In six songs, tell us about your life.
By now most of you know the drill, but if you are a new visitor, welcome! We challenged our guests to tell us their life stories: “The project is simple, though maybe not easy: Tell us a story–your story–in six songs. And then for fun, wrap up your life in a bonus seventh song.” The series runs every Monday through September. We are currently booked to capacity–thank you!–but before the series wraps-up, we will plan a special event where everyone will be welcome to join in. Until then feel free to check out our past volumes and enjoy this week’s stories.
Our special guests this week are:
Daile from Kiss Me Out of Desire and Nadia from What Would Nadia Do?. Now if you happen to follow either of these ladies, you know they have a few things in common: they are both hilarious; they’re both gorgeous; they’re both successful WordPress bloggers; and, oh yeah, they’re both from Australia. And I know you’ll love them as much as I do!
Enjoy this week’s Aussie edition of “Life in 6 Songs” everyone!
Don’t you just want to shout that out loud? Try it, it’s fun! (Via)
~~~
Daile (from Kiss Me Out of Desire)
Song #1 (and tell us why briefly):
“MMMBop” by Hanson
My first major crush was on Taylor Hanson – after finding out he wasn’t a girl I was equal parts jealous and in love with his luscious blonde locks. We were the same age (13) when the band he started with his equally blonde (but not as adorable) brothers Isaac and Zac burst onto the 90′s pop scene with the ridiculously catchy tune, “MMMBop.” I had a cassette tape with both sides filled with this song taped off the radio and would listen to it every night before bed.
Side note – they are touring Australia in August and I will fan girl with the other 30 year olds even though Taylor is now a dad with 5 kids who wears sweater vests. *swoon*
Song #2:
“The Sound of Settling” by Death Cab for Cutie
I have had the intense pleasure of seeing Death Cab for Cutie live several times. I have attended concerts with various friends and family members but could not even recall their presence. When Ben Gibbard is on stage I cannot focus on anything else. He has every part of me. Their songs reach deep into my soul.
This is a seemingly cheerful song with a relatively upbeat melody. It’s great to dance to but when you listen to the words:
“Our youth is fleeting
Old age is just around the bend
And I can’t wait to go grey”
This is the sound of my early 20′s. And the sound of settling.
Song #3:
“Place Your Hands” by Reef
I smile and tears spring to my eyes whenever this song is played. It was my mother’s favourite thing to crank loudly in the lounge room and dance to, singing along completely out of key (sound like anyone else we know?…) Her music collection was a mix of rock songs like this and tragic love ballads by Michael Bolton and Simply Red.
My mother was still alive when we were preparing for her funeral and when we asked her what songs she wanted, romantically suggesting her and my father’s wedding song – she laughed and chose this one.
My little sister and I both have the words, “Place your hands on my heart, run your fingers through my soul.” tattooed in memory of her.
Song #4:
“Breathe Me” by Sia
I struggled to think of a song to put in this section. I wanted it to be something representative of my battle with depression, suicide attempt and recovery. It needed to be dark and harrowing but still with a little bit of hope.
I tried to recall the songs I listened to around that time. What I had on in the background of my lifelessness. What I sang along to. What I remembered being a part of.
I came up with nothing.
Later I was listening to a mix of songs and when “Breathe Me” by Sia came on, it hit me like a ton of bricks, and I knew it was perfect. To convey not only my feelings at this time of my life but also the things that helped me get through the darkness and become the person I am now–my friends.
Song #5:
“Drunk” by Ed Sheeran
I listened to Ed Sheeran a lot during my most recent break-up. I also got drunk. A lot. This song was one I would play at full volume, drink wine, dance with my cat Bixby and feel sorry for myself, but, at the same time, happy I had the chance to move on with my life.
“I wanna be drunk when I wake up.” Yes Ed, me too. I did want to be drunk, and I was. Until I reached a point where I was okay to move on. But I needed my time with Ed Sheeran, my cat and my wine.
Song #6:
“The Wire” by Haim
I have been ‘actively dating’ for the past 14 months. I have tried all methods of meeting eligible bachelors and attempting to find a mate. Unsuccessfully. I have met lots of wonderful guys, a few douchebags and some that have dropped off the face of the Earth so by all assumptions they have either died or moved to Antarctica.
In reality, I am really happily single and know that someone will have to be pretty amazing to make me want to consider a different life. The lyrics in this song, “But I just couldn’t take it, I tried hard not to fake it, But I fumbled it when I came down to the wire.” This is basically me in a nutshell when I’m just not feeling it. I need spark and fireworks, otherwise I just can’t pretend or see what happens, no matter how much people try to convince me to give someone a chance.
