Eric Church’s country hit song, "Springsteen," completely nailed it with its quote, “Funny how a melody sounds like a memory.” This quote is true in every way possible. How many of you can say that when you hear a song, you subconsciously think of something that happened in your past — something that has some significance to you? Maybe it makes no sense to you why that song reminds you of that moment in your life, but the fact is that it does, and that is what makes that song unique to you.
Music has a way of grasping its surroundings and creating unity. Its powerful lyrics and even melodies alone can create unexplainable chills down your spine. It is this power that makes people choke up or even shed a tear when seeing their favorite artist perform live at a concert. It is why we listen to some songs over and over again and why we immediately change songs that give us bad vibes. Music has so much power over our lives. There is a reason you pick a song to play as your first dance at your wedding or why you and your best friends have that song you play each time you drive around town. These songs create memories that you never will forget.
So what are the memories that make up the fall semester of 2014 at University of Wisconsin-Madison? Here is one list of memories that has been created by all sorts of melodies.
1. Living in the sorority house:"Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, "We dem Boyz" by Wiz Khalifa
2. Gamedays:"Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners
3. Before the Night Begins:"All Night Longer" by Sammy Adams, "The Mother We Share" by CHVRCHES, "Don’t Tell ‘Em" by Jeremih, "Reflections" by MisterWives
4. As the Night is Winding Down:Again, "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, "In Too Deep" by Sum 41, "I’m Just a Kid" by Simple Plan, "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi
5. Being Home:"American Kids" by Kenny Chesney, "Dancing in the Moonlight" by Toploader
Maybe some of these songs are fitting for you but with a different memory in your life. In the end, music is a unifying melody that can create conversation, argument and memories for a lifetime. Let these songs, or the ones that have created your own memories, remind you of all the good times you have had and let them remind you of all the bad times and the hardships that you have been able to surpass. As this year comes to an end and a new one awaits us, let these memories remain in the past, and get ready to take on new and even greater ones in the year to come.
