I Don't Care How Old You Are AKA Plot Yr Life In 10 Songs

The Limeliters, "Walk Right In"

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Rolling Stones, "Get Off My Cloud"

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

"Wizard of Oz" soundtrack

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

The Monkees, "She"

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

The Monkees, "Mary, Mary"

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Van Morrison, "Moondance"

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Edgar Winter Group, "Free Ride"

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?\

Virginity: Neil Young, "Downtown"
Graduation: Tubes, "What Do You Want From Life?"
First job: Paul McCartney, "Listen to What the Man Said"
First sacking: Bruce Springsteen, "Dancing in the Dark"
Retirement (also divorce): Hole, "Violet"

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Andrew WK, "Party Hard"

2) junior, 'mama useta say', or maybe the jam's 'going underground' (remember bombing around the blocks of flat on my estate while we all shouted along to the chorus when i was very very young)

3) star wars soundtrack, i was about 3 or maybe 4. later ruined the record player (an ancient box thing sitting on my bedroom floor) by peeing in it, while the Star Wars sundtrack album now includes one disk with a crack all the way through to the spindle hole...

4) not sure. my first crush was possibly at pre-school/nursery (never had a latency period)... so possibly a nurswery rhyme of some kind.

5) don't remember any music, do remember crying into my corduroy bean bag for so long i had indents al over my face...

6) oooh, not done *that* yet. we played 'always look on the bright side of life' and 'i am what i am' at my dad's funeral last year, at his request, so maybe those songs are equivalent?

7) whigfield, 'saturday night', playing in the record shop at the foot of our hotel in spain incessantly... also the big mountain reggae cover of 'baby i love your way', possibly in their native swiss...

8) virginity: the theme from cheers (it was on TV in the background)... graduation, first job, first sacking - no music really, though my first long-term job (wh smith's cash office assistant) did involve me sneaking 'my' music on the store stereo, including such triumphs as: 'i am a scientist' by GBV (i ordered copies in), all the instrumentals off 'ill communications' (i couldn't play tunes with swearing in them), 'vitalogy' in its entirety (released while i worked there), stevie wonder non-stop, and Blues Expplosion's 'orange' (i left my cassette in the office stereo after i opened the store)

9) mates of state album... really really love it, especially the vocal harmonies. and also Young Heart Attack's cover of 'over and over' live last night

Catapaults you back: Madness, "Grey Day", or really any '80-era Madness, they were my favourite band and it brings back a really sharp memory of sitting on a kitchen stool eating a sandwich tuned into the Top 40.

Putting on a turntable: "When I'm 64" - I borrowed Sgt Pepper's from my parents, and their spare turntable, and I played that first because it was the Points Of View theme tune.

Huge Crush: I was a late starter with crushes. "Girl Afraid" by the Smiths is the song that reminds me of my first one most. I think I wrote the lyrics out for them, oh dear.

First Break-Up: Can't remember, but my second break-up had "Still Too Soon To Know" by Elvis Costello as its unofficial soundtrack, and I still find it too hard to listen to.

Accompanied you down the aisle: if only I knew! A subject of some controversy. But when we fixed a date we went home and played Pulp Hits, which I'd just bought her as a present.

First solo vacation: Oh dear it's "Wonderland" by Simply Red. Or "Spanish Castles In Space" by The Orb for a less awful answer. Both listened to on long train journeys across Italy - my mate and I swapped tapes from boredom, hence the Simply Red.

Pivotal moments in your life: Virginity was John Cale (ew), First Job was tomato picking at a local nursery and "Days" by Kirsty MacColl was on the radio all day long. I've never been sacked (!!).

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"? TES - "New New York", which I downloaded just before answering this.

2; Song that takes me back = Take Five by Dave Brubeck, just cos my Dad loves Dave and I remember thinking it was waaaaay cool in a cheesy-Dad type way.

3; Turntable & Needle = Bad my Michael Jackson. First record I owned myself (my brother bought it for me 'cos I loved the video, as I remember). I was later to frisbee it across the field because I hated 'Black Or White'.

4; Crush = Kayleigh by Marillion. I was 11/12. She was called Faye and had loooooooooooooooooong legs and played tennis. We touched each others' pants but we never kissed (that's a Tricky lyric, innit?).

5; First break-up = Difficult, this. Emma's my first serious, committed, long-term relationship. Nothing else has before has gone beyond a one-night-stand or else super-casual. So I guess I'll point people towards this (scroll down) and be thankful we're still together.

6; Wedding = n/a, as luckily, is funeral music, as I have only been to two and they were for not-that-close friends rather than family members of best mates or anything.

7; First vacation without parents = Again this is difficult, cos I neevr really go on 'vacation' as such with or without parents (the hell of living by the sea). A boozy and druggy weekend in Blackpool in 2000 was soundtracked by an inept DJ spotting what he thought was a crowd of indie kids and playing The Only One I Know by The Charlatans (who I hate) THREE TIMES.

8; a) Virginity = First track from Godspeed You Black Emperor's debut album. I won't explain why. b) Graduation = I didn't go to it. c) First job? Weird... Um, Supertramp, just cos they were always playing in the pub were I first worked, for some reason. d) and e) I've not doen either yet!

9; Music's Fantastic = Last song that really shcoked me with it's power on first listen (rather than just enjoying) was The Cockfighter off Tilt, which nearly made me puke.

Some hymn or like "Dirty old town" or something similar that we had to sing in assembly. First pop music I remember really liking was probably the Pogues "Fairy tale of new york".

2) Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Suicidal Tendencies or Guns'n Roses "Sweet child o mine" for early adolescence, skateboarding and dates in McDonalds; Q-Tex "Power of love" or Force 'n Styles "Heart of Gold" for sweet sixteen and listening to the radio but Underground Sound of Lisbon for the halcyon days of being 18 and on drugs and with my arm round a girl.

3) What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

My mum's copy of Jefferson Airplane's "Crown of creation". I was all "so this is rock music" having been unable to sleep for years without listening to the entirety of "the four seasons"...

4) Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Yikes, I think this was Spiritualized "Lazer guided melodies", and probably "Sway" which I used to listen to over and over and carry round to my mate's house to listen to when we smoked very bad hash procured from men in parks.

5) How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

I remember this precisely. It was Hawke "three nudes in a purple garden" and we were in San Francisco. Pretty good breakup music really.

6) Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Never been married, but Rotary Connection "Want you to know" was 'our song' in my most significant relationship...

7) Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Orbital - "Halcyon"

8) Virginity - can't remember, was drunk . Had been clubbing and listening to detroit techno beforehand. Think Claude Young was the DJ. Let's say Fix - "Flash"...

9) Graduation - something speed garage. Erm, Underground Distortion - "Everything is large"

10) First job - Brand Nubian "Foundation"

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

11) Jaheim - "Fabulous"

Take as long as you like, Kate - there's no time limit. And that goes for all of you.

Though I have to say, even as a 33 year old, I find them a bit youth-centric

By which I assume you mean, the questions? Well, yes I suppose they are, but as I said, they're not set questions, they're just jumping-off points for what could basically be *any* moments in your life you might see as pivotal for any reason.

I've just turned 28 so my "pivotal" moments don't go much further than what I've insinuated in my sample questions. But as I said, my niece came up with a brilliant snapshot of her life, and she's only nine! I'll dig her answers out once a few more people have answered.

Oh, and I'll do me in a bit, an' all...

Probably something from the score of "Camelot," oddly enough.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

The soundtrack to Disney's "Dumbo"

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

"Dragnet" by Stan Freberg

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

"Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" by the Police.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

I just remember it being in a vegetarian restaurant. The soundtrack was the clink of silverware on severely protein-deficient plates.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Walking down the aisle was ye olde "Here Comes the Bride....", I believe (or was it "Ode to Joy"). Our actual wedding song, oddly enough, was "Nobody Does it Better" by Carly Simon (for some reason, it had to be a Bond theme....I wanted "You Only Live Twice," but lost). She was gunning for some warhorse by Etta James, but I maintained that it'd make us thankless poseurs (we simply don't listen to Etta James with any regularity.) The music we like in common just wasn't suitable. I would've liked "Golden Brown" by the Stranglers, but that not-entirely-subtle heroin allusion prevented it from being in the running.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Without my parents? Ummmmmmmm......"Eyes Without a Face" by Billy Idol.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Virginity - "You and Your Sister" by This Mortal Coil
Graduation - From college? "As the End Draws Near" by Manufacture or "Across this Antheap" by XTC
First Job - "Red Berry Joy Town" by the Wonder Stuff
First Sacking - "Now It's Time to Say Goodbye" by the Kitchens of Distinction
Retirement - Haven't done that, but possibly something off Chinese Democracy (that ought to be out by then).

