Music, the Other TARDIS (Mr. Pace)

9/5/2019

Greetings, and welcome to Pacebook! I want to begin our blogging experience by continuing to get to know one another a little bit better. As you have likely noticed, I am drawing on Dr. Who quite a bit for its connection to literature (the ability of books to transport you through time and space, like a TARDIS, for you Whovians). However, the same is probably equally true for all art, especially music. As a musician, I am naturally drawn to the parallels between music and literature, which was actually the focal part of my Master's Thesis (reading the "jazz novel" as a model for more egalitarian communication in a post-national world). Music also seems to have special ties to memory, though, in a way that transcends language, and a simple few bars from a song can trigger very specific memories. So, I want you to think of a song that serves as a TARDIS for you and transports you to another time and place.

One song (of many) that functions as a TARDIS for me is "One Tin Soldier" by The Original Castle (and more famously performed by Coven). More accurately, however, it was performed by my dad, and I didn't actually hear the original until years later. It is a protest song that talks about greed and how it corrupts people and is the root cause behind many (if not all) wars. More than that, though, the song tells a story which is delivered quite skillfully and with ample amounts of development and irony. Actually, the song has many parallels to "The Pardoner's Tale" from Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, which we will be looking at later in the year, but of course I didn't know that at the time; I simply enjoyed the melody, the moral, and the complexities of the song. It is the first "favorite song" I remember having, and the first song I recall attempting to write was a very close imitation of "One Tin Soldier." Hearing it now takes me back to sitting at my father's feet in our old house when I was four or five years old, although I don't think the studio version is as good (the flute part is a little cheesy, really). While it's not a song I listen to very often, it does evoke many memories when I do, and it has certainly had a profound influence on me, both as a person and as a lover of stories. If you've never heard it, here is the original by The Original Castle:

Now, I want to hear from you. What is a song that takes you back to another time and place? Explain in detail, and include a link to YouTube, so we can all listen to it as well, please. I look forward to hearing your stories!

43 Comments

Kately

9/7/2019 06:35:42 pm

https://youtu.be/srEe6K34DVo

The song, I Would Do Anything For Love, by Meat Loaf has a sort of reservation in my heart. I remember going on car rides with my dad as a little kid and my dad and I would sing along as obnoxiously as we could.

Faith

9/7/2019 11:08:14 pm

My dad and I would also listen to songs and sing them as obnoxious as possible. I feel like the songs our parents listened to when we were kids will always bring us back to sentimental times in our childhood. I enjoyed the song also!

Brax Kauffman

9/8/2019 12:22:20 pm

I think that’s really cool that you and your dad have a song that brings you back to when you were younger. I remember hearing a song or two with my mother and how it would always make the car ride seem better. I love the connection that music can form with people.

Faith

9/7/2019 11:04:01 pm

https://youtu.be/vGJTaP6anOU

I have many songs that bring me back to specific times and places, but the first and most special that comes to mind is “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley. This song definitely became very popular to my generation in the last few years, but was always one I’ve loved and known by heart. When I was born, my mom held me for the first time and said that this song was the first thing that popped into her head. She would sing it to me to help me fall asleep and when I cried. Even as I grew to be a toddler she would hold me when I was upset or got hurt and sing me this song to calm me down. This song overall is very sentimental to me. It reminds me of simpler times and content memories from my childhood. It’s also what made me “fall in love” with all of Elvis’s music, as well as 50s and 60s music in general.

Tori

9/8/2019 12:52:20 pm

That song is honestly one of Elvis Presley's best songs, in my opinion. Its sweet how your mom would sing that to you and how meaningful it means to you. I like the fact that your mom and you share a special connection to the song. Its amazing how one song can make a difference.

Josephine

9/8/2019 03:58:54 pm

Elvis's music is extremely soulful. My grandma introduced his music to me when I was little. I have loved Elvis ever since. I have been wanting to learn how to play "Can't Help Falling In Love" on the guitar. It is also one of my favourites by him.

