Music Roulette 6 ~ It Was All a Stream

There is a close link between music, emotion, and memory. I recently read somewhere that there is a major link called “music-evoked autobiographical memory”. Who knew my music roulette explorations had a name! And that there were so many studied done on the subject. In that vein, let’s continue digging into my mental archives via a randomly selected song list pulled from all the songs I have listened to and liked on Spotify. In the words of the defunct Navy slogan: Let the journey begin…

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1. I Only Have Eyes for You :: The Flamingos

This song is on my playlist courtesy of my son. I’m a proud mama that my sons inherited my eclectic taste in music. Imagine my surprise when this was the song that was on their playlist on a road trip! I had to add it to mine. I have many favorite memories of this song. It evokes so many emotions. It features heavily in many movies I watched when I was younger, like A Bronx Tale – which I watched with my best friends in an advanced screening when we were in high school. And it’s in another favorite of mine: Something’s Gotta Give. RIP Diane Keaton. That movie has some of the best set design (IYKYK 😉)

2. Goodnight Gotham :: Rihanna

This is a song that would be part of a “Driving at Night in the City” playlist. If there is one thing I miss about being in the United States is driving on the open roads, for no reason other than to feel the wind in your face and escape down the endless highways to nowhere.

3. Gratisfaction :: The Strokes

This song, and The Strokes in general, speak to the Guitar Hero/Rock Band era in my life. It was a big deal in our family, when I was still married and the kids were young. Something we did as a family. Our band, The Yeah Yous, may never tour the Rock Band world again, but they live on in my memory.

4. Kids with Guns :: Gorillaz, Neneh Cherry

Easy does it. Another road trip song. As an aside – does anyone remember Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry? WTF was the buffalo stance? To this day I do not know what that meant. And when that song came out, not only was there no such thing as the internet, I think this song even predated Behind the Music on VH1 lol. The beat of this song kind of reminds me of the Buffalo Stance. Wonder if that is thanks to Neneh Cherry being on the track? IDK

5. Garden :: Pearl Jam

This whole album takes me BACK to high school. Good grief. Sometimes it feels like those days were just yesterday. Even though logically I know that is absolutely not true. But can’t convince my mind that is the case. This song brings back days spent listening to this CD in my room on repeat.

6. Faint :: Linkin Park

How do I explain to my sons that this was the music that they would hear on the way daycare? Linkin Park entered my musical vernacular at a time when I felt trapped, alone, and definitely misunderstood. It was hard being a new mother, married to a man who I felt did not understand me. Years before I diminshed myself trying to be someone he would appreciate, years before I understood I was being emotionally abused and manipulated – this song would attempt to speak for me. The frustration of being ignored. It is an ANTHEM. Still goes hard, have to listen to this song at FULL VOLUME>

7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen :: Ronni James Dio, Tony Iommi, Rudy Sarzo, Simon Wright

Yeah! I am always here for unconventional Christmas songs. If there is one thing my sons had was a diversified musical selection playing in our house during the holiday season. Especially once they were old enough to begin appreciating a varied musical repertoire. 😅

8. Beautiful :: Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Charlie Wilson

Definitely my early mom era. I distinctly recall this song being on heavy rotation when we were living in Virginia.

9. Donde esta mi amor :: Gipsy Kings

When have I ever not listened to the Gipsy King? No surprises for me here. I think my obsession with their music started when I was in high school, and I was trying to teach myself to play classical Spanish guitar. Spoiler alert: did not succeed. However, I still have the guitar, and the attempt was made. In the meantime, I will enjoy the music played by better musicians than myself.

10. Automaton :: Jamiroquai

What a song to end this exploratory playlist on. I still remember when this album came out, it BLEW my mind. Did not stop playing this album, especially this song (I mean the album had no skip songs), but especially when this song ended up in Just Dance!! Man, they had me at Jamiroquai. The year this album came out (2017) was momentous for me. That year I bought my first house all by myself (not counting the ones I bought when I was married to mr horrible), there was a solar eclipse, my first trip out of state with the kids paid all by myself, and the death of my stepson. Some good, some very bad. It was literally a year all over the place.

Music Roulette → Spin the Whole Series:

• Music Roulette – 10 Random Songs
• Music Roulette 2 – Nevermind the Algorithm
• Music Roulette 3 – 120 Minutes
• Music Roulette 4 – The Latchkey Shuffle
• Music Roulette 5 – Smells Like Midlife
• Music Roulette 6 – It Was All a Stream (you are here)
• Music Roulette 7 – Reality Sound Bites