noise-of-memory

[noise-of-memory]

crocodile style to the swimming pool two boys are excitedly recalling this song from ‘top of the pops’ the night before. i didn’t know what that was, or what they were singing, and i needed to find out.

Sweet - Blockbuster (school choir 1973)

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came up on the shuffle and then became the end title tune played after every successful mission for a while (nothing rude or illegal, no further details). 

The Amboy Dukes - Journey to the Center of the Mind (ipod 2008)

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scene of a pub singalong which it felt like everyone took part in. i know it sounds terrible, but you weren’t there man.

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (pub jukebox 1995)

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for a few weeks old eddie (probably in his mid 30s) from over the road used to give me a lift to the station. one day he parked up early, disappeared to do some unspecified business and i was left alone in the car, so turned the radio up. i was in no hurry to get to school.

Mink DeVille - Spanish Stroll (car radio 1978)

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could have been any number of songs played regularly on countless nights, but this always thrilled me.

Suicide - Ghost Rider (pub playlist 1996)

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yes i am exactly the sort of person who will create a playlist of say hamburg-related tracks if he knows he is going to say, hamburg. this sent me giddy with glee, how have i never heard it before?

Jerry Lee Lewis - Mean Woman Blues (ipod 2019)

[noise-of-memory]

we had limited options and ended up eating here most nights, served by kafka’s cousin, gazing into the swamp and enjoying the same playlist of 1970s easy listening favourites.

Marie Osmond - Paper Roses (restaurant playlist 2016)

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call it research or a homing instinct but ending up here provoked a mournful autumnal rumination while enjoying a good old stare into the distance.

The National - Mr November (ipod 2009)

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getting the tube back to yours (2) and something made us both think of this song whereupon quite sickeningly we both sang pretty much all of it together, and now i die of shame and laughter even thinking about it.

Jilted John - Jilted John (singalong 1990)

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i had it in my head for weeks, but no one else admitted to liking it. school bus treks, teenage sweetheart meetings, car shares, that sort of thing.

PH.D. - I Won’t Let You Down (internal jukebox 1982)

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not what i’d have chosen but you must allow circumstance to take its chance. you (4) have no recollection of course and that’s the way it should be, we can’t both have this affliction.

Ellie Goulding - Your Song (car radio 2010)

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so many candidates here but once i was alone and agreements had been reached i reached for this and danced like nobody was watching even though you can’t dance to it and nobody was watching.

Mercury Rev - Car Wash Hair (vinyl 1992)

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driving back to the station after another dutiful lost weekend. this glum and dreary song mocking me round the corner. sure, we’re all the heroes of our own stories.

Enrique Iglesias - Hero (car radio 2001)

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on lunchtime walks before the gang consolidated. my summer anthem for reasons that remain obscure.

10,000 Maniacs - Can’t Ignore the Train (internal jukebox 1985)

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played on repeat as an alternative to amphetamines or valium on many an occasion. here on an evening that changed my life. dramatic statement.

The Stooges - Search and Destroy (ipod 2009)

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heard blasting from a radio roadshow bus on holiday, never been to a gig and had never heard anything so loud and was vibrating with glee standing as close as possible. 

AC/DC - Rock n Roll Damnation (radio / bus 1978)

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like every suburban english nincompoop all i ever wanted was to listen to the radio while cruising down the highway. i didn't expect this song would be the one associated with this trip.

Rod Stewart - The Killing Of Georgie (Part I & II) (car radio 2011)