Driving home after the school run this morning, I couldn’t help but smiling.
The song ‘Cool For Cats’ by Squeeze came on the radio, and it immediately put me in a good mood.
Cool For Cats was one of my favourite songs as a child. With the inhibition of youth, I’d leap onto the couch (much to Mum’s displeasure) and dance around wearing a pair of dark sunnies like the chick in the video clip. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, suddenly I feel just like a little kid again when I hear this music.
Lyrics like:
“I fancy this, I fancy that
I wanna be so flash
I give a little muscle
And I spend a little cash
But all I get is bitter and a nasty little rash
And by the time Im sober
Ive forgotten what Ive had
And everybody tells me that its cool to be a cat
Cool for cats”
Isn’t it funny how music can do that to you? Take you back immediately to the sights, sounds, smells and feelings of another time and place.
I’m not talking about favourite music which you love to listen to time after time. I’m more interested in music that instantly brings back a flashback or an emotion you thought you’d forgotten.
Apart from Cool For Cats, here are a few from my life so far:
The Lord Is My Shepherd – A hymn played at my Grandad’s funeral, which never fails to create a knot in my tummy and lump in my throat.
Never Ever (All Saints) – Was popular about the time of my divorce and it seemed to encapsulate everything I was feeling at the time. I remember bawling my eyes out when Never Ever came on the radio as I drove up the range to Maleny, where I’d gone to seek refuge with my brother and his family. Even though I find the lyrics a bit messy, they really hit a chord. Take a look:
“A few questions that I need to know
How you could ever hurt me so?
I need to know what I've done wrong
And how long it's been going on?
Was it that I never paid enough attention?
Or did I not give enough affection?
Not only will your answers keep me sane
But I'll know never to make the same mistake again"
Thankfully, there are loads of fun songs too. Including:
Love Shack (B-52s) – Brings back memories of dancing around handbags with my mates after a few cheap wines during my uni days at Toowoomba. Never fails to bring a smile to my face.
I see you baby, (Shakin’ that ass) by Groove Armada – This song was playing the entire weekend when I met Kyle. It’s not exactly the most romantic song, but we still catch each other’s eye and exchange sneaky smiles when we hear it.
Butterly (Crazy Town) – Was on the telly the first time I breastfed baby Chase after bringing him home from hospital.
“Come my lady,
Come come my lady
You’re my butterfly
Sugar.baby”
The lyrics may not be relevant, but the music really brings back the wonder of being a new Mum, the exhaustion I was feeling, my struggle with breastfeeding, and that lovely newborn baby smell.
Big Girls Don’t Cry (Fergie) – The first ‘adult’ song (ie, not Wiggles, Hi-5 or nursery songs) that Harmonie started singing along to on the radio. It makes me smile because she puts so much emotion and feeling into it!
And there are loads more, but I could be here forever if I get started!
What are your musical memories?
The song ‘Cool For Cats’ by Squeeze came on the radio, and it immediately put me in a good mood.
Cool For Cats was one of my favourite songs as a child. With the inhibition of youth, I’d leap onto the couch (much to Mum’s displeasure) and dance around wearing a pair of dark sunnies like the chick in the video clip. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, suddenly I feel just like a little kid again when I hear this music.
Lyrics like:
“I fancy this, I fancy that
I wanna be so flash
I give a little muscle
And I spend a little cash
But all I get is bitter and a nasty little rash
And by the time Im sober
Ive forgotten what Ive had
And everybody tells me that its cool to be a cat
Cool for cats”
Isn’t it funny how music can do that to you? Take you back immediately to the sights, sounds, smells and feelings of another time and place.
I’m not talking about favourite music which you love to listen to time after time. I’m more interested in music that instantly brings back a flashback or an emotion you thought you’d forgotten.
Apart from Cool For Cats, here are a few from my life so far:
The Lord Is My Shepherd – A hymn played at my Grandad’s funeral, which never fails to create a knot in my tummy and lump in my throat.
Never Ever (All Saints) – Was popular about the time of my divorce and it seemed to encapsulate everything I was feeling at the time. I remember bawling my eyes out when Never Ever came on the radio as I drove up the range to Maleny, where I’d gone to seek refuge with my brother and his family. Even though I find the lyrics a bit messy, they really hit a chord. Take a look:
“A few questions that I need to know
How you could ever hurt me so?
I need to know what I've done wrong
And how long it's been going on?
Was it that I never paid enough attention?
Or did I not give enough affection?
Not only will your answers keep me sane
But I'll know never to make the same mistake again"
Thankfully, there are loads of fun songs too. Including:
Love Shack (B-52s) – Brings back memories of dancing around handbags with my mates after a few cheap wines during my uni days at Toowoomba. Never fails to bring a smile to my face.
I see you baby, (Shakin’ that ass) by Groove Armada – This song was playing the entire weekend when I met Kyle. It’s not exactly the most romantic song, but we still catch each other’s eye and exchange sneaky smiles when we hear it.
Butterly (Crazy Town) – Was on the telly the first time I breastfed baby Chase after bringing him home from hospital.
“Come my lady,
Come come my lady
You’re my butterfly
Sugar.baby”
The lyrics may not be relevant, but the music really brings back the wonder of being a new Mum, the exhaustion I was feeling, my struggle with breastfeeding, and that lovely newborn baby smell.
Big Girls Don’t Cry (Fergie) – The first ‘adult’ song (ie, not Wiggles, Hi-5 or nursery songs) that Harmonie started singing along to on the radio. It makes me smile because she puts so much emotion and feeling into it!
And there are loads more, but I could be here forever if I get started!
What are your musical memories?
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