We’ve all had it happen, a song comes on and you’re instantly transported back to a very specific time in your life. It could be just a day or it could be a season or a whole year. No matter where you are now, a part of you feels transformed by the music – usually accompanied with a sense of nostalgia, good or bad.
The winter of my senior year of college was bitter and long, and I spent many a day on the bus headed up to my music classes on the North campus. Donning my puffy coat with my iPod slipped in the inside breast pocket I would crank my music up enough to drown out the chatter and hum of the crowded bus and sink into my seat. I don’t know if it was the whipping wind, the shades of grey or the salt stains at the hem of my jeans, but I was into a very specific stable of tunes that winter. Music that’s not necessarily somber, but certainly a little dark, emotive and lyrically strong/heavy. There’s something peaceful about walking on a crowded, bustling campus to your own soundtrack. Everything is cast in a different shade.
Here are a couple of my favorite songs from that era of my life. Even sitting in sunny California right now, I kind of miss those soggy, smelly bus rides.
Frou Frou “The Dumbing Down of Love”
Absolutely stunning. Listen for the line “Music is worthless…” Love the muted trumpet.
Rachael Yamagata “Reason Why”
Raspy vocals, beautiful piano, great lyrics. Gets pretty big by the end.
David Gray “Please Forgive Me”
David Gray “January Rain”
Moody. Love “Janaury Rain” – it was for the Serendipity soundtrack.
Bonnie Raitt “Angel from Montgomery”
One of my favorite songs of all time, cuz “how the hell…”
This next song I didn’t find until recently because she’s a new artist, but if this was out in the winter of 2006 I have no doubt it would have been on that playlist.
Adele “Make You Feel My Love”
An incredible cover of the Bob Dylan classic – hands down the best version yet (sorry Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Kelly Clarkson and the rest).
What are some songs that always take YOU back to a certain time, place or memory?
