I Dreamed Of This So Long...

[lacrosseboy]

The song Taking My Life Away by Default makes me a little bit sad. Don't get me wrong, I love the song. It's just that it calls to mind a memory that elicits a strong emotion in me... one that I don't need to be dwelling on, because it's not healthy

Comments

[thedeepgreensea]

I've heard a lot of people make that music/emotion connection. It's never really happened with me that I can recall. I mean, I guess sometimes I hear something that reminds me of when I was a little tyke, but nothing that really takes me back emotionally.

I have never heard that song by Default, although I know they are one of those Pearl Jam wannabe bands, so I stay away. They are even from the same region, I believe--Vancouver. Unlike Creed--they are a Floridian Pearl Jam or something, except the singer, who apparently thinks he is from heaven and that God sent him here to absolve us from our sins.

There was something else I wanted to say here, but I can't recall what the hell it was.

Ever listen to Brad, the Pearl Jam off shoot?

[lacrosseboy]

Wow... I thought that this connection happened to everyone. I guess different people experience music differently. I think I'd like to experience it the way you do someday, just to see what it was like -- you know, Being Dennis Malkovich.

Default makes good music. I don't dwell so much on the fact that X is a rip-off act of Y. I used to, but then realized that I was missing out on so much music that I actually enjoy quite thoroughly. I saw Default in concert at Music Midtown... nothing spectacular, but enjoyable, nonetheless.

Never heard of Brad, the group. I will have to investigate.

[thedeepgreensea]

Brad, the group, has Mike McCready (I believe) from Pearl Jam. And maybe some other guys from the band.

I tend not to worry too much about who's ripping off people--it's hard to these days, cause even the best bands, like White Stripes and Outkast, are borrowing pretty heavily from yesteryear. "Hey Ya" was a Prince song if I've ever heard one.

Still, if it sounds too dated, I just can't like it. I want to be able to hear something and know it's from now, if that makes sense. I don't like when my first instinct is "Is this something from the 90s that I missed"? I imagine you'd feel the same way if some group of NY rappers got together and through a bunch of Kung Fu references and sound clips in their rap...

[lacrosseboy]

I don't know, man. I know the Kung Fu theme has been done already, but I miss that. I'd hope I could appreciate someone paying homage to the glory-days of the Wu, given that they come correct.

[andreamarie]

I understand what you mean about certain songs... I can hear a song that's connected to something in my past and immediately feel emotional... whether it be happy, sad, whatever. I think that a lot of people feel this way. Music is really powerful sometimes.

I like Default... I absolutely adore Pearl Jam, but I don't think they sound like Pearl Jam, like Dennis said. You know, just between you and me, I think Dennis is secretly obsessed with Eddie Vedder, but he's afraid of his feelings so he publicly stays away from all things that remind him of Pearl Jam. ;) You know, to keep up appearances.

[lacrosseboy]

Yep, I agree about the power of music completely. Music for me can be an escape, but that sword has two edges. If I'm not careful about selecting my escape, I might hurdle headlong into another emotional state that doesn't exactly elevate my mood. Oh, well... for better or for worse, I'm stuck with music and it's stuck with me.

The Mind of Dennis -- such an intriguing beast. Complex. Enigmatic. Dark, but with a secret optimistic side. At times I understand him and he understands me, more perfectly than probably even we each know; at others, we're probably complete mysteries to each other. Such is friendship.

I don't know that I'd label a Default album as good, but if you combined their albums (two or three, can't remember) into a single one, I feel it would be a great listening album.

[andreamarie]

I haven't heard all of Default's albums... I like them, but they strike me as a band who wouldn't be able to put put a solid album that could stand on its own.

[lacrosseboy]

You're basically right. Each album has 3-5 songs worth listening to repeatedly, and the rest is filler.

[tabbycatt]

I do the same thing with music. It's the same with smells for me too.

[lacrosseboy]

I think girls have a MUCH stronger sense of scent than guys do. I think their memory tied to scent is much stronger than guys, as well. Smells, for me, really don't do that much, except make me hungry, make me horny or make me disgusted.

Actually, I lied... there is one amalgamation of scents that makes me very nostalgic. The smell of freshly-cut grass clippings; the smell of my leather glove when I put it to my face; and the smell of fresh Spring air. The smells of baseball/softball -- they take me back to a simpler time when my summers were spent fantasizing about being the next Mike Schmidt or Roger Clemens. Softball is still that calming force in my life. So, the smells do tie in strongly to my memory.

[halieknife]

I do the same thing with music. Certain songs can bring back such strong memories that it takes a few minutes to shake it off. I'm the same with lots of stuff, smells like someone else mentioned up above and also certain foods.

Unfortunately its those memories that it isn't good to dwell on that often come rushing back. But then again its good to remember how far you've come sometimes and how much you've learned from past occurrances.

I'm glad you're reconnecting with your street roots. You can take the brother out the ghetto but you can't take the ghetto out the brother.

This really was a good talk.

[lacrosseboy]

You girls and your scents. I wonder if pheromones (sp?) are real in humans. They have proven they exist in animals, but have yet to prove their existance in humans... well, at least, last I knew.

(No, I'm not a scientist... but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! [cue zany music] )

I used to dwell. I am now making a concerted effort to NOT dwell. I don't forget, because the past is what makes me who I am today, but I try to avoid any excessive wallowing in the mud of self-pity. It's just not healthy. I'm sure I'll lapse, but who doesn't?

Unfortunately, I didn't get to put on The Genius yesterday. My evening was filled. Perhaps tonight.

I'll have to give a name to my talks. You know, something like "Fireside Chats," except much cooler like "Rappin' Wit Ron."

[halieknife]

I'm not sure if pheromones are real in humans, but according to women's magazines, not only are they real but they should weigh heavily on one's mind when making a selection at the fragrance counter. Then again, Cosmo isn't exactly known for its science-y type articles.

Ah, the good old Holiday Inn Express. I lived in one for about a month when I relocated for work a few years ago.

I'm all about not dwelling. Or at least I'm trying to be. Like you said, some backsliding is to be expected.

No matter what the name, your talks already blow Fireside Chats out of the water. Its all of the fuzzy good feeling with none of the partisan propaganda.

[lacrosseboy]

Yes, and no matter what the name, families around the country will plan their evenings around it. They will huddle around their "talk box" and listen with glee as I spin them a yarn. It'll become a genuine piece of Americana, as storied as apple pie and Mom.