Friday, February 20, 2009

They're Playing Our Song

by Beth

Nothing takes me back to a certain time and/or place quicker than a song. When I hear Rick Springfield's Jessie's Girl, I'm whisked back to when I was 10 and would sing and dance along with cutie Rick, using a hairbrush as a microphone *g*

Broken Wings by Mr. Mister (I always thought that was an...interesting...band name *g*) takes me back to Junior High School and my first real heartbreak. Even though it's been many (and I mean MANY) years since I was 14, hearing this song still gets me melancholy!

High School was all about AC/DC (Highway To Hell reminds me of driving around in my little red Ford Escort, although we weren't going to hell, just the mall *g*) Bon Jovi (Living On A Prayer brings back memories of big hair, ripped jeans and good friends) and Def Leppard (Pour Some Sugar On Me brings back those memories of MTV when they still played videos)

But the songs that mean the most to me are the ones my husband and I consider "ours". You know, the songs that mean something to us as a couple.

U2's With Or Without You was the first song we ever danced to.

Cheap Trick's The Flame was the song we considered "our song" while we were dating

The Righteous Brothers' Unchained Melody was the song we danced to at our wedding. Songs played during the reception included: When I See You Smile by Bad English, The Rose (Bette Midler) and When I'm With You (Sheriff)

Jeez. Can you tell this was the early nineties?? Holy rock ballads, Batman!

Ahem...anyway...whenever I hear any of those songs, I'm transported right back to that day (at least in my head *g*) Everything I felt at the time comes rushing back: excitement, nerves, hope and lots of love.

What about you? Do you and your significant other have a song? One you consider 'yours'? Any songs take you back to a specific event in your life? And just for fun, any song you'd prefer to never hear again? (For me it's Hotel California *g*)

94 comments:

Cassondra said...

me?

Cassondra said...

Ha!

Songs.....oh, Beth, there are a bunch of them!

Mostly they're songs that I associate with a person I was dating at the time. Unfortunately I ruined a lot of good songs that way.

Lessee....Phil Collins...You know I love ya but I just can't take this.....you know I love ya but I'm in too deep... Yup. Can't hear that lyric without thinking "what a jerk!"

Hmmmmm....Let's get physical, physical..... That guy was a body builder and I remember that song from the gym where we met.

One more....I'm Getting Used To Blue. That guy saw me at a gig I was playing and stalked me until I dated him and fell for him, then he dumped me. Dipwad.

*sigh*

Steve and I actually don't have a *song*....maybe that's a good thing! ;0)

I love your list though. NOTHING like music to evoke memories for me.

jo robertson said...

Awww, Beth, great topic!

Yay, Casssondra, another Bandita wins the rooster for a day.

"The Rose" was the first song my daughter and I did together. She was ten or twelve and it was so much fun.

limecello said...

I love "I'll Stop the World (And Melt With You)" by Modern English. And... oh tons of songs make me have person associations.
Hahah and "Song for the Lonely" by Cher always made me think of one of my friends from high school :X

Congrats on the GR, Cassondra

Jane said...

Congrats on the GR, Cassondra.

Every time I hear one of my graduation songs, I get nostalgic about old school friends. Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All" was my elementary school graduation song. Coldplay's "Yellow" always reminds me of Hawaii because I was listening to that album on the plane ride to Honolulu. I kind of consider The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" as my song. I used to listen to it all the time during college and when I was studying. One song I don't want to hear again is "Macarena."

Janga said...

Naming song titles will date me and depress me, so Ill refrain. Instead I'll say that the song that captures best for me the feelings certain songs give us is Trisha Yearwood's "The Song Remembers When."

And there was a God in heaven,
And the world made perfect sense.
We were young and were in love,
And we were easy to convince.
We were headed straight for Eden;
It was just around the bend.
And though I have forgotten all about it,
The song remembers when.

We've all had that feeling I think.

Natalie Hatch said...

Hubby sang "Melt with You" by Modern English when we first met, and it was a very John Cusack moment. Loved it.

Anna Louise Lucia said...

OMG

"High School was all about AC/DC (Highway To Hell reminds me of driving around in my little red Ford Escort, although we weren't going to hell, just the mall *g*) Bon Jovi (Living On A Prayer brings back memories of big hair, ripped jeans and good friends) and Def Leppard (Pour Some Sugar On Me brings back those memories of MTV when they still played videos)"

I think you lived my teenage years... although it was my brother's red escort. Exact same songs and bands, though, LOL!

