Nostalgia Rush: Songs That Bring Back Memories

**Galefore** · 08-01-2009, 09:02 PM

This is dedicated to that rush back in time you experience when you hear specific songs. These few refer to areas of time that were very special to me and, from the opening note, always bring me back, however few years it may have been, to those times.

1) The Left Banke - Walk Away Renee

Click to view video.

This brings me back to the winter of 2004. I was sitting around in my recently rearranged room, sort of taking in all of the changes. My TV was set to an oldies station on those Dish radio channels you get with the receiver. I remember just sort of sitting there, and then hearing that opening string part and immediately being captivated. It struck a chord, somehow, in my emotions and a tear came to my eye as the singer sang the chorus. Ever since then, the string section of this song comes hurtling immediately back to mind every time I hear something remotely similar, and it pretty much comprised exactly what I found 'beautiful' in music.

2) Dark Cloud 2 Soundtrack, by Tomohito Nishiura - Time is Changing

Click to view video.

A little before the Left Banke song, somewhere in 2003 and 2004, I picked up Dark Cloud 2. I played it nonstop over the course of that time, periodically calling up a friend of mine and in a way sort of racing him to the ending. As we drew near that point, a lot of personal matter happened, leaving a lot of sentimental bits of my past wedged within the nooks and crannies of the game's story. One night, as I finally defeated that last boss, I called my friend to brag and found that he too had just moments ago reached the final battle. After he defeated him, we both sat, silent, as the credits rolled, and this song played. It still tugs at my heartstrings every time I hear it, despite its almost insane amount of corniness.

3) The Who - Baba O'Riley

Click to view video.

In late 2006 and early 2007 I began carrying around a CD player that had a CD 'mixtape' of sorts of various Muse and The Who songs. Baba O'Riley became the one I grew the most attached to, with its opening synthesizer riff and mid-song call of "Teenage Wasteland!" always warping my brain back to before I had a laptop or iPod and when I'd sit there with my CD player and listen to my little mix CD while replaying Pokemon Red. Pretty bizarre time, really.

4) Crowded House - Fall at Your Feet

Click to view video.

This one is a little later. It was one of the songs I listened to often in my 'emo stage' (which, once again, had nothing to do with emo music and instead had to do with a quasi-suicidal and ridiculous 'depressed' attitude), which I believe happened somewhere summer 2007. For some reason I came across this song on Urge and listened, and found myself attracted to the chorus and the melodies. This song will always remind me of those times where I would stay up all night, thinking myself in some way edgy, and post in WoT with this kind of thing playing in my headphones. Those were some pretty cool times.

Also from that time was the Gary Jules Mad World cover.

Click to view video.

Yeah, I know none of these were that long ago, but for some reason these songs will play and I'll always feel that those times are captured in the spirit of each tune on the list. That nostalgia rush always lifts my spirit and makes me smile.

Any of your own?

Maximum Spider · 08-01-2009, 09:35 PM

The original Power Rangers theme.

Jere · 08-02-2009, 03:45 PM

(Videos will be showv when i have good connection again, im in the middle of the forest in a caravan and a 5 HP petroldriven generator provides the computer with electricity)

Time is tight - Booker T and the MGs
Just got into Soul and had just moved in to my new appartment, that lonely guitar and Organ in the intro is just wonderfull and the ending is great, should be in every car chase.

Turistens Klagan - Cornelis Vreeswijk
This song on a dark night in a car northbound towards the area that i consider home, i didn't know then but it have grown to me and i play it now and then on my accordeon or piano.

Everybody Needs somebody to love - Blues Brothers
The one song that made me start to listen to Blues and would eventualy make me listen to Rock and so on.
You could call it the Spark that made me decide to start learning other instruments and give me the love for music.

Panfan · 08-02-2009, 07:02 PM

The Hold steady altogether sounds nostalgic, imo. They make me remember summer and barbeques and stuff.

Bomby · 08-04-2009, 12:12 PM

I approve of this topic. I'm going to try to put this in order for my own sake...

Believe it or not, I was a big Jimi Hendrix fan in elementary school. Dad practically raised me on Hendrix. Beatles too, but to a lesser extent, especially since I listen to more of them now than I ever did back then.

"Buddy Holly" by Weezer will always be a song linked to my youth. When we got our Windows 95 computer waaaay back in the day, it came with a CD that had the music video for the song on it, which I would watch over and over again. It's possibly a contender for the song I've listened to the most times in my entire life without ever getting sick of.

They play a lot of music from THE NINETIES where I work, so lately I've been hearing a lot of music from the days of my youth. One particular song that's stuck out to me lately is Paula Cole's "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone." I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the song when it came out, though I remember a classmate joking about half the Dallas Cowboys football team being in jail around the time that song came out.

