What would the soundtrack of your life sound like?

When I reflect on my own life experiences, an extensive and varied catalogue of songs plays softly in the background of my thoughts, like a veritable jukebox of the mind. I’ve heard that our sense of smell is the most evocative of memory, but I’d beg to argue that music (at least for me) is the most powerful conjurer of the past. Every stage of life, every person I’ve been close to, and every major life event has it’s own, respective soundtrack.

Listening to Fleetwood Mac incites images of my mom dancing around our kitchen, belting out between cooking tasks, completely off key yet still incredibly charming. Revolver by the Beatles reminds me of my first heartbreak, and I cringe and giggle simultaneously when I think about how I was sure I would marry my first boyfriend because he introduced me to the high-minded world of vinyl record collecting. As it turns out, there’s far more to love than sharing records, but I’m grateful for the introduction, nonetheless.

I’ve made a habit of sharing music with people in my life, and regularly compile playlists based on themes like mood, season, or even weird ideas that come up in conversation. In preparation for our journey to Lyon, I created a French-themed playlist that highlights all of my favorite French songs and artists. It spans genres and time periods, with a little bit of everything and plenty of charme. I wish I could say that it helped me to learn French, but I still have no idea what most of these lyrics mean. Please excuse anything vulgaire and enjoy!