One - Alanis Morrisette
Does anyone remember Heather's Alanis stage? She absolutely loved listening to jagged little pill. It reminds me of those innocent Brewster high school days. My how life has changed. Some for the good, some for the worse, but then again, that's typical of life. Unlike one week, I could understand this song, and it seemed appropriate.
What it's Like - Everlast
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
A great song from a great movie. It reminds me of a many different times, but the one that sticks out the most is going to Tower Records, with Joe and Dan, our first night in Berkeley after grabbing some Thai food. That actually sums up the whole Berkeley experience pretty well.
And it also reminds me of the numerous conversations about a guy's best feature. We've concluded that eyes are very big. Ironic considering half the time, I have no idea what color eyes people have. I don't think I notice unless they have some significant feature to them. Nash, for instance has really blue eyes whereas Heather and I have the typical boring brown eyes. Yeah for us!
City of Angels song- U2
Apparentlly this is the begining of the religious part of the tape. I inadvetanly put three songs about God together. I'm not trying to promote the church, but apparently the fact that I like them, means that God is important to me. Even though I was sure that I could take care of myself, I really do appreciate Shari sending Case to get me after church last summer. It was strange going to yet another church. Some parts were completely different from what I was used to, while others were exactly the same. I was used to them passing around the collection basket though. The first few weeks I was so broke that I didn't have any money with me. But then I started contributing, based on the rationale that God would repay me later somehow. That's when I got my job at Sybase. Coincidence, or divine intervention?
Unanswered Prayers - Garth Brooks
Even though I ended up giving away my Garth Brooks tape, I still like his music. It used to remind me of Lori, but thankfully I've been able to basically forget about that part of my life. It's strange because something that used to effect me everyday, now barely ever crosses my mind. Apparently that's partially what Garth is trying to get across: what one day seems so right, may actually not be. Religion is the opium of the people. Marx was a bit cynical, but he does have a point.
Friends Theme - Remembrants
Cheesy, I know, but I honestly have come to really enjoy watching this show with my roommates. I don't know that doesn't seem to relate to you two, but it does indirectly. I never thought that I would enjoy spending time with them. I remember laughing all the time with Shari this summer and with Heather in the car. After getting back to Brewster, it was apparent to me, that the summer was definately over. But the first weekend back, Liz and I were watching Titanic on Monican field and it started to get really cold. We felt like we were experiencing the same feelings as those people stuck in the ocean. Of course this was just too amusing for us and we ended up laughing hysterically through Jack's death scene. People were not pleased with us. Then we ran back to our apartment and it reminded me exactly of times with you guys. That was a relief for me. I know Heather always gets angry and thinks that that means I'm replacing her, but it's actually just trying to enjoy myself the way I would if I could be with the two of you instead. It's not replacing it's just different.
Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
"You bleed just to know that you're alive" Sadly enough, that song has literal meaning to me. I don't know if anyone will ever fully understand. I used to think that Heather might, but now I doubt it. It's my own fault because I sometimes would rather just keep things in, that admit them to people. I used to do that a lot, but as I've gotten older, I've been opening a lot more. And the only reason I've been able to do that is because I feel like I can trust you. That's a big thing for me. Thanks.
This Kiss
Shari and I heard this driving down University Ave coming back from Yosemite. I had heard it before and liked it, even though it was a bit country sounding. Apparently I'm more accepting of country music than I ever thought that I was. Lauren hates it. I think it fell victim to that whole overplaying trap.
Say Goodbye - Madonna
I've never been a huge Madonna fan, probably because as Matt says, that's who Gay Men absolutely love. But Sybase has changed my perspective. Liz and her infamous party in the cube, used to rock the 4th floor with Madonna. It was too amusing. And I've come to discover a new appreciation for Madonna. Her "best of" album is looking better and better. This song is good too, again because of the lyrics. Scary thought, but we could all learn a lesson from Madonna. You really sometimes, just need to give up and say goodbye. Why drag things out, just because you're afraid of change? I'm as guilty as the next person, but I hate it.
Angel - Sarah McLachlan
After seeing her live I think she has an absolutely amazing voice. I had very close mindedly thought that I didn't really like female singers, but apparently I've outgrown that. It was getting a little chilly at Shoreline Ampitheatre, despite being in California, but it was worth it to see her perform. I remember complaining at the first Mix Fest about having to wait around to see her. How naive I was. I really was.
