Dearly beloved… we are gathered here today to celebrate this thing called life..

 I hear this while sitting at the pool, and think:

1. I know every word to this song
2. I burned up the gym floor in middle school dancing to this song (wearing ankle pegged stonewashed jeans)
3. I would scream like a Beiber-loving tween if Prince walked up to me

And a goofy smile comes to my face.  Then I see two 10-year-olds look at each other and say:  “Omigod. What IS this song??”

WHAT?!  How can they not know… oh no… I’m sounding really old. I have just realized I am stuck in a musical time warp.   I turn to my Ipod for proof of any solid recent music.  Not much. But I am swimming in Pearl Jam, Live, Blues Traveler, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Counting Crows.  And a few solid songs from my Time Life discs called “Livin’ In The 90’s”.  (Rico Suave, anyone?)

For some reason my musical progression in life stopped around 2000.  But why? Do we only connect to music at certain times?  When we reach our 30’s, is our musical heart already full?  (Is it something to do with kids – because we have to listen to annoying children’s tunes all the time and can’t stay current with the top 40 charts?)  Sure, I listen to new music and like it. But I always seem to turn back to my comfort music.

When I hear Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” (which is a fantastic tune), I can’t remember anything in my life linked with that song. There’s no gut reaction. When I hear “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon I don’t say, “Oh, that’s when we….” Nope.  Nothing.  Even with artists that have spanned the generations.  I love old school Madonna and Beastie Boys.  But their newer stuff doesn’t hold that same pull for me.

So for my husband’s 40^th birthday party last week, we kind of used the theme  “Party like we’re 25 again”.  I started making a list of all the great songs we listened to in our twenties and it turned into this nostalgic jam session at our computer.

Just hear the beginning notes of “Alive” by Pearl Jam and I’m instantly transported to a college bar (wearing a flannel shirt, of course)  I hear Dave Matthews, and I’m hanging out at the house I live at in Royal Oak with two other friends, talking about politics, life and possibilities.  Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock “It Takes Two” brings me to a house party where I rapped while standing on a couch (I know you’re sad you missed that) Fiona Apple’s “Criminal” takes me to Chicago, where friends and I celebrated a promotion.

I thought that maybe I was the only crazy one.  But I just went to a birthday party for a friend turning 60 and the DJ was spinning only classic rock.  My parents are still partial to Chuck Berry.  My oldest sister still dreamily recounts the time she met the band Dead Milkmen and talked her way backstage at a Depeche Mode Concert.

So, I thought, being trapped in the 90’s isn’t so bad.  If I start pulling out old flannel shirts, well, that’s when you’ll have to stop me.

Tell me… what era are YOU stuck in?

Bonus feature:

Here’s my 90’s playlist:  how did I do?

Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, One  – U2

Into The Great Wide Open, Learning to Fly  – Tom Petty

Walk on the Ocean – Toad the Wet Sprocket

Interstate Love Song – Stone Temple Pilots

Up the Junction – Squeeze

Two Princes, Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong – Spin Doctors

Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-a-lot

Crazy – Seal

Possession – Sarah McLachlan

Give It Away – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Jeremy, Alive – Pearl Jam

Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

You Get What You Give – New Radicals

All Over You – Live

Jump – Kris Kross

Right Here, Right Now – Jesus Jones

Closer To Fine – Indigo Girls

Bed Of Roses – Indians

Time, Hold My Hand – Hootie & the Blowfish

When I Come Around, Welcome to Paradise – Green Day

Found Out About You, Hey Jealousy – Gin Blossoms

Freedom – George Michael

Criminal – Fiona Apple

Unbelievable – EMF

Tripping Billies – Dave Matthews

Round Here – Counting Crows

Closer to Free – BoDeans

100 Years, But Anyway – Blues Traveler

So What’cha Want – Beastie Boys

You Oughta Know, All I Really Want – Alanis Morissette

Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio

Whoomp! – Tag Team