Some days, they last longer than others...

We all have them - songs that remind us of certain people. And save your gross romantic "our song" thoughts for some other time, I mean that they remind us of our Friends. Yes, those with a capital F. Whether it was the shared love of a band or song that brought you together, or the song that played as you washed dishes together at some dreary job, or the concert you both danced your hearts out to, mutual music is a strong connector. I was recently talking to my friend Lois about how some songs make me instantly think of us being teenagers together in the summers, they just flash me right back. I know scientists talk about how odors are strong memory makers, but I wonder how much research they have done on songs? I almost feel 17 again when I hear Metallica's Black album. Science me that, scientists! Some things, some events, some people, stick with us (duh), and it's amazing to me how much feeling can come up, even just hearing a snippet of some songs that are deeply entwined with lasting memories (both good and bad, besides good friend songs, I also have songs that I can't really bear to listen to anymore as well).

So these are a selected few songs that remind me of my friend Lois. We met when we were like 15 at summer camp, and spent summers together, been on ups and downs and through a variety of other relationships and musical phases, we have our own secret code language, and so on... (Also through her I also met Miss Michael, so it was a really good deal.) We spent several summers working on staff (cooking and cleaning, and breaking the rules, LOL) at the same camp we met at, and those were some amazing & tiring & trying & ridiculous years, that I would not dare want to do over, but I would not trade for the world either.

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica  Summer nights! Sing me to sleep almost every night, weird looking men! (it was a mildly strict Christian camp and secular music was forbidden, hahahahahahahahahahahaha)

"So close, no matter how far..."

We also listened to a lot of DMB - and especially this song, which I really like... It always makes me think of those times!

Don't Drink the Water - Dave Matthews Band (what a random video, LOL)




Lois is also a great singer. Once, she sang the Star Spangled Banner for a 4th of July crowd, and I saw an (tough) old man cry (it is a moving song, but it can also be done poorly; this was well done). She also liked Phantom of the Opera and we'd listen to it, and she would sing. You get 3 selections from that here, because I love these.

All I Ask of You - Michael Ball & Sarah Brightman





Internet, why are there so many Emmy Rossum versions on YT but less Sarah Brightman? You guys are wack sometimes. Think of Me  is one of my favorites. Couldn't find a decent video though.


Music of the Night - Michael Crawford  - how hot/creepyHot is this song? "Tremulous and tender"? COME ON NOW. She's looking a little like an early prototype of L.Gaga in this clip though, LOL. Which makes it that much more hilarious.





And also in the same kind of universe of singing - I will spare you Carrickfergus - Charlotte Church. (Though I do wish I had a handsome boatman. And this inspired a code word of ours that describes a state of being.)


Related to this variety of light opera, there's the realm of the Josh Groban/Michael Bublé-s of the world. I know they actually have different styles, but I kind of think of them in the same vein. Classy man-singing... No matter what I hear by either of them (like MB's most recent, see below), even if we don't have any history of listening to it together - I kind of feel like she owns it/them, LOL. They are your mens, Lois!

I used to think Josh Groban was just ok, cute and a good singer and all but then he started popping up on TV, and he is a riot. That just makes his singing so much better. Here is just one bit from a great appearance on Never Mind the Buzzcocks; and here he is on Glee (and of course, he was just on The Office this week). And here he is singing an adorbz duet -

Total Eclipse of the Heart - Josh Groban & Ellen




And then there is Michael Bublé. I do feel his one drawback is that he exudes a rather smarmy charm... IMO, he looks like he might be kind of a douchey jerk? I have no proof of that all. Just his muppety face is a little petulant looking? IDK. Just a vibe. But he can sing and dance deliciously in a suit, so I guess that can be overlooked for our purposes.  Also I like both of these videos, they are very cutesy and entertaining and memorable, so I guess overall he comes out a winner.

Feeling Good




And his most recent hit - Haven't Met You Yet (because it has dancing in a grocery store it puts me in mind of the video for "Closer" - Travis, which predates this and was included in one of my very first posts here, and is also delightful)






Then there's Rilo Kiley - we share a love for Rilo Kiley... we even went to see them in concert together, it was epic. And Lois used to actually live in Glendora and so we used to sing the beginning of that one all the time (even though it's not my favorite song by them at all).

I think one of my most favorites (and also one that makes me think most of Lois because it talks about 'visiting the mountains with frequency' and days 'by the lake' which is the essence of our youthful summers... which I can barely remember the years of anymore, they have all run together because we are getting on in years, sadface) is With Arms Outstretched -






And speaking of the Promised Land - His Eye is on the Sparrow - Mahalia Jackson  - One of my favorite songs ever that Lois occasionally sings. Sung here in the most amazing way possible.

"I sing because I'm happy / I sing because I'm free / For His eye is on the sparrow / And I know He watches me"

Keeping things strictly platonic (maybe we will do googly-eyed songs about lovers in the future) - who are your important people in life, and what are the songs that make you think of them? Share in the comments!