why COACHELLA is a MUST.

Growing up, my mother incessantly engraved the importance of dance and music.  At first, dance was my priority; I loved expressing my thoughts, my worries, my passions through my body.  However, as high school approached, and my flexibility deteriorated, music began to take over.  I became one of those girls who attached themselves to their i-pods – under my hood in class, walking in the halls, driving to school, falling asleep, reading a book, out with my friends – I know at times it was obnoxious, but I literally created a soundtrack to my life, it was ALWAYS playing.

Now, when you listen to something so excessively, it slowly becomes a part of you.  Music, in my head, was my style, it helped shape my personality.  I always searched for the newest things, and I began to associate certain songs, and certain artists, with certain points in my life, and more importantly, certain people.  A song is not just a series of waves that form a melody; it’s a memory.  You name a song, I’ll name a happening (regardless of it’s significance to my life), i.e. 

"Police on my Back” – The Clash – when my best friend, Anna, and I got stuck in the rain for a 3 hour walk and I got back to my house so cold that I broke out in this ridiculous full body rash, couldn’t stop shaking, and actually thought I was going to die of hypothermia, (seems like a disaster but we treat it as nothing more than a good laugh and a great memory).

“They Never Got You” – Spoon – There was a short period in high school where my group of best friends split.  Now, I know this may seem like some stupid high school girl drama, but it was pretty traumatizing losing someone that close to me for the very first time.  Writing in my diary, evaluating the situation, this song came on, and I listened to it on repeat that entire week.  Consequently, I decided I would never subdue myself to the endless drama’s of cliques.  I promised to stay pure and not be that girl who screwed her friend over. 

“Caring is Creepy” – The Shins – driving to Corina’s house in my old Jetta, new license in hand, getting ready to be the “D.D.” for my very first time. 

“In This Home on Ice” – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! –Piedmont, I think that word has enough explanation in itself, for me at least.

The Entire 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack - the moment Nicky and I stepped out of that movie we agreed that it would be one of those movies we would watch an endless amount of times, with 500 copies of the dvd, and 500 visits to the movie theatre.  But on top of that, I bought the soundtrack and immediately fell in love.  Not only did it introduce me to a couple new bands, it brought back my undying love for Regina Spektor.  

“Anecdote” – Ambulance LTD – driving in Michelle Baker’s car, sitting in the passengers seat with Addi in the back stating – “Rei, you started dancing when that song came on….and didn’t stop moving till it ended…you do know that we’re in a car, right?”

“El Manana” – Gorrillaz – A certain special summer adventure in La Jolla that involved a cross, a beach, and so much more.

“AM 180” – Grandaddy – watching some stupid zombie movie (I cant remember the title because it was THAT bad) and recognizing Grandaddy’s voice in the soundtrack, downloading the song, and listening to it in 2^nd period, Mrs. Tassano’s Advanced Algebra class…and getting asked to stay late (for my very first time) after getting caught with my headphones in.  

A-Punk- Vampire Weekend – my first summer day at the Russian river, hamburger and soda in hand, so excited for the freezing cold water amidst a smoldering hot day.

“Prog” – Pinback – my very first all nighter in college, and a reality check on what a commitment it was going to be to excel at this school.   

“Shadow” – The Southland – MONTANA.

“Dead End” – The Format – spring quarter, sophomore year, my life at the pool.

"Forever Young" remake - Youth Group – crying in bed with Jen after safe and sober grad night about how scared we were to grow up, and how much we missed high school.

“A Movie Script Ending” – Death Cab – Colla.

“White Daisy Passing” – Rocky Votolato – crying on my 18^th birthday, alone in my dorm room, because for the very first time since moving to Davis, I was homesick.

 “Where does the good go” – Tegan and Sara – my first broken heart.

“If I ever feel better” – Phoenix – my realization that a broken heart is transient…it comes and it goes.

I know this post may seem pointless…but in conclusion…one time, as I was aimlessly writing in my diary (which I tend to do), I decided upon 15 or 20 bands that I wanted to see before I die, a life goal I guess you could call it (and one thing you should know about me in high school, I HATED to make life plans)…but these were bands that I suppose meant THAT much to me…and about 8 of them are going to be at Coachella 2010.  Now, I know the tickets are expensive, and I know I’m just some broke college kid…but I’ll get my ticket, and I’ll make it over there because that’s one life goal that I’ll be fulfilling, and three days I’ll never forget.