There are certain songs we have come to associate with different parts of our lives. There are the songs that bring us back to high school, people choose to play at their wedding, and some of the most memorable scenes from movies are due mostly to their soundtrack.

Music has always been a pretty important part of my life, to the point where it very much could have been my major in college. In fact, I can almost directly link most songs to moments or times in my life. Like one of those freak photographic recall people, I have a memory for most songs.

The random songs aren’t the ones that stick out in my mind, however. The ones that touch and drive to the core are songs that people have told me made them think of me. Some are good, some are like the day my sorority sister told me that my life was like an episode of Ally McBeal. Well intentioned, but still a sort of slap in the face.

Brown-Eyed Girl – They used to request this at the bowling alley during Galactic Bowling nights in high school for me. It’s the quintessential girl-next-door song, and though my eyes are only brown when wearing earth tones, my boyfriend at the time viewed me as his sweet little girlfriend.

Firestarter – One of my first big duties at the University of Maine as the PR Chair for Student Government was to help coordinate a student rally for the National Hockey Championships. After UMaine won over UNH, a TINY riot broke out on campus. And there was a bonfire on the quad. And they broke into a dorm and stole furniture to burn. And someone drove a snowmobile onto the bonfire. When I had to meet the President of the University to review the “snafu” he greeted me saying “So, you’re the little girl who started the big bonfire.” My friend in Student Government blared this song the next time I walked into the office.

Girl - I spent a lot of my young life trying to please everyone. Get the right grades (#fail,) get the right boy (#fail,) get the right job (#fail,) get the right life (#prettyepicfail!) In retrospect I cherish the growing pains cause I’m who I am today because of them, but at the time it was agonizing. One afternoon while I sat (I’m sure smoking clove cigarettes and drinking my 7th cup of coffee) listening to the lyrics (She’s been everybody else’s girl, maybe one day she’ll be her own) with one of my best friends I told her someone else connected me with this song. She looked at me, nodded somberly and said “Honey, I love you, but I can totally see that.”

Can’t Change Me - The same friend who decided Firestarter should be my Student Government theme song also got me hooked on Chris Cornell. I was brilliant enough to share his debut solo album with a boy as we explored falling in like with each other. This was the song he told me caused him to break things off. Thought I was destined for much greater things, and he’d always be the goofy frat boy “holding me back.” He knew neither of us would ever give in…didn’t realize, however, I kinda adored his goofy frat boy-ness.

Fighter – Working in a start up is tough work. Working in a start up that lots of people are convinced is going to fail is tougher. Working in a start up when your boss’ business consultant is constantly telling her that you are no good and a liability (not asset) to her sales organization plain sucks. I was hurt for a little bit. Then I decided I’d just get angry…and even. My boss and I used to BLAST this song. That’s why she’s one of my best friends now.

Show You Love – I worked for awhile as the Youth Group leader at my parents’ church. Well, in all fairness it is my church too, I just don’t think of it that way anymore. I had a bit of a falling out…see, I thought that people should be taught to love the god of their religion on their own and be courageous enough to question their faith and still come out believers. Others didn’t agree with me. The kids did, though. They dedicated this song to me at my last meeting. I would still live and die for each and every single one of them if they ever asked me.

Single - It took me awhile to be comfortable enough with myself to even want to date someone else. Remember, I spent a lot of life being everyone else’s girl, I was finally my own. Once I finally came to peace (of sorts) with who I was, I definitely didn’t want to date. I wanted to be single!

Defying Gravity – Any REALLY good music geek to the core would have to include a Broadway show tune on here somewhere. And this is mine. It’s the most recent song given to me, this time by my sister. Her exact phrase, as she dedicated out songs on some weird Facebook application to her friends, was “You’ve already Defied Gravity to me, Paco. I love you” I cried for at least an hour. I play it daily in my office now.

How about you? What are the songs that bring you back or help define who you are?

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Post Title: Quote by T.S. Eliot