But this blog post isn't about any of those things. Some of those things maybe deserve a post, some of those probably won't see the light of day. But this post is happening now. And this post is all about paying tribute to my 2nd favorite band, Motion City Soundtrack, who is saying so long, farewell to the world, and leaving me with the rest of my adulthood to face alone.
I remember where I was when I first heard the news. It was probably a Friday, only because I remember working from home that day, and Friday would be the day I would most normally be working from home. I remember I was taking a quick break, checking my emails on my phone. And there it was, an article announcing the end of the band, and their farewell tour. My immediate reaction was to burst into tears and sob. I just remember sitting at the dining room table at my laptop just sobbing.
Maybe my reaction was so intense because of much of the above mentioned craptasticness of the year. Maybe that was part of it. But mostly it's because Motion City Soundtrack's music means so much to me. I've seen this band the most of any bands (5-6 times). There's something about their music that resonates with me - the fun, silly moments; the nerdiness; the underlying melancholy; the not always best ways of dealing with that crap inside that makes things hard. I find I sometimes have trouble expressing my emotions, especially when I keep them inside, so it's so wonderful to find others' words and melodies that can say what I can't.
The band may be called Motion City Soundtrack, but should more accurately be called the soundtrack to my adulthood. I first discovered the band 2003. Not long before that, as a senior in high school, I decided that I was so over pop music and boy bands, and decided I would listen to punk instead. I bought compilation punk albums to get a taste of what was out there. MCS was out there. Not too long after I bought "I Am the Movie." For the longest time this was my favorite MCS album. I even had the cd cover signed at the 2006 Warped Tour. (Yes, back when people still bought cds). I don't own many cds anymore, but I sure as hell still have that cd booklet.
"The Future Freaks Me Out" is my favorite song - not just my favorite MCS song, but my favorite of all the songs ever written ever. I am not sure when this became my favorite song, but I am pretty sure why. I think the title alone would aptly describe my life. As someone who over analyzes everything, and it always projecting and planning into the future, it can be anxiety inducing. I also think the peppy beat of the song, with the kind of sad lyrics and undertones resonate. I feel like I live my life as this positive, peppy person. But in reality there's just a lot of mopey crap underneath.
This song is also the best song for whole audience sing alongs! They always play this song, so I'm not disappointed. I believe every person should be able to hear their favorite song live once. I've heard mine 5 (6?) times, so as sad as I am, I am blessed that way!
I always related with the Perfect Teeth line, "Someday I fear I will be rescued from the boredom line
With lack of memory I fail to question why," mostly though from an introvert's perspective. I sometimes worry I spend too much time alone and/or thinking that I'll just miss everything and have no memories.
Modern Chemistry was essentially the theme song to my mind in the later parts of college. I remember one time being particularly low, and printing the lyrics and then posting them on the bulletin board on my sorority room door. Looking back, that feels like such an emo thing to do. Maybe? I've never really gotten what emo means. (Side note: according to the website "Is This Band Emo," Motion City Soundtrack is emo. http://isthisbandemo.com/?band=Motion+city+soundtrack).
I now officially have t-shirts with the song names for both these songs. If I could wear them side by side I would. I feel like Everything Is Alright reminds me of the good times when the anxiety is in check. Sometimes it can be funny. And sometimes you really can say that everything will be alright, even with all the quirks and the scary, frightening future.
L.G. Fuad is the 2nd most played song in my music collection. (I will let the happy reader listen to the song to get what the name means.) This song is my #1 go to when I am feeling particularly mopey or pensive. My favorite thing to do is put this song on repeat while I sit upside down on the couch. If you can't picture that, it's me w/ my legs against the back of the couch and my back on the seat. My head is generally hanging off the way my feet would. I find it gives new perspective. And it's hard to be moody w/ the blood rushing to your head.
Do you ever listen to a lyric of a song and think "dang, I really want that quote on something" so you can see it all the time. I feel like L.G. Fuad is a song full of those lyrics. Almost every line is separately quotable. I've always wanted to take some of the lyrics from this song (and others) and put it on something crafty. But I am not crafty. I guess this blog will do.
This song gave me hope that the new album would be great. I always have this anxiety about new music from bands I am really impressed by/into. You never know when they will steer into left field, or just suck, and you'll become disappointed.