Closing Time -
I think it's a good song, especially when you've been a waitress. It's great to see people out having fun and getting to know each other, but at some point, it's just time to go. And the thing is whenever I work, I can't even start to clean up until they leave. But I can't even count the times that I lifted my feet at Seven Stars for them to mop beneath me. Fine I might be a hypocrite becuase I overstayed my welcome, but at least I wasn't rude about it.
Crush - Dave Matthews Band
I really love Dave Matthews. It's strange because I never thought that I would ever be this effected by music. Especially considering my childhood which consisted more of news radio 88 rahter than classic 80s music. Of course now I have a whole new appreciation for that decade. Luckily for me they have best of 80s on several stations. While driving in the rain and getting lost in Logan Airport, I was listening to Lost in your Eyes. I was definately having issues with not know where I was, but I think it was more because of the rain and the fact that Shari took a tiny, unlisted airline. That was helpful. But I found her and everything was fine becuase I was amusing myself the entire time. Yeah! Crush is just another one of dave's touching songs. Unfortunately the radio stations usually end up cutting the song off right in the middle of the best line. "I've been meaning to tell you all the thoughts, deep inside my head. Each moment, the more I love you." So much for meaningful lyrics. It's more about money than playing good songs. God bless America!
Lullaby - Shawn Mullins
Imagine me being lost- inconceivible I know, but it happened one day this semester. It was a Saturday and I was driving around Boston. In the begining of the semester I used to just be elated after going into the city. Apparently I was still having Berkeley withdrawals. But I was lost in Harvard square and listening to this song. I managed to find a lot of other cool things along the way, which always seems to happen when I get lost. That's probably why I don't think that it's that huge of a problem. And it just seemed appropriate because as I'm aimlessing driving by the random Mobile station, Shawn Mullins is telling me that everything is going to be all right. Sometimes that's all I need to hear to make me feel better. Even if it's not true, it's still nice to have someone tell you that it is okay. I think it just takes some of the edge off the whole situation.
Falling in Place - Dog's Eye View
Everything Falls Apart was such a bonding song between the three of us. And I'll never forget seeing them open up for the Counting Crows at Brandeis University. That was the concert that I found out about from Dave. Remember Dave, what a disaster that was. I definately created my own drama with that whole thing. But luckily I've finally gotten over it. But you know I think part of the reason I was so caught up in it, was because it felt right. Even if it wasn't, it still did. This CD was the first one that I bought after my New Year's Resolution to stop buying CDs. I had forced myself to restrain from any additional purchases and amazingly enough, had been quite sucessful for several months. Then a second-hand seller came to Merrimack and I couldn't resist the Daisy albumn with the dog on the cover any more. And the thing is, I think that it was actually a good thing to buy it. I really like it. Especially this song because of the lines: "I don't want to spend my whole life afraid of saying hello for fear of saying goodbye." I hate to think, that I've missed out on some things because of fear. Now my aspirations are to get more out of life, regardless of getting hurt, because I get hurt anyway. "Falling seems to be what I do most, I think everything is falling in place"
Night Swimming - REM
So remind me again, does Case like this song? He really did sing it so well, it was just so impressive. Personally I like the song, and fine it may be a bit whiney, but hey that's REM for you. As a was sitting in my apartment by myself last week during the begining of winter break, I saw a special on REM. And even though I used to like some of their songs, now I seem to have a whole new appreciation for them. Dan and I listening to Monster, one of the first tapes that Heather bought, while we were driving on some tiny backroad. We desperately needed gas and took an exit out of faith that there must be a gas station around. We were wrong. I can't even count the number of times that has happened to me. At Yosemite we finally got smart and purchased a Golden Eagle pass that should have allowed us into any National Park. We should have realized and bought one at the begining of the trip, but obviously we didn't. So for the remainder of the trip, which was only a few days, we drove around with that card suck on the dashboard. It's still there and despite being beat up and bleached from the sun, I would hate to take it off. It always reminds me of my drives across country. It definately helps when stuck in traffic on a cold morning on the way to yet another day at work.