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

"Seeing Red" off the forthcoming Killing Joke album. Not kidding....sheer brilliance.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall? Bang A Gong by T.Rex - I can almost remember them on Top of the Pops. Almost.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto? I wasn't allowed to operate the turntable, it belonged to my dad. When I got my very own cassette player, the first song I played was probably Vangelis' Chariots of Fire

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone? Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend? Institutionalized by Suicidal Tendencies

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment? I've never been married. I was engaged once. The State That I Am In by Belle and Sebastian was involved. I'm ashamed to admit that.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents? The Dandy Warhols - Every Day Should Be A Holiday

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Virginity is associated with Lets Dance by David Bowie
Graduation - even though I never graduated, I picked some rubbish from The Black Angel's Death Song by the Velvet Underground to be my best friend's high school yearbook quote
First Job - something from Husker Du's Candy Apple Grey
First Sacking - No New Tale To Tell by Love & Rockets
Retirement - Quitting my dayjob? Dayjob Nightmare by the Lollies! Hah!

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"? Why Don't You Smile Now? by Spiritualized

Though there are a lot of pivotal songs/bands that are not associated with any of the questions asked, which makes me sad.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto? It was probably one of my parents’ records (maybe even “She Loves You” again). I think the first record I owned myself was Winnie The Pooh And The Honey Tree; but the first record I can remember going into a record shop and actually buying myself with my own pocket money was “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)!” by Gary Glitter.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
Well, the song I associate most with that time is “Oh Lori” by The Alessi Brothers; which is also incidentally (and perhaps inevitably) the one I associate with the first time my stupid heart was broken. ;~(

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
“My Friend Stan” by Slade!
The songs that remind me of my first holiday without my parents and *with a girlfriend* however (important distinction!) are “Centerfold” by the J Geils Band and “Abracadabra” by the Steve Miller Band.
I can assure you that we had considerably more fun than the soundtrack might lead you to imagine ‘though!

Pivotal moments in your life:
Hah! No contest, “New Rose” by The Damned wins hands-down for pretty much all of them. It not merely kick-started my passion for music but completely and irrevocably changed the entire course of my life. It’s been the recurrent theme in the soundtrack to everything that happened to me from 1977 onwards!
It’s certainly the song I associate most with the girl who I first met at a youth club disco in 1977 and am still with today.... Well, OK, admittedly there was this trifling 23 year gap in the middle of our relationship, but that’s only because her mum didn’t approve of her going out with a boy who had spiky hair and wore ripped jeans, DM’s, a t-shirt covered in safety pins and a leather jacket with “DAMNED” written across the back....
She (the girl that is, not her mum!) might try to tell you that “Black Is Black” by La Belle Epoque was significant too; but if she’s honest knows that just happened to be song they were playing when she came over and asked me to dance – it was when me and my mate were pogoing wildly around the room to the strains of “New Rose” like the complete pair of imbeciles we were, that she first noticed me!
I actually took her to her first Damned gig last year – 24 years after the first time I tried to persuade her to come to one with me – and she was forced to admit that they’re still pretty fuckin’ amazing!

Besides that, pretty much everything else pales into insignificance really.

I lost my Virginity to something from Metal Box by PiL. I think it was “Poptones”. It would have been “New Rose” but I had a vague feeling at the time that maybe 2 minutes and 44 seconds of frenetic adrenaline-fuelled pounding wasn’t what was called for.... maybe I was wrong!?

It took more than 10 years before I could listen to “Love Cats” by The Cure without wanting to burst into tears; which you might say makes it significant, but again it could have been any song really, it just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I’d really like to be able to chose something by Joy Division or Killing Joke or The Smiths or Miles Davis or The Pixies - but there are no specific major events in my life that I particularly associate with them, other than their having provided me with major musical epiphanies and been major parts of the soundtracks for certain periods of my life.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
Well the last (only?) thing I heard that totally blew my mind on anything approaching the scale of “New Rose” was definitely Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart; but I was listening to The Decline Of British Sea Power in the car on the way into work this morning and that was certainly good enough to remind me why music’s continued to be such an important part of my life for the last 26 years.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
David Bowie - 'Starman.'
Is the first grown-up song I remember hearing. Sitting on the sitting room floor, looking at the ceiling, (aged maybe 3) getting my sister to put it on over and over. I thought all music must be this magical.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
Status Quo - 'You're In The Army Now'
It was my sister's, yo.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
Don't remember exactly, although it was at the school disco. And the big slow-dance song that night was definitely Kylie & Jason, 'Especially For You.' (althought it might have been the Neighbours theme, who knows, they played that too)

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
Geneva - 'No-One Speaks'
As in, perfect movie-of-my-life timing, put the phone down, turn on the radio, and this is the first song on. It's still a good song!

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?
Nope, not happened yet...but at the last wedding I went to, the highlight of the reception for me was definitely Panjabi MC - 'Mundian To Bach Ke'

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
Suede - 'Europe Is Our Playground' (inter-rail ahoy!)

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation...
Virginity - Portishead 'Dummy'/Spiritualized 'Ladies & Gentlemen...'
Things because cliches because they're true, you know!
Graduation - Wu-Tang Clan, 'Protect Ya Neck'
Was going through my head during the ceremony.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
Wire - 'Outdoor Miner'
Almost made me cry!

What is the first song you remember hearing?

Tutti Frutti - Jackie Wilson

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Star Trekkin' - The Firm

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes (didn't have turntable at home, had to play this to put it on minidisc for uni radio so it could then be MP3'd. Think I recorded it entirely in mono...)

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Umm... possibly No Limit - 2Unlimited. Me and her imitated it by sucking the juice from the very bottom of one of those Calypso drinks.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Neither of these have happened/will happen.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Doop - Doop. Me and my mate used to argue about whether it was shit (his view) or not (mine) on the primary school trip to Sweden.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

None of those, except for first job, have happened yet... and that'd be Explosion - The Hunches.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

It's the Junior Senior album, on the way to work this morning. Boys & Girls is the highlight, but really, it's all megasmashingly top.

Though there are a lot of pivotal songs/bands that are not associated with any of the questions asked, which makes me sad.

Kate, how many times..? Veer away from the questions at your leisure! Make some stuff up! Or alternatively, try these for size:

What was the first song which made you realise there was more to this music lark than "stuff that's on in the background while I'm doing something else"?

The first song you had to like in secret cos it was socially unacceptable to do so?

The first song that made you spontaneously dance on your own in your bedroom? And the last?

The first song that made you want to hunt down and maim its composer/performer? (bear in mind, most people don't make any distinction between these two til they're about 15)

The first song you were gutted to discover was a cover version?

The first song you recorded off the radio? Or, if you're too young for such archaic practices, your first download?

The first thing you bought in a shop, having already owned a copied version, cos it was *just too good* not to own?

And the first song you bought twice, for whatever reason?

At really important exam time, which song(s) were swimming around your head just when you were meant to be remembering really important stuff?

What soundtracked your first trip in a plane? And your last?

Most probably Star Trekkin' - The Firm. Again.

The first song you had to like in secret cos it was socially unacceptable to do so?

The Aislers Set - Holiday Gone Well, possibly.

The first song that made you spontaneously dance on your own in your bedroom? And the last?

First - I have an odd feeling it'd be Lump by The Presidents Of The United States Of America. Last - So Into You by The Wildhearts.

The first song that made you want to hunt down and maim its composer/performer? (bear in mind, most people don't make any distinction between these two til they're about 15)

Mousse T - Horny. Being in a school where, all day, 14-year-old boys were wandering around going "I'm horny, horny horny horny" all fcking day... no you're not. Shut up.

The first song you were gutted to discover was a cover version?

Not sure this ever happened...

The first song you recorded off the radio? Or, if you're too young for such archaic practices, your first download?

Download - Give U D I - All Seeing I. Off radio... oh dear. The Saw Doctors - World Of Good. Taped over very, very soon afterwards.

The first thing you bought in a shop, having already owned a copied version, cos it was *just too good* not to own?

Hamell On Trial - Ed's Not Dead

And the first song you bought twice, for whatever reason?

Clinic - The Second Line

At really important exam time, which song(s) were swimming around your head just when you were meant to be remembering really important stuff?

Only one I can say for sure - The Delgados - Thirteen Gliding Principles.

What soundtracked your first trip in a plane? And your last?

Timmy Mallett on Britannia Airways' kids programme was first... last one was probably OK Computer.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
john fahey - impressions of susan (about a week ago i put this on and it made me think about a time when i was like 4 or something. is it just me or did the sun have a real glow about it in the 80s)

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
heh, i grew up in the cd generation, but i am these days a vinyl convert. the first bit of vinyl i bought was: the cure - in between days 12" at a second hand shop. still brilliant.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
can't remember this, but i used to listen to the red house painters and my bloody valentine a lot when i had my first crush

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
ditto

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?
N/A

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
neil young - ambulance blues, neutral milk hotel - in an aeroplane over the sea

Pivotal moments in your life:
pivitol moments in my life that i can remember having a musical accompaniment:
leaving school: songs: ohia - didn't it rain
mental breakdown - there was like a whole six month period where only will oldham's music (and some low too, but those were more upbeat moments actually, people call low a depressing band, but the amount of times they've put a smile on my face is too many to mention) would do, it was the only music that seemed to really connect when i was sittin in my room with the record player on, unable to talk to anyone without breakin out in shakes. still listen to him often. bob dylan's like a rolling stone helped a lot too (just the way he sings "how does it feel", i feel that)

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
i have this experience everyday, either with new stuff, or with old stuff. today rem's sitting still has been playing in my head.

