Let the Music Play!
Soundtrack 1, Side A

So here I am … one week later, and the Songbird Soundtracks — the playlists I’ve been building — officially begin.

An admission: I’ve been working on the first playlist for over a month … ever since I decided to start the blog. I had a rough structure and even some songs in mind when I began thinking about my initial playlist, but I wasn’t confident about the best way to proceed. As a champion overthinker often does, I suffered from the phenomenon known as analysis paralysis:

Analysis paralysis (or paralysis by analysis) describes an individual or group process where overanalyzing or overthinking a situation can cause forward motion or decision-making to become “paralyzed,” meaning that no solution or course of action is decided upon within a natural time frame.

Wikipedia

Yep. Sounds about right.

So what did I do? I used the lessons James Clear and Jon Acuff taught me, of course. I broke the process down into a bite-sized list of questions:

• How Many Songs Does a Soundtrack Have?
• What Are Some Songs About Music or Soundtracks?
• How Do Certain Songs Affect Your Feelings?
• Are There Certain Songs That Represent My Own Life?

How Many Songs Does a Soundtrack Have?

I mentioned in my intro post why I wanted to call the blog a soundtrack. So, with all due respect to Led Zeppelin, it really made me wonder: How many songs does a soundtrack have?

Yes, I did actually Google it, but I didn’t find a definitive answer. I looked at movie soundtracks, soundtracks for Broadway shows, and even soundtracks for TV series. The official soundtrack for the recent blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick has 12 selections on it. The Broadway sensation Hamilton includes about 23 numbers ranging from a little over a minute long to five minutes long. The original soundtrack for the long-running television show Grey’s Anatomy includes 15 songs, but over the course of its 19 seasons (and yes, I’m still watching it!), at the time of this writing, viewers have heard portions of over 2,100 tunes. And currently, that includes three different versions of the unofficial Grey’s theme song, Chasing Cars. I’ll talk more about that in a future Soundtrack post, I’m sure … if I can get through it without crying. (If you know, you know.)

Don’t worry, I’m not about to share a playlist that includes 2,100 songs. Although with only a little more time, I’m sure I could. I don’t know how many songs are saved in my own personal Spotify playlists, but just the number of songs I’ve liked stands at 3,721 songs at the time of this writing, and I have no doubt it will continue to grow. 

My investigation of soundtracks showed me pretty much what I thought: Soundtracks usually include somewhere between 10-20 songs, give or take. Some have fewer, some have more. I’m old enough to have grown up listening to media that required you to change tracks or sides; we listened to vinyl albums that you had to flip over to hear all the songs. My first car — a 1967 Mercury Cougar that I wish I still had today — came with a radio that I replaced with an aftermarket 8-track player, and my later vehicles included cassette players until the advent of compact discs (CDs), which allowed us to listen to an entire album without any switching of sides at all! 

So since this is a soundtrack for my life, I’ve decided to include 24 songs. As I’ve compiled the songs, I’ve referred to the original short questions I mentioned above, and, as an ode to my youth and its variety of media, I’ve broken the first soundtrack into two separate playlists or “sides,” if you will.

I’ve been listening to these playlists for the past couple of weeks … adding songs, deleting songs, re-adding them, and changing the order of the songs. (See earlier discussions of overthinking.) In my mind, the playlists follow the progression of my life, and I’ll tell you why I chose the songs I included as I go. Sometimes, I debated choosing other songs; I’ll tell you about some of those, too, and I may even compile a playlist of “bonus tracks” that includes them. 

So welcome to Side A of Soundtrack 1. It’s finally time to let the music play!

What Are Some Songs About Music or Soundtracks?

As I listened to songs about music, few of them seemed to be about music for music’s sake. Most of them touched upon how music makes us feel.

“Magic Power” by Triumph
Album: Allied Forces (1981)

You could say this song is about music itself, or you could say it’s about how music makes you feel. Either way, you’d be correct. It’s part of the soundtrack of my life for both reasons, and because it was popular “back in the day” in 1981, I’m pretty sure I listened to it while “cruising the Valley” (or driving up and down Valley Mills Drive, for those who are uninitiated in Waco, Texas, teen traditions).

The lyrics say it best:

Something’s at the edge of your mind
You don’t know what it is
Something you were hoping to find
But you’re not sure what it is

Then you hear the music
And it all comes crystal clear
The music does the talking
Says the things you want to hear

I’m young, I’m wild, and I’m free
Got the magic power of the music in me

Triumph, “Magic Power”

Seeing as how I’m single, I suppose you could say I’m free; however, I’m certainly not young, and I’m not in the least bit wild (anymore). But you know what? The lyrics of this song still apply to me:

The world is full of compromise
And infinite red tape
But the music’s got the magic
It’s your one chance for escape

Turn me on, and turn me up
It’s your turn to dream
A little magic power
Makes it better than it seems

This song really makes me wish I still had that ‘67 Cougar….

