Random Musings - August 1, 2010

Today is the day! I have been waiting five years to see them again and they are in BOSTON! Yes folks, I am going to see Arcade Fire tonight. If you haven't heard them, you must buy Funeral; it will change your life! Pictures to follow... after the show.
Fat kids, like myself, tend to really identify with something other than sports. Granted, I love sports... watching them more so than playing them these days; I was a competitive swimmer as a kid, but those days are long gone. Sure, I played rugby, but I got fat, so I stopped. Now, as my weight fluctuates, I lose more hair, and my clothes look less flattering, I find solace in music. A few more fun facts about me:

I love music - especially indie rock, alt-country, new folk, and electro-pop.
I worked at a music store in my younger years, and acquired a HUGE amount of mostly free CD's.
I have almost 10,000 songs on my iPod.
I rarely pass up a live show.
I like a lot of bands, but have a definitive list of favorites. They include New Order, The Smiths, Morrissey, The Cure, Radiohead, Wilco, and New Pornographers.
And lastly, most of the people in my life find me OBSESSED with music, to the point that every conversation has a reference worked into it.

My random musing today is this: last night, late night, I was listening to my iPod trying to fall asleep. I had it on shuffle, and didn't realize that there was stuff on there that I COMPLETELY forgot (a little) about. For example, "We're All Alone" by Rita Coolidge came on first. I think I heard this song for the first time in the dentist's office while having some horrible, torturous procedure done. The Terrorist, as we affectionately referred to our dentist as, had the easy-listening favorites of yesterday and today on in his office. Between drill noises, that gross suction sound, and the heavy breathing behind the surgical mask, Rita Coolidge's voice served as ear novocaine.
"Chasing Pavements" by Adele is next. Now, I knew this song was on my iPod, in fact, it may have been my favorite song of 2008. What I didn't know is that everytime I listen to it, the part in the bridge of the song where she says "Or should I (pause) keep on (pause) chasing pavement" gets me everytime! There is something about the pause there. Or her incredibly cockny accent. Or both. Who knows.. it just makes me varhklempt whenever I hear it.
"Golden Brown" by the Stranglers. Had no idea when I was 17 and living with a family in France that this song was about heroin. I thought it was about suntans. Hello naive. This song reminds me of 1993... and that summer.. and the fact that after over 20 years, my best friends then are still my best friends today. This song reminds me (though it's hard to sometimes see it clearly), that no matter how shitty or fucked up I think my life is, I have this amazing network of family and friends who would drop EVERYTHING for me. That speaks volumes.... and sometimes, I wonder if I would do the same. I would like to think so, but as it was recently pointed out to me, I am rather selfish. I need to work on that.
"Say What You Want" by Texas brings me back to stocking shelves at Staples in college. It was on the overhead system, sandwiched between gross "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain and "Summer Breeze" by Seals and Croft. There is something about Sharleen Spiteri's voice that reminds me of Dusty Springfield. And we all know how much the gays love Dusty! Much to my surprise, I was at a club and the song was mixed in to the set and Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan made a glameo appearance. I was floored... cause it was AWESOME!
"Half A World Away" by REM instantly transports me back to my sophomore year in high school. My mom bought me this CD and I played it non-stop. Whenever this song came on, I would cry because there was so much pain in Michael Stipe's voice (and it didn't help that I was struggling with my sexuality, either). So picture it, an on the way to being fat gay kid, sobbing uncontrollably to the pain in others. Wait, there is a lot of truth to that. I do that often. Maybe I am more sensitive than gay.
"Cowboy, Take Me Away" by the Dixie Chicks really gets me. I went to college in Georgia and I swear to God, the hottest guys there drove pick-up trucks with gun racks, wore Wranglers, and had their "going out" boots. And they were all straight, but all so hot. When I heard this song for the first time, I put myself back to 1994, getting drunk by shotgunning beers with the girls, and heading out to the many bars of Athens. Then, instantly, running off into the corner and being a wallflower, while I watched my girlfriends cozy up to these hot looking cow folk, then cursing them. As I got older, I went to "gay two-step" night and realized that my perfect boyfriend doesn't exist. Damn you, Dixie Chicks!
What can I say? I like music... a lot. So if you do come for dinner, be prepared to be peppered with some amazing tunes to set the mood. And if you are feeling nostalgic, let me know what songs bring you back. I gotta work this fat ass into a pair of skinny jeans, which we all know could take all day!