A Journey with Song
My life can be marked by Alanis Morissette albums.
That's a true statement.
Everyone has those events that are brought back to memory by songs. Whether it be a bad break-up, or a silly night with the girls, or an awesome make-out session with your highschool boyfriend. There are songs that immediately bring you back to that moment of breaking.
Jagged Little Pill was one of my adolescence, right at the cusp of learning what it meant to be a teenager. It was a graduation ceremony out of middleschool in a CD case.
I remember sitting in Mabrie's mom's old Altima rewinding "Ironic" over and over again as we wrote down the lyrics so we could memorize them. Abby and I dubbed "Not the Doctor" as our love song to eachother... oh the joy of 14 year olds.
With Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, I was learning about love and heartache and trying to figure out who I was.
I remember driving down the highway right after Mabrie got her first car, with the windows rolled down screaming the words to "So Pure". (that was of course right before she wrecked it)
Then crying with my first heartbreak and contemplating what was next for me with "That I Would be Good."
When Under Rug Swept came out it marked the ending of an era for me. I was done with highschool, done with my boyfriend, on to bigger and better things, or so I was determined. My best friend Abby and I made amends at her concert and have since always laughed when we hear, "Hands Clean" for completely inappropriate reasons.
I can hear the song "That Particular Time" and literally almost start crying as I can remember so strongly the emotions of breaking up with a boyfriend I had for almost 4 years.
When she came out of with her Jagged Little Pill acoustic, it was crazy how much time had passed and how much life had changed. Me and my besties all went to the concert and had great seats and screamed out her name in inopportune times. She even laughed, said thanks and pointed at us. :) The re-listening of those songs brought all new, distinct meaning. I had gone away and lived in another country, grown up, found God, found my husband and now was happily married to the man of my dreams. But the songs still were so great. I think I smiled the ENTIRE concert.
Her new album Flavors of Entanglement is coming out (and has actually already leaked on You Tube). I've listened to some of the songs and it appears that it once again is going to be one of "those" albums that I love and remember forever as it tells the story of my life at that particular moment. Specifically "Incomplete" which is pretty right on with things that I'm feeling right now. Here's the song:
I know that for me it's Alanis Morissette and Sarah McLachlan. I'm sure for you it might be a different artist, or maybe it's a book (which I have those too), or maybe something totally crazy. Feel free to share as I would love to know what "always brings you back".
I know that one day, when Alanis does a farewell tour in 20 years, my kids are going to think I'm so lame, but I'm going to go, and all my besties are going to meet up and we will sing all the lyrics to the songs and laugh and cry about how old and fat we've gotten, and all the memories we've shared over the years.
So here's to the songs that trigger memories... and here's to making more!
That's a true statement.
Everyone has those events that are brought back to memory by songs. Whether it be a bad break-up, or a silly night with the girls, or an awesome make-out session with your highschool boyfriend. There are songs that immediately bring you back to that moment of breaking.
Jagged Little Pill was one of my adolescence, right at the cusp of learning what it meant to be a teenager. It was a graduation ceremony out of middleschool in a CD case.
I remember sitting in Mabrie's mom's old Altima rewinding "Ironic" over and over again as we wrote down the lyrics so we could memorize them. Abby and I dubbed "Not the Doctor" as our love song to eachother... oh the joy of 14 year olds.
With Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, I was learning about love and heartache and trying to figure out who I was.
I remember driving down the highway right after Mabrie got her first car, with the windows rolled down screaming the words to "So Pure". (that was of course right before she wrecked it)
Then crying with my first heartbreak and contemplating what was next for me with "That I Would be Good."
When Under Rug Swept came out it marked the ending of an era for me. I was done with highschool, done with my boyfriend, on to bigger and better things, or so I was determined. My best friend Abby and I made amends at her concert and have since always laughed when we hear, "Hands Clean" for completely inappropriate reasons.
I can hear the song "That Particular Time" and literally almost start crying as I can remember so strongly the emotions of breaking up with a boyfriend I had for almost 4 years.
When she came out of with her Jagged Little Pill acoustic, it was crazy how much time had passed and how much life had changed. Me and my besties all went to the concert and had great seats and screamed out her name in inopportune times. She even laughed, said thanks and pointed at us. :) The re-listening of those songs brought all new, distinct meaning. I had gone away and lived in another country, grown up, found God, found my husband and now was happily married to the man of my dreams. But the songs still were so great. I think I smiled the ENTIRE concert.
Her new album Flavors of Entanglement is coming out (and has actually already leaked on You Tube). I've listened to some of the songs and it appears that it once again is going to be one of "those" albums that I love and remember forever as it tells the story of my life at that particular moment. Specifically "Incomplete" which is pretty right on with things that I'm feeling right now. Here's the song:
I know that for me it's Alanis Morissette and Sarah McLachlan. I'm sure for you it might be a different artist, or maybe it's a book (which I have those too), or maybe something totally crazy. Feel free to share as I would love to know what "always brings you back".
I know that one day, when Alanis does a farewell tour in 20 years, my kids are going to think I'm so lame, but I'm going to go, and all my besties are going to meet up and we will sing all the lyrics to the songs and laugh and cry about how old and fat we've gotten, and all the memories we've shared over the years.
So here's to the songs that trigger memories... and here's to making more!
Labels: Alanis Morissette, life
posted by Des at
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
6 Comments:
What a great blog. When I listen to Jagged little pill I am instantly taken back to being in high school and all the memories that go along with it.
Music is powerful!
i will so be there for her farewell tour as well...and i remember seeing her everywhere from houston to bass hall to nextstage WHICH you totally left out how weird we sat in the same place as that show and went out to hoochie cowboys afterwards, and how it CARRIED us through cyprus ALONG with Sarah's crazy depressing album of the time...woo hooo - Tiffani
For me it is "Lean on me" by Club Nouveau, Jerry and I listened to that song over and over and promised that we would always be there for each other, and we were!
This blog made me so happy!
When Brad and I were friends we discovered our love for Alanis and I think that is what sealed the deal.
Those memories are so fun and I am sure there are many more to come!
Love you!
yes, great blog.
i don't think a single artist or albumn could defy my adolescence...it just wasn't that interesting. though my twenties were, and there are dozens of songs i can't listen to without being transported back into time with. u2 reminds me of sitting on the bus in romania, and the little orphan boy i gave joshua tree to. bob dylan's "like a rolling stone" reminds me of getting stoned in my apartment in austin. coldplay's green eyes brings me to the memory of sitting next to jon at a party amd wondering if he regretted the way he had treated me (we were broken up at the time). as for alanis...i guess i won't be with you at that farewell concert. nothing floods back with her for me, nothing but this blog post now.
I agree with Abby...This blog made me happy!
Oh and your welcome for introducing you to Alanis and Sarah (I'm not sure if I did introduce you to them or not but I'm dang sure taking the credit!).
One of the other singers that always takes me back is (hanging my head in shame) Brandy.
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