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith
This is another one of those songs that some people just seem to hate, but I like it. I cried my eyes out with Joe when I went to see it this summer. It was so sad, I just couldn't deal with the whole father daughter scene. Especially when Liv was hugging her father goodbye before they launched and he told her everything was going to be all right. Sure it will. Excuse me while I ball my eyes out. As the tears were rolling down my face, Joe turns to me and gives me one of his reassuring pats and says, I can't believe you didn't cry. Then the lights came on and he looked a little taken aback. So much for that. But that's not even the point. The whole don't want to sleep because then you would miss things, is also key here. How many nights did Case and Shari stay up talking instead of sleeping and how many late night phone calls have I had in place of going to bed. And regardless of being tired, I wouldn't trade sleep for any of them.
Silver and Gold - U2
I love U2 and actually did for a while, even though I didn't realize that U2 sang half of the songs they did. I liked this when I heard it on U2s live broadcast from Dublin. It's one of their B-sides. Fun Fact: The Edge's father is in the Rotary with Nate. Small world isn't it? I was so excited to go to California this summer, and I figured that I would have fun, I just never thought that it would end up bringing me Ireland. Rather than figure things out, sometimes it's better to accept them and enjoy them.
Hey Jude - The Beatles
Heather remarked that this was a good song when I first heard it. For 21 years I had never heard it, and from that moment on, I was hearing it all over the place. Figures. One of the times I heard it was while Heather was sleeping through the entire state of Minnesota. It was really dark and long, that's all I remember about Minnesota. That and there's a city called Brewster. And we thought our Brewster was in the middle of no where. Guess that was proven wrong right there. Hey Jude is just one of those happy songs and was perfect for driving in the middle of the night.
Intergallactica - Beastie Boys
While trying to introduce Nate to the wonderful world of Dave Matthews, Casey came over very pleased with life because she had managed to get the new Beastie Boys albumn before it was released. I didn't think that this was too thrilling, but I was actually somewhat impressed. It was a lot different from what I was expecting. I really liked Intergallactica and as it turns out, so does Lauren. Her teacher from Stoneham is one of the Beastie Boys uncles. And yet we still can't seem to get any decent bands to play at Merrimack. Maybe once the Arts Center is built, things will change. Of course that probably won't do me any good. I'm getting the shaft once again from lovely Merrimack College. I think I'm back to that whole Blow me Public Safety mentality.
Buy you a new life - Everclear
Stay Tonight
Appropriately I first starting hearing this song towards the end of the summer. It felt like time was going bye so quickly and that the summer was practically over. How depressing... But it was fun while it lasted. It always seems like I really like people once I can no longer be with them. First it happened with Nate and now Stephen. I so undecided about everything, not that it matters much at the moment because Nate is in Ireland, and Stephen is in New York, with his girlfriend. How convenient. Distance just isn't an amusing thing as Heather I have come to find out this past semester. Old Orchard Beach and Merrimack never seemed that far away, but this semester they really were. It's just so hard trying to work around, work, school and friends. Somehow we managed. And Shari, Haverford has always seemed far, especially when I'm an hour late, becuase it's too dark to read directions and drive at the same time. But despite all that, I'll eventually end up making both those trips again. I guess I think it's worth it.
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Aram was so cute when telling us how he met Tracy Chapman. They guy cracked me up, even if he was a little odd. I don't know what I would say if I saw Tracy Chapman, a few years ago, I don't think I would have even recognized her. Half the time I'm driving, I start daydreaming about the world. I imagine all that life could be and as I'm driving down the road, almost anything seems possible. I can go anywhere and do anything. It's the epitome of America.
Rockwell Church
I have respect for anyone artistically creative, but especially for people who wrote songs when they were just kids. That's impressive. Rockwell Church will always remind me of Haverford, even though they are getting more well known and more radio play. I love that. A small band played and now is on it's way to making it. How awesome is that? That must be nice, and all I hope is that the same sort of thing happens to me. Not the band part, but the whole dream thing coming true. But before any of that can happen, I suppose I should pick a dream to focus on. At this point in my life, my aspirations change by the month. As usual I have the basic idea of what I want but not the specifics. I really need to work that. And I suppose that's why I've gotten comments about being random and a flake.
Black Gold - Soul Asylum
This just seemed to capture the essence of my Thanksgiving Break. I hate so much work to catch up on, it was raining and I had to chauffeur my mom to a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner. And even with all this I still wasn't miserable. I didn't feel like my usual optimistic self though. In New York, I just feel like all the bad things that have happened to me pile up on each other. It almost felt like I didn't deserve to break away from it all and be happy. That's a depressing thought and as soon as I got back on the road towards Massachuesettes I started to snap out of it. That was such a relief. "Fill up the tank, let's go for a ride. Sure wish I could feel some pride, but this place just makes me feel sad inside."
