Day: October 28, 2019

Posted in Childhood Tales

A Trip Down the Music Lane

Posted on by Rachel

Even as a kid, I loved listening to music! I remember during the summertime, every morning after breakfast, I’ll turn on the radio, lay on the living room floor and just listen to music while my eyes closed. I think these happened when I was 6 til I turned 8 years old.

Back then I didn’t have a fancy phone or iPod that could store music. Can I admit that I was a bit jealous with those owned one?

Anyway, as far as I can remember here are the songs that would usually play on the radio. Some songs I loved and others that I had no choice but to like because they are the ones usually played by the DJs.

No Promises by Shayne Ward

The DJ announced she was going to play the song No Promises. That was how I learned that song titles were often based on the chorus or what phrases the singer emphasized.
This was definitely a song that was dear to my heart at a young age. I loved the tune and at that time the only line I could truly understand was, “You’re beautiful” and I believed it. 😀 I daydreamed that one day when I got older someone would sing this song to me and call me beautiful too.

Don’t Push Me by Sweetbox

Push the Button by Sugababes

What drove my cousins and I crazy were the songs, “Don’t Push Me” and “Push the Button” We got excited when we heard them on the radio because we get to dance our hearts out. I can still recall we’d usually hear them while waiting for lunch or during the late afternoons. Listening to these again as an adult made me realize what the songs mean! (yikes)

Stars are Blind by Paris Hilton

Back then, I’d feel at peace whenever this song would play. It was catchy and easy to sing (even if I just made up some of the words because I didn’t know the lyrics!)

Cool by Gwen Stefani

Honestly, I was annoyed by this song as a child because I couldn’t understand the lyrics yet I liked the tune.

When She Cries by Restless Heart

I used to love this song and I still do! I was such a sensitive girl and tears came easily for me so maybe that’s why I saw this song as a precious gem. It also made me think of my Mom whom I saw crying back then.
When we were kids, my brother and I had a fight so I wasn’t speaking to him. To tell me sorry he plugged his earphones on me and said, “You like this song right?” I forgave him right away.

OPM

During my elementary years, this was everyone’s favorite song! You were considered “cool” if you could sing the Chinese lyrics.
While making this list, out of the blue my mind exclaimed: there was that one really sad song I liked listening to! And I had to find it.
Good thing I remember it was sung by Arnel Pineda and oh my gosh!! Hearing this song again made me remember my childhood so much! I recall borrowing my Mom’s phone, putting on earphones for the first time which amazed me because it felt like the music could touch my bare soul. During those times, I laid in bed wearing the earphones and waited for this song to play on the radio. It usually played in the afternoon. It was such a sad song that pained my heart. How amazing that as a child I could connect to the singer’s emotions. It makes me think that maybe I had some hidden wounds back then but I could not pick out the emotion for it and through this song, it flowed.
I was both annoyed and enthralled by this song. It always played on the radio. As a child, I was irritated when the song was nearing its end because the lyrics would just repeat all over again. Nevertheless this song reminds me of late mornings, sunsets, board games with cousins and the snacks we’d make.
This one really hits me hard! During summertime, my cousins together with my brother and I would watch MYX and this would always play. If I can remember correctly, it was always at number one. I feel my heart floating in memories. I miss being a kid so much… Things were so much simpler back then.
I was afraid to listen to this again because as a child, the song amazed and scared me at the same time especially when I saw the music video. My heart kept drooping low that I can’t bring myself to finish the song anymore, but it’s worth the trip to revisit this.
I think out of all the OPM songs I’ve heard as a child, this one was my favorite! It’s so pure and Erik Santos sings it wonderfully.
15 years ago this song was the OST for the Television Program Spirits. My older cousins loved watching it at my Aunt’s house. I did not care much for it but my ears would perk up whenever they’d play snippets of this song before commercial break or after the program. I kept wishing I could hear the full song and I felt pretty lucky when it would play on the radio.

What Music Did For me

As a child, music gave me the freedom to daydream and feel emotions. Hearing these songs again helped me recall precious memories and I can now understand their meaning.

To be honest, this trip down the music lane did not make me happy but peeled my heart open to the loneliness I have harbored over the years. I feel my heart has been punched and bruised because of all the times I couldn’t get back anymore.

I miss my childhood. I miss my cousins. I miss my old house. I miss how things used to me.

This moment is hard for me but signifies that I need to let go of that portion of my life. I shouldn’t forget, no definitely not. But I should learn to accept that these are already memories. I am not a child anymore. I have to move on.

Maybe I need to go through this process to feel all the wave of emotions that the past still has on me so that I can learn to embrace it and make new memories.

Lessons Learned

God is the creator of music. I am so thankful that He gave us this gift. Because for me, music is magic. I can’t even explain it. It’s just something that you know is God-given.

Music is powerful too. It makes you feel emotions. It clings unto memories. It opens your mind and embraces your heart. Music is a friend.

Reminiscing the past made me realized how far we have improved these days. Back in the days, we had to wait for hours, days or even weeks just to hear our favorite songs. But now, with just a click we can listen to it anytime we want and even play it over and over again til our ears hurt.

Before, we had to buy songbooks so that we could read the lyrics but now we can just look them up online right away.

Times have changed, so have the music. I am grateful that we still have access to these old songs that hold so much memories for us.

Conclusion

This may seem to not be a big deal to you, but it is to me. These songs (and a lot more that are not included in this list) hold a special place in my heart that whenever I hear them again, opens my treasure box of memories.

I realized that I haven’t truly moved on and let go. I am still living in the past.

And I need to move on.

It’s a process but I will get through.

Thank you for joining me down my trip.

Til next time,

Rachel