Play my song

It always surprises me when I ask someone what kind of music they like and they respond with "Oh, I like everything, anything, or whatever." I can never tell whether these people are worried I'll make fun of their taste, or they just really and truly don't notice the difference between elevator music and Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah." When the lyrics are right, I love anything sad.

I've heard it said that our sense of smell is one of the strongest triggers of memories, and while there are a handful of scents that awaken thought of certain people, moments in your life and even foods--my new soap smells strangely like the inside of a box of Lucky Charms--I have to argue that songs, especially song lyrics have an even stronger effect, instantly tapping regions of your brain that shoot back images, sights, sounds and feelings. And I'm not just talking about the songs your ex put on a mix tape, I'm talking about the song sung by that goofy has been singer that your dad sang along to in the car, the song that your gym teacher with the mullet always played when you ran laps in the gym, (the same one that happened to be playing when you crossed the finish line for your first long race), and the song that will always belong to that friend you haven't seen and won't see for a long time.

These are songs that you will miss the next train for if someone is strumming them on the platform. You'll sit there in your car or a crowded shoe store or even a concert hall and absorb every word and every tone until they're over no matter the hour.

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This posting seemed like the appropriate place to let you know how to find more of the great songs and bands that move you. You may already know about Pandora, which helps you find new favorite bands that sound similar to your old favorites, but you might not have heard of Senuti, which lets you download music to your computer from other people's Ipods. Wow! You do have to pay for the service, but you can try it free for 30 days. To read about what's fresh in the music world, plus pick up on some interesting gossip, and funny videos, check out Lizzyville. And for those of you who who, like me, have never downloaded music, or never known how to do it legally, there's findingDulcinea's Guide to Downloading Music.