The first song that made you want to hunt down and maim its composer/performer? (bear in mind, most people don't make any distinction between these two til they're about 15): every song by simply red ever.

A perfectly reasonable and understandable reaction Bob - but if you were to hunt down and brutally slaughter (yeah I know it said "main" but if we're going to do a job we might as well do it properly, right?) Mick Hucknall, would it mean no more Blood & Fire reissues? It's a major moral dilemma.

-'International Rescue' by Fuzzbox- the first record I ever truly loved. I had a Fuzzbox poster on the wall by my bed from Smash Hits, and it stayed there for *years*.

-'If You're Looking for a Way Out' by Tindersticks- shortly after my first proper boyfriend that I loved and everything dumped me, I somehow ended up on a bus into town in the rain, going to a Dante exam that I hadn't revised for, listening to this on my walkman and biting back the tears. Also Pulp's 'Trees', I remember watching them play this live in Sherwood Forest with said bloke at my side after we'd split, and having a big lump in my throat. We met at a pulp gig too. Ben Stern, you broke my heart.

-'We Have All The Time in the World' by Louis Armstrong reminds me of back when charlie used to make me ace compilation tapes, I requested this while at his flat once, and he complimented my good taste. years after the event, I still swell with vanity and pride when remembering this.

-'Unsolved Child Murder' by the Auteurs, reminds me of bus journeys through leafy Hertfordshire to go shopping in the hellhole that is Hemel Hempstead. I would marry Luke Haines tomorrow.

-'I Stole a Bride' by hefner reminds me of great sex, I listened to all the hefner albums with the aforementioned bloke the day after we finally got together after many months of arsing about, and I've never felt as purely happy as I did when listening to that song on that sunny morning.

-'Dirrrty' by Christina Aguilera always makes me feel like I can take on the world, and was especially useful when trying to drag myself to exams earlier this month..

-'No Good Advice' by Girls Aloud is a song that I'm ashamed of liking, and i have been involved with several high-decibel arguments with my flatmate about it. But now I'm not ashamed any more.

-'Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits' by the magnetic fields makes me think of getting ready to go to Smile with my flatmate Rob, and dancing round his bedroom drinking Southern Comfort.

-'Let Me Go' by the Chicks is another Smile classic, makes me think of falling over in a puddle of vodka and showing my knickers. Right, that's it!

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall? Christopher Cross - Sailing, my mom was a big fan.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto? Boz Skaggs - Lido

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone? The Beatles - I've Just Seen A Face

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend? Urgh, rather not remember the moment, but the song is classic. Kitchens of Distinction - Mad As Snow

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment? My wedding song was Nick Drake - Northern Sky

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents? Nice and Smooth - Sometimes I Rhyme Slow...my friends and I listened to this all the way up to Hampton Beach and pretty much all weekend.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Virginity : The Cure - Plainsong
Graduation : Spin Doctors - Two Princes
First Job : Sunny Day Real Estate - Grendel

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

That would be........Red House Painters - Medicine Bottle

Back to youth -- probably Shaun Cassidy, "That's Rock and Roll"

First turntable play -- that 'sing, sing a song' album, I think

Huge crush song -- no memory

Break up -- no memory

Wedding -- hasn't happened

First vacation -- Ministry's "N.W.O." I think

Pivotal moments -- Slowdive was an interesting soundtrack to something

Last song -- probably something from the New Order box set

Yup.

forgotten childhood memories:
Don Henley 'Boys Of Summer'

first record played:
The Firm 'Star Trekkin'

starting middle school:
Black Box 'Ride On Time'

growing pains:
Stone Temple Pilots 'Plush'

first holiday without parents:
Prodigy 'No Good (Start The Dance)'

starting college:
Underworld 'Juanita'

finishing college:
Chemical Brothers 'Out Of Control'

getting first big break jobwise:
Michael Moog 'That Sound'

'this must be love' moment:
Primal Scream 'Keep Your Dreams'

recent 'music is wonderful' moment:
Broadcast 'Hawk'

Can someone just put up their list of 10 songs, without any explanation whatsoever but each relevant to one of my original questions?

And then we can guess which one applies to which! Oh such fun!

Probably "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" even though it's not the first song on that side. But Sgt Pepper's was played a lot in my house, and I used to think that the song was about my sister, whose name, incidentally, is NOT Lucy.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

the Spider-Man theme, those opening bars send me back to Saturday mornings before we got cable.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

I used to play the crap out of my dad's Springsteen records. He got sooo sick of that guy.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Probably Run DMC or Beastie Boys, who were both big with me at 10, which was when I first started thinking that hanging out with a girl wouldn't be awful. I didn't know what you were supposed to do, and neither of these groups offered much help in language a preteen could make sense of.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Probably something from the third Velvet Underground album, which was big with me when I was 14 and girls finally acknowledged me.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

N/A

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

"The Ballad of Naked Man" by the Butthole Surfers. Don't ask.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

For some reason, the theme from the A Team comes to mind. I used to think of my life as an action movie and imaginarily scored it accordingly.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

I think it's called "Fly Away" on the new John Hiatt & the Goners album. There's nothing special to it, it's just a great song.

Duran Duran 'New Moon On Monday' - first song i saw and thought 'cor, i wanna be like them'

The first song you had to like in secret cos it was socially unacceptable to do so?

good one! i remember my friends and i arguing about the merit of Utah Saints 'Something Good' (i loved it, they hated it) so i guess that.

The first song that made you spontaneously dance on your own in your bedroom? And the last?

first: Def Leppard 'Animal'...last: Roy Davis Jr 'Rock Shock (Thomas Bangalter mix)'

The first song that made you want to hunt down and maim its composer/performer? (bear in mind, most people don't make any distinction between these two til they're about 15)

Sinitta 'Toy Boy'

The first song you were gutted to discover was a cover version?

never had a problem with this...

The first song you recorded off the radio? Or, if you're too young for such archaic practices, your first download?

off the radio: Manic Street Preachers 'You Love Us' i think

The first thing you bought in a shop, having already owned a copied version, cos it was *just too good* not to own?

David Holmes 'Lets Get Killed' album i think

And the first song you bought twice, for whatever reason?

Massive Attack 'Protection' album (by mistake)

At really important exam time, which song(s) were swimming around your head just when you were meant to be remembering really important stuff?

GCSEs: Soundgarden 'The Day I Tried To Live'...A-Levels: Oasis 'Dont Look Back In Anger'

What soundtracked your first trip in a plane? And your last?

first: pass... last: er, Royksopp (i know, how boring)

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
Pink Panther Theme - Henry Mancini

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
Too Shy - Kajagoogoo

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
Moon Over Bourbon Street - Sting

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
Wise Up - Aimee Mann

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?
Can´t Take My Eyes Off You - Boys Town Gang

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
Good Stuff - The B-52's

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?
Smooth Operator - Sade (v) Common People - Pulp (fj)

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
I Luv U - Dizzee Rascal

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
- "What a Fool Believes", Michael McDonald

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
- "Lay Your Hands", Thompson Twins

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
- "Sister Moon", Sting

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?
- "Trumpet Voluntary", Henry Purcell

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
- "Just Like Heaven", Cure

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
- "Spell With a Shell", Cardiacs

Youth. Who Are You - The Who

First Song on Turntable. Womble Of the Universe - The Wombles

Crush. Too many... possibly Motorcyle Emptiness, not first, but most memorable.

Break Up. I knew it was cheesy at the time, but the "not knowing" by Tindersticks makes you smile at the same time...

Wedding. "The Ecstasy of Gold" from friends wedding in Prague

First Vacation. "Headmaster Ritual" drinking a whiskey on the back of cross channel ferry at night. I met a french girl called Cecila.

virginity - would you cringe at Pulp?, it just reminds me.. don´t remember what was playing...

graduation. Couldn´t help remember the beatles had played in the same venue...

First Job - lots of bad 'uns, Mr. vain, Ub40 digging deeper for that high ground nonsense

music is always fantastic, but probably Season of The SHark, Yo La tengo on a listening post in Wellington made me smile a hell of a lot.

"steppin' out"

"empire strikes back main title"

"dancing with myself"

dr ring-ding - "bombs over baghdad"

"real love"

"like a fool"

"shoplifting (peel session)"

"vision of love"

"Nimrod's Son" by the Pixies

The first song you had to like in secret cos it was socially unacceptable to do so?

None. I've never had enough friends to have to have to worry about that.

The first song that made you spontaneously dance on your own in your bedroom? And the last?

First: don't remember Last: I probably moved around a little last night listening to "Repitition" by the Fall

The first song that made you want to hunt down and maim its composer/performer? (bear in mind, most people don't make any distinction
between these two til they're about 15)

Maybe something by the Doors or Pink Floyd, cuz my sister used to play that shit all the time.

The first song you were gutted to discover was a cover version?

"Rock & Roll Music" as done by Yahoo Serious in Young Einstein, or maybe "Twist and Shout" as done by the Beatles

The first song you recorded off the radio? Or, if you're too young for such archaic practices, your first download?

