Jessica SE
Arts Action Fund Coordinator

While waging the never-ending battle with clutter in my apartment the other day I stumbled across an album that I hadn’t listened to in several years. I haven’t been able to stop listening to it since and not because of the music.

As it turns out, I can’t listen to “She Paints Me Blue” by Something Corporate without finding myself transported to my old Honda Civic, driving the roads to outside of Louisville, KY.  I don’t even have to close my eyes, the roads just appear. There is a part of interstate 71 north of Louisville where you find a giant wall of rock on one side and a beautiful valley on the other and as soon as the first note is played I’m there.

I’m not even sure that I listened to this song on that stretch of road but given my affinity for the album and the long trek home from Florida for the holidays, I can image I did at some point or another. But it’s not how factual this memory is that matters to me. I am blown away that every time I hear this song I’m in my favorite college sweatshirt, its hood giving me extra warmth against the crisp fall air, nestled into the plush gray fabric of my seat, the setting sun hitting the mostly bare trees creating a warm glow like thousands of candles. 

My whole life was before me, I was finishing up college and I had big plans. I was filled with promise, desperately longing for my future to hurry up and arrive. 

When I listen to the song I am immediately that girl again, driving down that stretch of road despite the fact that it’s been years since I passed through. That’s the power of music.  I know I sound slightly crazy but I also know I’m not the only one – what song or album brings back a strong memory for you?