We all cherish memories in different ways. For some of you it’s through scents or photographs or journals; for me it’s through music.
Hello, my name is Johannah Wilford and welcome to my blog that is dedicated to my infatuation for music.
“Pearly Shells”
The first song I’ve ever danced to was “Pearly Shells” for my first grade May Day performance. Shaky knees and jerky hips…11 years later and the song is still a part of my life. With the amount of repetition dancing requires, songs tend to saturate in my mind.
Growing up, my older siblings passed on “hand me down” album suggestions. One of my brothers grew up playing guitar so the constant muffled noise of an electric guitar coming from his amp was something I got used to. This blog will be a personal journey of the songs I encounter weekly.
Dancing is the most common way I connect music to my memories, but recently, a more personal way is through new surroundings. Now, every time I travel, whatever songs I stumble upon during my trips become how I remember my time there.
I started doing this about four years ago with a small, orange nano iPod. I was on a subway in New York and the first song to play in shuffle mode was “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley. I didn’t even know I had that song. Now, a picture of the Rockefeller Tree doesn’t spark memories in my head, but if Presley plays, it’s like I’m back in West 4th with brick buildings and street performers
Now, every time I travel, whatever songs I stumble upon during my trips become how I remember my time there.
Last week marked my last first week as a high school student… sounds monumental. As of this moment, my favorite song is “Hey” by The Pixies. This song doesn’t have any relation to the cliché themes of high school. It is not “Forever Young” by Alphaville, but it is a late 80’s rock song that to me speaks of teenage angst.