Alyssa Farnworth

9/15/2019 09:32:43 pm

This song doesn't personally bring up memories for me but the story of your mom singing to you reminds me of when my parents would sing to me and my siblings in funny voices to make us laugh or sing us to sleep when we were younger. It is really sweet that your mom loved to sing to you and started your own personal love of Elvis music.

Ezra

9/7/2019 11:05:11 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA1nGPM9yHA

This song is called What It's Like by Everlast it really gives off a vibe if the time which is late 90's early 2000's. It reminds me of when I lived in Luisiana and my mom would drive to work with me in the back seat. I always get a flash back to chilling in my moms green Tahoe mumbling the parts till I can yell " THEN YOU REALLY MIGHT KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE" at the top of my lungs. The song was a couple years old when I would listen to it but my mom would bop to it everyday.

Brax Kauffman

9/8/2019 12:30:03 pm

I think it’s great how the song you chose connects you to someone who is extremely important in your life. That seems to be a theme with music and how it builds relationships. I also liked how you put the part about mumbling and then yelling the part you knew for sure since it’s all something we can relate with.

Erykah

9/8/2019 02:17:33 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmW3hF-iKg8

The song “Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart takes me back to my summer camp. It reminds me of all the connections I have made throughout my years at camp and how the friends I made have supported me through the toughest times. “Rivers and Roads” is about how when life changes, friends will always be there for you, even when you are far apart. Whenever I listen to this song, I remember this message and it helps me feel better when I’m sad.

Ezra

9/8/2019 03:34:12 pm

Friends we make a children are important because they shape our individual character. Then we spilt off from them as a new person. We will always remember them even though it has been a long time.

Josephine

9/8/2019 07:34:15 pm

My friends are truly amazing. I love learning and growing with them. I would not be who I am today without them. Also Erykah your rendition of "Rivers and Roads" was amazing.

Madicyn

9/8/2019 10:32:20 am

I have many songs that take me to old places or profound moments of my life. I can list multiple off the top of my head, like “ The House that Built Me”, “Cringe”, or “Our Time Together”. But the song I’m going to be using today is called “ Jealous” by Labyrinth. The song itself is a quite depressing breakup song, but in my situation it held a different significance. It was a song that Tamryn and I could either scream to the top of our lungs to, or we’d drive around crying to. Those were the memories I saw vividly before I moved to soda springs. After that hard move, while living in soda springs I was often alone and had these memories pop into my mind, usually it would make my cry, but by myself. Now I know that sounds depressing, but as time kept moving, my family made itself back to Salmon, and the song became more of a “ I made it” significance. It was no longer about the rain, wind, or lost love. It was about my families strength and the friendships that were still strong.

Madicyn

9/8/2019 10:34:41 am

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=50VWOBi0VFs

Faith

9/8/2019 11:00:30 am

I love that song as well. It’s really cool to know that instead of reminding you of sad times and depressing moments it reminds you of your journey (possibly a quest) coming back home to the place you love, as well as to the people you love.

Sabrina

9/8/2019 05:16:19 pm

I think it’s cool that this song doesn’t represent a past time in your life, but it’s followed you through your story. The meaning of it has changed as you have grown and your life has changed. I think we all have that song that has followed them their life. Mine would probably be “Angles” by Owl City.

Brax Kauffman

9/8/2019 12:08:02 pm

The song, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith is written like a love song but the moment it takes me back to is hanging out with Dakota. We were sitting around hanging out and then when it came on we both started going hard singing it and just had a fun time. And now anytime that song comes on we are either together and just drop whatever we are doing to listen to it or if we aren’t with each other I’ll make a point to send a video of it to him. This song doesn’t always bring me to a specific moment in time but because of the moment when we first heard it, the song has always had a greater meaning to me and it is always a great time whenever I hear it.

Brax Kauffman

9/8/2019 12:08:58 pm

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JkK8g6FMEXE

Tori

9/8/2019 12:39:15 pm

I think its amazing how one song can be made into something special and memorable, especially with a friend. I find that music is a great way and much easier to start something in common with a friend or a new acquaintance.

Aiden

9/8/2019 03:58:50 pm

It’s kind of interesting that even though you said it’s a love song you associate with a friend. It’s awesome how songs no matter there message or meaning have a way of inputting themselves into fond memories we have that don’t necessarily mean what we remember.