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“Soundtrack to Your Life” by Ashley Parker Angel
Album: Soundtrack to Your Life (2006)

I never really followed Ashley Parker Angel, whose initial claim to fame was his role in the band boy band O-Town, featured in the first season of the reality television series Making the Band in 2000. I may or may not have watched some of the show … I honestly don’t recall, but it does seem like something I would at least check out. The title of the song makes it an obvious choice for inclusion on my playlist. But it actually does have a place in my personal soundtrack. I bought my first house in 1999, and with that came having to do yard work. I don’t recall where I first heard the song, but I liked it, and I included it on a playlist I listened to on my first iPod as I mowed the lawn.

Written as a message to Ashley’s son, the lyrics are a nice summation of life:

Your life is a flashback
A question, a photograph
A statement, a story, a struggle
A chance to laugh
‘Cause if you don’t laugh you cry
A last crescendo when you die
So hit the rewind and listen
It’s the playback
The soundtrack to your life

Ashley Parker Angel, “Soundtrack to Your Life”

My favorite line: ‘Cause if you don’t laugh, you cry

Ain’t that the truth?

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“Music Is Life” by Beres Hammond
Album: Music is Life (2001)

Beres Hammond is a Grammy-nominated Jamaican Reggae singer/songwriter whose career has spanned over 50 years. Until I started the Songbird Soundtrack, he wasn’t a part of my personal soundtrack, but I love the lyrics to his song “Music is Life,” which begins:

I’m sorry for the folks
Who don’t love music
‘Cause how could you not love the music?

Beres Hammond, “Music is Life”

My sentiments exactly.

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“Anyway” by O.A.R.
Album: In Between Now and Then (2003)

I first became familiar with O.A.R. when their song “Shattered” was popular on the Billboard charts back in the aughts. In fact, that song was on my aforementioned yardwork playlist, too. On first listen, “Anyway” may not seem like a candidate for a playlist about music:

Never say that nothing ever came from a mouse, anyway
Might crawl to your house and take that cat away
Don’t let the world tell your mouth that it must say
Nothing ever came from a mouse, anyway
Anyway

Never say that nothing ever came from a gnat, anyway
Might fly in your ear and then he done flown away
Oh that aggravation now can’t you ever say
Nothing ever came from a gnat, anyway
Anyway
Anyway yeah
Well anyway

O.A.R., “Anyway”

Alrighty, then. Mice and gnats seem like annoyances if you ask me.

But keep listening…

Came into my life, ripped my blues away
Oh that stereo is my best friend every day
Something always comes from the music, anyway
Anyway
Anyway yeah
Anyway

There’s even a reference to the Bob Marley song “Trenchtown Rock” in the song:

A wise man once said
A wise man once told me, he said
When music is the one thing that surrounds you
You feel no pain

Something always comes from the music for me, anyway … that’s for sure.

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“Sing” by Carpenters
Album: The Singles: 1969–1973

Although “Sing” is ostensibly simply about singing, we’re heading into “How Do Certain Songs Affect Your Feelings?” territory with this song. If any song on this playlist is a part of my soundtrack, it’s this one. Although it first appeared on the album Now and Then, I remember it from the Carpenters album The Singles: 1969–1973, which barely survived endless playings on the old turntable at my childhood home. I loved it so much that I recently bought a copy to play on my new turntable.

(No, I never would’ve imagined vinyl albums would come back, either. And yes, now I’m kicking myself for selling my massive vinyl collection off for pennies on the dollar years ago. In my defense, they took up a lot of space. And who knew?)

When I listen to “Sing,” I think of my mother.

I have memories of her singing this song in her lovely contralto voice, something she passed on to me … well, the contralto part, at least. We both loved Karen Carpenter’s voice — also in the contralto range — because besides it being incredible, we could sing along with her without having to sing above our break very often! I’ve read that Karen actually had a range of more than three octaves, but most of her songs — and those on this album in particular — fit right in that sweet spot alto and below range Mother and I shared.

You know how you sometimes have what seem like very specific memories of snapshots of time in your life? (Or is that just me?) I recall one of those snapshots from when I must’ve been in second or third grade. I have a very distinct memory of Mother picking me up from school early one day because I was sick. Not being able to take off work for one reason or another, she took me to her office near Downtown Waco, and I remember us driving down Bosque Boulevard on the way there, singing this song along the way. Maybe I’m not remembering it correctly, but in my memory, it’s like it happened yesterday.

Another thing I remember from that same time in my life is the show Sesame Street, which has featured “Sing” more than once over several years … even in recent years:

I can’t remember where I read it, but someone called Carpenters songs “sugary sweet.” I’m not sure I agree; listen to “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Goodbye to Love,” and “Superstar,” just to name a few that show Karen’s mastery of the melancholy.

