Lemon Zest: Re-mastered or Music: The Lifeblood of Earth · 5:14am Nov 15th, 2020
I just got finished making a few tweaks to the following story:
[Adult story embed hidden]
In this story, Lemon Zest listens to several tunes and songs. Each of them holds a special meaning to me, and I'd like to share those with you all. Now if you haven't read this story and/or want to be surprised, I've slapped the obligatory meme on here as a border of sorts:
Just a quick note: any track with a "*" was added because I initially didn't have a tune in place. With that said, let's get this train rolling!
First track: Endgame by R.E.M.
When I was a kid in grade school, my dad took me on a trip to Arizona. This album was played throughout the majority of the road trip, and I found this tune very, very soothing. Even to this day, I still do, and it remains a soft spot for me.
Second Track: Joker's Theme from the Adventures of Batman and Robin (Sega)
Okay, I'm willing to admit this one's a little out of left field, but I loved playing this game as a kid. Every tune in this game kicks ass, but this one does it the hardest!
Third Track: Thirty Three by The Smashing Pumpkins*
Every time I hear this song, it takes me back to the 90's. Back when I was in Junior High, at the top floor of a condo, sharing a room and bunk bed with my sister. When I enjoyed reading MAD Magazine. It also makes me think of winter.
Fourth Track: Hotwax by Beck*
This is another song I associate with the 90's, but in a different place. When my dad and stepmother lived within walking distance of the condo, I would spend time playing with a basketball hoop (the kind that you could hang over a doorway. It was plastic) while listening to this album. I like this track because it's cool and unusual. Like me! 
Fifth Track: Knowing Me, Knowing You, by ABBA*
Moving on the 2000's, my dad and stepmother had moved to California. He'd play ABBA's Gold album, which contained this song. If you haven't heard this one before and you like guitar solos, you're in for a treat!
Sixth Track: Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder*
I would like to state for the record that I knew about this song before it blew up on TikTok. It's a upbeat song, and one that I'd heard many times before but had no idea what it was. At least until recently, that is.
Seventh Track: I Fall Awake by Happyhead*
Before music went digital, my dad had a crazy awesome collection of music before a lot of it got stolen during a move. This was from another one of the albums he played during the Arizona Trip, and I can't help but nod my head to the beat every time I hear it!
Eighth Track: Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
Much like Lemon, I feel immersed when I listen to certain songs or tunes. This is one of them. The chorus sells it, and it brings back fairly vague memories for me.
Ninth Track: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers (Ringtone version)
There's nothing too personal about this one, just nostalgic. I mean, this show left an indelible mark for kids in the 90's!
Tenth Track: Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots
There's just something about the opening riff and the chorus that just soothes me. Yeah, a lot of these are nostalgia based. Taking me back to the time where music videos were more common.
Eleventh Track: Resurrection (Alternate Version) from Gitaroo Man
When I was in High School, I went to a Youth Con(ference) with fellow teens from my church. One night, someone brought a PS2 and hooked it up to a TV, then played this game. My mind was fucking blown away by the sheer awesomeness of this tune. Note: This isn't the version that was played in the game... it's even better!
Twelfth Track: Mister Cellophane from the musical "Chicago"
I'll admit that this is another one out of left field. I just remember hearing it once when my stepmom had showtunes playing on XM radio. If you listen to the song, you'll notice an irony in the fact that I remembered this.
Thirteenth Track: Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
There's just something about this song. Something uplifting. It brings back memories.
Fourteenth Track: Gone Away by The Offspring*
This. This is one of the big ones. This song resonated with me strongly in my teens, and for a while, I couldn't fathom why. Was it the vocals? The guitars? The lyrics? The screaming?
The answer to all of those were yes... but there was still something else. My teens weren't the best. I was bullied in high school for being in special education. I mostly kept to myself. I hardly had any friends. Oh, sure, I was moderately popular for my jokes and personality, but I spent a majority of time alone. I was lonely.
It would take me some time to realize that what truly made the song resonate with me was that my self-esteem had Gone Away. If I even had that much of it then, that is. I've built myself up since then, but this song will always remain one of my top favorites.
Final Track: American Boy by Estelle feat. Kanye West
This is another big one.
In the summer of 2008, I suffered a triple-whammy. Cardiomyopathy, pneumonia, and pleurisy. I was stuck in the hospital for two weeks. The longest two weeks of my life. I fell into a depression, unable to be happy as I was bedridden for a majority of my stay.
One day, I had to have a CAT scan (or some kind of scan where I had to lay flat while dealing with back pain and hold my breath while I was in a tube) and I was asked if I wanted to listen to the radio. I said yes, and this was the song that played. The first song on the radio I had heard in days.
These songs and tunes each left an impact on me, and I'm glad I could share this with all of you. When Altered Perspectives wraps up, I'll make sure to cover the songs I used for that series.
Stay shiny, people!
Oh shit I know about maybe a third of these songs and I look forward to listening to the ones I don’t know. Anyway I just wanted to say that Odelay is a fucking killer fucking album and Beck honestly is one of our era’s greatest musicians he is just so all over the place in the best of ways.
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Yeah Odelay is awesome!
Sadly, I haven't listened to much of Beck beyond that album. I should really get around to that...