I used record all kinds of crap. For a while, I thought John Cougar Mellancamp was some kind of badass renegade, so it was probably one of his songs.

The first thing you bought in a shop, having already owned a copied version, cos it was *just too good* not to own?

Mudhoney's Superfuzz Bigmuff

And the first song you bought twice, for whatever reason?

Couldn't say. I've got a few compilations with overlapping tunes, but those were IN SPITE of having songs I already had.

At really important exam time, which song(s) were swimming around your head just when you were meant to be remembering really important
stuff?

Again, the theme from the A Team.

What soundtracked your first trip in a plane? And your last?

I don't think I had anything going my first or last. The one time that stands out was when I was flying across the country alone into the unknown, was really hung over and just wanted to escape into my walkman. Put in the Stooges first alb only to discover my walkman was completely fucked. Hadn't used it in ages, and it had been in the possession of my younger brother. I think I even called collect right after deboarding to give him shit for not telling me that he'd busted my mo-sheen.

Ummm.... I don't think that actually qualifies as "losing your virginity" Jess.

What is the first song you remember hearing?

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

I've no idea.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

I don't think any song was playing

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

I'm not married

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

No song

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

No music accompanies the first three and I've never been sacked or retired

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

None really. The songs that vaguely did I have overplayed in an attempt to bring back the feeling and I recall later childhood pretty well.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - 'Sometimes The Father Is The Son'. Or if new song, LCD Soundsystem's 'Losing My Edge'.

Dunno for sure, but possibly the "Sesame Street" theme song. My parents were more into classical music than pop music, so I was reliant on TV and AM radio for much of the early '70s.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Terry Jacks "Seasons in the Sun"
Olivia Newton-John "Have You Never Been Mellow?"
Three Dog Night "Joy the World"
Paper Lace "The Night Chicago Died"
Paul Simon "Kodachrome"
Grand Funk Railroad "We're an American Band"

All of the above were big around '72-'74, when I was really getting into listening to AM radio (WCFL and WLS in Chicago).

And, oddly enough, "Reminiscing" by the Little River Band is probably the song I associate the most with a very, very specific time in my life. August of 1978, carpooling with various other kids from my school in a brand new city in the South. I hear 3 seconds of that song, and bam, I am transported back to Montgomery, Alabama.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

My first 45 was, I believe, "Muhammad Ali (Black Superman)" by Johnny Wakelin and the Kinshasha Band, so it could have been this. The first 45 I ever bought was "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas, from Laury's Records in Deerfield, IL. Ah, memories.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Ohgawd, could it have been "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner? I remember listening to that and pining away for an unattainable beautiful blonde girl in my neighborhood. I'd had crushes before, but that one really sticks out in my mind.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

I have no recollection of songs I played after my high school breakups; "Suzanne" and "Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye" by Leonard Cohen factored mightily in the post-breakup period for my first "adult" gf.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Ack. This was just last year...something by Nick Drake and of course the title eludes me. It was an instrumental with violins in it, if that helps.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

That would have been England, 1990..."Everything Flows" by Teenage Fanclub? I think I bought that 7" on Paperhouse on that trip from Rough Trade.

"Chow" by the Cows? My friend Paul and I came down to London from Hull to try to see them, only to have the gig cancelled.

"Suspect Device" by Stiff Little Fingers? I recall dancing and pogoing to this, along with many old punk rock hits, at a goth dance club in Hull...good times.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

"Everything in Its Right Place" by Radiohead slayed me when I first heard it.

"Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes on the radio sounded good.

"Toxicity" and "Aerials" by System of a Down and most of the Andrew WK CD had me turning up my stereo early & often.

'Ben'

'Ice Ice Baby'

'the bridge is over'

'Piglet'

n/a

'G-Spot' by Wayne Marshall

some shit by delgados

'Ice Rink'

Lookin out my back door, CCR

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

The whole damn "Have a Nice Day" box.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

Um...I had this fake "psychedelic" moon-landing-commemoration record called Journey to the Moon that I played over and over and made up dances for. I still have it. You can find it in DJ sets online, too.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

YMO, Behind the Mask

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Probably some hippie stuff I'd rather forget, because I was with hippies.

Pivotal moments in your life:

My first urine test: Couldn't get it right by Climax Blues Band. I was so ashamed and this song played in the car on the way home. Every time I heard it after that, I felt mocked.

Maybe Herreys - I mina gyllene skor

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

hum, maybe
Ramones - I don´t wanna walk around with you
Ozzy Osbourne - Changes
Black Flag - TV Party
SHanice - I love your smile (song i liked in secret)
Jilted John - Jilted John
Green Day - Basket case
Nirvana - SMells like teen spirit
Cypress hill - all of them
House of pain - jump around
Beastie boys - so what´cha want

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

Hum, i don´t know really
Maybe Herreys - I mina gyllene skor

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Ramones - I wanna be your boyfriend
(a real crush, my first crush as a very young teenager)

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Don´t remember my first but with my first vut i remember listening to a lot of Cure when i got dumped in the past

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

I don´t know as i´m not married, If my girlfriend decide it´ll be Bruce springsteen :-)

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

virginity: either a Suede concert or the second Hole album
graduation: provbably Cure or belle and sebastian, Manics or Joy division
first job: see graduation
first sacking: haven´t been sacked yet so
retirement: hum, PLeasure seekers - What a way to die?

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

well happens everyday, maybe
HASIL ADKINS i don´t want nobody the way i want you

What is the first song you remember hearing? "Jean Genie" by David Bowie - remember seeing the video on TOTP as a 4 yr old and thinking "That is strange..." Also thought he was urinating for some reason.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall? I recall a lot of my youth, sadly. If it had to be one record, probably "Japanese Boy" by Aneka (?) which was the first record played at the first school disco I ever went to.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto? "Concerts in China" - Jean Michel Jarre, my first record player and record, Xmas 1982.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone? "Genetic Engineering" - OMD, playing in my head at least. If there could be one song to recall the first crush, it would have to be "Matters of the heart" by Freur, the summer of '83, staring at Debbie Carr far too much... where is she now? Hmm...

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend? "Sound of lies" - The Jayhawks (yes, that is a long time from first crush to first girlfriend, isn't it?). A very bad day in 1997, my parents wanted me to choose between them and my fiance. I made the wrong decision, but corrected it later that night.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment? "Close to you" by the Carpenters, only sung by an opera trained friend of ours, not while walking down the aisle but while we were signing the wedding certificate afterwards. Brother in law decided to video a church column instead of our singing friend at the time.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents? "Wilder" LP by the Teardrop Explodes, German exchange, 1985. Ended up singing extracts from it at a disco at the school...

Pivotal moments in your life:

virginity - no soundtrack

graduation - hasn't happened yet

first job - the first Jive Bunny single, always on the radio where I worked at the time

first sacking - "Let you down" LP - Kingsbury Manx, constantly singing "We are trying to simplify our lives" as if to comfort myself.

retirement - hasn't happened yet either, though the sacking felt like it at the time.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"? - If i have to say something, probably the new Thrills single, because it's the first single I've bought in over 12 months.

Will that do?

Some other potential pivotal moments to ponder:

First song that made you stop whatever you were doing and run onto the dancefloor?

First song that made you think, "I've been wasting my life, how have I not heard this before?", thus signalling a radical change in your taste?

First song you didn't "get" and then suddenly "got" at a later date?

First song you and your significant other totally agreed on? And disagreed?

First song you played on a jukebox?

First song you asked for by name in a record store?

First song you requested on a radio/tv show?

First song that made you cry? And the first to make you giggle?

that'll do...

"Ball of Confusion" by Love & Rockets

First song that made you think, "I've been wasting my life, how have I not heard this before?", thus signalling a radical change in your taste?

"People Who Died" by the Jim Carroll Band

First song you didn't "get" and then suddenly "got" at a later date?

"Jocko Homo" by Devo

First song you and your significant other totally agreed on?

"Love Like Blood" by Killing Joke

And disagreed?

I fail to see the appeal of anything Van Morrison's done since his work with Them. She loves his stuff, and I can't fucking stand it.

First song you played on a jukebox?

Don't remember, but it was probably Kiss.

First song you asked for by name in a record store?

I do remember going into a store and asking for a copy of The Clones of Dr.Funkenstein by Parliament for my sister, and having my eyeballs pop out when I saw the cover.

First song you requested on a radio/tv show?

I distinctly remember calling WRCN out on Long Island and asking for "Unchained" by Van Halen.....and they played it. Whoohoo.

First song that made you cry?

Hmmmm. Dunno. Maybe "Song to the Siren" as done by This Mortal Coil. Just `cos it's so dang beautiful.

And the first to make you giggle?

Probably something by Spike Jones, like "Cocktails for Two" or something.

First song you didn't "get" and then suddenly "got" at a later date?
beat happening - our secret, also joy division - love will tear us apart

First song you requested on a radio/tv show? you know ive never actually done this

I'm gonna go with Parliament's "Flashlight"; thanks dad!

