On how music and time are related...

I bought five CD's over the long weekend - the weirdest combination of genres imaginable. I was rather surprised that they only cost RM286 altogether, in a combination that included a XRCD and some audiophile recordings. I think they undercharged me but it only occurred to me after I got home.

I particularly liked Sarah McLachlan's "Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff", which is a bit like this blog - unconventional. Shirley was not too bad either as a chinese jazz vocalist, though I didn't understand a word she was singing - proof that, music transcends the language barrier, much like how I'm such a hopeless sod at playing music but can feel every nuance of music even with the slightest change in environment or equipment. Yeah, call me a non-participating music geek if you must.

While my musical taste is still exploratory at best, I did realize one thing - that a large number of songs I like are sung about time. I'd come to this realization while blasting Madonna's "Four minutes" which I think is almost a modern musical masterpiece. Hmmm.. never thought I'd say this for a song which wouldn't feel out of place in a Britney album, but it's good fun, and I like it. It's all that matters. Among them are:

Four minutes - Madonna & Justin Timberlake

24 - Switchfoot

Time Machine - The Click Five

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

What's the Frequency, Kenneth? - R.E.M.

Last Seen October 9th - Eleanor McEvoy

And I guess the list goes on... my memory's failing me...

Speaking of time, do people really feel the spiritual presence of someone long after that person's left or is it our senses serving us reminders of that person? Well I know for sure that the sense of smell does serve as a reminder of people or places that we've been to. That I know for sure. And it's quite powerful. How else would you be reminded of happy thoughts when you smell something familiar, or how the way some people smell remind you of wet carpets or dead cats? The worst one with the longest lingering effect is "the skunk" :-P

How then do objects leave their "spiritual remnants" after you've thrown them away? I find this really amusing and intriguing at the same time. In fact the thought has been bugging me for weeks. The object in question is the "world famous Little Trees" air fresher. My friend Andy had very kindly forewarned me not to put one of those little buggers in my car or suffer the wrath of little creepy trees inducing eye-watering effects for weeks after you've thrown them away. Yeah, it's as though they leave their spiritual remnants (in Andy's exact words) in your car after they are gone. How very interesting is his choice of words? Oh yea, I'm said to have weird friends. So if you are reading this, it's highly possible that you are not normal either ;-) But that's what makes people interesting! Signing off with a little present for you... ;-P