Side note, pretty much all the best MCS songs (with notable exceptions) drop the f-bomb. There's an art to using the F word, which I feel they are very skilled with. :^)
I always imagine this would be the song someone thought of me when they have the realization that I'm great and it really did have to be me. Plus, I don't know what it is, but there is magic in that "let's fight crime with mangos and limes" line. MAGIC!!
I still have my "Even If It Kills Me" bag I bought at the 2008 Warped Tour. I recently pulled it out, because nostalgia!
I feel like Broken Heart is an INFJ anthem. I've admittedly Googled whether Justin Pierre was one - or maybe he just writes songs that resonate with my type. I swear this song is just one crazy INxJ over thinkapooloza. Not to mention the sad part about loneliness - you think you'll get used to it, but really you won't. Sometimes you can just forget that you won't though. And I've definitely had those times where I've just wanted to jack up my heart (emotionally speaking) and just give up on ever letting it love again, just to spite whomever. Not that there ever turns out to be a whomever who gives a crap. But it's nice to pretend.
I always wondered what a song about all my little quirks and facts would be. Probably something about sighing a lot, and that "thinking" face I make when I've wondered off somewhere mentally. I can't really think about others, but maybe it's because you don't realize some thing's a quirk when no one's around to learn you that way. Oh! Maybe something about Excel spreadsheets - I've got one for most video games I play, for my expenses, to track the TV shows I watch. "There's a spreadsheet for that!" should be my motto. ;^) It's even more impressive given my Mac has Office 2003!
I want to put the first line of this song somewhere at work! I have been a good little worker bee!
When I saw MCS on their farewell tour about a week ago, I was really nervous about whether they would play this song. "Her Words Destroyed My Planet" is one of my favorite MCS songs, and before this farewell show, I had never heard it live. But the boys did not disappoint! They even played it early enough that I didn't have to get anxious about it. Thanks!
Also, this video is everything! I love the nerdiness! And I love that this song mentions V Mars (RIP). Anyone watching V Mars is amazing in my book. (And oh look, f bomb!).
My Dinosaur Life is now my favorite MCS album. There are just so many great moments, from some great swearing, a song devoted to the Legend of Zelda, and plenty of lyrics to relate to. Can I just say that slugs don't buzz, and the bothers me every time I listen to "Delirium." This album came out when I was in law school and makes me mostly think about driving around in my car. This was definitely on repeat. I think what made it special was that while I was also listening to some Paramore and New Found Glory albums and assigning songs to boys, My Dinosaur Life belonged to me. (Side note - be careful when you assign songs to whomever you're into - it's all fun and games when it's fun, but can ruin a good song. Well, unless you just reuse it enough. Hehehe).
Admittedly, I didn't get into Go right away. It's definitely got a different feel from the other stuff it took my awhile to warm up. The exception of course is Timelines. Whenever I hear this song, I picture myself driving to work in Lodi, contemplating just how I went from a pre-dental/science major, to a law student/bar passed lawyer, to health insurance. Idk how many times this song has had me ponder just how I ended up here. For someone who's spent so much time planning the future, it's funny how that didn't mean much in the end or the plan didn't lead where I thought. And now every time I hear the line "It's not a matter of time, it's just a matter of timing" I then think of this How I Met Your Mother quote:
Boxelder has surprising turned out to be one of my favorite MCS songs. I think a Boxelder is an insect, or at least that's what the Internet says. I remember the first moment I connected to this song. I had been having a terrible time at work. A coworker was making my life miserable, and I was in a bad place. As I said before, I really didn't get into Go. But on one particular drive home, this song just clicked with me. It seemed to express everything I had been feeling.
I do own the Panic Stations. I wonder if this album had anything to do w/ the band deciding to call it quits. They didn't play any of the songs at the farewell show. I don't hate it. And there are some moments later that I really relate to.
I think in the end I am really nervous about no more Motion City Soundtrack. The future really does freak me out. What if I go through something new as an adult and I don't have a timely new anthem to relate to? What if I never feel the same way at a live concert as I do singing along w/ the audience to a classic MCS tune? Also, I don't want to be old enough for my favorite bands to be breaking up and moving on. I want to know my contemporaries are still out there rocking, so I can too! But mostly I just want someone to relate to. I just hope they've left behind enough that the music lives on past the band. *Fingers crossed*
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