Episode 31: The Music That Shaped Us
This week on the podcast we chat about the music that we’ve loved throughout the years and has shaped us. We list a lot of songs, albums and artists in this episode, so we thought it would be fun to just create a playlist of the music we’ve mention here— both the profound and beautiful, to the guilty pleasures we turn up in the car when no one else is around.
>>> Click here to read the computer generated transcript (note that the transcript isn't perfect)
Gabby: Welcome to the making an effort podcast podcast where you get to join in a conversation between two friends who are making faces at each other across zoom. Uh, because we haven't seen each other in way too long in the flesh. Um, but this week we are talking about music, uh, music that has shaped us music that marks historic moments in our lives and the music that we're into these days. And I'm very excited for this topic.
Mel: So I'm actually super nervous by this time.
Gabby: I really afraid it's going to reveal too much just to get way too vulnerable. Yes, you can. You can lie. Well, but that
Mel: is, I know there's I, you know, like music is such a telling thing about a person and also a such a breeding ground for judgements.
Gabby: Well, yes, like I think that is what makes this topic interesting is. That very like it is so vulnerable and there are, there's usually a story attached to why music hits us a certain way and those stories are personal. And there's always that fear of, you know, when you present to the world, this is why this song means what it means to me that you're opening yourself up to be judged. So, but also like.
Mel: There's that aspect. And then for me, there's also the aspect of I 1000000% guarantee that we'll come off this recording and I'll be like, shit,
Gabby: I forgot to say it, but this one. Yeah. And so that's the,
Mel: that's the feeling that I'm coming into this with is that I, for sure guarantee that I'm gonna really mess up a big, significant thing.
Gabby: Yes. And maybe we can just like make ourselves feel at rest as to people who really love music. There is a lot of really good music to love. So not every person or song or album, artist, band that we mentioned is the only thing we can get ourselves. Yes, this is our disclaimer for ourselves more than for you guys, probably.
Mel: Okay. Um, so we are going to talk through some of the artists music songs that have shaped us. And it's funny that you said that I don't think that we had actually talked about this being the music that has shaped us, but that's literally at the top of the document notes that I made. I wrote that actual title.
Gabby: I think you might've texted me that, oh shit. Oh, I thought that was going to be, but I also felt like this moment of truth just bubbled up inside of me, but also I really think our brains. R we're headed in that direction where we basically have all the same, best story. Oh. So, um, it's, I don't know how we've established that. I don't know how you want to do
Mel: this, but I have, I have broken this into like areas of
Gabby: my life. Can I just tell you there've been very few podcasts episodes where I have created notes for myself going into them podcast episodes that I probably should have done that for and did not. But this is we're taking this so seriously.
Mel: Oh, I've been thinking about this for a long time.
Gabby: Yeah. Yeah.
Mel: 'cause I literally like music is life. I sound like that character from Ted Lasso football is life. Um, music is life. Um, I don't, I just can't imagine having grown up in a family where music was not. An enormous thing. Like our every single day was either a music like music in the house, going to a music rehearsal and church go into a music lesson. Like there was not a day where that wasn't like a big chunk of Headspace was taken up with some sort of music thing. It's just such a big, big player. Um, and yeah. And are, oh, my word. I can't even talk a big feature. Gabby: Features the player, a feature. I was there for player. I felt like he knew, like it, it gave music, its own generous soda, you know, and I was here for it cause that's how I feel about it. Mel: So it's just like written this stuff down. Like
Gabby: where are you? Okay. So I think we should start with. Um, our, like our first musical awakening. So in my head, there's like, there's the music that your parents, like when you're a kid, there's the music that you listen to because you're supposed to listen to it. And like some of it, some of it could be great. Some of it could be terrible, but then there's that moment where you buy your first CD, you take your money that. Are you okay, CD? This is dating me, but you know, whatever inches roll that. You S you take your own money that you've earned or gotten for a birthday or whatever, and you spend your own money on music. And I feel like that is such a huge personal statement to make. And sometimes you can look back on it with embarrassment. Sometimes we're like, wow, I did know what was up, but I do think that it is a really big moment actually. Uh, human's life because it's one of the first times that you exercise any like creative agency of your own. So you're discovering who you are and what your tastes are. And that's why I think it's huge. So I kind of thought we could go with like, starting from our first CD that we purchased. And then let's just go on the journey and I'm here for this episode being super long. So I just need to say that from the top. Okay.
Mel: Well, um,
Gabby: so I haven't had a bigger
Mel: brother, a bigger brother, an older brother. Can we just, can we just all just collectively. I recognize that I am not speaking well today. I don't know what's happening.
