I love Dodgy and adore their album Free Peace Sweet from 1996. I had just left school when this was released and bought the CD whilst a Fresher at University. I would listen to this album over and over again.
When I met David, he and I would often listen to this in the car over and over again. Singing at the top of our voices, driving fast, windows down, sun on our faces, wind in our hair!
One of the songs from this album, One of Those Rivers, is one of ‘our songs’ and will feature in our wedding in September. It contains the lyric
Let’s not worry about, what we haven’t got
And let’s not choose the life, that will have the cost
As long as you and I can live happily
then surely all I want is staring back at me
That is how I feel about David, it matters not about anything else, as long as we have each other that is all I need.
Another song, Homegrown, will be played at Esther and William’s christening next year. Homegrown is the way that it should be – those words fit so perfectly over photos of our gorgeous homegrown babies.
These songs just fit us. They mean so much.
David and I were supppsed to get married in August 2010 and I wrote to Dodgy who said that they would record Homegrown for us specially for the service. I didn’t remind them and they have never been in touch again but I might send a link to my blog, explain that the wedding postponed and see if they will do something for us this time. It would mean the world to David and I, and be a treasure for the babies to keep.
Back to the album …
If You’re Thinking of Me is a beautiful, sad song that has gotten me through some sad and lonely times over the years, but now Dodgy reminds me only of my first summer with David and a video he made for me on my birthday that year.
Dodgy are easy to listen to, they have simple and meaningful lyrics which tell a story. The melodies are catchy with some of their faster songs being true Brit Pop anthems.
This band have grown with me from school through Uni to parenthood. They are a shared favourite with the man I love, we listen to them in the car and In a Room; and I can picture us, in the future, as a family Staying Out for the Summer with Dodgy!
When I first participated in this link up from Ghost Writer Mummy I thought it was a one off, now I have realised that it is a weekly link I am very excited and desperate to join in. I begin my contribution with Paul Anka’s ‘Put Your Head on My Shoulder’. This song was a favourite of mine and my sister’s when we were growing up. Our parents always used to play it in the car and we would sing our hearts out in the back seat and act out the actions!!!! Recently at my sister’s wedding we took to the dancefloor, just the two of us, and did the same thing again. It was a wonderful sisterly moment, one of so many, that I will never forget. I hope that Esther and William will have songs and moments like this one and I want to share it with them, my sister and all of you on this day.
My musical tastes have evolved through the years but instead of changing completely my love of music has grown stronger and my repertoire wider. This is something not everyone understands and so depending on who you are you may only know part of my musical taste – the chosen few will know the full extent of my listening pleasures. From Robbie to Kylie to Buddy – The Killers, The Cure, The Chemical Brothers – Johnny Cash, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis – West Side Story, Wizard of Oz, Les Mis – Goldie, Groove Armada, Massive Attack and Basement Jaxx. I love them all and want my children to sample each and everyone of them … and more …
The music I loved in my own childhood was heavily influenced by my parents. In particular one mix tape that we listened to over and over in the car featuring Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka and more … It was badly recorded and over recorded and we knew where all the breaks in the songs came and what song came next. I loved 50s and 60s music as a child and I still do. I definitely want my children to understand the history and significance of rock and roll.
As a child of the 80s there was a time I am afraid to say when I loved all things Stock, Aitken and Waterman, especially Kylie. I still do have a secret thing for Kylie and have already introduced my daughter to such classics as Never Too Late and Wouldn’t Change A Thing. Thank you You Tube!
Around this time my cousins also introduced me to INXS, Bon Jovi and Aerosmith, alongside Wham! Another branch on my tree of music was born. Many of my dips and dives into different artists and bands have been influenced by Paul and Glen (the cousins) – Wet Wet Wet, AHa!!, George Michael and much much more.
As a young teenage I loved James, EMF, The Farm, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses and The Cure amongst others. I also love Madonna and began to get into Rave! At Youth Club I loved Guns n Roses but would equally love dancing to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch! Oh the memories!
As an older teenager my heart was firmly attached to dance music particularly house but also drum and bass whilst frequenting Cream at University! I spent many mispent nights at Cream, Gatecrasher and many other, smaller, better, underground clubs across Europe. I danced right through to my late 20s, until I was 30. During this time I saw The Prodigy and Moby live many times and just LOVED them!
Alongside dance though I also loved alternative music particularly Tori Amos, Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Leftfield, Radiohead, The Verve, REM, Ocean Colour Scene, The Levellers, Bjork and there was still an allegiance to rock / grunge – U2, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Faith No More, Foo Fighters. I also liked Def Leppard at some point and Metallica too.
And then came Brit Pop – Oasis or Blur – I unashamedly loved BOTH! And I still do! I also love Dodgy. I love Dodgy!!
More recently I have fallen in love with The Killers and The White Stripes with thanks to David for these.
I could go on and on and on about music and there will always be something or someone that I would have forgotten to mention.
Here are some songs though that I would not want my children to miss – in no particular order and again there will be omissions that I will kick myself for later!
Put Your Head On My Shoulder – Paul Anka
Grace – U2 (contributing factor to Esther’s middle name)
If You’re Thinking Of Me – Dodgy
No Regrets – Robbie Williams
Hotel Yorba – The White Stripes (David was singing this to me when I first realised we would get married, way back in 2007, just weeks after we had met)
Take Me to the Place Where the White Boys Dance – The Killers (listened to on journeys to and fro NICU)
Wires – Athlete (a tale of a premature baby)
At My Most Beautiful – REM (Thinking this will be the song that I walk down the aisle to!)
I’ll Stop the World – The Cure (Mine and David’s song)
Groove Is In The Heart – DeeLite
At the River – Groove Armada
Cherish – Madonna
Movin’ On Up – Primal Scream
Waterfall – The Stone Roses
Champagne Supernova – Oasis
This is a Low – Blur
Leftism – Leftfield (whole album)
Blue Lines – Massive Attack (whole album)
… there are just so many more …
I can feel a muscial evening coming on very soon. How I love mornings when you wake up to find your CD collection spread out all over the floor where you have been playing song after song in a haze of memory and music. I want my children to have that. I want my children to grab music, embrace it and let it feed their soul, fuel their lives and be the soundtrack to their memories.
Music and life go hand in hand and help everyone tell their story.
I am sure that music will play a huge part in my children knowing mine.