Bonus Song #7 (If you could wrap up your life story in ONE SONG, or if you have a personal theme song, or even a song you want played at your funeral, what would that song be and why?):
“Last Goodbye” by Jeff Buckley
“Kiss me out of desire baby, not consolation.”
When I first started my blog I chose the name Kissmeoutofdesire because “Last Goodbye” is my favourite song and Jeff Buckley is everything to me. I have maintained that this will be my funeral song as it speaks to me on so many levels.
I didn’t realise that my blog would turn into one with a bit of a focus on my dating life and quest to find love, which in turn has made my blog name even more perfect.
Daile’s playlist:
* Daile blogs at Kiss Me Out of Desire. She is from Brisbane, Australia.
~~~
Nadia (from What Would Nadia Do?)
Song #1:
“Wild World” by Cat Stevens
As I listen to “Wild World,” I’m stroking the leather seats in the back of my grandfather’s gold Mercedes, tasting the cinnamon in my grandmother’s melkkos and giving their tubby another loving Heimlich manoeuvre.
Not only is this song my grandfather’s favourite, but it captures my eight-year-old personality. I avoided the ‘wild world’, retreating into the world of literature and make-believe. Few people reconcile the grown-up Nadia with the quiet little girl who felt much older than her peers.
Song #2:
“You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette
I spontaneously erupt into acne and start penning weird haikus to “You Oughta Know.” Only Ms. Morissette can encapsulate the teenage angst, gush of oestrogen, and my rage against the (mostly parental) establishment.
The entire Jagged Little Pill has me adjusting my first sanitary pad, puffing a Dunhill Light, swallowing half a beer with a straight face, watching a threesome in technicolour and masturbating to Johnny Depp on the wall without losing eye contact.
Song #3:
“Zero” by Smashing Pumpkins
This particular song became the soundtrack to nineteen-year-old heartbreak. I mastered the art of mouthing all the lyrics while carbo-loading on my bedroom floor, sobbing over the would-be names of our unborn children.
That same year, my parents divorced and depression ensued. Somewhere between plaiting my leg hair and making out with my second bottle of dollar-store whiskey, I connected with Corgan:
Intoxicated with the madness
I’m in love with my sadness
I never let on
That I was on a sinking ship
I never let on that I was down
Song #4:
“Zero” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2009. I am newly married and a graduate. For the next two years, I built my career, working harder than Lindsay Lohan’s liver, inhaling double espressos, challenging myself to be the best goddamn me I can be.
“Zero” was my manifesto, my anthem, my whip:
You’re a zero
What’s your name? No one’s going to ask you
Better find out where they want you to go
Try and hit the spot, get to know it in the dark
Get to know it whether you’re crying, crying, crying, oh, oh
Can you climb, climb, climb higher?
Song #5:
“Wake Up” by Arcade Fire
Immigrating to Australia was one of my most daunting experiences. Everything about my life changed: my driver’s licence, my friends, my neighbourhood, my language, my culture, my brand of ice cream. I had to spend a great deal of time alone, rebuild my life and adjust. I grew up.
If the children don’t grow up,
our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up.
We’re just a million little god’s causin rain storms turnin’ every good thing to rust.
I guess we’ll just have to adjust.
With my lighnin’ bolts a glowin’
I can see where I am goin’
With my lighnin’ bolts a glowin’
I can see where I am go-goin’
You better look out below!
Song #6:
“Despair” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The tears yet also the fart-inducing laughs I shared in 2013 are captured perfectly in this song. When I was thrust into a cesspit of mental illness, I did not expect to emerge with new and meaningful friendships, lifelong memories and a sunnier perspective on life.
Through the darkness and the light
Some sun has got to rise
My sun is your sun
Your sun is our sun
Bonus song #7:
“Dancing Barefoot” by Patti Smith
When my fantasy wife Patti Smith wrote “Dancing Barefoot,” she had me in mind.
I’m dancing barefoot
Heading for a spin
Some strange music draws me in
Makes me come on like some heroine
I dance through life, barefoot, carefree and, although with the grace of a deck chair, heading for a spin when least expected.
Bonus version for Nadia. Look who’s backing up Patti! ;)
Nadia’s Playlist:
* Nadia blogs at What Would Nadia Do? and at her new mental health blog Heavy Mental. She is from Australia.
~~~
Thanks again for being our guests, Daile and Nadia!
