For this final Monday of January, Bruna at Bees With Honey challenged us with this:
If they were to make a movie of your life what would the soundtrack be like? Share 10 songs that best tell the story of your life. Be sure to include the period or event that each song represents.I love music and have had many favorite songs in my life, so I *think* I can do this. I'm just glad she didn't ask who would play me and the people in my life, because that I do not think I could do! Well, except that I think my husband looks a little like Tim Robbins.
Speaking of Mark, he could totally pull off this task because he so easily remembers events in his life and the music that he liked at the time. Problem is, he'd have a very hard time stopping at just 10 songs.
The year of my birth was 1974. April of 1974, in fact. The #1 Billboard song on the date of my birth was a ltitle ditty called TSOP (The Sound of Philidelphia) by MFSB & The Three Degrees. It's a fun R&B song, but does nothing to tell you anything about me or my life. There are, however, plenty of other songs that were #1 on my birthday over the years that I really liked. Such as Against All Odds by Phil Collins, Like a Prayer by Madonna and Boom Boom Pow by The Black Eyed Peas,
1. There's this one song that was apparently #1 on my birthday in 1996 that became the song Mark and I danced to at our wedding in 1998 (not Mark's choice, he would like me to note): Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion. Actually, now that I know it was #1 on the charts on my birthday that year, I find it even more apropos that it was our wedding song. Because...Mark had his kidney/pancreas transplant in April of '96 which was a hugely defining thing in our life as a couple. And that song, well, it gets me every time. It's actually from a movie -- the one with Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford where Robert Redford dies and I sob -- Up Close and Personal.
2. The song that is really "our song" is Thank You by Led Zeppelin. Mark put it on a mix tape he made me somewhere between our first kiss and his vacation with a friend a couple month later. I had never heard this particular Zeppelin song before and I fell in love with it.
I printed up the lyrics and had them framed by my FIL as a gift for Mark one year...long ago.... |
On the day that you were born the angels got together4. My dad liked to sing Dog and Butterfly by Heart to me. I'm actually not sure why, except maybe because it sounds a little like a lullaby. He pretty much liked to sing anything to me. Still does.
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair
And golden starlight in your eyes so blue
5. I'm not sure if Mark knows this, but In My Life by The Beatles holds a ton of meaning for me in regards to how I feel about him. What I know he doesn't want to hear, is that I adore Bette Midler's version of it. I tear up every single time I listen and sing to it.
6. At Christmastime, I gotta have me some of Elvis' Blue Christmas.
You're thinking I have an awful lot of old songs here, hu? Are you wondering just how old I am? Not THAT old, don't worry!
7. When I entered adulthood I was really into Melissa Etheridge, and would be remiss if I didn't list Like the Way I Do. It is a rockin' scorned woman song that came out LONG before Alanis Morissette that my friend Brandie and I used to crank up and belt out together. It's on her first album, which I actually discovered only after Yes I Am came out. Anyway, Brandie and I went to see Melissa live and I just have to say it is such a trip to be surrounded by lesbians screaming, "I wanna have your baby!"
8. I absolutely HAVE to talk about Bon Jovi because he/they have been a big part of my life since I was 12 years old. Can I pick just one song of theirs that would be on the soundtrack of my life? I think not. The first song I heard was You Give Love a Bad Name which introduced me to the wonderful world of the "big hair band". I love to belt out I'll Be There for You. I'm all over Livin' on a Prayer and Dead or Alive on Rock Band. When Jon Bon sang Lay Your Hands on Me, I said OK! I suppose It's My Life is the one that would be most appropriate, right?
9. When I got pregnant with Camryn in 1999 the song With Arms Wide Open by Creed was out and climbing the charts to #1. It's about the lead singer, Scott Stapp, learning that he was going to be a father. Needless to say, the song resonated with both Mark and I, and still does.
Well shoot. This has been fairly easy up until now. One more song that articulates some facet of my life? How do I choose?
10. I think I will have to go with Carrie Underwood's Lessons Learned, which is probably my theme song.
Wow, what a fabulous list! I relate to so many of these songs, Jennifer, even being a hundred years older than you. Loved the post! Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteMusic is timeless...and ageless!
DeleteWhat a great list! I have never heard the Lessons Learned song, but wow, what a great and powerful song!!! Fantastic song for a theme song!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't think it's one of her big hits, but I think it's a great one.
DeleteNot because I am old but for some unknown reason the song that always plays in the background of my life is Doris Days Que Sera Sera. I will hum it to fill silence, although I adore silence.
ReplyDeleteYou know, that's probably a good one for my life too.
DeleteI'd never head Lessons Learned before either. great song. might actually replace the one "Jesus Take the Wheel", which was my favourite one of hers.
ReplyDeleteAs I am reading everyone's list, I am realizing that my husband and I don't really have a song. Probably because he has Zero musical taste ;)
Jesus Take the Wheel is a GREAT song that I love as well. I actually like pretty much that entie album!
DeleteLove me some Melissa Etheridge! What a great list Jen, the reasons behind your choices are wonderful. And your theme song is great, lyrics are so true.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you gave it a listen. The first time I heard it I was kinda floored by how much I felt it related to me.
DeleteGreat list - especially hearing your stories. I almost included some Bon Jovi on mine, but I ran out of list :)
ReplyDeleteI just love Bon Jovi...sigh.
DeleteI had such a hard time stopping at 10... well actually I didn't LOL But your list is awesome! So many songs listed that a memory instantly popped into my head!
ReplyDeleteI started out thinking it would be really easy. Then I struggled, then I wanted to keep going, then I was stumped. It was an interesting process!
DeleteGreat list of songs and memories, with you for so many of them. Love that you had those lyrics framed.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm cool like that.
DeleteI haven't heard of some of these...but I had forgotten about the Carpenters. Rainy Days and Mondays...always makes me cry. What a sap I am. Good list.
ReplyDeleteRainy Days and Mondays...yeah. :-)
DeleteLove your list! Up Close and Personal makes me feel like my heart is being ripped from my chest...but every time it comes on I watch it. I kinda wanna watch it right now.
ReplyDeleteWhy does it not surprise me that me have some of the same songs on our list?
I feel that way every time I watch Steel Magnolias, and almost every time I see it on, I watch it. I have no idea why!
DeleteWe have so many songs in common cuz WE ARE SISTERS.
I love Bon Jovi too, but some how they didn't make my list. That was a big oversight, but you put them all.
ReplyDeleteI like to be thorough. :-)
DeleteBecause You Love Me is one of the prettiest songs but The Hubby just hates Celine...can you imagine!!!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby hates her too. He only did it for me, agreeing that Led Zeppelin isn't real easy to dance to.
Delete