Husband and I don't realy have an 'our song' - unless it's "She thinks my tractor's sexy" by Kenny Chesney. Our great friend Brigid Coady pointed it out to us, and since I'd fallen in love with Husband in a tractor, we kind of adopted it.... *g*

Anna Sugden said...

OMG Beth - we're twins! I just put Rick Springfield on my iPod the other day! And Eddie Rabbit and Boz Scaggs - all from that time.

Any 'Southern Fried' rock always makes me smile - like Lynnyrd Skynnyrd - Gimme Three Steps reminds me of school days. The there's The Boss (Born to Run) and David Bowie (well, any of them - the man was a major crush in school). December 63 reminds me of dancing in my best friend's basement. Jump by Van Halen reminds me of university days, as does Jump by the Pointer Sisters. LOL

Joan Jett's I Love Rock 'n Roll reminds me of dating. Chic's Le Freak reminds me of winning a disco dancing contest!

Anything punk - especially the Pistols, Billy Idol and Siousxise and the Banshees reminds me of my mis-spent youth.

Hubby and I have a few songs: "How Long has This Been Going On?" and "Have I Told You Lately that I Love You?" are the two most important. Plus Meatloaf's "Out of the Frying Pan" and Chicago's "Along Comes a Woman".

And, total fangirl that I am, there ar some songs that remind me of going to hockey games *sniff*. Hells Bells, Welcome to the Jungle and of course, the goal song - Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll Part 2.

Anna Sugden said...

Anna!! We already know we're twins *g*. How funny that I was thinking about our mutual friend Julie when Natalie mentioned John Cusack and then you pop up!

Laurie G said...

Songs I don't want to hear: all bubblegum music:Yummy,Yummy I've Got Love in my Tummy, Sugar Shack, 123,ABC,Sugar,Sugar, also hated Mellow, Yellow by Donovan, Yellow Submarine- Beatles.

Songs I grew up with:Gradeschool
Walkaway Renee-Leftbank, Summer in the City-Lovin Spoonful,Beatles, Rolling Stones -Satisfaction
High school: Midnight Confessions -Grass Roots, Don Maclean's American Pie, Steppenwolf's Magic Carpet Ride,18-Alice Cooper, Moody Blues-I Just want to be a Rock & Roll Star, Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman, Jethro Tull Aqualung
College: Stairway to Heaven -Led Zepplin,Lots of Moody Blues Classics ...Nights in White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, REO Speedwagon,The Who,Loggins & Messina, Rolling Stones Angie & Wild Horses

Our songs: Thank You- Led Zeplin, Lady in Red -Chris DeBurgh, For You -John Denver, Love Song-Kenny Loggins, Blue, Silver & Gold-Bad Company, Layla-Eric Clapton songs by the group Bread

Laurie G said...

Songs I don't want to hear: all bubblegum music:Yummy,Yummy I've Got Love in my Tummy, Sugar Shack, 123,ABC,Sugar,Sugar, also hated Mellow, Yellow by Donovan, Yellow Submarine- Beatles.

Songs I grew up with:Gradeschool
Walkaway Renee-Leftbank, Summer in the City-Lovin Spoonful,Beatles, Rolling Stones -Satisfaction
High school: Midnight Confessions -Grass Roots, Don Maclean's American Pie, Steppenwolf's Magic Carpet Ride,18-Alice Cooper, Moody Blues-I Just want to be a Rock & Roll Star, Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman, Jethro Tull Aqualung
College: Stairway to Heaven -Led Zepplin,Lots of Moody Blues Classics ...Nights in White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, REO Speedwagon,The Who,Loggins & Messina, Rolling Stones Angie & Wild Horses

Our songs: Thank You- Led Zeplin, Lady in Red -Chris DeBurgh, For You -John Denver, Love Song-Kenny Loggins, Blue, Silver & Gold-Bad Company, Layla-Eric Clapton songs by the group Bread

MJFredrick said...

I couldn't even begin to name all the songs that mean HS to me...Billy Idol, INXS, The Ramones....loved them all.

"Our" song is "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel, yes, from SAY ANYTHING. We were driving back from one of those marriage prep classes and it came on the radio. The dh said it reminded him of me, and so it became our song.

Caren Crane said...

Cassondra, how in the world did you snag the GR?! Remind him to be careful around Thor the Crow. I think Thor could mess him up!

