Phases

I go through music phases. This ties into my intense obsessive nature as described in a previous post. My current phase is 70's Rock. It's a repeater. This happened back somewhere between the ages of 15 and 17. I grew up on rock. That's one thing I will credit to my father. The foundation of my decent taste in music is because of that exposure (he cannot be credited with the Spice Girls though). Ozzy and Black Sabbath were constantly resonating through our house. On drives, we were listening to 92.3 k-rock and 104.3 classic rock. Now, k-rock has dissolved into one of those Top 40 stations and 104 is barely holding on. Where did all the good music stations go!? And where's all the good music?? Back in the day, the one hit wonders became songs that we still remember and still love to sing along to. Remember "Tubthumping"(about blackout alcoholism) by Chumbawamba or "boom boom boom boom" (about a proposition for a wild night of sex) by the Vengaboys and "C'mon Ride It (the train)" (about 'riding' it all night) by Quad City Djs? Those are classics. And classically inappropriate now that I think about it... I'm not sure how the hell our parents let us listen to those songs...and yes, we knew what they were singing about. They're not good songs by any means, but we remember them. There's so much crap on the radio now. Artists that have one or two songs, then go away. Whatever happened to the Jonas brothers? Will we still remember them 10 years from now? I know you remember Hanson. And you sing along when you hear "Mmm-bop". True story.

Here's my list of phases from as far back as I can remember:

1. Garbage- 1995. one of the first albums I ever bought. I recently got the album again. When I listen to it, I literally get transported to a time when I was 10, in my bedroom with the purple radio.
2. Spice Girls- 1996. What girl didn't listen to them?! There is a performance of 'Spice Up Your Life' on video somewhere. All involved would probably agree that it should not be made public.
3. Everclear- 1997. I remember coming home after school and blaring 'So Much For The Afterglow' while the parents were at work.
4. Jewel. 1996-2003. She got me good with 1998's 'Spirit' album. I was in the 8th grade. My english teacher made us pick a Shakespearean sonnet and then write a poem that could accompany that sonnet along with a song that tied it all together. I chose 'What's Simple Is True'. No one really got the assignment. I loved it. That teacher's the reason I started writing and haven't stopped since.
5. Reggae music- 1998. I used to listen to these random reggae stations on my walkman after the lights were out and would fall asleep to the sounds of Jamaica.
6. Goo Goo Dolls- 1998-2000. Obsessed. I was sure I was going to marry Johnny Rzeznik. Was disappointed in 2002 with Gutterflower. I hate being disappointed.
7. The Corrs- 2000-2003. I wanted to BE a part of the Corrs. I thought it was so cool that a family played together. This sparked my obsession with Ireland. I also acquired quite a vast collection of tin whistles during this phase. Just in case I ever need to get on stage during "live Irish band" night at the Pig n' Whistle...I'm ready.
8. Kylie Minogue- 2001- forever. This love has not faded. I played 'Fever' so much that I needed to buy another copy. She's an amazing performer. It's so sad that she isn't as appreciated in the USA as much as in the rest of the world. I spread her music to anyone who will listen. Went to her first ever U.S. tour back in November. I was speechless.
9. The Wallflowers- 2003-2006. I wanted to marry Jakob Dylan. I think I'm still determined. I go back to this every so often. Their lyrics get me every time.
10. 2006-2008. My U.K. obsession continues. I find bands such as Dirty Pretty Things, The Futureheads, Keane, and Snow Patrol among others.
11. No Doubt. May 2009-October 2009. Tragic Kingdom was one of my first albums. I never stopped loving them. Saw them in concert in May and listened to every song they ever made, every day, for 5 months straight.

Of course there are many, many more between these. It's crazy how time flies.