Do you have a song that elicits very specific memories?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the personal memories elicited by specific songs, exploring the emotional and sensory connections individuals have with music. Participants share anecdotes tied to various songs, reflecting on how these tunes trigger vivid recollections from different periods in their lives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recalls "Cherish" by the Association, linking it to a memorable high school dance and the sensory details of that experience.
  • Another participant mentions "MmmBop" by Hanson but refrains from sharing specific memories due to concerns about infractions.
  • A different participant discusses the fundraising effectiveness of "MmmBop," suggesting its repetitive play could be used to compel donations.
  • One participant shares a detailed story about a hitchhiking trip to California, with "Lovin You" by Minnie Riperton serving as a backdrop to the events and interactions among travelers.
  • Several participants express how certain songs, like "Short Shorts" and "Witch Doctor," evoke feelings of nostalgia related to aging and cultural context.
  • Another participant mentions "We Are The World" and other songs, indicating they trigger specific memories but does not elaborate on those memories.
  • One participant reflects on how "Amazing Grace" played by bagpipes evokes strong emotional responses tied to funerals.
  • A participant shares a memory associated with "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors, relating it to a work seminar experience.
  • Discussions about the use of madeleine cakes as memory triggers reference Proust, suggesting a broader theme of sensory memory.
  • Another participant describes how certain songs can evoke not just memories but also the emotional state from that time in their life.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share personal anecdotes and reflections without reaching a consensus on the nature of memory retrieval through music. Multiple competing views and experiences are presented, with no resolution on the broader implications of these connections.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the conditions under which memories are triggered by music, suggesting that factors like weather may play a role. Additionally, there are references to the emotional weight of certain songs in specific contexts, such as funerals, which may not be universally applicable.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the psychological and emotional connections between music and memory, as well as those exploring personal narratives related to songs from their past.

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I just heard "Cherish" by the Association on the oldies station, and immediately flashed back to the Freshman welcome dance in HS. It was a VERY hot song, and it was the first song played at that sock-hop for the Freshman-Senior waltz. I got chosen by a friend's sister. Cute and chesty in her pull-over sweater. She wasn't big on perfume, but smelled lightly of Right-Guard deodorant.

That one dance made the previous week's worth of Freshman hazing just fade away.
 
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MmmBop by Hanson. Unwilling to discuss the specific memories for fear of infractions.
 
FlexGunship said:
MmmBop by Hanson. Unwilling to discuss the specific memories for fear of infractions.

This song was one of the most efficient fund raising songs ever. Numerous schools, organizations, radio stations, etc would play this song once per hour, every hour, until monetary donations, food donations, etc, reached some specific goal. Worked like a charm!

Considering that aspect of the song, I can only imagine you trapping some poor girl in the elevator and playing that song over and over until she submits to your will.

"Lovin You" by Minnie Riperton elicits specific memories for me. It brings back memories of a hitch hiking trip to California.

A black couple, also on their way to California picked me up along with a Native American and a hippie. The guy let the girl come along because he needed someone to share traveling expenses, but constantly made sure the girl knew there was no chance of them having a relationship once they reached California. The girl was obviously coming along because, regardless of their agreement, she was sure she would land this guy by time they reached California and she constantly played a Minnie Riperton tape during the night just to put him in a more romantic mood.

The van was having troubles and the couple stopped to get a new carburetor in Amarillo. While waiting for service, the guy was browsing the new tires and the girl forbid him from buying new tires, since they absolutely had to replace the carburetor. Naturally, we left the shop with 4 new tires and a can of carburetor cleaner.

The van's engine was accessed through the center console, so, by time we reached Tucumcari, everyone but the driver had passed out and he was on his way out. The driver pulled over so we could get some fresh air and figure out where we were. The Native American was nearly killed when he fell down trying to run across the highway. That made us decide we needed a good break, so we pulled into a restaraunt. The girl started walking in circles and passed out in the parking lot. The entire time, the rednecks in the restaraunt watched us through the window and stared at us the whole time we were eating.

