Soundtrack de ma vie

Sometimes I think about the movie of my life.  Who would play me?  What moments would feature prominently in the plot? Which tunes would play in the background as my story unfolds on screen?

On occasion, I hear a song and am immediately transported, like Marty McFly in his DeLorean, back to the past. Yesterday afternoon, casually working to the sound of Pandora radio, Dave Matthew's Band song "Crash" streamed across the internet.  In an instant, it was 1998---I was back in high school: acne, awkwardness and all.

Dave Matthews would certainly play the cadence for my life story in the late nineties, alongside the Dixie Chicks and Jewel. But what other songs would represent my life?  Who else sings the songs that tell my story? 

When I think of myself as a little towhead growing up in Southwest Missouri, I hear the Beach Boys.  Sure, the surfer sounds of Brian Wilson probably don't immediately transport you to the heart of America; but for me, "Kokomo" was the song of my childhood.  My brother and I would dance to the Beach Boys on our neighbor's porch, choreographing special turns and twists to the steel drum beats.  Mom and Dad, perhaps you were inadvertently and subliminally training me to be a Californian from an early age?

Our other favorite childhood tune was Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy," which we would listen to on cassette tapes in our bedrooms, making Ninja Turtles and Barbies boogie along to the song like plasticized marionettes. 

In elementary school, I played Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" on repeat for a year.  My friend and I competed in the forth grade talent show to this song. We were especially proud of our teal and purple biker shorts and knotted t-shirt combo: an outfit that could make only Barney jealous. 

Fast forward to college.  Odds are, nine weekends out of ten, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" would blast from fraternity house speakers at my small Southern university. Now, when I hear those first few guitar riffs coupled with "big wheels keep on turnin'," I feel nineteen. I smell bourbon and I smell trouble.  As my parents read this blog, details will be spared.  I will maintain my squeaky clean image for a few years more, thank you very much.

So, now, as I start to move out of my twenties, new songs trigger new memories.  For the last years, Coldplay, The Killers and U2 seem to have written a tune for my every emotion. 

When I feel like rolling the windows down and belting out some lyrics, I sing along with Chris Martin to "Strawberry Swing" or "Lovers in Japan."  When I feel like hiding under my down comforter and closing off the world, Bono enchants me with "One" or "With or without you."

Music is certainly one of life's little pleasures.  For what can change your mood more than song?  Next time you're feeling low, I challenge you---crank up some Motown, and say bye, bye, bye to your bad mood.

What songs tell your life story?  What melodies do you associate with your past and your present? 

Images borrowed from RexLisman, WeHeartIt &; FashionFever.