Guilty Pleasure Music

Why I sing along

Do you have guilty pleasure music? You know the songs you play loud, and sing along to when no one else is around? I do!

One morning as I was getting ready for work, “Sweet Talking Woman” by ELO showed up on my music rotation. I belted out the lyrics to the empty house and instantly felt better. Why did I enjoy this song so much, but I didn't list it in my favorites or admit to liking? Could this be guilty pleasure music or something deeper?

Please treat me to a coffee to help support my work

I thought of music of my childhood, from the 70’s to early 80’s. Most of what I listened to was not by choice then. Back then we didn’t have cell phones or ear pods. (I did have a Sony Walkman, but that was later).

Those days my choices were whatever tape my older sister received from the 99-cent record club (anyone old enough to remember that?). Some days it was Billy Joel other’s it was Air Supply, Chicago, Supertramp, Bee Gees and eventually a mix tape with whatever she recorded off the radio.

St Petersburg Florida, where my grandparents would winter. For several years we would pile into the family station wagon and take a 3-day road trip to see them

Romeo’s Tune and a family road trip

That music takes me back to childhood. The songs remind me of our 3-day road trips to Florida. One of those songs that stood out was “Romeo’s Tune” by Steve Forbert. I think of how it made me feel safe during those lazy afternoons while driving with my family through the Carolinas. My 11-year-old romantic self absolutely loved the lyrics, “Sneak out beneath the stars and run”. That song sounded so dreamy to me. My mom and sister would listen to it repeatedly and eventually I knew it by heart.

Goodbye Stranger - A shift in music once again…

Those were the songs I listened to until our church said music was evil. We had a meeting at church and listened to “backward masking tapes” Backward masking was when songs had “subliminal messages” when played backward. I guess they thought it would creep in to our subconscious and corrupt us, I was never really sure.

There were other songs that were pointed out to us. Remarkably, the church leaders actually printed out the lyrics! Which gave us access to all of the inappropriate words they didn’t want us to hear. All those wicked songs now printed out for us to read, anytime we wanted to. Seriously?

Darling Nikki by Prince. Yeah, I knew the lyrics before I heard the song. Enough said.

During that time, rock music was evil, and we had to listen to approved Contemporary Christian Music.

So, for several years I was stuck listening to that music, everywhere my family went. I felt rebellious if I listened to Def Lepard or Motley Crue. Yes, even Supertramp was being questioned by our church.

What happened to those backward masking tapes the church sent home with our parents? We listened to them of course! My friend and I would sneak the tapes and listen to them, sometimes scaring ourselves.

So, did I end up listening to “approved” music for life?

Nope. I ended up going to so many rock concerts that I’ve lost count, as well as my hearing! My taste of music is diverse, and I can’t imagine life without it

Our son has a wide range of music he enjoys. I am living vicariously thorough him and his countless music lists on Spotify.

Green Day concert we went to as a family.

How do you know that song, Mom?

Most of the music he listens to from the 1990’s -2000’s, is retro to him. I am rediscovering those songs and groups myself and am reliving my young adult years.

I remember one day, he played “Creep” by Radio Head, and when I sang it word for word, he was shocked. “How do you know that song, Mom?”

I said it was the 90’s, and while at work we heard it at least twice and hour. I worked in a salon, so whatever the Top 40 station played, we heard it. I think anyone that worked retail back in the 80’s and 90’s will know exactly what I’m talking about.

Yacht Rock - Full Circle

The other day I caught myself listening to Yacht Rock. It was on for the dog I told myself. I realized how the music didn’t remind me of anything, accept maybe the very far away days from my childhood. It was background music, and I didn’t have to think or remember too much.

Am I at the time of my life to listen to easy listening? Maybe today, for a moment, I am. Tomorrow I may be listening to Queens of the Stone Age or Foo Fighters. Actually, I was singing along to their music while I was watering plants at a house-sitting job. Hopefully the cameras didn’t have audio. If so, they got an earful.

Billy Corgan - Smashing Pumpkins

Questions:

Do you have guilty pleasure music?

Are there songs that transport you back in time?