Music From my Teens

“Do you still listen to the music you liked in your teens? Why?”

Of course… and because I have strong memories associated with much of the music from my teens (personally defined as 13-19, or 1986-1992).

Not only that, but the meaning for some songs has either changed or been verified through experience. A good example of the latter is the song “Zombie Eaters” by Faith No More:

You’re everything that’s why I cling to you
When I emerge my thoughts converge to you

To you
The world is so small compared to you
And everybody’s wrong compared to you
To you
I begin to see through your eyes
All the former mysteries are no surprise

So now, you listen
‘Cause I’m omniscient…

Back in April, this album was the theme for my nervous and cautious expedited drive from work after getting the phone call: “Contractions are closer… I think this is it.”

Between “The Real Thing” and this track, I was once again marveling at the miracle of life and wondering who it is we were about to meet.

I know the feeling
It is the real thing
You can’t refuse the embrace.

Nope.

Music, for me, is a complex relationship between past and present… memory and moment. I will listen to a song over and over… but each time I will hear something different… or another memory will resurface. The bass might become clearer than before, or a conversation on the way to high school with this cassette playing in the background will seem like it was something from a few hours ago…

The neat thing is that these memories are pretty much exclusive to me… but my son has grown to appreciate the music from my past and has started his own associations to it… and so will this one here, because how better can I explain such moments…?