Gabby: Um, so how about older
Mel: brother? Who's really into music? I, you know, it was kind of similar to what you're saying about your parents, but he, you know, he always kind of was ahead of the curve in terms of cool new music and stuff like that. Um, And so I definitely like took cues from him and his test, but I remember the first CD that I actually bought for myself was, and this is like, because everything else was more like had me dying music from him was jagged little pill. Gabby: Who sues does jagged little pill Alanis Morissette. Oh yeah. Oh my gosh. Do we,
Mel: do we need to stop this? Here was jagged little pill, probably the most formative album. Of of every Twain or teenage girl in the night days. Um, yeah, so I liked for me hair, like I think I must've heard ironic thought that it was an amazing song. Who is this girl? She was Canadian and I was like, I'm going to buy this album. I just remember, like, I can, I can say the album cover with the swirly. Her, you know, her image in the swirly, like red and blue and green, I think cover. And I just remember leafing through every single page of the insert and like reading the words along with her singing. It was the first album that I'd ever heard a woman swear in, talk about sex and, um, be angry in that. All of that stuff. I
Gabby: was just like, I am
Mel: here for this. Am I allowed to have this? Like,
Gabby: you know?
Mel: Yeah. So that, that kind of set me up as like a, oh, this is, this is aspirational for sure. Um, and I have no lived experience really of any of her songs, but I failed them in my book.
Gabby: And that is what makes that's this, that is why we like music. That is why we love music is because it has that effect on us.
Mel: So definitely alarm us was my, Gabby: yeah. Your gateway into your musical independence and become a first album.
Mel: I just got like, as soon as I got in from school, went off. While I re you know, rearranged my room. Yes. Those are the kinds of things you do when you're a teenager. You're like, I think I'll change where my bed goes today. Yep. How often do we do that? Like NOI isn't that such as I loved him.
Gabby: Oh, my gosh. I really, that was so me too. Okay. My first album was, uh, Norah Jones, uh, come away with me, Nora Jones by Nora Jones. And I think it was actually pretty late. Like I. Gotten CDs as gifts or, you know, so I had a little collection, but the first firm I spent my own money on a CD was come away with me by Nora Jones because I, and I think I would have been 13. I saw her in two weeks notice, do you know the scene, you know, where Sandra and you meet up at the charity event. And it's kind of like the first time he's seeing her as like, not just as a woman, you know, work partner, but like as a beautiful woman and. He has this moment. And then in the background, Nora starts singing come away with me. And you just have this moment where it's like just the piano and the water. And I was like, I don't know what this song is, but I need to have it. And so I remember like going on our dial up and like looking at. Or actually, no, not I did to go the dial up, but before I did that, I, um, scroll to the end of the credits. Cause that's how you used to find out music and movies. It's like, you would be like, well, I think Chron and they always come chronologically and how they appear. So you can kind of like, be like, okay, well I know that one song was a Stevie wonder song. It's not that one. You kind of like work it out through process of elimination and struggle with. Uh, struggle was so real. You had to grab that. Yeah. And then I remember going, and we were living, living, um, overseas at the time. And so like in Uzbekistan, like there would be like the music section of the outs, outdoor market, like the bizarre. And so you would have like, they would have this like wall of CDs and you would like point to the one that you want or whatever. Cause. Yeah. Anyway, that was, it was a big, it was a big deal. That album is when silver Walkman, that that
Mel: album is amazing. Has to be sad. Like that was such a beautiful album. I mean, I also had, you know, like tic that, I mean, not it wasn't a big probably for our American listeners. Wouldn't might not even have known who that is. Take that was the boy bond at the time. And I was like, yeah, well into that, um, I definitely dabbled in some saline deal on,
Gabby: I mean, yes, I would be disappointed if you hadn't. I think it
Mel: was her foot. Is it falling into you that. Something like that. So she's like in jeans and a tank top on the cover. They're like shortish
Gabby: hair. Yes. And her Christmas album is still one of my go-to. I need to feel all the Christmas fields right now. Albums and you just put, put on Sandy on Christmas and you're back in 2001, a
Mel: hundred percent amazing. Another kind of awakening for me was I was friends with this girl, Robin and high school, and like first year of high school. And. We used to go like rush back to her house after school for like a snack and then we'd get on the computer and see who was online on ICQ. I don't know if you've ever used
Gabby: you know? Okay. Wow. Yeah, I know. I know. And you could talk to anyone on the internet. Really special. And Mel: so do you ever do that? Gabby: It talks about sidebar yes. On ICQ. Did it have the little like yellow sunflower? Was that
Mel: okay? So yes, so nostalgic, so we used to rush home from school, see who was on ICQ start talking. And she, um, played me the Dexy checks for the first time. And I was like, what is this harmony? And I became obsessed with the Dixie chicks after that, and still continue to be obsessed with Dixie chicks and. The check, the check is there. Um, I seen them live in concert and it was probably like with my best mate crystal. And it was probably one of the most brilliant shows I've ever been to.