Beth, you'll be appalled to know that my husband and I have no songs. None! When we met and began...er...dating, we were in engineering school. It's not really conducive to listening to music or anything else romantic. Really, it's not. I do remember sitting on the porch of his trailer one night, listening to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert that was playing at Charlotte's Alltel Pavilion, which was right down the road. But that was old stuff even then (late 80s). It was 1988, ayear when an odd mix of things was popular, like George Michael and Guns 'N Roses.

As to songs that take me back, I have a VIVID memory of listening to 'My Sharona' in the back seat of a car after a date at the wave pool in 1979. I think it was between 8th and 9th grade. The Cars were HUGE then and I have keen memories of the album 'Candy-O'.

I get to go see my BEST FRIEND from those junior high and high school days in a couple of weeks! I am flying to Chicago to visit her and we are going to see...wait for it...Fleetwood Mac!! We have many shared memories of Fleetwood Mac, including our high school band playing 'Tusk'. *sigh* The good old, bad old days!

Caren Crane said...

Oh...Laurie had to mention 'Lady In Red'. That song reminds me of a guy I was hopelessly in love with. It was an ill-fated match, though he felt the same way about me. We were star-crossed, but we shared a special evening that featured this song. *sigh*

Beth Andrews said...

Good morning!

Cassondra, congrats on nabbing the GR. I wonder what song means the most to him. Dare I say...The Chicken Dance??

;-)

I know what you mean about having songs ruined because of their association with certain people. Or events. I can't hear Van Halen's Jump without remembering how I DID NOT make my Jr High School's Majorette team. (grumble grumble) And I could twirl a mean baton too.

Steve and I actually don't have a *song*....maybe that's a good thing! ;0)

LOL! Maybe it is. I'm sure there are plenty of songs that bring back special memories so there's no reason to settle for just one
:-)

Beth Andrews said...

Jo, I bet you and your daughter sounded lovely! I remember learning to play The Rose on piano back when I was around your daughter's age.

Hmm...this makes me want to sit down and see if I can still play it *g* Too bad I have writing to get done today.

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, limecello! Isn't it funny how songs can evoke such strong memories?

Whenever I hear Tubthumping (also known as I Get Knocked Down) by Chumbawamba (is that a great band name or what? *g*) I remember my three kids (ages 6, 3 and 1 at the time) bouncing around the living room, singing that song :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Jane, I love "Bittersweet Symphony"! Great song *g*

Ahh..."The Macarena". I remember it well *g* Seemed like everyone was doing that whacky dance, didn't it? Old, young and in between. There was no escaping it ;-)

Beth Andrews said...

Janga, that is lovely! I'll have to check out that song.

You're so right, I think that's a feeling we've all shared *g*

Donna MacMeans said...

Okay - you all know I'm old, right?

Seriously, for some unknown reason we're suddenly started receiving SPIN magazine. I haven't a clue who any of the music groups are that are cited. Makes me feel ancient.

High school would be Beatles, Stones, Turtles, Elton John, Sly and the family Stone...

When I met my husband (in a bar in Cleveland LOL) we connected over a mutual love of the Moody Blues. As we lived roughly 250 miles apart, most of our courtship was by letter so the Boxtops "My baby wrote me a letter" has special significance. Even though it was more the hit of my older brother's generation, The Marvelettes "Please Mr. Postman" played frequently in my mind during that time.

However, our song has to be Rod Stewart's Maggie Mae. After a separation of several months after that first accidental meeting in the bar, we met again for a weekend in Cincinnati. Maggie Mae seemed to be on the radio everytime we were together in the car so it became our song.

We were in New Orleans two months before Katrina hit. My husband requested Maggie Mae at a piano bar. Even through the hurricane-induced buzz (the drink - not the actual thing), the memories came flooding back. (grin)

Terri Osburn said...

Congrats on the GR nab, Cassondra.

Like everyone else, so many songs take me back. Babe by Stix reminds me of when I was 7 and would sit by the little radio for hours waiting for it to come on. REO Speedwagon reminds me of 3rd grade when I took my portable 8-track player everywhere I went.

At 11 I went to my first concert - Loverboy. By 13 I had an obsession with the Monkees on their second time around. Then Bon Jovi and Def Leppard got me through HS. Lots of big hair and shredded jeans.

Nirvana hit when I was in college and at the same time I fell in love with Garth Brooks. That's when I crossed over to country. My ex sang "I Cross My Heart" to me at a bar in Nashville then again at our wedding. That would be the song I don't need to hear again. :)

Louisa Cornell said...