Kately Cockrell

9/13/2019 06:20:01 pm

That is a good song, and it’s great that you think of your friend when it first comes on. These sorts of memories are always the fondest to look back on.

Tori

9/8/2019 12:26:06 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhjbg4kUAVU

One of the first artists I listened to when I started to get into music was Taylor Swift. My sister and I were obsessed with her songs from "Speak Now" when it came out, especially "Enchanted". I remember playing that song on repeat on one of those kid designed portable CD players and singing out loud the lyrics. It was always fun when my sister and I turned up the song and would scream out the song to try to annoy my older brother. When I think back on those times, it was probably one of my favorite memories with Faith and ways to annoy my brother. Although, we did not really care and fully understand the meaning of the lyrics, but either way we enjoyed it. "Enchanted" is about meeting someone and being enchanted about them. Hoping they feel the same and wanting to meet again, but fearing they are taken and not reciprocating the same feelings.

Ezra

9/8/2019 03:39:59 pm

It is always fun to mess with siblings and I find it entertaining, and its fun because at the end of the day you are still related and friends. I also had a CD player like that and my sister and I would always argue over what song to play.

Madicyn

9/8/2019 04:03:32 pm

I was also obsessed with Taylor Swift growing up! I had all her albums and constantly listened to her music. “You Belong With Me” and “Picture to Burn” were ones I would always get up, dance and sing to. I have lots of memories reenacting the music videos and getting excited when her songs were playing. I still know all the lyrics.

Paige

9/8/2019 05:46:09 pm

My sister and I would listen to Taylor Swift all the time when we were younger. It is interesting to see which siblings you bond the most with and which siblings you tend to push away. Ezra is right though; no matter what happens you are all friends at the end of the day.

Alyssa Farnworth

9/15/2019 09:13:27 pm

My sister Hope and I always loved listening to Taylor Swift together. We even made up a dance to go with one of the songs. We preformed it for our parents on multiple occasions. Me and my sisters were quite theatrical when we were younger (I'm not much anymore). I think it is really cute how music brought you and Faith together.

Josephine

9/8/2019 02:01:45 pm

A song that really stands out in my life is "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson. When I lived in Montana my mother, grandma, and I would make shopping trips to Butte, my mom had a CD with this song on it. It stood out to me the most because I would imagine my grandma's dog running through a garden of flowers making a mess.

Erykah

9/8/2019 04:33:54 pm

I love car trip songs! My family and I always used to listen to Michael Learns to Rock, even after we moved here from Indiana. I'll always hold those fond memories of road tripping with my family.

Sabrina

9/8/2019 05:11:57 pm

I think it’s interesting that it’s meaning comes from something silly that you imagined happening in the song. I also hold road trip songs close to my heart, although they were usually educational.

Kately Cockrell

9/13/2019 06:25:12 pm

Car rides hold some of the greatest memories, in my opinion. And if any song can make you imagine a certain little crackheaded dog demolishing flowers, then I think the song has more than filled its purpose. Care for your cermet. Buttons is a Bro

#SeñorButtons2020

Paige Hilton

9/8/2019 03:06:49 pm

A song that takes me back is "Despacito" by Justin Bieber. This song is a love song that is mainly sang in Spanish. I honestly despise the song, but it reminds me of a time I was in the car with my sister and the song came on the radio. Instead of changing the station and finding something more pleasing, my sister and I began changing all of the words of the song to that of Mexican foods; burrito, enchilada, taquito, etc. This remains a hilarious memory as the windows of my sister's car were rolled down and the people in the vehicles next to us were very concerned. My sister and I have never been very close but through this Spanish love song and our love of Mexican food, we grew closer, and "Despacito" reminds me of that.

Aiden

9/8/2019 04:05:32 pm

Great story. Glad that you found a way to get closer to her. This makes me want to try and get closer to my siblings as well.

