My Song Journal


I've been recently thinking about this book - Songs for a Teenage Nomad. In it the protagonist, Calle, has a song journal where she links a song with a memory. So I decided to give it a whirl. First, here are some examples from the book:

Get Out the Map
"... the air smelling like honeysuckle, I dangle my arm from the passenger window, aware only of the honeysuckle air, Indigo Girls on a scratchy radio, and a white sun. And that everything we own has been packed into the back of a battered orange mini van... again..."

Perfect Blue Buildings
"... Mom plays Counting Crows all morning in the yellow light of the apartment. I am a shadow lingering about her. She looks through me, wanders the rooms. The curtains are drawn tight against a brown LA sky. Ted is late again, and Mon cries while she sings..."

Here's how I did:

Dancing Queen
"Listening to the Dancing Queen next to my dad in the car "Turn it up!" Singing along like I own it. Feelings of twirling around. Knowing I must play this when I'm seventeen. And I do. My love of dancing freely is pretty much gone now. I can just imagine all the weddings I went to and the many dances I participated in. Shoes off! I'm the dancing queen in my head. I'm having the time of my life."

September
"Dad telling me how he met mom. Dad the smooth talker. Did he get her to dance at the disco? I've never asked. Finding love at nineteen. Such luck. It's strange. They are so different then they once were. Teenagers in love."

So I tried. It's not as descriptive as the book, but I did enjoy reminiscing. I actually like the idea of writing a little bit about my day or a memory. It's like I'm writing my story. I'm not much of a journal writer, yet it's kind of fun so whether I'm writing about memories linked to songs or my day - I think I'll try writing a little everyday. 

How to create your own song journal according to Kim Culbertson:

  • Select songs that have significance to you somehow.
  • Each journal entry should use the song as the title to the entry.
  • In each entry, describe a scene/memory in your life that this sibg brings to you. Focus on using specific detail and sensory description to "show" the memory rather than just tell the memory (look closely at what Calle does in her journals).
  • Create a cover for your journal.

Do you write in a journal?
If you were to write a Song Journal entry what would you write about?


Comments

  1. I LOVE THIS! I think you did a great job matching your songs with your memories. One of mine would have to be Bye Bye Bye - I have a varied number of memories associated with this song. One when I was younger and of me and my best friend learning the dance. We were nsync fanatics. The first time we watched the music video... sealing our love for them. Or later in college when I discovered one of my guy friends also knows all the movies to the song and we danced it together up to my wedding... where we did the same. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my goodness I love your experiences with the song Bye Bye Bye. I just couldn't help singing along to the song a little bit when I read Bye Bye Bye. So this kind of proves how deeply songs can connect you to memories. Maybe you ought to try a song journal for yourself (:

      Delete
  2. That's such a neat idea! I think you did a wonderful job :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I used to have a journal where I copied down the lyrics of all the songs I loved. My sisters had one each, too. I now write in my journal almost every day but it's mainly about how to get on with the work for the day and self-motivations. It'd be nice to have a song or film journal!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh a film journal would be more my speed although I would probably just be writing about the film and not necessarily the memories that go with it. I really like the journal you write in daily. I'm thinking that would be a great thing for me to start up.

      Delete
  4. Oh my God, this is such an inspiring idea! I write a journal, not everyday, but a couple of times a week, whenever I have something to write. I have actually been thinking about writing something every day, but that would probably be "Three good things that happened today", as we always used to each mention three good things about the day, at dinnertimes when I still lived with my parents.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww! That's a great tradition to have with your family. I'm sure you would have a writing journal as well to jot down ideas for your blog.

      Delete
  5. This was such a fun post! I like the entries you shared with us and it sounds like it was fun for you to write the entries too. Music evokes such strong memories for me- this is something I want to try! Thanks for sharing. :)
    ~Jess

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was fun especially since I personally connect with those moments. Let me know if you do try this. I would love to know what songs evoke strong memories for you.

      Delete
  6. I just think this is such a clever idea. I never intentionally did this, but some songs immediately remind me of a memory and can bring on strong emotions such as joy or tears.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My songs that I have strong memories for usually make me happy. Although, because of those angsty years in high school and middle school there are songs I love that are angry/sad songs. I've noticed those sad, angry songs don't make me feel as down anymore. I'm able to enjoy them more without being in a negative head-space which is nice.

      Delete
  7. I'm absolutely in love with this idea, especially since I have a truly terrible memory and would like to write down and remember more. Plus it's a fun and creative writing exercise! These are both great but I'm loving the September one :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm completely the same way with my memory. It's beyond horrible. Thank you - I love the September memories.

      Delete
  8. That's a great idea!I've always been awed by how we are able to relate to songs when we feel certain emotions or go through different experiences.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel the same way. A good song can make me really feel something.

      Delete

Post a Comment

back to top