The Songs That Define Me

I used to think I had nothing in common with Einstein. He was a brilliant man who changed the world, the man who invented E=mc². Don't ask me to explain what that means, because I don't even know how to do long division. Einstein and I, we are not similar people. But. I once read something he said, and it made perfect sense to me. He was finally speaking my language.

“If I were not a physicist," Einstein said, "I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”

Bang on, Einstein. Bang on. I, too, often think of my life in music, even though I can't play an instrument well, unless you count the two years I played the violin in middle school, or the several years I spent playing the guitar. Oh, and let's not talk about my voice; Adele, I am not.

However, music is in me. It moves me. Whenever I watch a movie with a good soundtrack, I get chills. I have dreams of being the person who gets to select what songs get placed in certain parts of movies. What is a good movie without a memorable soundtrack, after all? Yes, music is a huge part of my life, and has been for as long as I can remember.

Songs can lift you up, they can turn almost any bad situation good, and they can make you feel wonderful. Music gets me through a killer spinning class, music can get me through a bad day, and music can make road trips with friends incredibly, stupidly, fun.

Certain songs can bring back memories as if they took place yesterday.

Some songs make me feel like I'm 12 again, some songs I can't listen to because they're too painful, some songs make me burst into tears no matter how many times I hear them and other songs make me want to roll my windows down so everyone can hear the! most! amazing! song! on! earth!

Of course, the most amazing song on earth changes on a weekly basis for me, but trust me, I have good taste. I can't possibly fit all the songs that are meaningful to me in one post, but I'm going to highlight the most important songs that bring back all sorts of memories, memories that came flooding back after I read Ali's post.

These are the songs that take me back. They take me back to my childhood, to vacations in Greece, to summer camp, to high school, to middle school dances, to heartbreak, to friendship, to loss, to laughter, to crazy butterflies, to tears stained on my pillow, to my yellow Sony walkman, and to everything in between. These songs will always be unforgettable to me.

In no particular order, here are the songs that define who I am:

Yesterday - The Beatles
True Blue - Madonna
I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
Into The Groove - Madonna
How Will I Know - Whitney Houston
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
Music - Madonna
Lost Together - Blue Rodeo
Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Riders
Hotel California - The Eagles
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Wham
Refuge - Tom Petty
Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel
If You Leave - OMD
Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy
Wasted Time - The Eagles
Policy of Truth - Depeche Mode
Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
I'm On Fire - Bruce Springsteen
I Drove All Night - Cyndi Lauper
Sabotage - Beastie Boys
Wild Thing - Tone Loc
Blister In The Sun - Violent Femmes
Being Boring - Pet Shop Boys
Still D.R.E. - Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg
Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Piano Man - Billy Joel
American Pie - Don McLean
I Think It's Gonna Rain Today - Bette Midler
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
All That She Wants - Ace of Bace
Take My Breath Away - Berlin
Escape - Enrique Iglesias
Second Hand News - Fleetwood Mac
Because I Love You - Stevie B
I've Had The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
Hangin' Tough - New Kids On The Block
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Let Your Backbone Slide - Maestro Fresh Wes
Groovy Kind Of Love - Phil Collins
Red, Red Wine - UB40
With Or Without You - U2
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel (Lloyd Dobler. Say Anything. That scene.)
Graduation Day - Vitamin C
Patience - Guns N' Roses
At Last - Etta James
Angie - The Rolling Stones

These are the songs that define me. There is a story that goes with each one of these songs. These songs will always be special to me.

What are the songs that move you? What songs define you, and what songs make up the soundtrack to your life?

"The good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”
Bob Marley