The Song: "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield
The Event: L.A. Trip
Kismet is an odd thing. Coincidences or unconscious actions - however you want to define it - can lead to creating profound associations that last well beyond the events that spawned them. And sometimes the associations are either unbidden or unwelcome - but they persist and insist on their own existence. Such is my relationship with Natasha Bedingfield's hit song "Unwritten." It's a simple little pop anthem encouraging people to seize the day and all that other "live for the moment" crap. Ordinarily I would tune it out like so many songs from American Idol "winners" or that song about "Delilah" or whatever. But due to the associations I've formed with the song, I linger a bit longer on the radio station while it plays. Or I don't roll my eyes immediately as it's the background song for some soft-focused television commercial. Instead I think about Los Angeles and my ex-girlfriend.
My ex is from both NYC and LA - a bicoastal background that matches her complicated soul. One time we visited her family's home in LA and drove around quite a bit - as that's pretty much all one can do in LA (in terms of transportation). It's always odd to see reality conform to the punchlines of hack comedians, where people are stranded in bumper to bumper traffic that angers the blood and stifles the lungs. As we drove around we listened to a lot of radio - it's really the only time I ever listen to radio anymore. I mean, I check out some podcasts here and there - but real radio with programming and DJs and the like? That only exists in long car rides (and usually only when my iPod or iPhone isn't charged). Driving in the sun and the heat, in a pleasant environment that contrasted starkly to the gray trappings of my Philadelphia residence, it was a nice get away from the real world. And the song that seemed to be on every station as we drove? "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield.
At first we would just change the channel immediately, going to another station in the ever elusive hunt for a good song. Then, as the song seemed to pop up with more frequency, we'd listen to it and mock it - trying to discern the lyrics and figure out what the hell this omnipresent song was about. Then, after all that, we'd just join in singing along with it - partially sarcastically in that ironic hipster fashion of ours, but also partially with sincerity. It had gotten to the point where it was easier - even more pleasant - to just give in to the sonic tidal wave of the song and go along with its poppy peppiness.
Nerds - particularly music nerds - like to have control over all audio settings of their environment. We make mixtapes, mix CDs, playlists to perfectly match a desired mood or to attain a preferred atmosphere. Knowing how a particular audience will respond to a specific set of songs - we try to obtain mastery over our environment and create those moments where song & visuals compliment each other perfectly. But those moments tend to not work out - they tend to be forced, hollow and usually there's something off in the timing so it's not nearly as precious as intended. What's way more interesting are those happy moments where the universe thrusts something upon you. If I had chosen a song to be the accompaniment to our vacation, it probably would've been some Sufjan Stevens emote-fest. Instead what I got was a sugary sweet song that seemed to fit right in with the bright reflections of song and endless smiles as we escaped work for a few days and got to be with each other.