A lot of the pop music from around that time just gives me that nostalgic rush, though. "Your Woman" by White Town, "Barely Breathing" by Duncan Sheik, "Lovefool" by the Cardigans, "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve, "Why Does It Always Rain on Me" by Travis, "Semi Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind, "One Headlight" by the Wallflowers, "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger, and pretty much anything by the Cranberries.

Lenny Kravitz & REM = Sixth grade

Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers = Seventh Grade

My most recent roommate music played a lot of music that reminded me of listening to the "Alternative Rock" station back in middle school: "Flavor of the Week" by American Hi-Fi comes to mind, and a lot of stuff from around that time. Most of the titles escape me right now.

Jay-Z vs. Nas feud music, Cypress Hill, 2Pac & Eminem = 8th grade. Also got really into OutKast and Wu-Tang later on in the year, but I never really get nostalgic over them because I've never stopped listening to them.

"Part II" by Method Man & Redman = First day of high school. I also liked Canibus, Cormega and Chino XL a lot that year... "Make You Feel That Way" by Blackalicious, "Tainted" by Slum Village. (R.I.P. J Dilla & Baatin!!!)

"Slow Jamz" by Twista - Sophomore year of high school, full stop. Also, "Spaceship" by Kanye West and "What We Do" by Freeway.

Ice Cube's Death Certificate = Junior Year of High School.

Also, anything from Aaliyah, Cam'ron's Purple Haze, Kelis' first album = Senior year of high school.

I really dug a girl toward the end of my senior year of high school. I used to listen to the song "Slow It Down" by Little Brother every day during that time period. I asked her out, she turned me down, I went crazy, she said five words that caused immense damage to my ego and overall mental health. That song haunted me for a long time whenever I heard it.

I took refuge in listening to the Smashing Pumpkins and Fiona Apple that summer. Also, "Rose in a Concrete World" by Cormega, and the better tracks off of Busta Rhymes' extremely uneven The Bang Theory. This music will forever be linked to battling self esteem issues.

I should also mention that I get really nostalgic hearing the music I was making at any given time, too.

A lot of dark sounding rap music is linked in my mind to overcast days and evenings during my first semester at UW Milwaukee. The songs that stick out most in my mind from this period in my life are "Black Boy" by Obie Trice, "Water" by the Roots, "D.T.D." by Masta Killa, and pretty much the entirety of Cappadonna's album The Pillage. A lot of songs remind me of the less dreary times in my dorm, like "Keep Fishin'" by Weezer, "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles, the theme from Once Upon a Time in China, "Life is a Musical" by OutKast, "Shura no Hana" by Meiko Kaji. It's rather strange that I feel nostalgic for what was only 2-3 years ago, but since I haven't been to Milwaukee much since I guess that makes sense.

Second semester freshman year of college will forever be linked to "Wrong Time Capsule" by Deerhoof, "I'm Blue" by the 5.6.7.8's, "Entre Dos Aguas" by Paco de Lucia, "Black Republican" by Nas & Jay-Z, and "Know Your Chicken" by Cibo Matto. Also, any songs from that appeared in Daria.

Two years ago, I was really getting into Britpop... and I'll stop here. I really could write a musical biography of my life.

Vapor · 08-04-2009, 01:56 PM

Jethro Tull was the very first band I got into, around early 2006. There are a few songs )and the entire Broadsword and the Beast album) that remind me of that time (seventh grade) and all the changes in my life at that time.

***Cosmonautical*** · 08-06-2009, 07:39 AM

God, like a thousand songs for me.

Panfan · 08-06-2009, 12:45 PM

The White Stripes = 5th/6th grade, this was my classic rock phase (probably the worst time in every person's life) but this didn't stop me from listening to the greatness that is The White Stripes. There's just something in them that I think appeals to most fans of rock music. Still listen to White Blood Cells or Elephant on occasion.

Weezer/Radiohead = late 6th grade/7th grade, this is when I got out of my classic rock phase and started listening to what pretty much got me into what I listen to now. I was already pretty familiar with The Blue Album by this time, but later on in 7th grade was puberty and Pinkerton started sounding a lot better than I remembered (Yeah that's right I listened to an emo album in my emo phase). Got into Radiohead from Gale and I still remember the first time I heard "Airbag". I believe I was talking to Gale or Phae and on AIM and then I put on some music (OK Computer) and just stopped typing completely. It was awesome. (I know, I'm lame)

Massive Attack/Jay-Z/Kanye West/Pixies/Anything Pitchfork Recommended = 8th Grade. This was the time where I started branching out from rock and alternative. Massive Attack and Jay-Z were very early on in 8th grade and Pixies (along with Sonic Youth and some other older alt. bands) peaked my interest early this year. I probably listened to Doolittle at least twice a day.