Eventually, we all did reach Los Angeles in spite of a bad carburetor and horrible crosswinds driving across Nevada and California. I credit the new tires for us arriving safely. I'm also pretty sure the girl wound up getting her guy, since she had to have gotten to him pretty good for him to buy new tires just to spite her. And, best of all, I got to listen to that song over ... and over ... and over ... and over ...
 
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BobG said:
Considering that aspect of the song, I can only imagine you trapping some poor girl in the elevator and playing that song over and over until she submits to your will.

No, no, no, no... :rolleyes:
 
Wow! Reminds of a Steven Wright joke about driving all the way across the country with only one tape - and he couldn't remember what it was.
 
i can never predict when this will happen. i think it sometimes has to coincide with the weather or something. but sometimes, i'll flash back not just a memory, but the same state of mind from that point in my life.
 
When I hear "Short Shorts" by the Royal Teens, it brings strong memories of how old I am. Same with "Witch Doctor", "Purple People Eater" and "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini".
 
Jimmy Snyder said:
When I hear "Short Shorts" by the Royal Teens, it brings strong memories of how old I am. Same with "Witch Doctor", "Purple People Eater" and "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini".
Then you don't want to listen to the new oldies station unless you want several doses of reality every hour. Not just the novelty songs you mentioned, but old standards by Pat Boone, Elvis, Roy Orbison, Sedaka, etc.
 
We Are The World: Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, I'm Proud to be an American: Lee Greenwood, Schools Out: Alice Cooper, All of Gorden Lightfoot songs, All of Abba.
 
  • #10
"Amazing Grace" played by bagpipes. Tears my heart out. Heard it at some very intense funerals.
 
  • #11
Two Princes by the Spin Doctors reminds me of driving to a nice hotel on the New Jersey coast to represent our company at a seminar on data networking (my co-worker was also a J Crew model). Good times.
 
  • #12
berkeman said:
"Amazing Grace" played by bagpipes. Tears my heart out. Heard it at some very intense funerals.

Oh so right. Guess that was buried so deep I didn't think of it. I agree, yes.
 
  • #13
What's wrong about using a madeleine cake as a memory retriever?? :confused:
 
  • #14
arildno said:
What's wrong about using a madeleine cake as a memory retriever?? :confused:
Proust would say "nothing".
 
  • #15
arildno said:
What's wrong about using a madeleine cake as a memory retriever?? :confused:
Now making and eating madeleines sure brings back memories, my mother had molds.
 
  • #16
BobG said:
(snip)

"Lovin You" by Minnie Riperton elicits specific memories for me. It brings back memories of a hitch hiking trip to California.

(snip)

That's such an awesome memory! Not such a great song, but a great story :smile:!
 
  • #17
Lacy33 said:
We Are The World: Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, I'm Proud to be an American: Lee Greenwood, Schools Out: Alice Cooper, All of Gorden Lightfoot songs, All of Abba.

And those memories are? :confused:
 
  • #18
BobG said:
And those memories are? :confused:
I get very specific memories with some songs, including all kinds of sensory input. My first example was Mary, with her hair draped on my head, her ample bosom and fuzzy sweater and a slight scent of Right Guard, all triggered by the opening notes of "Cherish". It's not something that you can control, in my experience. It's something that just happens.

If I hear "Pictures of Matchstick Men" I immediately flash back to the day when my father and I were driving 25 miles to the county seat to buy some items, and I heard that song on the radio, with a challenge to name the group. I convinced him to drop me off at the radio station downtown, though there was such a delay that I was sure that someone else should have won the contest. I ran up to the studio and told the DJ the name of the group that performed that song, and got a couple of promotional 45's as a prize.
 
  • #19
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  • #20
Mummer's Dance by Loreena McKennitt reminds me of driving from my hotel in Atlanta to the training location for my company in Tucker, GA. Every morning at the same time, at the same stoplight, this song would come on. I loved it. I loved the classes I was taking. Great memories.
 

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