Soundtrack to your life.

We all know the story. Certain songs mean something to you because it mimics a piece of life: something felt before, something felt but not necessarily put into words, and something that is now tangible (in the audible sense.)

For me, I am linked to a song because of a beat I can't escape. Its that feeling that I have to move, have to leave the world around me for a second or two to become part of the world that the song creates. It could be in another language, it could be talking about something I don't even relate to, it doesn't really matter. But there is some kind of connection in the way a voice and a beat can in a way become one and just take control of the body. Make me feel like no one is watching and for once, even if they are, I won't really care.




There are those songs that inspire simply by a voice -- the kind of voice that strikes you like its the first time in your life that you've heard a person sing. A voice you wish you could own for yourself -- take it out of your back pocket once in awhile to show off to friends and admirers. And just because you are listening to that voice, you feel like your day becomes epic. You can bask in the glory of that human power that isn't necessarily yours but, for the moment, you can have it. Take it out on loan. Share it with others.

But music in general, man. Wish it could follow me everywhere. I don't really need the silence. Thank God for the iPod. With those little white earbuds in, taking dishes out of the dishwasher has romance to it. Standing in the checkout line, eating an apple, taking the dog on a walk - it all seems so poetic when you have the soundtrack of your life to back you up.

I recently read some lyrics that I probably wouldn't have related to or even taken notice of if I hadn't seen them first in written format. I was taken aback as to how relatable I found them. Its amazing to me when a song isn't just about love or loss, isn't trying to be overly emotional, deep, esoteric. Just admitting that we are all just a little jaded, a little lost, a little apathetic -- its refreshing to hear (at least to me) and more inspiring than just another song about the art in life, in death, the scorn of relationships gone wrong.

So here it is. A song to eat potato chips and watch Sportscenter by. A song of a generation. A song that I can relate to as I try to make sense of it all -- try, with all earnesty, to make something of life -- but just end up blogging about it instead.


A Song for Clay -- Bloc Party

A sample of lyrics I speak of:

I am trying to be heroic,
In an age of modernity.
I am trying to be heroic,
because all around me history sings.

So I enjoy and I devour
flesh and wine and luxury.
But in my heart,
I am lukewarm;
nothing ever really touches me.