"Don't forget the songs that made you cry"

Anyone who has known me for approximately 2 minutes will have gathered that I am a hopeless romantic in one of the worst ways. Therefore, the notion of never discovering an artist that you hold so deeply in every cell of your heart, is an utterly tragic story that brings a tear to my eye. This might sound another very basic (if you're thinking this - well done - you have discovered how fundamentally basic my brain is; gold star) but stay with me...

I can remember the exact moments I first heard my favourite songs. Admittedly, I wouldn't fall in love with the entire song at first, but there was a definite spark. A certain chord or the way the music moved very suddenly and unexpectedly would simply blow me away. A named example of this would be This Charming Man by The Smiths. The introductory sparkle to a band who would become my rock. A tale of such a beautiful boy in a spot of bother, with Morrissey guiding along an ambiguous understanding as he projected, slurred and groaned about how gruesome it was that "someone so handsome should care". I was fascinated and I was hooked for life. 

Although it seems simple to say that if you'd never heard that song you would be unaware of it so you would also be unaware of the effect it would've had. However, just imagine the effect of an artist on you being taken away. Those times you have "lay in awe on your bedroom floor" never happened. That song never soundtracked your relationship and eventual tragic break up. That song never comforted you when no one else stood by you. So just think of it not existing!?

Despite the fact it seems I have taken this topic slightly to far, it is scary to think how different you would be if you hadn't found your favourite artist. Personally, the music you like directly effects your opinions on particular issues, the clothes you wear, even the way you talk and do your hair and who you hang around with, but because it seems that these songs have always been there with you, you have never noticed a difference or change apart from the first ground-breaking moment you heard it.

To try and sum up this potentially rambling post (I'll let you be the judge of that) never forget the songs that saved your life (concluding pun - complete).

Happy Sunday, Paige x x x

specific songs bring back certain memories

Songs are amazing memory triggers. They can bring back unwelcome flashbacks of tween phases, or take you back to music festivals and passing out at three in the morning inches away from your tent. I have chosen four of my favourite songs to get nostalgic to. 

1. 'Music When The Lights Go Out' by The Libertines

Last weekend, Nina and I saw Peace perform live at the Shepherds Bush Empire. It was the best night of my life, and not only because of the music - I met so many great people. My friend Alex and a guy I met called Mike spent most of the time that we were queueing singing this song - they had met literally half an hour before and bonded over a love of the Libertines. It was a pretty cool moment, and this song now brings back memories of the whole night. 

2. 'All I Wanna Do' by Splashh

I am the kind of person who discovers new music and then listens to it obsessively over and over again.  This summer I found Splashh through a routine search for new bands, and listened to nothing but this song whilst I repainted my room alone. The windows were flung open and this scuzzy psychedelic song was playing at full volume, and I was wearing nothing but denim shorts and my bra. It was possibly the most summery I have ever felt, and for me,  'All I Wanna Do' is now tainted with the smell of wet paint.

3. 'Corinne' by Metronomy

My friend and her family recently bought a very remote house in Devon - the car journey to it takes five hours, and it is at least a forty minute walk away from the nearest shop. It sits on the side of a huge cliff, with the sea crashing wildly beneath. My friend and I both love Metronomy, and this journey was very dominated by us singing along, very out of tune, to this track. Since Metronomy are from Devon, I felt that this was a very fitting song for our trip.

4. 'Tassleman' by Austin Williams and Ellie Rowsell

I saw both Swim Deep and Wolf Alice play live in London on the Where The Heaven Are We tour in September, and as an encore Austin and Ellie played this song - one that the couple wrote together about a year ago, after a couple of beers. During this song, there are some quite quiet breaks, where only the vocals are heard. I stupidly shouted 'YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTEEEE' at them, and I got a LOT of dirty looks from fans around me. Oops.

-written by avalon x