With the death of Prince yesterday, I sat and watched Prince videos for hours on end. This brought my high school years flooding back to me. As far back as I can remember, music has been attached to every good memory I have. Even the crappy times had a song attached to them.
I remember the first time I danced to Princes Purple Rain album. Charlotte Gilreaths house...that sucker got played over & over & over. We sang at the top of our lungs and danced our asses off!! Because of my dads job, I was lucky enough to have a Little Red Corvette as my first car at 16. My mother hated it, but I have to say...IT. WAS. AWESOME!!!!!! So needless to say, that album was my anthem. We cruised the mountain listening to REO Speedwagon, Journey, Prince, Hank Williams Jr, Rod Stewart, Randy Travis, Def Leppard, John Cougar Mellencamp, Billy Idol, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen just to name a few. These were the artists that we danced and sang to, fell in love to, helped to heal a broken heart and partied to. All of these artists and their songs still hold a special place with me.
Maybe my love for music has something to do with my dad. He loved Juke Boxes. I can't remember a time when we didn't have a Juke box. Growing up it was filled with all kinds of randomness. Susan and I would stand on the fireplace hearth and make our parents listen to us sing "Torn between 2 lovers" and "Locamotion" while we danced to all of them. My dad took me to my first concert and man...it was a doozie!! ELVIS at the OMNI! I wore an awesome long dress (yes, i did say LONG dress). Then came The Bee Gee's, ELO, Journey, Bruce Springsteen, Randy Travis (5x), Hank Williams Jr. and the list grew from there.
My first date with Glen, we danced to Billy Idols "Dancin' with myself" at a friends party. Our playlist evolved and changed to add the songs from Dirty Dancing, Top Gun & many more movies. Then one day things changed...Glen introduced me to a Jimmy Buffett concert & I fell in love with a whole new playlist! We continued on with that concert for over 2 decades. "Come Monday" became my lullaby for both Jake and Laney. I still get teary eyed when I sing it just thinking of rocking them to sleep. Glen will forever be my one and only with a "School Boy Heart". These songs are ingrained in my life, my soul and inscribed in my heart.
At any given time, you can walk into our house and music is playing. While cooking, cleaning, taking a bath or shower, getting ready for work, working in the yard or just sitting on the porch. Music is always on. Our dinner routine is always the same....family dinner atleast 4 nights a week, no phones allowed. Only music and good conversation. Gotta have the music!
I think we all have songs that define different walks of life. From first dates, worst dates, love, heartbreak, friendship, destinations, marriage, children, family....music is a road map of your life. I love the route that my musical map has taken me. I hope that you've had a melodic road trip....TURN IT UP!!
Elvis - my dad
You are my Sunshine - Nana
Vince Gill - my mama
Teach Me how to Dougie - my mom on pain medication!!
Stand by Me - Our song
Earth Angel - my parents song
Purple Haze - My brother Mike
Jack & Diane - High school love (1)
Pink Floyd - High School love (2)
Rock 'n Roll High School - Kevin
SHOUT - all 4 Proms
Torn Between 2 lovers - Susan
Come Monday - Jake and Laney
School Boy Heart - My forever Love
No comments:
Post a Comment