Radio Mad in Paris

In the past days I’ve recalled some songs that were particularly important when I was in Paris. Can’t believe I came back 2 years ago already. Anyways. You make playlists, right? Lists you play while doing certain things. Showering, getting dressed, studying, cooking, b4 falling asleep. Sometimes certain tracks become associated w/ particular activities/ situations. “Gimme shelter” by the Rolling Stones & “The Couples” by the Long Blondes opened 2 different multi-purpose lists I had. But 2 me, everything Long Blondes is associated w/ Paris bc I saw them there @ the end of April, on one of the last evenings b4 everything changed. It was one of my favorite nights of the entire 6 months. I’d later often wish I could go back then & do things differently. I still do, actually, but I don’t think about it anymore...there’s no point.



Some observations
- The 1st month or so I’d listen to OuiFM all the time. They were alright but I was shocked & how much they’d repeat the same songs! To name just a few... “Back to black” by Amy Winehouse, “Let’s dance to Joy Division” by The Wombats, “Worried about Ray” by The Hoosiers, “On my shoulders” by The Do (I grew to LOATHE this song & the singer's whiny voice. I wanted to shoot her), “Salty dog” by Cat Power & “Foundations” by Kate Nash
- I didn’t have an iPod @ the time, just a TDK mp3 player with less than 2GB storage. It was enough 2 rock though
- Andrew, an Australian friend from Uni who had excellent musical taste & was also a STONE FOX, recommended a bunch of songs. The ones that caught on the most were “King’s Lead Hat” by Brian Eno (I remember dancing around 2 this one in my room) & “Panda panda panda” by Deerhoof.
- During that semester I also saw Blonde Redhead, Jonathan Richman & The Breeders (for the 2nd time). The Breeders show was also among the best nights out...later on I had wine w/ Eugenia then together w/ Baptiste we went dancing @ Le Paris Paris on Boulevard de l’Opéra. The girl who guarded the bathroom was so pretty in her blood red lipstick & pearl necklace. I was like “HI U R SO PRETTY”. In French, OBVIOUSLY.
- I associate “Gimme shelter” with sad moments & it still gives me a windy, vacant, desolate feeling. I love it either way. Gr8 song.
- “Tiptoe” from the album “Return of the Headhunters” (Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, that is) was a song I listened 2 a lot, namely when showering. ♪ I tiptoe through the shadows of my mind... ♪
- Joe Jackson. I was @ Bar Ourcq one afternoon with Yael AKA The Streets Walker having a cup of coffee & I heard this song, it sounded familiar, but very much from the past & gave me a tingling inside (maybe it’s the xylophone sounds that make me think of twinkling stars). I asked the waiter what record was playing. Joe Jackson’s “Night & day”. The song was “Stepping out”.
- ♪ I’d pay to visit you on rainy Sundays, I’ll maybe tell you all about it someday ♪ . The end of a song by Belle & Sebastian describes how I felt about someone I met there. We became friends, but I secretly cried most of the time. They knew I liked them, but I don’t think they grasped the extent. Nor do they know how much I still care. But they are far away now & there is no point, really.
- I remember listening to "Why can’t I be you ?” by The Cure while changing metros on my way 2 Margherita & Elisa’s house on the other side of town. Most of my friends were in kinda chic areas near the Eiffel tower whereas I lived in the 19th arrondissement which is more in da hood. As I listened, I thought of the aforementioned person. Bc they were just soOoO perfect. I think I’m a little less adolescent now & don’t idealize ppl as much. Or maybe I just haven’t come across anyone as perfect again.

People have the nerve to tell me that they're lonely
Yeah people have the nerve to tell me that they're lonely
People have the nerve to tell me that they're lonely
You're not lonely
I am, baby
- “The Couples”, the Long Blondes