Spoon/The Hold Steady/Okkervil River = Right now.

t3hDarkness · 08-07-2009, 03:48 AM

Most of the songs I heard growing up were from the radio.

The only real nostalgia songs that get me are ones that bring up memories tied to the lyrics rather than the specific song.

Everclear - Father of mine.
I love the band and their music, but whenever I hear that one I start into a frothing rage of teary eyed father hatred that eventually leads into a rant against ending in ground teeth and smashed objects.
Knowing that the song is autobiography is even more painful.

Carrie Underwood - Jesus Take the Wheel
Heard this song every fifteen minutes at one of my dead end jobs and spent a lot of time tearing the lyrics apart with co workers.

Some Cds have special meaning, like the soundtrack to The Crow which launched me into a long string of researching older bands and original songs.
A couple of Indy bands from small cities I used to live in,
Older Powerman 5000 which was really just a means to get closer to a certain girl, and Rage Against the Machine which was the same but for Katie (cutie, kittie, collar) damn, she was different from any girl I had even known before.

08-04-2009, 12:12 PM	#5
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	I approve of this topic. I'm going to try to put this in order for my own sake... Believe it or not, I was a big Jimi Hendrix fan in elementary school. Dad practically raised me on Hendrix. Beatles too, but to a lesser extent, especially since I listen to more of them now than I ever did back then. "Buddy Holly" by Weezer will always be a song linked to my youth. When we got our Windows 95 computer waaaay back in the day, it came with a CD that had the music video for the song on it, which I would watch over and over again. It's possibly a contender for the song I've listened to the most times in my entire life without ever getting sick of. They play a lot of music from THE NINETIES where I work, so lately I've been hearing a lot of music from the days of my youth. One particular song that's stuck out to me lately is Paula Cole's "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone." I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the song when it came out, though I remember a classmate joking about half the Dallas Cowboys football team being in jail around the time that song came out. A lot of the pop music from around that time just gives me that nostalgic rush, though. "Your Woman" by White Town, "Barely Breathing" by Duncan Sheik, "Lovefool" by the Cardigans, "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve, "Why Does It Always Rain on Me" by Travis, "Semi Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind, "One Headlight" by the Wallflowers, "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger, and pretty much anything by the Cranberries. Lenny Kravitz & REM = Sixth grade Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers = Seventh Grade My most recent roommate music played a lot of music that reminded me of listening to the "Alternative Rock" station back in middle school: "Flavor of the Week" by American Hi-Fi comes to mind, and a lot of stuff from around that time. Most of the titles escape me right now. Jay-Z vs. Nas feud music, Cypress Hill, 2Pac & Eminem = 8th grade. Also got really into OutKast and Wu-Tang later on in the year, but I never really get nostalgic over them because I've never stopped listening to them. "Part II" by Method Man & Redman = First day of high school. I also liked Canibus, Cormega and Chino XL a lot that year... "Make You Feel That Way" by Blackalicious, "Tainted" by Slum Village. (R.I.P. J Dilla & Baatin!!!) "Slow Jamz" by Twista - Sophomore year of high school, full stop. Also, "Spaceship" by Kanye West and "What We Do" by Freeway. Ice Cube's Death Certificate = Junior Year of High School. Also, anything from Aaliyah, Cam'ron's Purple Haze, Kelis' first album = Senior year of high school. I really dug a girl toward the end of my senior year of high school. I used to listen to the song "Slow It Down" by Little Brother every day during that time period. I asked her out, she turned me down, I went crazy, she said five words that caused immense damage to my ego and overall mental health. That song haunted me for a long time whenever I heard it. I took refuge in listening to the Smashing Pumpkins and Fiona Apple that summer. Also, "Rose in a Concrete World" by Cormega, and the better tracks off of Busta Rhymes' extremely uneven The Bang Theory. This music will forever be linked to battling self esteem issues. I should also mention that I get really nostalgic hearing the music I was making at any given time, too. A lot of dark sounding rap music is linked in my mind to overcast days and evenings during my first semester at UW Milwaukee. The songs that stick out most in my mind from this period in my life are "Black Boy" by Obie Trice, "Water" by the Roots, "D.T.D." by Masta Killa, and pretty much the entirety of Cappadonna's album The Pillage. A lot of songs remind me of the less dreary times in my dorm, like "Keep Fishin'" by Weezer, "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by the Beatles, the theme from Once Upon a Time in China, "Life is a Musical" by OutKast, "Shura no Hana" by Meiko Kaji. It's rather strange that I feel nostalgic for what was only 2-3 years ago, but since I haven't been to Milwaukee much since I guess that makes sense. Second semester freshman year of college will forever be linked to "Wrong Time Capsule" by Deerhoof, "I'm Blue" by the 5.6.7.8's, "Entre Dos Aguas" by Paco de Lucia, "Black Republican" by Nas & Jay-Z, and "Know Your Chicken" by Cibo Matto. Also, any songs from that appeared in Daria. Two years ago, I was really getting into Britpop... and I'll stop here. I really could write a musical biography of my life. Last edited by Bomby; 08-04-2009 at 01:20 PM.