Congrats Cassondra on the GR! Thor vs the GR - Rumble in the Jungle. Keep us updated!

Disco was the thing when I was in high school and undergrad school. Songs like Smoke on the Water, Bad Moon Rising and Sweet Home Alabama were the thing. Lots of Elton John and the Eagles.

As for the DH and I - our song was and still is At Last by Etta James.

Anna Sugden said...

Beth - there is always The Birdy Song - I can see the GR doing all the moves to that. And then there is the Funky Chicken. Or The Egg Song.

How about "Egg-zactly like you"?

He might avoid "American Pie" in case it contained chicken ;)

Donna MacMeans said...

Woohoo -

It's National Marquarita Day!

Wasted away again in Marquaritaville...searching for my lost shaker of salt...

Beth Andrews said...

Oh, Natalie, that must've been such a great moment! Does your husband still sing to you? *g*

I remembered two more songs that I know will always evoke memories for me: "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain and "Slide" by The Goo Goo Dolls.

My daughter sang "I'll Be" for a competition and as it was her first performance (other than for her family *g*) it holds a special place in my heart.

And she and my son performed "Slide" this past NYE - she sang while he accompanied her on guitar. Just thinking about it makes me get all teary-eyed :-)

Beth Andrews said...

LOL,Anna! Sounds like we would have gotten along really well as teens :-)

I think "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" is a great couple song *g* The song that reminds me of my husband is Brad Paisley's "I'm Gonna Miss Her" about the guy who'd rather be fishing :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Chic's Le Freak reminds me of winning a disco dancing contest!

LOL - please tell me you'll break out some of your moves when we're partying in DC! *g*

I'm not surprised we have such similar musical tastes - we're often on the same wavelength, aren't we? :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Laurie. What a great list! I can do without bubblegum music as well and you mentioned one of my all time favorite groups - Led Zeppeling *g*

I never get tired of any Led Zeppelin song. Although for a period of 10 years or so I could've lived without hearing "Stairway to Heaven" :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Hi, MJ! I loved INXS too. Actually, I was the only one in my group of friends who liked their music - and who thought Michael Hutchence was hot *g*

Love the story of how you and your husband found 'your song'. Very sweet :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Caren, I'm appalled! *g* Okay, not really but I do like to say 'appalled'.

It's never too late to discover 'your song' you know. Or you could be like my husband and me and have several that fit :-)

How fun you get to visit with your best friend! You'll have to let us know all about the concert! Fleetwood Mac is such a great band *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Even through the hurricane-induced buzz (the drink - not the actual thing), the memories came flooding back.

LOL, Donna! And how sweet of your husband to request 'your song'.

I love "My Baby Wrote Me A Letter" It's going through my head right now *g* Sounds like you and your husband had a really great courtship.

Beth Andrews said...

terrio, you're bringing back the memories with all those songs! I loved "Babe". Speaking of Styx... about ten years ago, my kids decided "Mr. Roboto" was a very cool song - luckily the outgrew that stage *g*

How was the Loverboy concert? My first concert was...Richard Marx! Yes, it's true :-)

pjpuppymom said...

Congrats, Cassondra!

My personal history could be told through the music of my past and the songs that trigger my memories are like me - oldies but goodies. :) Two songs that put me right back in the summer of 1967, and my first love, are Light My Fire by The Doors and Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli. I only have to hear the opening chords and I'm immediately transported.

Some other songs that take me to a specific time and place in high school or college: Lay Lady Lay (Bob Dylan), Nights in White Satin (Moody Blues), House of the Rising Sun (The Animals), The Letter (The Box Tops), Crimson & Clover (Tommy James & The Shondells), Riders on the Storm (The Doors) and The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack).

Thanks for the memories, Beth!

Terry Odell said...

Posts like this make me feel OLD.

High school? How about "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and the rest of the early Beatles. Kingston Trio. Limeliters. PP&M.

Becke Davis said...

My husband and I had been good friends at school, and one night he invited me to see his band practice. Paul McCartney's solo album had just come out and, since we were both Beatle fans, when the band took a break we turned on the TV to see a video from the album called "Maybe I'm Amazed." That was all it took! It's been our song ever since, and that was April 18, 1970 -- our "real" anniversary!

