This is Leah Taylor Coming to You from…the 90’s

I haven’t gotten much done, yet. I’ve biked and compiled a Rewind playlist on Spotify, that’s about it. But I’m enjoying the playlist 😛

It’s hard for me to get into new music, not because I don’t like it, but because I spend so much time on the old stuff.

I often say writing is my first love. If that’s true, then music is a close second. I started listening to Top 40, pop-type stuff (in other words, not my mom’s music) in 5th grade. I loved Paula Abdul. How could I not? She’s a dancer, after all, and a petite one, like I was.

I saw her live in concert with my cousin, Amanda. Amazing show. Sad, what happened to her. I mean, she’s acted a bit oddly over the years. But she was my idol back then. Janet Jackson, too.

And then in middle/ high school, I very gradually transitioned from pop to alternative. Katey and I spent our afternoons griping (me, mostly) about boys while listening to Green Day, NIN, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, They Might Be Giants, Smashing Pumpkins. In college it was Pink Floyd, Live, Tori Amos, Bjork, Tool, 311, Fiona Apple, Garbage, Sneaker Pimps, Portishead, and sometimes Phish.

Interestingly, fewer of these musicians than you would think actually feature in the current playlist.

I included the songs that reminded me the most of specific times and events in my young life, certain people, and so on. Some breakups. Even Muzak at times, since I worked in retail for five years. The only song I left out accidentally was Long December, which for me symbolizes depression and, believe it or not, friendship.

Not all of them are my favorite songs. They’re all just meaningful in some way or other.