And at the risk of sounding melancholy myself, how I wish I’d been able to follow Karen’s advice for much more of my life than I have:

Don’t worry that it’s not good enough
For anyone else to hear
Just sing
Sing a song

Carpenters, “Sing”

Sweet or melancholy, Carpenters songs transport me back to my childhood.

And now I’m all in my feels. My goddaughters would love it.

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“Music” by Madonna
Album: Music (September 18, 2000)

Madonna’s role in my personal soundtrack is that of icon. Her almost meteoric rise to fame occurred in the early-to-mid 80s … the end of my high school years and into my college years. She was the “Queen of Pop,” a hit not only on the radio but also in dance clubs.

(Although I wasn’t nearly as popular as Madonna, I too spent quite a bit of time in dance clubs — especially New Wave dance clubs — back in my college days, believe it or not.)

The song “Music” from the album of the same name is far from my favorite Madonna song. For me, that honor would probably go to “Vogue,” “Live to Tell,” or “This Used to Be My Playground.” But it’s about music, and I like it, so there’s that.

It also gets bonus points for using the word bourgeoisie correctly:

Music, makes the people come together, yeah
Music, mix the bourgeoisie and the rebel

Madonna, “Music”

Incidentally, Madonna is going on tour again later this year. Anybody want to go with me?

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“Good Music” by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Album: Good Music (1986)

You may have seen the name Joan Jett and expected to find “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” in this slot. I don’t blame you; I almost included it. But I kept coming back to “Good Music.” The intro actually reminds me of another Joan Jett song, “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” but to me, the coolest thing about “Good Music” is its musical references to other great songs. The Songfacts® website includes the following from songwriter and producer Kenny Laguna:

“We were trying to say good music as opposed to hack music. The bells are from ‘Rag Doll’ by The Four Seasons — if you listen carefully, it’s the exact same part. We took a bit from ‘Take It Easy’ by the Eagles. We had The Rolling Stones, we had ‘Bang A Gong’ by T-Rex. It was just a little homage, we’d take just a tiny bit, not long enough to get sued, but just little bits like the rhythms or melodies. We had ‘Layla,’ if you listen carefully you can hear a little bit of ‘Layla’ in the fade. We also had ‘Lean On Me’ in it.”

Songwriter/Producer Kenny Laguna

You can even hear Darlene Love and the Beach Boys singing backup on the tune!

Yes, it always feels so good to hear good music.

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“Let the Music Play” by Good Charlotte
Album: Cardiology (2010)

Perhaps the namesake of this first soundtrack should’ve been the lead single of the playlist. But in my mind, it answers the question “How do Certain Songs Affect Your Feelings?” better than simply being a song about music:

There’s a song that you can find
In every moment of your life
In every tear you’ve ever cried
In every painful last goodbye
So when the system breaks you down
Just listen to the sound

What do I do when it’s all been done
When the words have all been sung
And I’ve given up the best of me
Let the music play
When I’m hanging by a thread
And I’ve got nothing to give
Let the music play

Good Charlotte, “Let the Music Play”

Let the music play, indeed.

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“Music” by Joss Stone and Ms. Lauryn Hill
Album: Introducing Joss Stone (March 9, 2007)

In 2007, VH1 dissected Joss Stone’s third album release, “Introducing Joss Stone,” as part of its music series “Album Autopsy.” The series examined the process of making an album, and it featured Stone’s songwriting, her recording sessions, and the creation of the cover art for the album. The series also included interviews with Joss Stone herself and with people who worked on the album.

The lyrics speak of the singer’s love for music:

Music
I’m so in love with my music
The way you keep me
Movin’
Ain’t nobody doing what you’re doing
Doing, doing

So bring me back to the day
When tape decks press play
DJ drop the needle till the
Record just break
You are my sunlight
You are the one mic
That sound so sweet because the beat just inspires me
Oh

Joss Stone and Ms. Lauryn Hill, “Music”

Rap music is not usually my genre of choice, but to me, the section rapped by Common is pure poetry about music:

Colors of sound
Scales and beauty
Audio scenery
Electric love and
Rhythmic symmetry
Written in memory
Beautifully crafted scenery
Complex or simplicity
Sonic energy
Piercing insensitivity
Sympathetic poetry
For some even identity
Collective entity
Something to belong to
A source of energy
The possibilities
Wave lengths and bandwidth
Higher vibration
Energizing entire lands with
Or stand for
Lovers to walk hand in hand with
Then plan for
Sanctuary chords
Harmony, melodies, even riffs can be
Disguised human essence
Sonically bottled ecstasy
Or melancholy
Agony blues angst
Exercising anxieties
Fueling entire societies
Making economies
Stimulating, generating
Inspiration synonymously
Entertaining expression
Intangible, invisible, but undeniable
Plays the language of excitement on survival
Some call it tribal
But perspective is everything
Connected to everything
Some say collectively everything

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“Oh Yeah (On the Radio)” by Roxy Music
Album: Flesh + Blood (May 23, 1980)

Roxy Music’s role in my personal soundtrack is more related to the song “More Than This,” which was popular back in those New Wave dance clubs I mentioned earlier.