The songs that bring back my younger days? Iron Butterfly's "Inna Gadda da Vida," which we used to play full blast on the car radio, with the windows down. Songs like "Louie Louie" and "Wild Thing." Later it was Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay," and Donovan's "Aquarius." Ahh, those still bring back memories.

Becke Davis said...

Can we change that to Donovan's "Atlantis." Although, "Aquarius" was actually one of those songs, too -- from the musical "Hair!"

Becke Davis said...

Laurie - it sounds like we grew up in the same era! I love Aqualung and all those songs!

Unknown said...

Congrat Cassondra, have fun with him today!

All of these song that you mention brings back old memories to me. One that really brings back memories to me is We Got Tonight by Bob Segar! This one really hits close to home for me because it reminds me of someone in the past. Which I have a lot of those reminders to certain people. Since I listen to oldes on radio, I am reminded quite often.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Beth! Totally fun topic! :>

Music is such a memory provoker, isn't it? Everything from Black Sabbath to the Mormon Tabernacle Chior would make some kind of list of mine. Ha! As to songs for the darling DH, we took our first dance as husband and wife to Its a Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong. Love that song.

I love country (JT recently turned me onto Josh Turner), I love pop (Hannah Montana anyone?), but most of all I adore Rock 'n Roll. LURVE it!!

Other than Sabbath, I wasn't much of a metal head. Love James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Nancy Griffiths, and Linkin Park. Snork.

The only kind of music I'm not that fond of? (Sorry Louisa) Opera.

Beth Andrews said...

Louisa, "At Last" is such a gorgeous song and so romantic *g*

Ahh...disco. I wasn't crazy about it but I can still sing quite a few of the songs. As I recall, I was a Donna Summer fan when I was young :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Beth - there is always The Birdy Song - I can see the GR doing all the moves to that. And then there is the Funky Chicken. Or The Egg Song.

How do I not know of these songs? Could you hum a few bars for me? *g*

Beth Andrews said...

It's National Marquarita Day!

Now that's something to celebrate! Too bad I don't have any tequila
:-)

catslady said...

Our song goes back over 40 years ago - Never My Love by The Association. The great thing is that they still play it sometimes on the radio. The DJ played it this past July for my husband and me at my daughter's wedding - it still takes us back...

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks for sharing your list of songs, PJ! I'm humming each one as I read them off *g*

And I'm getting some great ideas to add to my iPod :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Terry, age is irrelevant in the Lair *g* Good times, good music and the best of friends is what it's all about here :-)

I love The Beatles! We even have some Beatles' albums from when my husband was a kid *g*

Beth Andrews said...

treethyme, that is such a great story! And that's a really good song too *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Virginia, I love "We've Got Tonight"!

Who needs tomorrow? We've got tonight, babe. Why don't you stay? *g*

Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton did a version of it in the 80's but for me, nothing can beat the original :-)

My favorite Seger song is "Turn the Page".

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, Jeanne! Like you, I also love all different types of music from alternative to rock to country to R&B to...just about anything *g* My iPod is a mismash of musical subgenres :-)

We listen to our fair share of Hannah Montana here as well as Jonas Brothers (although I think that love affair has ended for my daughters) and a few other Disney stars.

Terri Osburn said...

Beth - The Loverboy concert was great! I had this three tiered ruffle skirt on and was full out 80s. LOL!

That was the beginning of my love for live shows. I've seen everything from the Joffrey Ballet and Les Mis to Bette Midler to Suicidal Tendencies to George Strait through the years. LOL! And next month I'm going to see my first opera. Gonna get some culture in the kiddo.

Terri Osburn said...

Beth - I love Turn The Page. Have you ever heard Metallica's version of it? It's actually really good.

So many of these songs are bringing back memories. Great how our lives have their own soundtracks.

Susan Sey said...

Hey, congrats on the GR, Cassondra! Hope he plays nice with Thor!

And, Beth, I'm so bad at songs. Music in general just sort of bounces off me, which is weird because I was a pretty musical kid. Played instruments all through school, paid enough attention to teach myself to read bass clef along with treble so I could plunk some stuff out on the old piano at home.

But I'm not a natural multitasker. I don't like music playing "in the background" while I'm trying to do something else. The exception, I suppose, being dancing. I'm okay with music alongside that one. :-)

So I think you'd have to ask my husband what our special songs are. He was completely in charge of our wedding music, from the ceremony to the reception.

