June Sounds Like This
Revisiting some of the music that imprinted my musical mind.
I’ve always been one who enjoys a brief stroll down memory lane. From time to time, I enjoy more than the brief stroll. Sometimes I’ll stay just long enough to see the sunset. Sometimes I’ll stay long enough for another drink. I’ve actually become rather fond of extended stays at the B&B just off memory lane, if I’m being honest.
These crazy times have sent me seeking refuge in the things that make me feel normal. Things that remind me of the not so distant past and how nice it felt spending time there.
So much has changed, so much has been learned; while I wouldn’t trade my today to go back, it can be rewarding to look at the past and see how perspectives have changed.
For instance, I find it interesting to reread books, poems or stories that I first read in high school. It is funny how differently they hit me now as opposed to then. My teenaged mind processed things much differently than my, uhm, well aged mind does now.
I wrote about this last year (👇) and have been meaning to revisit the concept again. I've already selected the next title that I'm going to reread, now I just need to sit down and actually open the book!
The fun of revisiting old favorites is especially applicable to movies. Do they still hold up? Would I even like them anymore? My friends and I loved Say Anything and Singles; how would they go over today? How would I feel watching the movies that preserved the teenage experience for those of us going through it in the 1990s?
What about 80s movies? My word, they were random! I’d bet that watching them now would be so strange, yet as a child they seemed normal (because they were).
And then there is music. We all had those albums, those albums that we played and played and played. Or I presume most of us did. Maybe on cassette or CD; maybe on vinyl.
Regardless, we came to know the album so well that it became another part of us. Like a spontaneous appendage or a tattoo, these albums irreversibly changed us. Through them we were exposed to new points of view, we were shown the perspectives of strangers.
I've had many of these albums. Very many. I was able to expand my outlook on life thanks to the teachings of music.
There were several women who made music and wrote lyrics that pushed the boundaries of my thinking. They helped me open doors revealing new rooms I was ecstatic to explore. They pushed me into a more complex place; they made me think. They boldly faced their shortcomings and embraced their gifts. They exposed their pain and shared their joy; they explored every part of their personality, both the darkest corners and the brightest peaks.
Heather Nova was one of these women. I’ve heard her album, Oyster, so many times I couldn’t even fathom a guess. I had kinda lost touch with her, missing out on more albums than I was familiar with. There was a lot of catching up to be done.
As I listened, a thirst began to grow. Her career had turned in a few directions over time, but there was a vibe that rang clear through all of them. I was thirsty for that vibe.
This inspired me to make a playlist. No surprise there. It has many old favorites, but pulls music that captures the vibe without limiting by era.
This is the playlist that has become my soundtrack over the past few weeks. It’s nearly a soft rock (yacht rock?) wonderland but still sassy and modern at the same time. It makes me feel good and has plenty of tracks to refill my Heather Nova reservoir.
Also, random note: compiling this playlist led me to rediscover Long Long Time by Linda Ronstadt. I have been hearing it a lot. it’s such a great song and has become a highlight of the playlist. (I’m putting it here just in case you need to listen to it right now!)
Do you have an album that made an impression on you? One you’ve heard a million times? Or perhaps it’s a movie or a book that takes you back, making you feel comfortable and nice. I’d be delighted if you’d share your beloved media with us below.