racing around, to come up behind you again

one of the best things i can think of about music is the feeling associated with rediscovering an old favorite. a song, album, or artist that you had forgotten, or at least not paid much thought to recently, for one reason or another. i had one of those moments the other day as i was reading in my room, and it was a truly revelatory experience. it had been at least a year, maybe even sixteen months since i had listened to Dark Side of the Moon (which is one of my all-time favorite albums, so the fact that i didn't listen to it for over a year doesn't make much sense...did i mention that i'm musically lazy?), and as i happened upon it while browsing through my library i decided to give it a listen. and as has been happening quite a bit lately (due to various sounds, smells, and tastes...or maybe just plain old nostalgia), i was immediately transported to an incredibly detailed, almost physically tangible moment from my past. this particular one was over a decade and a half ago, and i was sitting in the passenger seat in my dad's car as we flew down the Jersey turnpike with the sunroof open while strange cash register sounds and a woman's wailing emanated from the speakers.

i was never really into music as a child; i never had any Raffi tapes, and as far as i recall i was never big on the birthday song either. but being 9 years old and hearing Dark Side of the Moon for the first time, something changed. calling it an "awakening" sounds lame and pretentious, but i think that's the most accurate way to describe it. and listening to it last week after such a long hiatus brought about a similar reaction; joy, euphoria, sedation, and excitement, all at the same time.

so, i encourage you, give it a try. find a forgotten artist or album from your past, grab a seat, and sit back and let the flood of memories overwhelm you. i'm betting you won't regret it.