One of my favorite things is rediscovering a song to be the most amazing piece of music you’ve heard in a very long time. It’s usually one of those numbers that starts off slow, builds and builds—your feet stomping, your head nodding in agreement with every fucking beat hit—until the chorus explodes all over you like confetti on an Oprah giveaway. You’re screaming the lyrics from the depths of your lower intestine, but this is only a tease; it’s about to get better.
The tension is released as the second verse begins, just so it can balloon again and rile you up even harder. When the very ends approaches, euphoria sets in. You’re alright with it being over, because unlike a solid tongue-raping or a NYE party, there’s a very good chance that if you play it note-for-note, one more time, you’d get the same, strong fuck-yeah reaction that you just did.
The above White Stripes’ song is what’s doing that for me currently. It came on shuffle during a road trip a few months ago, and at least once a week ever since, I get this sudden urge to hear it. Right. Now.
A sample of other found-via-shuffle surprises that have recently moved me to dramatics in the car, kitchen or otherwise:
1. “A Small Victory” - Faith No More
2. “I Wanna Be Adored” - The Stone Roses
3. “Rococo” - Arcade Fire
4. “Is She Weird” - Pixies
However, if this was a list from 10 years ago, I’d have to admit the following:
Yup, Coldplay. (Side note: Is the mistaken “!” in the song title a “warning, abort” type of marking or “yeah, this song is as ridiculous as a teenage girl”?) When “Trouble(!)” was popular, I was 24, lonely and in need a soundtrack for my unrequited crush. Leave me be.
