Music Roulette 5 ~ Smells Like Midlife

You know the drill. Set the shuffle loose and see what comes up this round of Music Roulette. If you missed all the other episodes, here’s three and four to get you up to speed. I’m on a journey of self-discovery and self-soothing to beat depression. They say that music enjoyment often returns as depression improves and music therapy can be a helpful treatment for some people. Maybe this round will shake something loose that is lingering in me? Smells like midlife, or is that just your teen spirit?

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1. Cock O’ the Walk :: Andrew Bird

Oh, this one takes me back. When my youngest son got one of his first jobs, before he got his license, I would drop him off and pick him up from work, and then he’d practice driving home. He made himself a playlist to listen to in the car on my Spotify account (before I went to the family plan) and this was on it. The things we do for our kids.

2. Set Me Free Pt 2 :: Jimin

I don’t consider myself a KPop girly, but I do partake of the genre. My music tastes are eclectic. And that is no lie. You won’t catch me at a concert, but did I watch KPop Demon Hunters several times in a row on Netflix? Yes. Did I sing along? Also yes. Don’t hate. Appreciate.

3. IDGAF :: J Jig Cicero

This is definitely the TikTok effect. LMAO. Would I, under normal circumstances, have found this artist organically? Probably not. But I do not, in fact, give a fuck about some of these hoes.

4. The Last of Us :: Gustavo Santaolalla

My attempts at playing this game were a disaster. I did better at watching my sons play it than attempting to play myself. But I did try. It was, in fact, a hilarious failure. Many games have outstanding soundtracks. The Last of Us is one of them.

5. Flat Beat :: Mr. Oizo

Every now and then I like to pretend my clubbing days aren’t behind me. But it’s usually just me in my pajamas dancing my ass off in my living room to the thumping bass of a song like this one on repeat. It’s me in Club Underground for the rest of my life. Though I am glad that there was a version of younger me who did spend all week clubbing in her twenties. No shame in my game. I am very proud of that. Love that journey for me.

6. I Used to Love Him (feat. Mary J. Blige) :: Ms. Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige

Oh boy. This song says it all. 1998 and the tragedy that was my marriage hadn’t even happened yet and here it was. I should have paid more attention right? Nope. Had to crash and burn all on my own. This song has a permanent place on my “Ex-Factor” Spotify playlist because in fact used to love him but now I don’t.

7. Gun (KDA Remix) :: CHVRCHES, KDA

I remember finding this CD at the library too. I had heard of this band CHVRCHES, but had not heard their music. I wasn’t much for listening to the radio, and in between all the moves, from Virginia, to New Jersey, to Texas, I had no loyalty to any radio stations anyway.

8. Times Like This :: Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

I remember buying this CD in high school. Sigh. Times like this indeed. What did I have to worry about other than studying for the SATs? OMG that life is so laughable, it is tragic. 😭

9. Exit Music (For A Film) :: Radiohead

This is a good album. And like the song says, makes me feel like I’m in a movie – but like a Spaghetti Western. However, if I was in one, I don’t think I’d end up as one of the marauding bandolier wearing hero bent on revenge. No, I’d probably be the lonely bartender selling rotgut whiskey to that guy. At least that’s how this song makes me feel. Kind of depressing. 😢

10. Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) :: George Michael

I was not allowed to have this cassette when it came out. George Michael was it!! So many girls I knew had a crush on him, or had his poster on the wall. Not me. I was going to Catholic school at the time. Good grief, La Llorona had no appreciation for music, and I had no money. Oh, the lamentations of being under a terrible parent’s thumb. But my cousin had this cassette, so I made a copy lol.