Anyone who reads my books (and notices my penchant for rockstar heroes) or follows my playlists on Spotify can probably figure out that I tend to listen to rock music, both current and eighties/nineties. That's my sweet spot when it comes to music.
But last night, I happened to turn on the Country Music Awards and it was the 50th anniversary. The opening of the show caught my attention because they brought back so many iconic country singers from the past, including those who were popular during my childhood in the 80s/90s.
And unexpectedly, I was overwhelmed with all these memories of my family. Listening to these songs in the car with my mom, my grandfather (who was the lead singer in a band in his younger years) singing Willie Nelson songs at family parties and nailing them, learning how to two-step to Randy Travis songs with my grandmother (who I was extremely close to and who we lost to cancer when I was twelve.) It's not that I didn't remember that this music was around when I was growing up, but I think I had forgotten how intensely tied to cherished memories they were. Cue me getting all teary alone in my living room, lol.
So it got me to thinking about the music that plays soundtrack to our lives. I know we all have those songs. Mine are spread out across genres, but apparently there's more country in there than I thought, lol.
It also had me thinking--hmm, I wonder what my kidlet's soundtrack memories will be when he looks back? His dad playing air drums to Guns 'N' Roses or Def Lepard songs in the car? His mom singing along (badly) with Foo Fighters and Pink and Queen while she cooks? (Because yeah, all that happens. Feel sorry for my neighbors.) Or all three of us singing Michael Jackson together when kidlet went through his MJ obsession phase?
It's a fun thing to think about and, once again, at least for me, reconfirms the importance the little in-between moments of our lives. The good stuff happens in between--those minutes here and there while we're going about our days. The whim that makes a grandmother decide to teach her granddaughter how to two-step in the living room after school one day, not realizing that thirty years later, long after she's gone, that granddaughter will hear that same song and it will bring back all the warmth and love she felt from her back then.
So here's to those moments and finding the time in our busy days to give space to let them happen.
Now, it's your turn. What songs bring back vivid memories for you? Or, what do you think your children's memory soundtrack will be? :)
Also, if you want a little country music nostalgia, the CMAs put together a song medley and video of many of the greats. Also, Spotify has a playlist with a lot of the classic country through the years.