Random Blog 3

Last year, I listened to specific songs, albums, and artists for each quarter at UCSB. The strange thing that came out of this was that I listened to them so prominently that I can now associate each song with the feelings I had during the quarter in which I listened to them. When I listen to Childish Gambino’s “3005,” I am suddenly reminded of the first nights I spent walking Isla Vista. I can obviously listen to the song without that context, but when I play it sometimes, I will be reminded of those weird days, especially considering how the election created a ripple effect on my life. After watching Moana during Thanksgiving break, I remember consistently playing the soundtrack while I studied for finals. Whenever I listen to any songs from that film now, I remember the nights I spent going over material and wishing that break lasted just a few days more.

I suppose that’s the power of music. You can be so attached to a song at a certain point in your life that you can bring back strong memories. This can also pertain to specific events as opposed to long periods of time. I remember the songs used in high school pep rallies and videos from both the school and my friends who are aspiring filmmakers. The usage of them during those moments strikes a special cord with me because I now associate them with the time that I’m pretty sure I peaked at. It doesn’t matter if these songs were well made or not (although I’m sure the three of them were). What matters more is that they resonated so strongly with me. Whenever I listen to them on Spotify, I don’t even need to remember the pep rally beforehand or rewatch the videos (because one of them got deleted anyways). The power of these songs painted those vivid memories in my mind with the song itself (even if one of them was just a cover).