The Memories of Songs

My favourite songs all evoke specific memories of my past; or rather, I associate some good memories in my past with certain songs. It could simply have been the song that played on the radio while I was in the car, or a song that was played over and over and over again by others. Some of these are:

• Joyride by Roxette – played over and over and over by a girl when we were on a school tour to Natal when I was in St 4. You guessed it, she got the nickname Joyride on that tour.
• Go West by the Pet Shop Boys. It played on the radio when we left Oudtshoorn in the small Karoo, South Africa, after an athletics camp in January "19-voertsek". Now for all that don’t know, the Small Karoo is dry (semi arid) and it gets hot in summer, easily above 45C at midday – even 9pm it is still above 30C. Go West triggers that specific memory.
• The song that is playing now: “Lisa se Klavier” by Koos Kombuis (Afrikaans song by a South African musician) reminds me of one camping trip in St 8 when we were sitting around a “kamp vuur” (camp fire) in the bush. The one guy pulled out his guitar and started playing it – To imagine it, close your eyes and imagine looking at the stars (the location is 100km from the nearest city and 30km from the nearest town): it is a clear night with all the stars in full armour and just the sounds of the night, the fire, sea in the distance, and the guitar playing: "Lisa se Klavier". Ahh, it takes me back to a great time.
• Fight the moonlight by Leann Rimes reminds me of the time I worked as a trucker’s assistant and going to the movies with this big truck. I mean, have you ever seen someone take a Mercedes Benz truck to go to the movies?

Then there are also the songs that remind me of certain movies. Yes, most often it was a song in the movie, or the actual theme song, but hearing that song reminds me of the movie:

• Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls will always remind me of City of Angels. Why do I remember it – a good friend of mine at that time (unfortunately we have lost touch since) was enthralled by the movie.
• The theme song of Titanic: My Heart will Go On (by Celine Dion) reminds me of freedom and let your spirit fly away – follow your dreams, as Jack did in the movie.

Ag, then there is just other songs that evoke emotion in me – Impi by Johny Clegg will always remind me of South Africa, my only home. I am passionate about this country, this continent and all her people. If I close my eyes as I listen to the song, I can see the Zulu warriors / boys playing in the field, proud of themselves, their nation and this country. My association is probably with the scenes from the movie Shaka Zulu that I watched as a boy growing up in the Eastern Cape. Other songs that remind me of home: Scatterlings of Africa (also by Johny Clegg and Savuka), Africa (by Toto) to name but a few. Not to mention the songs that reminds me of my university days – the best days so far in my life. It will not be the best days of my life, because I know that those still lies ahead of me.

There is the songs that Supersport used in their ads on TV: Its my Life (by Bon Jovi), Real Good Time (by Anke Pietrangeli). Then there is also the song: More Than a Feeling by Boston that SAB (SABMiller now) used for one Castle Lager advert: South Africans having a braai on the roof of an apartment block in Manhatten, New York. And I don’t even drink beer.

A discussion on songs won’t be complete without mentioning the reason for most songs being written: Love. It my case it is not so much love, but romance. Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh will always remind me of the formal dance I attended with a woman friend at varsity. At another dance, it was: Lou Vega's Mambo No 5 – not a great song, but we had a great time that night. I can’t even think of all the other songs that remind me of other girl friends, or the songs that just reminds me of what is still to come.

That is why I find songs remarkable – it is my trigger so good memories. It reminds me everyday that today is another day to make new memories. Just writing this is another memory for the future. Songs make me dream, and it is these dreams that keep me working and toiling to reach each day.