The musicto curator community gets nostalgic for childhood
Take a trip down memory lane with these tracks that bring back the small moments and familiar sounds we hold close…
Twist and Shout’ – The Beatles, from Live at the Hollywood Bowl
I was so young when my love of music began that I couldn’t say quite when that was. I expect that’s true of most of us in this community.
By the age of about 12 I was beginning to take my interest more seriously – the taping-songs-off-the-radio stage that post-millennials will just have to take our word for. But long before that, I had started a small record collection. Much of it didn’t survive as my tastes slowly matured – children’s songs and cheap pop/soundtrack compilations by knock-off artists – but in 1977 for my ninth birthday I asked for Live at the Hollywood Bowl by The Beatles, a compilation of live recordings from the height of Beatlemania recorded in 1964 and 1965.
The first thing you’ll notice about it is the volume, not of the band but of the audience. Anyone who knows anything about the history of The Beatles can tell you that in those days the screaming of the fans was so loud that the band could barely hear themselves play. And the PA systems were often so bad that the crowd probably didn’t hear much either. But no one seemed to care.
And at that tender age I could instantly understand why so many people loved these four chirpy young Liverpudlians (although of course they already seemed like relics to me) with their short and sweet, legendarily catchy tunes. If you’ve ever imagined that Beatlemania was all hype, just take a listen to this.
Take Me Home, Country Roads – Lana Del Rey
There are a thousand and one songs that make me feel nostalgic, but only a handful of artists whose voices evoke nostalgia no matter what song they sing: Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval, Cowboy Junkies’ Margo Timmins, Sinead O’Connor, and Lana Del Rey. Since I can’t pick every song, I’m going with the latter’s cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” for that double hit. I should mention that I’ve never been to West Virginia, and I have no particular longing for it, but the song played on the radio a lot when I was a child, and paired with Lana’s voice it evokes, in me at least, what the Portuguese call “saudade” — a real or imagined longing for family long passed, home for the holidays, and mountains of snow plowed high along the winter roads of my childhood.
Sandman – America
I’m driving to Ojai with Wendi, and she’s playing songs that remind her of taking this same route up the Ventura Freeway back in the ’70s and early ’80s. She puts on America, and it instantly catapults me back to my own memories – Luxembourg in the early ’80s. I’m 13 or 14, right when my growth spurt hit, hanging out with my cousins who were the epitome of cool. They played in the best bands, drank in the best bars, and just sharing our last name made you part of that scene.
I remember drinking beer, feeling grown up, and having this revelation about how fucking cool it was to be a musician. Then we’re back at the house, up in the attic – can’t remember where our parents were – and someone’s smoking a spliff. There’s four guitars out, and everyone’s singing “Sandman.” Even though it’s been 30, 40 years since I’ve heard it, I know every single word.
That’s nostalgia for you – the power of a song to just transport you through time and plant a shit-eating grin on your face… yeah.
Islands In the Stream – Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers
Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton is a timeless duet filled with warmth and harmony. This song was my parents favorite when we were growing up and it really reminds me of my time growing up, am sure it’s way older than my childhood but Its breezy melody and heartfelt lyrics evoke a sense of innocence and pure connection, making it a nostalgic gem for childhood memories like carefree days and the comforting bond of close relationships.
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)- Dead Or Alive
So many songs that take me back to my childhood, it was so hard to choose, as you know different songs trigger different memories. This one would have to be my all time favorite. I was very lucky to grow up in the mid 80s and early 90s. I was basically living at the local pool, during the summer. I was on the local swim team, spent my afternoons there. We also had something called a Dip N Dance, that a DJ would come on Thursday night from 7-10 and basically throw a party. My day consisted of swim team practice from 9am-11am, go home for lunch, then turn around and come back to just swim and lounge from 12pm-4pm. Go home for a quick nap and dinner, cause swimming really does take a lot out of you lol. Then from like 630pm-1015 pm we would be swimming and dancing the night way. The one song that got my friends really got us pumped up was You Spin Me Round. I can remember laughing and carrying out without a care in the world. Most definitely grew up during the best time. I don’t hear this song very often but when I do this is the memory that comes up. Gen. X Forever!! 😊
Shake Your Head (Let’s Go To Bed) – Was (Not Was)
This is my very first musical memory. Granted, a lot of that memory has been shaped by what my mum’s told me, but I don’t see why she’d have any reason to lie. I was about 2, and whenever this track came out, I’d shake my head. Whether I’d then go to bed or not is another matter (and yeah, I’m deliberately ignoring the obvious undertone)
Blue (Da Ba Dee) – Eiffel 65
I would have been like, 7 when this came out? I distinctly remember the Christmas of what I guess must have been 1998 and not only thinking this song was the business, but also wanting to dress like these guys in what was probably blue jumpsuits (which seemed to be the trend at the time). Looking back I have no idea why, I guess that’s the magic of childhood. I don’t want to be a fireman or a dragon anymore either
Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) – The Offspring
Alright, that’s 3/3 for unnecessary brackets in a song name. Americana was the first album I ever properly bought. Like, went to Asda and paid for using me hard-earned pocket money. This album definitely sowed the seeds of the punk era that was to come, but I think we were still a few years away from that whole charade… maybe I can pick this up again if we do a ‘songs from our teenage years’ and we can all look back and cringe at ourselves
Ain’t No Particular Way – Shania Twain
ooooh bayby! i absolutely had to bring shania twain into these precious song stories. i began listening to shania when i was a wee one – probably peak love from age 8 to 12 – i was absolutely enamored. still to this day she brings me more joy than i thought possible after listening to her over and over and over. there is a giddiness, an aliveness that arrives with her – little maria is so honored to have this giddiness, this aliveness still reach me to this day. i was too young to really grasp the experience of love she captures so attentively but i felt it regardless. now having experienced more diversity in love – she is even more vital as a caregiver of love than i could have ever imagined. i still have all the melodies and words embedded within and i am honored to be a carrier of her stories in love – to be a fellow caregiver of love. i went with this particular song – because it allows for inclusive and expansive love – sure it still focuses on love found in partnership but it also speaks to the capacity of love to find us everywhere – no matter who, no matter what, no matter where, no matter when, no matter how – there ain’t no particular way. bless your heart shania.
The Feeling – Fill My Little World
I had a lot of choice, luckily I was raised on Queen, Elvis, Bob Marley etc. – but I’ll go for one that was more of my time. A typical british band that never broke America, they were played a lot on the radio/the music channels when I was young, and they were decent for a 00’s pop band lol. One of my early memories of enjoying music as a kid
Track Listing
- Twist And Shout (Live / Remastered) – The Beatles
- Take Me Home, Country Roads – Lana Del Rey
- Sandman – America
- Islands In the Stream – Dolly Parton
- You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) – Dead Or Alive
- Shake Your Head (Let’s Go To Bed) – Was (Not Was)
- Blue (Da Ba Dee) (Gabry Ponte Video Edit) – Eiffel 65
- Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) – The Offspring
- Ain’t No Particular Way – Shania Twain
Playlist image by Vika Strawberrika on Unsplash
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