I do remember that he had the band play "When you say nothing at all", an Allison Kraus song for our first dance. And during our wedding at some point, they played the old Irish hymn "Be Thou My Vision" which I still love. But I probably remember it because of the words (which are lovely) not the tune.

I'm hopeless.

:-)

Nancy said...

Cassondra, congrats on grabbing the bird! I would've expected you to have lots of significant songs. I, too, have songs that were associationally ruined. Well, really just one, which is probably lucky. The word "dipwad" fits really well.

Beth, Mark and I don't have a special song, either. I associate Neil Diamond's "Forever in Blue Jeans" with an old friend. We dated briefly, and the friendship survived that experience, so the song mostly makes me feel 23 again, for the first few bars.

I associate Orleans' "Dance With Me" with a college friend who stayed in town summers. I went over to see her one day, and she ran out on the porch and said, "Nance, [not many people get to call me that; it's a practice I discourage], you have got to hear this great song!" When I hear it, I remember how enthusiastic she was (usually reserved for the Beatles) and what fun we had hanging out that summer.

The summer I studied in England, a group of us rented a car on weekends to travel. We had two tapes--Linda Rondstadt's Heart Like A Wheel (I think that's the one--has "I've Been Cheated" (applicable to the end of that summer for me; see paragraph 1 above) on it), and Janis Joplin "Bobby McGee." If I hear either of those, I'm transported back to a Ford Fiesta on a narrow road somewhere in the UK with people I don't see much anymore.

The dipwad liked Billy Joel, so it took me a while to get past that, but the music is too great to let something spoil it.

After my mom died, I found Mark Coen's "Walking in Memphis" running through my head at night. My parents met in Memphis, when they were both stationed at the naval hospital there. My dad died a few years before Mom, and I can't hear that song now without thinking of them. I went out and bought the CD.

A little out of the range you probably envisioned, Beth, is the Navy Hymn, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." We sang it at both their funerals, and it also evokes memories of them.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oh, Susan, I love that hymn - Be Thou My Vision.

Be Thou My Vision oh Lord of my Heart, naught be all else to me save what thou art, thou my best thought by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Yep. I've sung THAT one a few times!

grins.

Beth, I'm getting some great iPod ideas/reminders too!

Nancy said...

Susan, I love "Be Thou My Vision," but I think it's the melody, rather than the words for me.

Nancy said...

Caren, half the guys I knew in college were in serious lust with Stevie Nicks. The concert sounds like fun, and I hope you'll let us know how the band has held up.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Yep, Nancy, it's the melody for me too. That lilting minor is haunting and memorable. :>

Ahhh, Fleetwood...

Christine Wells said...

Ohh, Beth, what a great post. Loved all those songs you mentioned! There are so many songs that bring back great memories for me. Rock ballads bring back great memories of a friend's band. "Don't You Forget About Me", was a song someone sang to me over the phone (OK, we were 17 and it was a long distance relationship and he forgot about me pdq!) Lots of songs I used to dance to at clubs bring back great memories. Kiss's "I was made for lovin' you" was a favourite when I was in Grade One as well as YMCA, which we all used to do the actions to and By the Rivers of Babylon.
ahh, those were the days. Don't really have any particular song with dh, although I'm ashamed to say we danced to "My Heart will Go On" at our wedding. Hey, we'd learned our dance routine to it, so it was logical. Actually, I have a soft spot for that song. Song I never want to hear again is Achy Breaky Heart.

Susan Sey said...

Jeanne wrote: Be Thou My Vision oh Lord of my Heart, naught be all else to me save what thou art, thou my best thought by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

I think it's the writer in me that loves those words so much--the way the work on two levels. They describe the love for god, of course--it's a hymn, after all--but do equal justice to the way you feel about your beloved if you pick him/her right. They way a person can just illuminate your soul, the way you can admire somebody at the same time you feel perfectly connected, neither above nor below.

Geez, now I'm crying. I need to go hug my husband.

:-)

Susan Sey said...

Nancy wrote: Susan, I love "Be Thou My Vision," but I think it's the melody, rather than the words for me.

It's beautiful, isn't it? That was what brought it to our attention. I asked our pastor for something that sounded pretty & Irish, & she steered us there. We were thrilled when the words were lovely as well.

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

For me it is pretty much anything from the late 50's to the 60's reminds me of something, good, bad or ugly music triggers memories.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Susan said: Geez, now I'm crying. I need to go hug my husband.