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Dead Milkmen's "Punk Rock Girl"; a time before hormones introduced depression and anxiety into my chemical system.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

The Beatles "Rocky Raccoon"; on high-speed too, so it sounded like chipmunks.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

"When a Man Loves a Woman"; ha ha I was only 12!

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Also "When a Man Loves a Woman"; same girl, same day!

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

I once danced with a girl at a wedding to "Take 5". She was amazed I knew how to waltz so well; so was I!

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

A vacation tape-deck staple for my entire family during my youth = Fishbone's self-titled debut album (thanks again dad!). Any of those songs will make me think about those drives.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

*Virginity = honestly, I think Kool Keith's Sex Style was playing when it happened, I shit you not (it was her CD too)

*Graduation = THEY would've had it be "End of the Road" by Boyz-II-Men, but thanks to ganja, booze, graduation parties, and drunken singalongs with girls, instead it was "We Are the Champions"

*First Job = Cake's "Rock and Roll Lifestyle"

*First Sacking = I was fired from a dishwashing job; I listened to Beck's "Soul Sucking Jerk"...best song you could ever listen to after losing a shit job

*Retirement = mmm not quite yet...get back to me on this one

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Radiohead's "Where I End and You Begin", about 5 minutes ago.

"Bohemian Rhapsody"; many a 12-year-old air-guitar alone-in-bedroom headbanging theatrics accompanied this song.

"horse with no name," america

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

"burning down the house," talking heads

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

"more than a feeling," boston

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

"panama," van halen

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

"sledgehammer," peter gabriel

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

n/a

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

"let it bleed," the rolling stones

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

first fuck: songs about fucking, big black (how appropriate)
graduation: H/S: "dancing days," led zeppelin ('cause that was what the band at the house party was playing). no songs re college and law school graduations.
first job: "jump," van halen
first firing: "i think i can take mike tyson," dj jazzy jeff and the fresh prince
retirement: n/a

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

can't think of one right now

Nickalicious - if you can waltz (3:4) to Take Five (5:4) you'd make one hell of a percussionist!

More succinctly put than I was ever gonna manage - I've been wrestling with the maths of that one since I read it too! The mind boggles...

What is the first song you remember hearing?

Puff the Magic Dragon. It used to make me cry.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

Mull of Kintyre. I was about five. I LOVED it. We had one of those records players whereby, if you left the arm up, the needle would go back and start again (like an early repeat play function). I used to listen to it all day. My neighbours hated me.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Something by Cud. We had just come back from seeing them in concert. (we didn't break up due to his dodgy taste in music).

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Down aisle to Here Comes The Bride as I am a traditionalist. First dance as husband and wife "The Wonder of You".

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity

"Treasure" - The Cocteau Twins

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Most of when I went to see the Trash Can Sinatras the other night. Or the Mogwai live tape I was playing in the car on the way home from said gig.

First song that made you stop whatever you were doing and run onto the dancefloor?

"Unbelievable" by EMF.

First song that made you think, "I've been wasting my life, how have I not heard this before?", thus signalling a radical change in your taste?

"Soon" by MBV.

First song you didn't "get" and then suddenly "got" at a later date?

Someone already said "Love Will Tear Us Apart"? It was that, but probably because I heard Paul Young's version first.

First song you and your significant other totally agreed on? And disagreed?

Agree - very little. Probably Eminem, or Frank Sinatra, or Elvis, or the Divine Comedy.

Disagree - virtually everything that I hold dear. He is anti-twee, anti-jangle, and dismisses anything without a "proper singer". Though usually Belle and Sebastian provokes the biggest outbursts.

First song you played on a jukebox?

"Pretend We're Dead" by L7 or "Loaded" by Primal Scream were the staples of the university bar jukebox for a long time.

First song you asked for by name in a record store?

"Making Your Mind Up" by Bucks Fizz

First song you requested on a radio/tv show?

"Obscurity Knocks" by the Trash Can Sinatras on my local radio station. They didn't play it.

First song that made you cry?

Puff the Magic Dragon (see above)

And the first to make you giggle?

John Kettley is a Weatherman.

Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Suzie - sitting on the floor of an empty apartment, my mother, who was the manager, painting the walls, a small 70s hi-fi playing the Everly Brothers.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Youth. Aww Youth. Primal Scream, Loaded; rushing home to put this on and being blown away by it - I discover a new world called Primal Scream - the next month I buy everything I can and smoke everything I can to Primal Scream.

And listening to Grateful Dead - American Beauty with Charlatans, S/T effort - Here Comes a Soul Saver, etc. Remembering going out and buying Beach Boys - Pet Sounds and Gram Parsons solely on the recommendation of Andrew Innes and Bobby G. Remember getting in a car with Sly and The Family Stone and Charlatans 'North Country Boy' playing; hot summer day, smoking hash that was heavily laced with other substances, and just driving and listening to the grooves of 'There is A Riot Going on'. Going over to Tony's house and becoming slowly obsessed with Nashville Skyline.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

The Pretenders first album; when I was twelve, having scoured the local mall for punk tapes in the A and A bargain bin, I go further to this strange record shop, Randy's Record Trade, where a stoner-hippie sits behind the counter, chainsmoking pot - behind him is a huge poster of the Pretenders. He tells me it's purdy cool, I believe him and I buy the first album. I also buy Butthole Surfers 'Hairway to Steven' and Sonic Youth 'Sister' on his recommendation.

Another memory is when Dustin was living in a squat full of hippies and drugs he invited me up to come and stay for a week. Freedom. That's what it felt like, freedom from everything and everyone. I bring a cassingle of Stone Roses Fool's Gold with me. He tells me of a cool record store; the temp is hot, hotter than any temp in a tennesse williams short story, we get drunk on drugs and beer and buy 'Teardrop Explodes' and 'Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Courage by Sarah Polley and Moon River by Henry Mancini (plus unplugged Audrey auditon)

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

A number of songs, unfortunately during the first break up session, Phil Collins 'Against all Odds' was playing in the background of the coffee shop. But records, I can't necessarily play ever again, because it is very painful would be:

Smog: I can drive forever.
Bruce Springsteen: Point Blank
Spirtualised: Broken Heart
American Beauty Soundtrack

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Who remembers their wedding?

Pivotal moments in your life:

virginity,

Farmer John by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

First sacking (!)

Elliott Smith - X/O

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Coming in on the bus, listening to NERD and Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited.

Seeing Richie Hawkins dj. I was so off my face I don't know if you would call it dancing?

First song that made you think, "I've been wasting my life, how have I not heard this before?", thus signalling a radical change in your taste?

The Millennium - Begin. Started the lust of soft-pop in Doom-e world.

First song you didn't "get" and then suddenly "got" at a later date?

Hmmm. Hard one. Soft-pop, The Association's Greatest Hits. Never got it at first and then became obsessed with 'Along Comes Mary'

First song you and your significant other totally agreed on? And disagreed?

Sugababes 'Freak Like Me' and Justin Timberlake 'Cry me A river'

Disagreed? On a daily basis but the last time was when I was playing Electronic Concept Orchestra and she shouted out 'Doom-e, don't you think we've heard the moog version of Hey Jude enough?'

First song you played on a jukebox?

'Tiffany' I think We Are Alone now - back-to-back with a Love and Rockets b-side to So Alive, for hours at the cafeteria and then I would leave.

First song you asked for by name in a record store?

Primal Scream - Sonic Flower Groove

First song you requested on a radio/tv show?

Morrissey - Late Night On Vaudeville Street - just to see if they would play it!

First song that made you cry? And the first to make you giggle?

Cry? God Only Knows.

Giggle? William Shatner - The Transformed Man

that'll do...

The Imperial March From Star Wars
-The same, though when I was a few years older

Alice In Chains, "Heaven Beside You"
-When I first started listening to popular music, this, along with some stuff by Pearl Jam/Nirvana was high on my list

Bad Religion, "Anesthesia"
-The migration from popular rock n' roll to the punk music of the seventies and eighties; also big at this time were the Ramones, Dead Kennedys, Descendents and (sigh) Pennywise.

Minutemen, "History Lesson, Part 2"
-The beginning of my interest in more "indie" less "punk" underground music--coincides with the beginning of High School, more or less.

Lightning Bolt, "Ride The Skies"
-Seeing this band live for the first time, this song made me shake and jump around and lose my shoes and not care.

Van Morrison, "Cypress Avenue"
-Lost my virginity to this song.

The Smiths, "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others"
-Listened to this album while driving to my High School graduation.

Neutral Milk Hotel, "Oh Comely"
-This song and its accompanying album soundtracked many summer nights lost in a haze of marijuana smoke and making out a few years ago.

Palatka, "The State of 6 PM"
-Because I still love punk rock, and because it inspires me even though I should have outgrown it by now.

