Sara - Week 14- An “intro [extended]” to the Past
Music has a way of capturing moments in time, embedding them so deeply into our memories that a couple of notes is enough to trigger a wave of emotions. Last Friday, Ariana Grande released “Eternal Sunshine (Deluxe): Brighter Days Ahead,” and I played it at 9 PM sharp, ready to soak up each new song. But the moment “intro (end of the world) [extended]” started playing, I barely made it a minute in before tearing up. The original version had been my most listened to song last year, and hearing this new version felt like unlocking a time capsule. It wasn’t the song of the lyrics—it was the memories associated with it, the emotions I had initially experienced, which came rushing back as though no time had passed.
It’s not a new feeling for me. Music is linked to memory, something scientists have studied for centuries. Music activates the hippocampus, the past of the brain responsible for storing long-term memories. That’s why you can be transported back to a specific moment by one song, whether it was one you listened to repeatedly during hard times, a song that described a relationship, or one that marked the beginning of something. The emotions you’ve assigned to those songs get stored away, waiting to come back the instant the opening note is struck.
What makes this more interesting is the fact that music doesn’t just make us remember what occurred in the past; it progresses with us. A song might mean something to you based on where you’re at in your life. The extended version of “intro (end of the world)” resonated differently because I had already grown so used to hearing the original version. The extended lyrics not only added to the song musically—they made me realize how much things had changed since I first heard it a year prior. The same is true for any song that grows up with you, gaining a new meaning as time passes. That’s why people often revisit old playlists or albums they once enjoyed. It’s not just nostalgia, it’s a way of remembering past versions of ourselves. Music is a marker in time, reminding us not only where we were but who we were. Some songs remind us of individuals we’ve lost contact with, or emotions we've never even addressed. Regardless of whether it’s music we remember as happy or sad, music has the ability to make the past present. Hearing “intro [extended]” reminded me of how connected music and memory are. A song isn’t something that we simply listen to, it’s something we feel, something we carry. It’s a reminder that even though things change and years go by, some things—like the emotion that a song holds—never really disappear.
What makes this more interesting is the fact that music doesn’t just make us remember what occurred in the past; it progresses with us. A song might mean something to you based on where you’re at in your life. The extended version of “intro (end of the world)” resonated differently because I had already grown so used to hearing the original version. The extended lyrics not only added to the song musically—they made me realize how much things had changed since I first heard it a year prior. The same is true for any song that grows up with you, gaining a new meaning as time passes. That’s why people often revisit old playlists or albums they once enjoyed. It’s not just nostalgia, it’s a way of remembering past versions of ourselves. Music is a marker in time, reminding us not only where we were but who we were. Some songs remind us of individuals we’ve lost contact with, or emotions we've never even addressed. Regardless of whether it’s music we remember as happy or sad, music has the ability to make the past present. Hearing “intro [extended]” reminded me of how connected music and memory are. A song isn’t something that we simply listen to, it’s something we feel, something we carry. It’s a reminder that even though things change and years go by, some things—like the emotion that a song holds—never really disappear.
A screenshot showing how much I listen to this song (32 times in my last 50 streams)
Hey Sara!
ReplyDeleteI can tell you really love music. I recognized that your title was referring to the Ariana Grande song from Eternal Sunshine. It reminded me of your previous blog four weeks ago about your Post Concert Depression (PCD) from the Cigarettes After Sex concert. I haven’t listened to the deluxe version of her album, but judging from the number of plays you have on it, I am super excited to. The way you described music as a time capsule is so accurate, as sometimes I look back at my old playlists and it feels like looking at an older version of myself. I thought about how different songs were related to different parts of my personality from that era, and it is something so meaningful. It is a way for self-reflection to see how much you have grown. I found how you incorporated some scientific explanation fascinating. The mention of the hippocampus made the overall meaning make a lot more sense. I love the topic you chose. Great blog!
Hi Sara! I also listened to “Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead,” and it was such a good album. I heard people online saying that the original “Eternal Sunshine” album was in the point of view of a healing woman, and the new deluxe version was the fully healed woman looking back on her past heartbroken self—I thought that was beautiful, especially considering the personal tragedies Grande has been through and moved past.
ReplyDeleteThis interpretation adds a new layer to what you’re saying about music’s connection to memories; the nostalgia I felt when listening to the original “Eternal Sunshine” tracks only amplified my surprise at the new additional songs. Grande’s lyrics on “Hampstead” essentially sum up your description of how music unlocks memories and emotions associated with songs. She says “I don’t remember too much of the last year / But I knew who I was when I got here,” a potential reference to how music has brought back her memories despite past struggles with dissociation.
Hi Sara! The topic of your blog resonates with me a lot; there’s this one Spotify playlist I’ve had since eighth grade, where I continuously put songs in and out of rotation in order to combat skips, and another where I put the deleted songs in order to remember those periods of time when I was obsessed with certain songs.
ReplyDeleteMusic is one of the most effective ways to be overcome with nostalgia, whether that be one singular melody repeated over and over again or a particularly special lyric. We all interact with music in different ways and find our own tastes in artists and genres—and yet, we all can still make incredible memories and be incredibly moved by music. I believe that music is one of the most beautiful forms of art and expression (which may be biased since it’s been a passion of mine for a long time).
When revisiting a song or album, there can also be new emotions attached to it that can show personal growth and development. On the topic of Ariana Grande, I remember listening to her song “ghostin” from Thank U, Next back in 2022 and not enjoying it at all; I thought the instrumental was dissonant and unpleasant to hear. However, I relistened to Thank U, Next and found a new perspective on “ghostin,” as I had experienced different kinds of music and explored different genres, and I ended up liking the song a lot more.
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI am totally on board with your point about music being linked to memory. I can already imagine certain songs in my head and remember the different events, activities, or trends happening within those past times. Most of the pop songs from the 2010s that I can remember or resonate with most allow me to feel like I was still living in any specific part of that decade without having to try; all of this is based solely on feeling. Although I do not listen to Ariana Grande as much as you do, I definitely have artists in my rotation that have been making music since I was a kid, which always brings back the nostalgia of the past. Great blog!