Joy of the music that shaped you

6:58 AM  Caroline  16 comments

On a total whim I picked up the CD to New Moon (no, I have not seen the movie, nor am I a die hard Twilight fan...OK...just wanted to get that out of the way.).  I heard a few tracks and thought...this is some really cool sounding music!  And I have not bought cool music in a long long time.  As I listened to this (I had a lot of time as I was painting the guest room) I realized that this all sounds like 80's alternative rock (which is what I grew up listening too...this the music that shaped me, if you will).  I was not a hair band girl in the 80's...I thought I was too deep and twisty for that kind of stuff...lol.  I was just too cool for school (I literally thought I was...but luckily graduated...*smiles*).

But seriously...the music I listened to as a teen really shaped me as an adult.  Music absolutely affects my soul.

When I was 16 (and could finally drive) my favorite thing to do on weekends was going downtown (Chicago) and visiting my favorite record (that is correct...RECORD) store off Rush and Division St.  I would talk with the "cool as crap" people behind the counter about the new sound of the moment...stuff that no one heard of yet.  I got totally hooked on the "Manchester sound"  God, I loved those British rockers!  I took fierce pride in the fact that I was listening to music that most of my friends never heard of.  I fought against being mainstream. Somehow, in my mind, it made me cooler.  Funny, huh?

So, where am I going with this tangent?

I don't  know...it's just that when listening to this CD, it brought back so many good memories.  I forgot about those days.  Being a teenager...discovering new sounds...being curious, free and open.  And, somehow this CD stirred them all up!

So for anyone who is curious, this is what I am hearing on this CD (if you want, click the links to the particular song)... Bronski Beat (totally awesome song here) Peter Murphy, Xymox (this was my favorite song in 1989) Stone Roses, Morrissey (oh...another big fave! He was the friggin coolest), Psychedelic furs, The The,  Kate Bush (this song still makes me want to weep) and even some Roxy music.

Please tell me someone out there in blog land liked this music too...

Ah well...

I find it amusing that the young *kids* buying this today think this is all such a cool new sound...oh how wrong they are.  I am way cooler...lol...I was listening to this 25 years ago!  Damn...

So if you were a fan of 80's alternative rock...I suggest picking this baby up and giving it a spin...it won't disappoint!

I think this is my favorite song from the CD (if it were 1988, it would be my favorite song of the moment)...I swear I hear a tiny twinge of Morrissey in his voice ...what do you think?





So I wanna know...what music shaped you???

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16 comments:

I was a teenager at the height of disco. Explains a lot, actually. ABBA rules!

I've always listened to a gamut of stuff just because my mom listened to a lot of stuff. So I was shaped by Elvis and the Beatles, all of the 70's stuff that she liked and then in the 80's I listened to a lot of classical because that is what my (then) husband liked. Secretly behind his back I listened to new wave and I became a major U2 fan. In the 90's I got into roots rock and now these days I find myself listening to a bit of all of that - plus some Sinatra, Willie and a few other surprises.

Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Yes, Kate Bush, Neil Diamond, classical music and Led Zeppelin mainly for me :)

Have you read the book "Love is a Mix Tape" by Rob Sheffield? Your post reminded me so much of it--the feeling in music. It's definitely worth a read. P.S. Have your tissues ready!

I will have to check out that book...thanks!

Oh...love Yes, Smithereens, Genesis, Led Zeppelin of course...

Now all I want to do is stay home an listen to music!

Oh...keep it coming this is fun!

I have a long list of my music favorites that influenced me. The Beatles, Led Zep, Def Leppard, even KISS (all when I was a young gal). I have much more eclectic taste now :)

Caroline, I graduated high school in 1982, so in HS I listened to Billy Squier, Journey, Led Zeppelin, etc. But.....once I was out of high school I was a total new waver. I love Echo and The Bunnymen, Smithereens, Smiths, The The, Psychedelic Furs, Plimsouls, Gene Loves Jezebel, Simple Minds, Lords Of The New Church and so on. It is the music I Love dancing to the most.

I thought I was so cool too, but really I didn't know shit.

Great stuff, Caroline! I didn't know these were on the New Moon soundtrack. I'm with you and the others on most of these bands (except disco); I was a late-stage hippie, so was into a lot of the British invasion music. Mostly I'm more into the songs than the bands; I still don't know who the bands are on some of my favorite songs. Others I liked: Rod Stewart, SuperTramp, Boingo (later). Certain songs will always be associated with certain events: Hotel California (road trips with my ex-hubs); the Pretty in Pink soundtrack (road trips with my daughter); Don't You Want Me Baby (ex-boyfriend). The soundtracks of our lives.

JarieLyn- Ohhhh...good stuff! Echo...Simple minds...OMD...Ministry...Journey!! I love it all.

Rose - Yes, Pretty in Pink *smiles* all those John Huges movies were my favorite. Especially, The Breakfast Club! Such good music in those movies.

Yes I emember them well - The The - had to dig out my CD and listen to it again. Also I was a total fan of Kate Bush from the very beginning. I remember her first ever performance on 'Top of the Pops'. Lots of people thought she was 'weird' but I knew she was (is) a genius. Morrissey, Bronski Beat - yes, yes - and what about The Cure, Eurythmics, Visage?

It's funny how a certain sound comes back in fashion. And the clothes, now I NEVER thought I'd see the ra-ra skirt again (and was quite relieved) but they are back in the shops over here....

i love this cd! i have played it TO DEATH!!! love it!

and the the?!?!? lordy, it has been a long time since i heard them, but i sure loved them! :)

Genesis, Journey.... but I so loved some of the odd sounds of the 80s. The Thompson Twins, Edie Brickell, The B52s, The Cranberries, and REM were favorites of mine. And so many one-hit wonders, I can't even think of their names!

i could never believe, i would love this series of books. but i love them. and the music is great too!
xo

did not like Twilight. (My sister was visiting and made me watch it with her.) I giggled through most of the movie, but I did love the music in it. I downloaded some of the songs immediately. :)

What a great question. I think Elton John, The Beatles, Poco, Chicago, and Marvin Gaye when I was growing up. Currently I listen to Beck, Miles Davis, Phoenix, and Bon Iver.

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