1)"Feets Too Big" by Fats Waller
2)"You Are My Sunshine" (traditional folk song)
3)"Hot Line" -- the Sylvers
4)"A House Is Not a Home" -- Luther Vandross
5)"Lonely In Your Nightmare" -- Duran Duran
6)"Train In Vain" -- The Clash
7)"When The Poets Dreamed of Angels" -- David Sylvian
8)"Bonny" -- Prefab Sprout
9)"Only Shallow" -- My Bloody Valentine
10) "Always Never" -- Porcupine Tree

(note : my answers aren't in response to each question specifically, but are in response some of those questions generally. Nor are many of my favorite bands represented! These tunes are the ones that, had you been able to time-travel into key moments of my life, you would have heard playing in the background). :)

What is the first song you remember hearing?

Probably "You Keep Me Hangin' On" or "I Hear a Symphony" by The Supremes.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

It would have to be either "Valleri" by The Monkees or "Hello, I Love You" by The Doors.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

Some nursery rhyme-type record. I think it was "London Bridge" as done by a group of little children.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Oh God, this is going to make me blush.... Um, "Don't Turn Around" by Ace of Base. There, I've said it.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

"Freedom" by George Michael! That relationship was tainted from the start, so I was glad to get it over with, and the celebratory nature of the song truly fit in with my mood at the time.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

It hasn't happened to me yet, and I have no idea how to answer this question other than the standard Wedding March music. I do adore the song "Like to Get to Know You Well" by Howard Jones, but it would be more appropriate at the reception than at the actual ceremony itself.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Probably "Love's Great Adventure" by Ultravox. That was the song I was most into when I went on my first trip without my parents.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Well, I've, um, only gone through two of those, so I'll have to say Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" was running through my head around the time of my HS graduation (mainly because of (a.) the baccalaureate Mass we went through and (b.) the line "reach out and touch faith" was stuck in my head at the time), The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love" was appropriate for my college graduation (because it was on a Friday and it was suitably carefree and light), and I can't remember what was going through my head the time I got my first job because it was so far back.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Ladytron, "Seventeen". Hands down.

And I know the above listed = more than 10, but this was so hard to think about in the end that I had to really think hard before I could even narrow it down to two. Save for the last one.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

"Hatebreeder" by Children Of Bodom.

"Junior's Farm," by Wings

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

"Come and Get Your Love," Redbone

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

Something off of Sesame Street 2, I think

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

"Back in Black," AC/DC

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Hmm. I'm gonna guess that it was "Angie" by the Rolling Stones, since that was her name.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Uh, I once performed "Bette Davis Eyes" in a cover band at a wedding. I was the best man, too!

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Drawing a blank on this one.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity,

"Heard Through a Wall," Del Amitri

graduation,

dunno, but for some reason I lit on "Moving in Stereo" by the Cars. I remember being really drunk.

first job,

"Freedom of '76," Ween

first sacking (!), retirement

N/A

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

"Come All Ye," Fairport Convention

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
'queen of hearts' - juice newton

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
'funkytown' - lipps inc. (mom's but I played it alot)

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
'west end girls' by pet shop boys

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
"on my own" by patti labelle and michael mcdonald

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment? n/a

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
'love my way' by psychedelic furs (if we're getting technical - it was with an aunt who was a HUGE psychedelic furs fan), 'that's the way love goes' by janet jackson (if we mean 'on our own')

Pivotal moments in your life:
first kiss - r.e.m. 'fall on me'; second - janet jackson
virginity - the smiths - louder than bombs
graduation - bjork 'human behaviour', sonic youth 'sugar kane'
first job - the cranberries 'linger'
first sacking (!) - the who 'a quick one while he's away'
retirement - n/a

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
skwatta kamp - "all around"

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" (my brother bought this album and listened to it a LOT)

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
The Who, "My Generation"

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
The Jam, All Mod Cons album was playing. Probably "A Bomb In Wardour Street" or something

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
Kinda obvious, but The Smithereens "Strangers When We Meet"

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?
Never married.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
Duran Duran - "Hold Back The Rain" (one of the few tapes I had when I took my first solo road trip)

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?
Virginity - R.E.M.'s Lifes Rich Pageant
Graduation (high school) - The Dream Syndicate, The Days Of Wine And Roses
Graduation (college) - Spiritualized, Lazer Guided Melodies, The Church Priest = Aura
First job - (same as college graduation)
First sacking - never been sacked from a job, but I walked out of one once. Think I was listening to Stan Ridgway's "I Wanna Be A Boss" when I got in the car.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
The Church, "Numbers"

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
Beatles "Don't Let Me Down"

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
Can't remember. Probably that novelty "John McEnroe" song - which I still think is ace!

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
2Unlimited or some bullshit

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
Smashing Pumpkins: Soma

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
Apart from school trips - Gorky's Zygotic Mynci "Hush the Warmth"

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
Joseph Nothing - "Disc O'Nostalgia"

Something by the Beatles. "Here Comes the Sun," I think.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

"Sunshine on My Shoulders" by John Denver makes me think of my very early youth (3-5 years old) when it was just my mom and me and six cats living in a tiny apartment.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

"Rock Island Line" by Lonnie Donegan (?). That would be really cool if it was Donegan's version. I'm not sure though. It was one of a handful of 45s I played on the little kids record player I had when I was 5.

First song that made me cry: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland when a neighbor girl played it for me from her window when I was 4 or 5 years old. I was embarrassed but couldn't hold back the tears.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

I'm not sure what, if anything, was playing at that moment, but I associate "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield with my first big crush.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend? can't remember

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

I'm not married yet, but Love's Forever Changes is our album and Little Willie John's "Let Them Talk" might be our song.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

"Beatrice" by Sam Rivers. My girlfriend and I took a trip up to Pennsylvania and New Jersey and I found a vinyl copy of Rivers' Fuchsia Swing Song at a record store in Princeton. I made a tape of it at her aunt's house and played it quite a bit during our drives from place to place. "Beatrice" is a beautiful tune Rivers wrote for his wife. It always reminds me of the happiness and carefreeness of that vacation and that time when I was fresh out of college.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

I don't associate any songs with losing my virginity, but as for my first really meaningful sex: Charles Gayle's Consecration

first job: "Villier's Terrace" by Echo and the Bunnymen. I bought Crocodiles not long after starting it.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

The strange/beautiful poetry and overlayed vocals of Kiwi Animal's "Just How Close," and the powerful, over-the-top drama of "Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" by Van Der Graaf Generator, which I just heard for the first time just recently.

Louis Armstrong - "What a Wonderful World"

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Hmm...probably "Cut Your Hair" or "Nightswimming".

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

"I've Just Seen a Face"

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

the Descendents - "Silly Girl"

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Modern Lovers - "Hospital", the Mekons - "Last Dance"

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

n/a

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Springsteen - "Darlington County" (yes, I know it's cheesy), Pere Ubu - "The Modern Dance"

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Virginity: Low - "Starfire"
Graduation: Big Star - "On the Street"
First Job: the Smiths - "Reel Around the Fountain"

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Dizzee Rascal - "I Luv U"

Michael Jackson's "Beat It". Thank God it wasn't the first face I remember seeing.

2) Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Probably Lenny Kravitz' "Are You Going To Go My Way" and the tortue of having a gorgeous thirteen year old girl living next door to me as a hormonal and ugly thirteen year old boy.

3) What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

Um, we had a show here called "Young Talent Time" in the 80s. It produced such wonderful artists as Debra Byrne (drug addict), Tina Arena (burnt out), Jamie Redfern (did a tour with Liberache as a boy and apparenly things one can only dream about occurred) and Danielle Minogue (I rest my case). Anyway, from that show this now AWOL guy named Joey Perrone released a hideous record in 1987 and the song was called "Let's Get Together" I think.

4) Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Honestly? "Eric the Bunyip" or something like that. I was four. We kissed on the jungle jim. Seriously.

5) How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Anything by Bjork. Notably "You've Been Flirting Again."

6) Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Yeah right. Jesus, you scared me there for a second. I once had a dream that it will be Lamb's "Gorecki", but I fear that would become too melodramatic. Crying mothers, aunts and grandmothers are enough, especially when they are genetically Italian.

7) Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Instead of a song - the entire International Recording of Les Miserables. Apologies.

8) Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Virginity - the Star Wars theme. Don't ask.
Graduation - The Police's "Roxanne" or Depeche Mode's "It's No Good."
First job - Naked Eyes "Always Something There to Remind Me". In 1997 I was obsessed with music from 1984.
First sacking - Elevator music. And I wasn't sacked. I left my job at a Movie Theatre after two shifts because upselling made me want to vomit.

9) What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Tori Amos - "Some Kind of Fairy Tale"

1. 1st tune: 'Up, up and away, in my beautiful balloon'.

2. childhood: Anthony Newley's version of Pop Goes The Weasel on my Grandma's record player.

3. 1st crush/snog: 4th July Asbury Park (Sandy) - Bruce Springsteen.

4. school breakup: something by The Hooters, probably Karla With A K.

5. 1st vacation sans olds: Prodigy - Charly.

6. college breakup: Placebo - Lady Of The Flowers

7. london #1: Six By.Seven - European Me

8. london #2: Blusher - Apple

9. (future) wedding: Dinosaur Jr - Start Choppin'

10. most recent 'wow music rules': Fi-Lo Radio - Cracked Bones Cheap Skin

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
-Elvis Costello- "year of the roses" I liked that song when I was very small... I had a story that went along with it.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
-Dave Matthews, 'Crash Into Me' Ewww...

