Songs That Stir Memories (or Why I Was Crying on My Couch Last Night)

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.

Checking Off the Bucket List: Guns 'n' Roses Live

Hey, y'all! I know it's been a few weeks since I've popped in. When I disappear it's usually for the same reason--I'm writing my butt off. That's been the case since I've gotten back from RWA. My super secret project is underway, and I'm hoping I can share the news of it with all of you next week! :)

But today I wanted to share a little from my bucket list night last night. Yesterday was mine and hub's 15-year wedding anniversary. Here we are all those years ago with my super fabulous arm dancing.

So the day was awesome already, but what we did to celebrate was even better. We saw Guns 'n' Roses, the band that we never thought we'd get to see (with original band members) in our lifetime. In fact, the tour is called Not In This Lifetime, lol, so we weren't the only ones thinking that.

GNR is hubs' favorite band and very high on my list as well. If you know us at all, we're concert people. We have a wall of albums in our living room marking some our favorite bands we've seen in concerts. 

But this was that band. The one we always went back to with, "Man, I wish they could get it together and tour." So it was one of those life moments to be standing in a stadium with sixty thousand people and hearing Axl Rose belt you, "Do you know where the f**k you are? You're in the jungle, baby!" (Video below, but warning, it has the f-bomb.) 

For those asking about Axl’s voice last night. The intro to Welcome to the Jungle (warning: f-bomb): pic.twitter.com/HqMBStWl4s

— Roni Loren (@RoniLoren) August 4, 2016

Cue full body goosebumps and the adrenaline rush to end all adrenaline rushes. It's all that childhood memory stuff wrapped in with loud music and residual teenage angst/rebellion and knowing that you'll probably never see this again. I highly recommend it. :)

Also, Duff and Slash are still hot. Just sayin'.

And super talented. Here's the opening to Sweet Child O' Mine.

Opening riff of Sweet Child O' Mine. Never thought I'd get to see this live. GNR was fantastic. pic.twitter.com/EmvxQ94gee

— Roni Loren (@RoniLoren) August 4, 2016

So if anyone asks why I write books about rockstars, like Wanderlust and Call on Me, it's because it's me. This is what I love. So if I can't BE a rockstar, then I damn well am going to write about them, lol.

Do you have any bucket list singers/bands you want to see? What's the best concert you've ever been to?

The Songs I Never Get Tired of.... #ListifyLife

This week's #ListifyLife challenge is Songs I Never Get Tired Of. This one was both really easy and really hard. Really easy because I can think of so many. But really hard because I wanted to fit them all on one page and needed to trim my list.

So here's what I ended up with. It's a bit eclectic, but that goes for my music taste in general. :)

That's my list. I'd love to hear what some of your songs are. My criteria for including them was "If this comes on, I can't forward the song or change the channel."

What songs would make your list?

My Favorite Playlists For Writing

A few days ago, as part of the Author Life Month challenge I'm participating in on Instagram, they had a day for posting a picture of your writing playlists. I did that, but it got me to thinking that I'd never shared them here. 

I have an entire page dedicated to the playlists for my books. You can see songs that inspired scenes and character anthems. But I didn't share the ones I use for writing.

I write to music almost 100% of the time. I work from home, and silence is a little smothering to me. However, the type of music depends on how focused I'm feeling that day. Some days I'm totally in the zone and can write to upbeat music with lyrics. Other days, I need mellow coffeehouse style music that will fade into the background. And then there are the days that my focus is so bad that words in songs distract me, so I have to listen to instrumental. 

So I thought I'd share some of my go-to lists on Spotify. Some of these are ones I created (which means expect an eclectic list of songs because my taste is all over the place) and others are ones I've found on Spotify. If you're on Spotify, you can follow them if you're interested in any of them.

Writing Caffeine

This is the list I created for the beginning of my day when I'm waiting for my coffee to kick in. It's upbeat songs that make me want to get to work. It also makes a good workout playlist.

Angst Fest

I got inspired by another playlist (Anthems of Angst) and realized a lot of the songs in my general playlist were pretty angsty, lol. I'm not sure what that says about me, but this is a a great list for when I'm writing scenes with a lot of emotion.

The Sexy Stuff

This is my go to for when I'm writing love scenes. And since I write some edgy love scenes not all of these are romantic. :)

Playlists by others that I use:

Cinematic Chill Out - Movie scores are great for background music because there's a lot of emotion to them but it's less distracting because there are no words.

Indie Chill Covers - Chilled out versions of popular songs performed by indie artists. These give that coffeehouse vibe but still have some comfortable familiarity.

Instrumental Covers - Familiar songs without the words. Good for when I have the focus of a toddler.

Music for Concentration - When I'm needing zen. This goes well with the Compose mode in Scrivener that I talked about a few weeks ago.

White Noise - Because sometimes I just can't handle any kind of distraction.

So those are my main ones. What kinds of playlists do you have? Do you make playlists for certain activities?

New Music Page: The Loving on the Edge Playlists

At the Marilyn Manson concert in Vegas

So I've been wanting to do this for a while, but knew it was going to be a bit of a project and needed to wait until I had some time to dedicate to it. Finally, this weekend I was able to put it together. 

Music has always been a big part of my life and it definitely plays a big role in my writing. I can't write in silence, so I listen to a wide variety of songs while I'm writing. But there are particular ones that stand out in my mind has linked to certain stories or characters or scenes. So I've put together playlists for my series so far, including:

• Songs that inspired stories or scenes
• Character Anthems
• The Dark and Sexy Stuff (i.e. what I imagine playing in the background of the smexy scenes. These are not your typical romance songs because who wants to get flogged to Celine Dion? Though, now that I think about it, that could make for a funny scene.)
• The Romantic Stuff (the Happily Ever After anthems)

So I hope you'll check out the list.

And in the comments, I'd love to hear what songs are intrinsically tied to one of your stories or characters.