Grins. I feel this way when I hear Louis Armstrong. :>

Of course, I feel that way about most of Jesus Christ Superstar too, since he and I discovered an mutual affection for the rock musical on our first date! :>

Pat Cochran said...

Honey and I never really had a song
that we called "our song." We liked all kinds of music. A couple of songs that were played at the party where we met were by Richie Valens: La Bamba and Donna. If pinned down about a special song, we'd have to say anything by the Four Freshmen or Stan Kenton!

Pat Cochran

Beth Andrews said...

catslady, I love that the DJ played 'your song' at your daughter's wedding! What a wonderful moment that must have been :-)

Tawny said...

Oooh, fun. I love music. I can't remember song titles, though LOL. Anything by BonJovi reminds me of my wilder days. Anything by Aerosmith makes me smile. Country music makes me think of my husband. Never want to hear again? Beat it. In any shape or form *g*

Beth Andrews said...

terrio, I can picture that skirt - I think I had one just like it *g*

I've only been to a few shows but my husband was quite the concert go-er before we got married. He's seen everyone from AC/DC to James Taylor.

Yes, I've heard the Metallica version of "Turn the Page". You're right, it's not bad at all *g*

Beth Andrews said...

Susan, my husband is a huge Allison Kraus fan and he loves "When You Say Nothing At All". If I'm anywhere near him when he's listening to it, he'll pull me into his arms for a dance *g* Drives the kids nuts.

I like to have music as a background when I'm writing a quick draft but when it comes down to Real Writing, I need quiet. My problem is I pay more attention to the songs playing than my writing :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Nancy, "Walking in Memphis" is a great song, isn't it? I think it's wonderful that it reminds you of your parents.

I've never heard "Eternal Father, Strong To Save" but I cry every time I hear "Taps". My FIL was in the service and our nephews played it on their trumpets (one played, the other was a distance away and was the 'echo') for his funeral.

Honestly, I'm welling up right now just thinking about it. It's such a haunting melody.

Beth Andrews said...

Jeanne, thanks for the lyrics! How lovely.

Beth Andrews said...

Christine, you can definitely be forgiven for picking "My Heart Will Go On" to dance to at your wedding *g*

I agree with you about "Achy Breaky Heart". I could also live without seeing Billy Ray Cyrus' mullet in that video again ;-)

Beth Andrews said...

Geez, now I'm crying. I need to go hug my husband.

Come on over with me, Susan. I'm still thinking about "Taps". I'm going to hug my husband too!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

I was able to pull those lyrics right out of Ye Olde Brain File. Eternal Father, Strong to save isn't one I've sung a lot...I'll have to go to CyberHymnal.org for that one! Ha!

BTW, that's a great resource if you mention hymns or stuff in your work. The cyber hymnal has EVERYTHING, including info on the song writers, lyricists, etc. It's very cool.

Oops, sorry. You've discovered another one of those "hidden passions..."

Beth Andrews said...

Dianna, I find it fascinating how our memories work. I do love thinking back to the soundtrack of my life though :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Pat, I think for my husband and I, our special songs change througout the years.

And as an aside, I just asked my husband if he remembered the first song we danced to and he did! He gets a gold star :-)

Beth Andrews said...

LOL, Tawny. Remember when you couldn't go one day without hearing a Michael Jackson song? I can live without Beat It too - and Billie Jean.

I do wish I'd learned how to moonwalk though ;-)

Nancy said...

Jeanne and Beth--

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm doth bind the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep,
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.

Taps is a haunting melody, and I love the way it sounds from a lone trumpet.

Nancy said...

Treethyme, I love Donovan. "Mello Yellow," and "Sunshine Superman" as well as "Atlantis." I had a weekly show on the college radio station, and I played a lot of Donovan.

Also Neil Diamond and Gordon LIghtfoot. I loved "Don Quixote" and the song about the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

I love those haunting hymns, Nancy and Beth. Taps is one that stirs my heart. I adore What Wondrous Love - another minor key hymn (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/a/whatwond.htm) - and a few of the sad ones like One Tin Soldier. :>

Nancy said...

Jeanne--"One Tin Soldier," the theme from Billy Jack? Or a different one?

PinkPeony said...