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
-Radiohead, 'knives out'

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?
-first kiss: the Cardigans, _Life_ album
-virginity: Portishead, _Dummy_
-graduation: Suede, that first single before the sans-Butler album
-first time on dancefloor: Madonna, 'like a prayer'
-quitting last job: Radiohead, 'subterranean homesick alien'
-last summer living at home: Pavement, _crooked rain crooked rain_

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
-Sigur Ros, 'svefn-g-englar' or Shirley Collins, 'All Things Are Quite Silent'

The first song you had to like in secret cos it was socially unacceptable to do so?
-anything by Madonna, all my junior high friends hated her.

The first song that made you want to hunt down and maim its composer/performer?
-To this day, I go into horrific spasms when confronted by Heart's 'All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You'. I would gladly maim the parties responsible.

What soundtracked your first trip in a plane? And your last?
-Last: Bettie Serveert and Kid A

The first song that made you spontaneously dance on your own in your bedroom? And the last?
-1st, probably something Madonna. Last, Shannon Wright, 'within the quilt of demand'

First song you didn't "get" and then suddenly "got" at a later date?
-I was quite confused by PJ Harvey's 'Sheela na-Gig' for a few listens on the radio, but one afternoon walking to school, it got stuck in my head something fierce.

Additionally:

First song I became obsessed with as a kid: Mr. Mister, "broken wings"

Nervous breakdown musical tourniquet on repeat play for infinity: Shannon Wright, 'dirty facade'. I will never tire of this song.

Hanging around the Mississippi river all alone, driving in snow: Lida Husik's first two albums

Mind-numbing depression and sleeping pills: Tara Jane O'Neil, _In the sun lines_

Fond memories of a beautiful November weekend: Beth Gibbons, 'sand river'

Music for spacing out/going insane to: Charalambides, _Historic Sixth Ward_. It makes me feel nothing.

First songs I learned when teaching myself guitar: Nirvana, 'Polly'; Belly's 'Slow Dog'; the Auteurs; 'Showgirl'.

The last song that made me feel physically ill and want to run for cover: Melissa Etheridge, 'the weakness in me' overheard in grocery store

Last song that made me cry: Mmm probably some shannon wright live stuff, knowing me.

Last mix-tape track that made me sit up and take notice: Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars, 'Outlaws'

Last song stuck in my head: Edith Frost, 'evangeline'

What was the first song which made you realise there was more to this music lark than "stuff that's on in the background while I'm doing something else"?

Loving all responses thus far, nonetheless. Bless.

Oops, left one dangling there. That's what I get for drinking and posting.

Frankie Valli "Grease"

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

"I'm a little teapot"

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

"the Fame soundtrack"

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Duran Duran "Save a prayer"

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Rolling Stones - "Torn and frayed"

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Yet to have the pleasure :)

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Kate Bush "Wuthering Heights"

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Virginity - nope, can't remember.
Graduation - ABBA - "Dancing Queen"
First Job - Left Field "Fanfare of Life"
First Sacking - what can i say, I'm an angel 0:-)

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Moloko "Cannot Contain This"

What is the first song you remember hearing?
I remember my parents and their friends jamming the Beatles songbook. I remember they played 'Love Me Do' every night by request of a four year old me.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
Love Me Do, or for an older but still hazy youth, Parents Just Don't Understand by the Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff. My Mom had this 'rock and roll high school, class of 89' or so tape with that on it. Or another tape. I want those tapes again.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
I think '(Just Like) Starting Over' at my Grandma's house, and my stepmom, Grandmother and I doing the twist. In like 1998.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
That was a big time for Ozma in my life, well, a big month. Something by them I'd bet.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
Oh, God, Rock DJ by Robbie Williams was ALL OVER London when I went.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Virginity - hah! Alex's Song by Blur - not the greatest choice
Graduation - no particular music that day, but it was a time of Pixies-saturating in my headphones
First Job - Bright Eyes' Fevers & Mirrors. Hey, I was 16.
First Sacking - Right around the time of 'Without Me' by Eminem and 'Hotel Yorba' by the White Stripes.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
Blur - Music Makes Me Crazy. It's on soulseek. It's what Music Is My Radar tried to be.

Everything Beach Boys (learned to dance)

Abba's "Fernando" (1st song that made me cry, no personal reason, just its story)

"16 Clumsy and Shy," Smiths (first played for me by my first hopeless crush, a curly-haired gymnast)(The only time I was invited to her house, around Xmas, I rearranged her very religious mom's blocks that spelled "Santa" to say "Satan" -- the woman was snotty to my ma at church, couldn't help myself.)

First song off the Pogues' Rum Sodomy and the Lash: the first time a friend played the perfect song as I was waking up with a teenage hangover.

"Streets of Where I'm From are Paved With Hearts Instead of Gold" by the Old 97s: pretty much sums up the Extremely Drunk Early 20s.

Dictators "Stay With Me": such songs provided life force during EDE20s.

"Ma Look What the City Did to Me" -- the Rock*A*Teens -- my self-pity song when I moved from WI to Chicago and was still a waitress at a shitty bar, except paid more rent and had to spend an hour on the el just getting to work.

"Common People" by Pulp -- life begins.

"M.C. Escher" by Momus -- was playing when I finally fell in love.

(But ya know, so many many holes in there... is this another "ha ha, you're a silly asshole if you try to answer my question" questions? I realize I've got half these titles wrong probably...)

I remember being horrified by 'She Loves You' by The Beatles. I just thought it was horrifically vulgar to say 'Yeah' instead of 'Yes'. Must've been in my pram.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

'I Can See For Miles' by The Who. I was listening to it in July while driving into LA, and that catapult thing happened. Back to 1967 or whenever it was, when I wrote my first song, 'I Can See Japan' in a plagiaristic act of homage.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

'Tous Les Garcons et les Filles' by Francoise Hardy. Our Chinese lodger, Olly Kwan, left a stack of Vogue 45s in our house when he left, and I got them.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

'We Don't Talk Anymore' by Cliff Richard.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

'Upside Down' by Magazine.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

I got married accompanied by my own song 'Rhetoric' at the Glasgow Hillhead registry office, 1994.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

'At Times Like These' by Matt Munro.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Virginity... hmm, it might have been something off 'The Correct Use of Soap'. Graduation would have been 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' by Jacques Brel. First job... maybe some Scritti Politti. 'Wood Beez'? Never been sacked, not retired yet.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

The way the music follows the speech patterns in 'The Cave' by Steve Reich.

Remember, plot your life in TEN songs...

______________________________________________________________________

What is the first song you remember hearing?

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

What was the first song which made you realise there was more to this music lark than "stuff that's on in the background while I'm doing something else"?

The first song you had to like in secret cos it was socially unacceptable to do so?

The first song that made you spontaneously dance on your own in your bedroom? And the last?

The first song that made you want to hunt down and maim its composer/performer? (bear in mind, most people don't make any distinction between these two til they're about 15)

The first song you were gutted to discover was a cover version?

The first song you recorded off the radio? Or, if you're too young for such archaic practices, your first download?

The first thing you bought in a shop, having already owned a copied version, cos it was *just too good* not to own?

And the first song you bought twice, for whatever reason?

At really important exam time, which song(s) were swimming around your head just when you were meant to be remembering really important stuff?

What soundtracked your first trip in a plane? And your last?

1. Song which reminds me of first actual album owned, which involved the sacred act of putting stylus to vinyl: Def Leppard's "Rock of Ages."
2. First real crush: "Mr. Roboto" Styx. I learned the words to this song to impress a girl at her pop-and-chips birthday party.
3. A moment of discovery: When hearing "God Save the Queen" on a scratchy mix tape, I realized that there was music I wasn't hearing on the radio. My mom also hated it. A plus.
4. "Debaser" by the Pixies was a further introduction, heard it during my first year of university. Impacted by record buying for the next four years.
5. "Fools Gold" That Stone Roses song was part of the soundtrack for one incredible summer.
6. "Easy Read" by the Trash Can Sinatras. That song was my in with one particular girl.
7. "Buggin' Out" by Tribe Called Quest: The moment when I realized that "rap" was much. much better than I had ever allowed.
8. "Clampdown" Bought London Calling CD on day one of a 14-day roadtrip from Ottawa to Nova Scotia and back. We listened to it every single day of the trip.
9. "Mountain to Sound" by Spoon. The last song to make me a rabid fan of a particular band. I'm wearing a Kill the Moonlight T-shirt right now.
10. "Kung Fu" The Dirtbombs' version. The last song I listened to before adding my self indulgence to this thread.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto? I Feel Fine - The Beatles

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone? Manchester - The Times

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend? Smokie

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment? Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents? Holidays in the Sun - Sex Pistols

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"? Don't look back into the sun - Libertines

So, I know it's been a while since anybody responded to this, and I know it's entirely frivolous...

But anyway. It's a great idea. And I'd love to read what you think. However drunk or otherwise fucked you may be. It's guaranteed to be interesting. Please, tell me the songs that matter. Even if you HATE them. It's important.