[Fun Music Trivia Fact: “More Than This” was covered by one of my favorite bands, 10,000 Maniacs and also by Grammy winner Norah Jones. You’ll inevitably learn how much I love a good cover as the Soundtrack progresses!]

“Oh Yeah” tells the story of a song’s accompaniment to the beginning of a relationship, its presence during the relationship, and the memories evoked when one hears the song after the relationship has passed.

Despite my current state of singleness, even I have at least one song that reminds me of young love lost. 

Interesting observation: ”Oh Yeah” is also kind of meta; the title of the song is also the name of the song mentioned in the lyrics.

Are There Certain Songs That Represent My Own Life?

A few paragraphs ago, I wrote about remembering snapshots of time when we hear certain songs, and that’s precisely what the next couple of songs are about.

“And The Radio Played” by Lady A
Album: Golden (May 6, 2013)

The Songfacts® website includes the following from Lady A member Dave Haywood:

“What I loved about this song was that every single one of these song titles that we reference has such a distinct memory to a certain point of time growing up,” he said. “We thought it’d be great to have a song that mentions these songs because it makes you think about the memories. Instead of just listing out the memories, we list out the songs, and you go straight to those places. So, it was a really cool way to acknowledge a lot of the greats before us in country music, a really cool way to tip our hat to a lot of songs that, I mean, when were 10 years old, 15, growing up even younger than that, getting turned on to country music.”

Dave Haywood, Lady A Singer/Songwriter

I love the video for this song. The song includes three choruses. all sung to the same music, but each chorus has lyrics that include titles of country songs that were popular in three different decades: the 80s, the 90s, and the earlier 2000s. For example, here’s the first chorus (with the song titles underlined):

And the radio played, old flame, I’ll still be loving you,
I was country when country wasn’t cool, forever and ever, amen,
Always on my mind again and again, swinging and smoky mountain rain,
He stopped loving her today.
We laughed, we cried the 80’s way,
And the radio played

First chorus of “And the Radio Played,” by Lady A

If I counted correctly, there are nine song titles in that chorus alone. In the video, as each title is sung, the cover art for the album on which that song was featured appears on the screen. Just seeing the artwork for some of those songs makes me nostalgic. I like country music a lot; however, pop has been my go-to for most of my life. But “And the Radio Played” names songs that were popular during three distinct periods of my own life … periods in which country music was prominent:

• In the 80s, I was introduced to country music while I was a student at Texas Tech University. I even bought my first pair of Justin Roper boots that were all the rage back in 1986 or so.
• In the early-to-mid-90s, I was teaching in the small town of McGregor, Texas. One of my responsibilities was to work in the front office for one or two periods a day, helping with attendance or whatever tasks the office staff needed. The secretary at the school had country music playing pretty much all day, every day. It was then that I learned the 90s country tunes referenced in the second chorus.
• I mentioned that I bought my first house in 1999. In the early 2000s, some dear friends of mine helped me remodel that house, accompanied by the songs named in the third chorus and many, many more.

I’m not gonna lie … I get a little teary-eyed watching the video, and more than once, the song has made me misty as I’ve listened.

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Songbird by Barbra Streisand
Album: Songbird (May 1978)

Fitting that I include a song named “Songbird,” yes?

Truthfully, the fact that the song is titled “Songbird” is purely coincidental. Firmly planted in the “How Do Certain Songs Affect Your Feelings?” category, this song just speaks to me. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s also sung by one of the most amazing vocalists of my lifetime. But more than that, its lyrics express feelings I’m sure we’ve all experienced. 

Sometimes when I’m all alone
I sing my saddest song
Lonely and no one can see
This time the song is for me

Barbra Streisand, “Songbird”

Full disclosure: All my life, I’ve struggled with feeling that I’m never “enough.” I’m not sure why, really, but I always have. Maybe it’s because I come from a broken home. Maybe it’s because I don’t have a family of my own. And maybe because of all these “maybes,” I can’t help but think of Steel Magnolias’ Truvy right now … maybe it’s because the elastic is shot in my pantyhose. Who knows? 

But seriously, who wears pantyhose these days?

OK, seriously, seriously. My life is so different now that those things rarely cross my mind anymore.

But occasionally, they do. I wonder if the mournfulness of “Songbird” pierces my soul more deeply because of them.

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You can find the complete Soundtrack 1, Side A playlist on Spotify:

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