Music and Memories

I love the way we associate songs with experiences, tying our memories and music together mentally. I used to wonder how it was that people with similar musical tastes could disagree so strongly on one particular piece or another, but thinking about it now I would offer subconscious associations as a possible explanation. Sometimes it’s obvious when a song triggers a certain memory- my father is brought to the verge of tears every time he hears the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” with thoughts of a now deceased brother while I am instantly reminded of Mark Edward’s goofy mustache from Top Gun- but sometimes the association is much subtler. A song from a certain time period may evoke happy memories, maybe thoughts about a really fun wedding, your high school graduation or a particularly memorable vacation. I would speculate that most of these associations are positive ones, my father’s feelings toward “Unchained Melody” serving as a notable exception, which is part of why I enjoy them so much. There are no songs that make me think of a test I bombed, getting stitches or being sick. Other than wakes and memorials (which I think of every single time I hear bagpipes- I come from an Irish family with a penchant for dying young) music isn’t being played during most of our lowest points. I have also known people who had painful breakups with some longtime boyfriend or girlfriend and were constantly reminded of it whenever a certain song or songs came on. I suppose that represents another “negative” association we may make at one time or another between memories and music, but that seems to be more the exception than the rule. Regardless, I like the way it all tends to work out. I know that The Fray’s album “How to Save a Life” has approximately five bagillion (that’s a lot) positive memories attached to it for me (some stand out more than others) and that every time I hear Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” I will forever be reminded of the White Sox world series run last year. And that’s just fine by me.


On that note, it’s about damn time The Fray came out with a new album. I listen to such a wide variety of music that it is rare I find myself clamoring for a new release (Coldplay falls in that category too. I’m glad to hear they are recording again) but the two years since “How to Save a Life” first came out have seemed exceptionally long. Similarly, it seems unbelievable to me that Maroon 5 managed to wait five years between their debut album, “Songs About Jane” and their recently released sophomore effort, “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long.” Very few bands can pull a stunt like that- half a decade between their first and second albums- and still remain relevant in the pop music scene, but they managed to pull it off. Kudos.


I’m pulling the plug on this post before it gets too incoherent. Until the next time…