I drove down the dark expanse of empty road. It was well after midnight, and for two seconds, I wanted the sound of the thoughts in my head to be drowned in the music that filled my car. I dug my nails absently into the rubbery casing of the steering wheel. I thought about my summer so far, and the lessons I’d learned: speak up for yourself, go with your gut, respect yourself and others, and consider your own opinion when listening to someone else’s’. I had forgotten every single one of those lessons tonight.
I let my mind drift in the melodic key strokes of Ben Gibbard’s piano, and the gentle rhythms of the Postal Service and City and Colour. What good was learning if I didn’t apply it?
I’ve concluded a learner makes two mistakes: one to learn that there was something they didn’t know, and one to learn when to apply that something they didn’t know.
If you want to get to know someone, don't ask them a bunch of inane questions, like "what's your favorite color," or "where's your favorite place to get take-out?" Simply ask to see their iPod. Or, if you know them well enough, take it from them, just be sure to give it back. I'm not promoting theft, I swear.
For example, my iPod isn't just my musical interests; it's an amalgamation of everyone I've met in the past five years or more. It's got my favorite songs, sure, but also the favorite songs of friends, former dates, songs I sang with my soccer team on long bus rides, and so forth.
It's so funny to put my iPod on shuffle, because it sounds completely bipolar. One minute, it's playing a pop-y, upbeat song by Sara Bareilles, and then it launches into searing metal riffs by Senses Fail. My iPod can be as fresh as a new pair of Nikes, dropping beats by Travie McCoy, or as melancholy as Ben Gibbard alone in a room at the piano.
What I'm driving at is, just as human beings are not easily confined to "one genre", their music tastes reflect that, even if a person only shows one "side" of themselves at a time.
So if you're going speed dating in the near future, I just saved you so much time. You're welcome.
In other news, 11 days until Chicago & Lollapalooza! Crazy times, my friends, crazy times await. I'll be sure to keep you posted on that little venture.
Now the real deal: fasten your seat belts ladies and gents, as we journey to the center of my iTunes top 5 most played songs (and why).
5. Everybody Learns from Disaster by Dashboard Confessional
This song is about a road trip, and I would love to go on a road trip. Of course, the road trip in the song doesn't sound like it was very well thought out, but that's how you learn, from mistakes, and I completely agree with that. Experience is one of the harshest but ultimately one of the best teachers.
4. Antonia by Motion City Soundtrack
This song is adorable! haha, that was so girly of me. No, seriously, it never fails to make me smile, because I've been close enough to people that I could literally make a song out of all of their silly quirks. Actually, I believe I have sung said songs on occasion.
3. When the Sun Goes Down on Your Street by Ben Gibbard
Another ineffably sweet song. Part of me would really like to be the person that someone else meets when the sun goes down on their street. "Under a moon that hangs from silver strings// We know not what this darkness brings. //The stars all gleam with possibilities..." Ben Gibbard truly is the songbird of our generation.
2. Behind the Sea by Panic at the Disco
This song is simple, and light as a sea breeze. I love listening to it while I'm thinking, writing, or doing anything else creative.
1. Time by Hans Zimmer from the Inception movie soundtrack
I guess it's kind of random to have a purely instrumental song as a number one most played, but this song is awesome for thinking, day dreaming, napping, or drawing, more or less all of the things I love to do. It's beautiful, yet inexplicably painful to listen to. Coupled with the scenes in which it is played in the movie, I want to cry basically every time I hear it. And I pretty much never cry.
Cobb: "I can't stay with her anymore because she doesn't exist."
Mal: "I'm the only thing you do believe in anymore."
Cobb: "I wish...I wish more than anything, but I can't imagine you with all your complexity, all your perfection, all your imperfection. Look at you, you're just a shade, you're just a shade of my real wife. You're the best that I could do. I'm sorry you're just not good enough."
*bursts into tears*
So that wraps up my post. Check back later for updates on Lolla.
Keep calm and carry on with your week!
- LV
Maybe you haven't guessed, but I listen to music basically all the time. So it's not unusual for me to be walking my dog around my sleepy suburban neighborhood while listening to my iPod on shuffle. Today, on one such occasion, I started texting someone who had once been a huge part of my life, but has more recently been almost non-existent.
At any rate, my iPod shuffle can sometimes create a whole mix that more or less transcribes the situation into song. Wicked cool, but slightly terrifying. Since it's an iPod touch, I kind of wonder if it can sense my thoughts because I've touched the screen....
*texts: "hey"*
Ipod shuffle begins:
"Grace Kelly"; always a good choice. I would be "Mr. Smith" in the pre-song conversation...
Yeah, the conversation didn't exactly go well...
Really, though? The Script? I totally should have been able to call this ending...
And yet it ends with this:
Huh, I guess I've learned 3 things:
1) iPods are not future-reading devices.
2) The human imagination is limitless.
3) When in doubt, end on a high note.
...and no, I'm not talking about that movie with Will Smith (although it was a pretty good one.)
It's the fourth of July, and in the States, that means awesome BBQ's all day, picnics with family and friends, and then at night, awesome fireworks displays.
I'd like to extend a sincere thanks to all those who serve, and have served, this country to preserve the liberties we enjoy.
GO TEAM AMURRICAH!!
Enjoy :)
