. Songs can inspire us, depress us, make us happy, help us fall in love; they do so many things. And somehow, songs teach us a thing or two about memory. You can listen to a song and you are sent back ten or fifteen years, to a certain moment in time, with a certain person, in a particular place. Even if you haven’t thought of the event, person or place in years, the song can send you back. It’s crazy.

I’m listening to the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies album. The song, Zoot Suit Riot sends me back nine years, back to my senior year of high school. We were at the prom. Chris Whitehead and Rachel Brown had been taking swing dance lessons together. The song came on and they were center stage, dancing for the rest of us.

I’d always wanted to learn to swing dance. My sister, Shelli, and I had learned some of the cheesy western swing dances when we both lived at home. But when she left to college, all attempts at swing dancing went away.

Zoot Suit Riot will always remind me of my senior prom. It will also remind me of Eugene and finding the album at the library.

Music is a funny thing. I can’t imagine life without it; I depend on it so much. Is it bad to let it dictate so much of my life- my emotions, my memories?

I guess it doesn’t matter. Even if it does, I’m still listening…and I’m gonna love it!

Band of Horses

When I was in Ukraine, I started getting into music. I discovered Death Cab and realized that there was an entire part of loving music that I was missing. My concert experience had been extremely limited. Since the end of 2007, I have been trying to fix the problem. I go to concerts. I listen to music I love. I'm starting to try bands I kinda know. I did that tonight.

Tonight, Band of Horses came to Eugene. I bought their newest CD a few weeks ago, to get ready for the concert. It helped to know a few of the songs, but I still think I could have loved the show had I not known any of the tunes.

Here is a video of one of my favorite of their songs. It's the first song of their second album, the one I currently own.

I'm hoping to check out some other bands and music around Eugene this fall. If you have any suggestions, please share.