08-01-2009, 09:35 PM	#2
Maximum Spider Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: I'll take Street Fighter over Dragonball any day. Gender: Posts: 2,549 Thanks: 0 Thanked 191 Times in 126 Posts	The original Power Rangers theme.

08-02-2009, 03:45 PM	#3
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,648 Thanks: 404 Thanked 331 Times in 256 Posts Blog Entries: 3	(Videos will be showv when i have good connection again, im in the middle of the forest in a caravan and a 5 HP petroldriven generator provides the computer with electricity) Time is tight - Booker T and the MGs Just got into Soul and had just moved in to my new appartment, that lonely guitar and Organ in the intro is just wonderfull and the ending is great, should be in every car chase. Turistens Klagan - Cornelis Vreeswijk This song on a dark night in a car northbound towards the area that i consider home, i didn't know then but it have grown to me and i play it now and then on my accordeon or piano. Everybody Needs somebody to love - Blues Brothers The one song that made me start to listen to Blues and would eventualy make me listen to Rock and so on. You could call it the Spark that made me decide to start learning other instruments and give me the love for music.

08-02-2009, 07:02 PM	#4
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,250 Times in 1,338 Posts Blog Entries: 15	The Hold steady altogether sounds nostalgic, imo. They make me remember summer and barbeques and stuff.

08-04-2009, 01:56 PM	#6
Vapor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: WHERE IT'S AT Gender: Posts: 5,211 Thanks: 314 Thanked 413 Times in 249 Posts	Jethro Tull was the very first band I got into, around early 2006. There are a few songs )and the entire Broadsword and the Beast album) that remind me of that time (seventh grade) and all the changes in my life at that time.

08-06-2009, 07:39 AM	#7
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	God, like a thousand songs for me.

08-06-2009, 12:45 PM	#8
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,250 Times in 1,338 Posts Blog Entries: 15	The White Stripes = 5th/6th grade, this was my classic rock phase (probably the worst time in every person's life) but this didn't stop me from listening to the greatness that is The White Stripes. There's just something in them that I think appeals to most fans of rock music. Still listen to White Blood Cells or Elephant on occasion. Weezer/Radiohead = late 6th grade/7th grade, this is when I got out of my classic rock phase and started listening to what pretty much got me into what I listen to now. I was already pretty familiar with The Blue Album by this time, but later on in 7th grade was puberty and Pinkerton started sounding a lot better than I remembered (Yeah that's right I listened to an emo album in my emo phase). Got into Radiohead from Gale and I still remember the first time I heard "Airbag". I believe I was talking to Gale or Phae and on AIM and then I put on some music (OK Computer) and just stopped typing completely. It was awesome. (I know, I'm lame) Massive Attack/Jay-Z/Kanye West/Pixies/Anything Pitchfork Recommended = 8th Grade. This was the time where I started branching out from rock and alternative. Massive Attack and Jay-Z were very early on in 8th grade and Pixies (along with Sonic Youth and some other older alt. bands) peaked my interest early this year. I probably listened to Doolittle at least twice a day. Spoon/The Hold Steady/Okkervil River = Right now.

08-07-2009, 03:48 AM	#9
t3hDarkness Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I weep oily black tears of joy. Gender: Posts: 7,590 Thanks: 119 Thanked 418 Times in 306 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Most of the songs I heard growing up were from the radio. The only real nostalgia songs that get me are ones that bring up memories tied to the lyrics rather than the specific song. Everclear - Father of mine. I love the band and their music, but whenever I hear that one I start into a frothing rage of teary eyed father hatred that eventually leads into a rant against ending in ground teeth and smashed objects. Knowing that the song is autobiography is even more painful. Carrie Underwood - Jesus Take the Wheel Heard this song every fifteen minutes at one of my dead end jobs and spent a lot of time tearing the lyrics apart with co workers. Some Cds have special meaning, like the soundtrack to The Crow which launched me into a long string of researching older bands and original songs. A couple of Indy bands from small cities I used to live in, Older Powerman 5000 which was really just a means to get closer to a certain girl, and Rage Against the Machine which was the same but for Katie (cutie, kittie, collar) damn, she was different from any girl I had even known before.