Nothing Else Matters- Metallica
I finally got the black albumn by Metallica. I meant to do it for months, but only the pressure of leaving Berkeley forced me to actually go to amoeba to buy it. Metallica really is a good band. I used to listen to them while running. One day I felt strange running down Ashby Ave. I was running down a hill towards University Ave, like I had normally been doing. I don't know if it was because of the whole sex thing or the whole tampon thing, maybe it was both, but anyway, I felt weird. It wasn't necessarily a bad weird though. Tampons rock! Sex is pretty good too. I'm pretty pleased with both of them. I realized I've basically been a very late bloomer in my life. But I suppose that's okay, as long I fulfill my apparent destined longevity.
Piano Man- Billy Joel
I didn't go to my first concert until sophmore year of college which is ironic because I couldn't believe that Liz had never been to one. She brought me to Billy Joel with her the Monday before finals. I think she liked it and will definately be interested in going to more concerts. Since getting to Merrimack, I've done a lot of things for the first time, but I've also been with people for their first times. I remember seeing all the "freshman" (Maura and Carolyn and Liz) drink for the first time. Maggie D. smoked pot with me for the first time. And I listened to Krissy ramble on about her first love. All that makes me feel so old. I love being 21 and am not looking forward to turning 22 yet. I would love to have another summer as a 21 year old, but alas birthdays come regardless of wishes. And the thing is as much as I'd like to stay 21, I'm not as upset about 22 as I thought I'd be. This maybe the first birthday I don't experience my annual midlife crisis. But of course it's still 1998. I still have four months until my birthday. Time may change all that.
Mr> Wiggle - George Clinton (Parliments)
I really like Jazz and Blues and am so pleased that I've been opened up to them. Steve Button is definately not a typical guy, but he's nice nonetheless. He's the one who got me to go see Buddy Guy, which was a very amusing show. I saw that the night before I went to see Billy Joel. The venues were completely different. I think I definately like the smaller one a lot better, althought the whole crowd singing along to Piano Man wouldn't have been acheive by the considerably smaller crowd gathered at the Roxy for the Buddy Guy show. I hate it when Heather thinks, that I'm closed minded. On the contrary, I think that I'm a very open person, especially compared to a lot of her friends up in Maine. And Steve, who basically I was horrible to a week or so ago to, let me borrow this CD. I don't know how I manage to get myself into these horrible dilemnas.
Money- That's what I want
This song was in the Empire Records movie, but isn't on the soundtrack. Great theme isn't it? I think money has got to be one of the biggest issues we've all had to deal with. It blows. And that's a bit ironic considering I'm a finance major and I absolutely love the finance systems and can't imagine my life as a science major. If I had decided to stay with Biology, I most likely never would have met Prof. Wells. And that really would have been a travesty in my life. I guess everything happens for a reason. I'm so excited about having him again next semester. I think I like him because he's a random guy. He'll switch from talking about how the market is doing to tell us about his 2yr old son's experience in a public bathroom. Maybe I feel like I can relate to him.
Summer Nights - Olivia Newton John and John Travolta
I was so excited and nervous about going to Berkeley this summer, that I never really gave much thought to the whole idea of a relationship. Apparently we all should have. Apparently we're more normal than we thought, althought Shari had experienced all her South Carolina vacation guys before.
America - Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel remind me of my dad and now of Liz, my roommate. She has some strange taste in music, like the Carpenters, but she's saving herself by liking S&G. Yeah for her. We used to listen to them while studying and get to that happy depressed feeling. Do you know that one I'm talking about, where you are depressed, but it's not a sad depression, more of a comforting, enjoyable depression. Not to mention now that their lyrics finally make sense to me. For years I just sang along ot even realizing what I was saying.
End of Innocence - Don Henley
I thought that it was a bit ironic that I heard this twice while driving out of California on the 16th. We were approaching Sacramento, driving along with the California traffic when it came on the radio. I heard it later that day again. I am very gulliable when it comes to astrology and fate. It just seemed eerie in way, that end of innonce was on in California. Becuase this summer was a big end of innocence for us all. I loved it and would never regret going. There are things I would probably change, but never the fact that I went. I can't even imagine my life if I had just stayed in Massachusettes. California, always just seems right to me. That's such a weird thing for me. Of course that leaves me torn between San Franscisco and Boston. I really love them both. I really do.