Ah c'mon now...

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
"Square Biz" - Teena Marie really any funky 78-81 semi-electric semi-disco stuff like Teena Marie, Mary Jane Girls, Zapp, early Prince via my older sister who is still awesomely dance-fixated

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
some Disney compilation, i'll narrow it down to Mary Poppins singing "spoonful of sugar". I was playing those old-school spoken word comic book records before that though(Spiderman, Wonderwoman)

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
With a little Help from my friends - Joe Cocker. I had a crush on this girl and I think the very first episode of Wonder Years sent me over the edge into infatuation(probably made it seem attainable). Imaginary scenarios for hours.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
"I'm Your Angel" - Yoko Ono or anything else she had put on the mixtape she gave me.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?
Forever Mine by the O'Jays is what I picked for the "first dance" song. I don't think we had any wedding march music

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
Jam on It by Newcleus It was the buzz at YMCA Camp Bluff Lake '85?, hardly a kid that didn't learn it verbatim during the course of the week. well ok hardly a black kid.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
Pretty, Pretty Star - Billy Corgan

"Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band. Or was it a music box that played "Clair de Lune?"

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

See above.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

See above.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

First? God, who knows. Probably "She's an Angel" by They Might Be Giants.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

"Always" by Erasure.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

N/A

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

I've taken far more road trips than proper "vacations," so I nominate "I'm Not Scared" by Pet Shop Boys as a permanent tape-deck fixture.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

Virginity - "Anon" by Low.
Graduation - "He's On The Phone" by Saint Etienne
First job - "You've Got Everything Now" by The Smiths (No, I never had a job, because I never wanted one)
First sacking - I remember only a dull hum of righteous indignation
Retirement - Probably something by Steve Reich. I expect to fully hate all pop music by then.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Something on shortwave, probably Bulgarian.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
Maniac Mansion Theme

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
Beatles - Back In The USSR

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
Rod Stewart - Maggie May

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
Lightning Bolt - Dracula Mountain

i'm 17.

Dude! So true!

I don't care how old you are!

KOKOMO by the Beach Boys

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

"Candy Girl" by New Edition (Straight Up 1988 RollerRinking, yo!)

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

uhh, maybe "superstar" by the carpenters

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

Regrettably, "With or Without You" by U2 was my jam then.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

"Screenwriter's Blues" by Soul Coughing

Pivotal moments in your life:
virginity: "Flavor of the Week" American Hi-Fi
graduation: "Graduation Song (Friends Forever)" Vitamin C
first job: "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" The Smiths

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

"I Need Somebody to Love Tonight" Sylvester

wow, this is like the least representative list of music for me imaginable, but it answers the questions and I am drunk so, "oh well!"

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?
Queen's Radio Ga Ga and Wham's Club Tropicana remind me very strongly of visiting my uncle in Kenya when I was five and lying in bed upstairs, listening to the adults have a party in the garden and wondering if the tropical noises on Club Tropicana were real or not.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
Ulp ... Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
Cathy Dennis 'Too Many Walls'.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
I remember Everything But The Girl's 'Missing' being all over the radio at that time and being horribly appropriate.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?
n/a

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
All of Alanis Morrisette's 'Jagged Little Pill', No Doubt's 'Don't Speak' - it was seven girls in a caravan in Cornwall. We had one car between us and Gemma, car owner, was the Alanis fan.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity (Way Out West's 'The Gift' moving onto Westlife's cover of 'Father and Son' - radio playing) , graduation (I have no idea, probably some God-awful Gatecrasher trance thing), first job (Rue Da Silva's Touch Me and RPM's 'Baggio Track' always remind me of my first proper job).

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
Arcade Fire 'Power Out' on the radio this morning.

I'm not sure, but the first song I remember really loving was "Banana Boat Song" by Harry Belafonte. I still love it. He had a concert here in Finland a couple of years ago, and I tried to get someone to gop there with me, but none of my friends could understand why I'd want to see someone like Harry Belafonte.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Probably the aforementioned "Banana Boat Song" or some old Elvis tune off my dad's record collection.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

I'm a child of the cassette age, so it was tape rather than vinyl, but the tune was "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Can't remember, but I do remember that when I was teenager who had lots of unrequited crushes, "All That I Need Is to Be Loved" by Moby seemed to speak the truth to me.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

I don't think I associate any tune with it, it was a rather undramatic event. When I broke up with my first

I'm not sure, but the first song I remember really loving was "Banana Boat Song" by Harry Belafonte. I still love it. He had a concert here in Finland a couple of years ago, and I tried to get someone to gop there with me, but none of my friends could understand why I'd want to see someone like Harry Belafonte.

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

Probably the aforementioned "Banana Boat Song" or some old Elvis tune off my dad's record collection.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

I'm a child of the cassette age, so it was tape rather than vinyl, but the tune was "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

Can't remember, but I do remember that when I was teenager who had lots of unrequited crushes, "All That I Need Is to Be Loved" by Moby seemed to speak the truth to me.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

I don't think I associate any tune with it, it was a rather undramatic event. When I broke up with my first real girlfriend (i.e. someone I was with more than two weeks), I was at a rock festival, but I can't remember what band were playing there.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

There was no music playing when I lost my virginity. I usually don't have music playing with sex, though maybe some nice, slow tune might've made that first time a bit less nervous.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

The last song that really hit me was "Here Comes the Sun" by Nina Simone - a beautiful rendition of the original. The last song that made me cry was "Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)" off the Mary Poppins soundtrack.

Good to see The Guardian are stealing my idea, NINE YEARS later!

http://sixsongsof.me

and very badly too.

What is the first song you remember hearing? Rocky Burnett - Tired of Toein' The Line

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall? Roger Glover feat Ronnie James Dio - Love Is All
The australian ABC tv channel used to show the music video for this song in between children's programming - along with some other clips like a weird Mike Oldfield thing with morris dancers in it. But Love is All was my favorite because it was animated. Mum used to call me into the living room whenever it came on.

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?
Olivia Newton John's 'Heart Attack' off her Greatest Hits Vol2 album. I got it for my 8th or 9th birthday. Because it was my very own record, Mum & Dad let me put it on the turntable all by myself.

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?
Skid Row's 'I Remember You', on my walkman on a bus trip through central Australia for school. I'm sure there were other crushes before that but that was the first one I remembered having a song.

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?
Pearl Jam's 'I Got Id'. The Merkinball EP came out that day.

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?
We didn't walk down the aisle. Honestly the only song I can think of is the song my cousin used for her wedding dance a few years before my marriage - Exile's "I Wanna Kiss You All Over". Cracked me up.

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?
Cheap Trick's 'Hot Love'. Driving up to Willits from Sacramento the first year I moved to the States, listening to the Cheap Trick boxset Sex America Cheap Trick all the way there.

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?
Virginity - Jane's Addiction -Pigs in Zen
First job - Prince - 7
havent' been sacked, haven't retired.

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?
Man - Spunk Rock (live) from the Greasy Trucker's Party.

What is the first song you remember hearing?

"Puff The Magic Dragon"/Peter Paul & Mary

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

"You Can't Hurry Love"/The Supremes (hazy memories of watching the Ed Sullivan Show w/grandparents)

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

"Nowhere Man"/The Beatles

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

"New Rose"/The Damned

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

"Walk This Way"/Aerosmith (high school gf, huge crush was college)

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

my wife instructed the DJ at our wedding, as she handed over the long varied playlist we assembled, "don't play anything by Chicago especially 'Color My World'" so what played as we did our ceremonial slow-dance...yeah you guessed it

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

"Opportunites"/Pet Shop Boys

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

virginity "Speak Now"/Cheap Trick

graduation "Don't Fear The Reaper"/Blue Oyster Cult (HS) "A Forest"/The Cure (college)

first job "Magnificent Dance"/The Clash

first sacking "Pay To Cum"/Bad Brains

retirement ...

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

"Call Me Maybe" j/k actually could be anything, music's fantastic even when I don't like it

What is the first song you remember hearing?

My mom singing "Danny Boy"

Which song catapaults you back to a youth you otherwise barely recall?

"Hungry" by Paul Revere and the Raiders

What's the first song you remember putting on a turntable and lowering the needle onto?

Probably "She" by The Monkees

Which song was playing when you first suddenly realised you had a huge crush on someone?

I don't recall this event set to specific music. But I still remember one of my first crushes told me she loved "Precious and Few" by Climax (I hated it.)

How about when you broke up with your first girl/boyfriend?

"Just Another High" by Roxy Music

Which song accompanied you down the aisle/other appropriate wedding moment?

"Sea Of Love"

Which song reminds you of your first vacation without your parents?

"Members Only" by Bobby Bland

Pivotal moments in your life: virginity, graduation, first job, first sacking (!), retirement - what was your earworm at these moments?

virginity: Tangerine Dream Phaedra LP

graduation: Tubes debut LP

first job: Boston debut LP

first sacking: XTC English Settlement LP

What was the last song you heard that made you think, "wow, music's fantastic sometimes"?

Happens to me almost daily. Today it's "Do Do Do" by Commonwealth Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emxD3DH86XQ