Madicyn

9/8/2019 04:19:01 pm

My sisters and I all bond over music often. We travel quite a bit and I have memories upon memories of us in the car for hours yelling out lyrics. None of us have great voices so I feel bad for my parents now. It’s interesting to see how my sisters and I all like similar music.

Paige

9/8/2019 05:43:29 pm

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whwe0KD_rGw

Kately Cockrell

9/13/2019 06:33:22 pm

Sometimes songs can cause great memories with siblings. My eldest brother and I remember watching Frozen, specifically the song “Love Is An Open Door”

The night after watching it, he was doing laundry with the door closed.

“Hey Kately!”

“Yeah man?”

“Did you know that-“ he began.

He kicked the door open.

“-Love is an open DOOOOR!”

The hinges are slightly bent.

And the door won’t close properly anymore.

Aiden

9/8/2019 03:55:34 pm

My song isn’t so much a song as much as it’s an Artist. Any song by George Strait instantly reminds me of my moms side of the family. More specifically my Grandpa. They love a lot of Country music but George Strait was there all time favorite. It’s crazy because though I hadn’t taken interest to his songs until recently I know a ton of songs by heart that I didn’t even realize I did. A song I remember listening to with my dad though was called “Brothers of the Highway”
Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e3s7ZzckLcE

Erykah

9/8/2019 04:51:32 pm

It's fascinating how songs can stick in our memories for so long. My dad used to play Debussy melodies on the piano. I listened to a classical playlist the other day while doing homework, and I recognized some of the melodies.

Andy Gebhardt

9/8/2019 06:38:10 pm

That actually is really neat that you now know so many songs because of spending time with your grandpa. It will always give you memories of him and the rest of your family. My song was similar except it relates to my family when I was so much younger.

Sabrina

9/8/2019 05:09:09 pm

When I was little, my sisters would all dance around the basement to “Dancing Queen” by Abba. They were the “cool kids” so I couldn’t wait until I could dance with them. I would hang around the edges of the basement while the older ones expertly twirled. It reminds me of a time when I really looked up to my siblings but still didn’t know them. While it may sound sad, that was how my childhood felt. I got to watch while the older ones had fun. I tried to recreate their moves when I was alone and I felt so powerful. This was definitely a simpler time because my little siblings hadn’t joined the picture yet and I still felt young. I just today learned the lyrics because I listened to it again for the first time in years.

https://youtu.be/xFrGuyw1V8s

Paige

9/8/2019 05:39:02 pm

I was the same way with my sister and her friends. I would always envy them, wanting to do everything they did. I am glad you had the opportunity to learn the lyrics. I bet it brought back some good memories.

Andy Gebhardt

9/8/2019 06:34:46 pm

It is kind of sad to not have gotten to do those things but I’m sure you still learned a lot from them and it is cool that you tried to do them on your own. I feel like that is the way it is with a lot of older siblings. The younger ones always try to do what the older ones do.

Andy Gebhardt

9/8/2019 06:30:17 pm

Immediately after reading the prompt I had several songs pop into my head that call old memories back into mind. The prevailing song though is called “Cloudy Days” by Alison Krause. When I was living in Minnesota and was probably between two and six, my family spent a ton of time outdoors. This ranged from hiking and hunting to fishing and canoeing. The song “Cloudy Day” really applies to all of the fishing we did as a family and it was played every single time we went out. With our small jet lag we would spend hours out on lakes catching fish and then return home (stopping to get Bug Juice: a kids fruit drink) all while listening to the song at least once. We also had a fishing song that was titled “We’re Going Fishin’” that we came up with. These two songs are important to me and will always hold those memories. I can remember beautiful, sunny days fishing, as well as times where you could hardly drive on the road because of a downpour. But I guess that’s what makes memories so special.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p7YZZ84Xpxk

Alyssa Farnworth

9/15/2019 09:04:25 pm

After reading the prompt I thought of, "Love Song" written by the Cure the version covered by 311. This song is in the credits of the movie "50 First Dates", it brings up memories of my mom, my sisters, and me sitting on the couch, laughing at the coconut bra guy (I was four, but we watched it many times after this) and gushing over Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore's relationship. I have always been really close to my family and this song just brings up one of many great memories.

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Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.