Nancy...Orleans? I loved their song, You're Still the One, when I was in school. When I was a kid, my teenage babysitters used to listen to Herman's Hermits. I liked their Something Good. And Donovan's Mellow Yellow. I'll even admit I knew all the words to Englebert's love songs because my mom played his records on the hi-fi all the time. I think my first crush was on Bobby Sherman. Yes, I'm blushing now. Then of course, all the Monkees songs. In college, I liked Reminiscing by the Little River Band, Scaggs, Jackson Browne, Cheap Trick, Blue Oyster Cult and The Police. Nowadays, I like the old hits from the sixties. My husband sings the old stuff all the time. The song for our first dance was Louis Armstrong's A Kiss to Build a Dream on...the last song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow. One song I cannot stand is Celebration by Kool and the Gang. I've been to too many weddings where the DJ spins that song. Anybody know all the words to American Pie? ;)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

You got it, Nancy. I should have KNOWN you'd remember that one too. Billy Jack. *Girlish sigh* One of the first, best, kick-ass anti-heroes.

Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

*raising hand* I do, PinkPeony. I also know all the words to Bye Bye Mr. Anakin Guy, a Star Wars take-off on the song.

Snork.

Nancy said...

PinkPeony, "You're Still the One" is a great song. I loved Hermans Hermits' "Mrs. Brown," "Henry the Eighth," and "A Kind of Hush." I actually got to see Peter "Herman" Noone in the Pirates of Penzance off Broadway many years ago!

My sister had a major crush on Bobby Sherman. At one time, I knew all the words to "Hey, Little Woman," but not by choice. *g* She also loved the Monkees. I like "I'm A Believer" and "Last Train to Clarksville."

Some days, I do feel like Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty" is my theme song lately. Thanks for reminding me of that.

And "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a classic.

I do know some of the words to "American Pie." :-)

Nancy said...

Jeanne--

The Anakin song sounds like something an offshoot of the "space Wesley" crowd in STTNG fandom would've come up with. I've never heard it.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

*G* Nancy, the Anakin song is from Weird Al Yankovich. You can check it out on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oskgaM8Su9c

It's a total crackup and a rundown of the whole first three movies. :>

BTW, Somewhere Over the Rainbow is my youngest's current fav. I'm required to sing it pretty much every night. :>

Nancy said...

Jeanne, I've now gone and checked that out. I'll be sharing it with some of my fandom buds. *g*

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Pretty funny, eh, Nancy? :>

Beth, I have to say that the song JT turned me on to, Would You Go With Me, by Josh Turner, has become one of my favorites to sing to my hubby. :> Can't do it the justice that Josh does with that fab gravelly bass voice, but I give it a shot! :>

Renee said...

Bad Company's Feel Like Making Love, Randy Travis's Forever and Ever, and Alison Krauss's When You Say Nothing At All.

Thanks for the trip back to my childhood. I loved Springfield, oh and Bryan Adams, and Duran Duran.

Renee

Tawny said...

Jeanne--"One Tin Soldier," the theme from Billy Jack? Or a different one?

One Tin Soldier is by a group called The Original Caste. Oh man, I forgot how cool that song is (its on my iPod even). My mom used to sing it when I was little right about the time my parents were divorced so it has this really bittersweet memory for me of lots of hugs and my hair getting wet from her tears. *sigh*

Beth Andrews said...

Nancy, those lyrics are lovely. I can only imagine how moving it is to hear it at the funeral of a loved one who served in the Navy.

Thanks so much for sharing the song with us!

Beth Andrews said...

Hey, PinkPeony! My sister was a HUGE Jackson Browne fan. I didn't come to appreciate his music until I was older.

I admit, I don't know all the words to American Pie - that is one long song *g*

And the song that's played at every wedding that I can't stand is "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger - and I'm a Seger fan :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Jeanne, the first concert we took our son to was a Weird Al concert! He sang all of his classics: "Like A Surgeon", "Eat It" and "I Lost On Jeopardy" *g*

A few years ago he came out with "White and Nerdy" which is just too funny - especially Donny Osmond in the video :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Thanks for stopping by, Renee. In high school I had a friend who loved Randy Travis so those songs remind me of her *g*

I loved Bryan Adams too! I played my "Reckless" tape so much, it wore out :-)

Beth Andrews said...

Beth, I have to say that the song JT turned me on to, Would You Go With Me, by Josh Turner, has become one of my favorites to sing to my hubby.

Jeanne, that's a great song! His voice is gorgeous :-)

I'd have to say my favorite male country singer is probably Brad Paisley. "Whiskey Lullaby" with Allison Kraus, "Where I Get Where I'm Going" with Dolly Parton and "Letter To Me" all make me tear up *g*