I love music. I’m a singer and a pianist and a big fan of radio and jazz and folk music and rock and…well, most any kind of music. Although I don’t love opera, I will say that. And I think we’ve established that I’m real emotional. So I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that I often have emotional reactions to music. So today’s list is about songs that make me think of certain people for certain – and sometimes unexpected – reasons.

• No Rain by Blind Melon – this one makes me think of my friend David, who is a guitar-picking, country-loving, opry musician. But I think of him when hear this pop song from the 90s. (Because one day, he and his friend Aaron “serenaded” my friend, Mindy, and me with this song on her parents’ driveway. It was soooo cool – after all, they were in high school, and we were just 8th graders!)
• Runaway Train by Soul Asylum – this song reminds me of that friend, Mindy, because around that same time (8th and 9th grade), she looooved this boy who liked this song. I never did understand why she like that guy. Or why he liked this song.
• Footloose by Kenny Loggins – this song doesn’t make me think of the movie. It actually makes me think of Josh, a boy I went to school with. All through middle school, he had a crush on me. Even though I thought he was a nerd, it did guarantee that at least one boy would ask me to dance at the school dances. Anyway – back to Footloose. As part of our senior trip, the grown-ups in charge scheduled a dance. And just like we were back in middle school, everyone huddled against the walls and refused to dance. Until Footloose came on…and Josh threw his pride on the floor and busted a move. It was hilarious – and made everyone start dancing.
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Deep Blue Something – this one makes me think of Ryan, a boy who lived in the next town over from mine and took piano lessons from the same lady I did. We went to college together, and one day in the cafeteria, this song came on. And he stopped talking and sat there and sang along to the entire song. I’m pretty sure that the song made him think of someone or something. I get lost in music easily, but it was a little weird to see it happen to someone else.
• Lose Yourself by Eminem – I don’t really like much rap. And I’m not a fan of Eminem. But when I went on a fishing trip to Canada with four couples from church, I learned to appreciate this song a little more. On our second day at the camp, the guys decided to get up ridiculously early and hit the lake. Which meant they woke us up ridiculously early. But after Jason started rapping – while wearing his fishing poncho and toting all his gear – this song, we couldn’t help but crack up.
• I Love This Bar by Toby Keith – this song makes me think of my friend, Colleen. Unlike my country friend who sang a pop song or my church friend who rapped, this one makes perfect sense. At the time this song came out, she enjoyed being very, um, social. In particular, she loved the Blue Moose.
• We are Family by Sister Sledge – this song makes me think of my friend, Jill. We all trekked up north (Iowa) to go to Colleen’s wedding. After several hours of dancing and, um, socializing, this song came on. Jill, who is notorious for blowing off her friends every time we try to do something fun, said, “Hey! It’s like us. We’re family.” I really would not have expected that sentiment from her!
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – this song always brings a smile to my face. My best friend took drama class the year before I did in high school, and for the lip synching assignment, she boldly broke out of her straitlaced mold. And rocked out to Cyndi Lauper in full make up and a mini dress from middle school. She was so hilarious that the teacher had her perform it during a second hour, and I was able to go watch. As long as I live, I will never forget her dancing around the room to that song. Too freaking funny.

A couple others that get honorable mention…

• My cousins are 5 and 6 years older than me. My whole life, I idolized them and wanted to be like them and wanted them to treat me like equals. So the summer that my grandad was in the hospital for a couple weeks, I loved hanging out with them. (Of course I was sad about my grandad, but that is not the point of today’s list!) I remember them – and their friends – loving certain songs. And if they loved them, you know the songs were cool! The Joker by The Steve Miller Band, Come to My Window by Melissa Ethridge, Feel Like Making Love by Bad Company, and Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry – that’s what’s cool. Right?
• I had a big crush on a guy in high school. I won’t go more into that. But I’ll tell you that Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding, Come Together by the Beatles, and Strawberry Wine by Dena Carter always remind me of him.

Oh, there’s so many more. But I’ll stop. I know my long posts are hard to read. I just have so much to tell you! ;)