Gabby: Oh, I wish I could say that. I've seen the Dixie chicks, but there's a Dixie chicks song for everything. Do you ever notice that? Yeah, like it's still there or their albums are still some of the ones where like, I'm just like going along my day. And I'll like hear a phrase and I'm like launched into a Dixie chicks song suddenly out of nowhere.
Mel: Oh
Gabby: yeah. Um, they were big for me too. Yeah,
Mel: that was, that was a real. Uh, like I can, I can picture her basement. I can picture us, sit in the rind to her like old, big desktop dub computer squealing about boys on ICQ and listened to the Dixie chicks and drinking Dr. Pepper.
Gabby: Um, that's such a fun memory. I have to say with pride and embarrassment at the same time that I was a non-ironic Avril Levine listener. Okay. Was not, it was not ironic. It was serious. Like I was like, 14 year old me was like, it is a damn cold night. I am trying to figure out what's right here. I am. Life is so complicated and I am joking. I am just a skater girl. I don't know what a skater girl is, but I'm going to find out and I'm going to embody that.
Mel: Find a skater boy. Oh, that's funny. Yeah, no, she had some buyers.
Gabby: I mean, he had some great songs. It's just like those first two albums are just hit after hit, after hit.
Mel: Did you see her? Okay, this is also what I really need to say. I have been waiting to say this to you or, or, or at least somebody who gives a shit, but what was the, what was the awards that were on the other night? Not the, before the night before the met gala, it was the. The
Gabby: VMs. Okay guys, her outfit.
Mel: Well, there's a, so this is what brought back to me. I recognized three NIMS at that whole event. I was looking through like, you know, people are doing all these, like, you know, grind, ups and stuff. And I was like, don't know who that is. Don't know who that is. Couldn't tell you who that is. Vaguely know who that is. Literally. I've never felt so old. And so out of touch, like peripherally. No what's going on with machine gun Kelly. And what's her face? Megan, Megan, the Kardashians on the blink 180 2 get like, I mean, Kardashians,
Gabby: you know, the one. Yeah, Courtney.
Mel: I know it's because you are Courtney and this you guys, if nobody has ever seen a picture of Gabby and her sisters, you need to go and do that. Not because of they, 1000000% are the Kardashians, wholesome Kardashians.
Gabby: Awesome guy. Okay. Wholesome Kardashians could just
Mel: be three sisters. So you guys look like that. You look like you could be in the family and you're for sure. Of course you are Courtney.
Gabby: It's the oldest child,
Mel: just a little rocker kind of energy, you know, you
Gabby: know, she loves, she loves the culture. I'm the same way. Like just wants to have fun. Yes. She, she just wants to feel like, okay, but then this is a tangent, but we're just going to go for it. I, I have not. I've been like in mom, quarantine of life for so long that this is my only friend outlet. I thought
Mel: let's rally.
Gabby: Let's go well. So we're just, we're just here, but you know how like, and maybe, and the people will say, okay, it's like immature and you don't know yourself and blah, blah, blah. But here's the thing. We all have those moments where we just like want to buy into a culture to express ourselves. And I feel like Courtney does that all the time. She does it with her, like little, like, you know, her poosh. Um, empire county, some say that, um, like with the whole health and wellness thing, like she does, she's doing it now with her whole Travis Barker, like relationship. She was just buying into a culture. And I have a lot of sympathy for that because I, I feel like I love that too. Like, I love the energy of like being like, I'm in this thing now. And this is my, this culture is like, Representing who I am as a person for this period of time in my life. And I'm here for it. So no shade, no shade
Mel: from you. Pondered, present shade for me
Gabby: to not
Mel: I think to me,
Gabby: she is
Mel: fully shaded. I'm just a bit like, it's like a, it's like a. A mom who's, who's done the motherhood like hard, hard years, and it's just like, fuck it. I'm gonna wear pleather. And I'm gonna wear ironic, like broken rotate shirts and I'm going to have a tattooed boyfriend and that's it. I'm doing it.
Gabby: It is her midlife crisis. And that is the part that makes it a bit cringe for sure. Is your life for a play
Mel: less your life. You're not doing anybody any harm, and if you're not doing anybody any harm, that's just get on with it and enjoy it. And, you know,
Gabby: be gross. It's fine. We'll revisit this wit when we're in our midlife crisis, the CS Gracie's. See what happens.
Mel: Okay. Moving, do you feel like we need to devote an entire section to
Gabby: John? Yes, we need to talk about the John Mayer of it all. Mel: Do you think that we should talk about our private conversations about chocolate?
Gabby: I don't, I don't think that they're quite in that circle of trust yet to listeners, but I just need you guys to know that Mel and I had like an hour long test conversation about the depth of our love for John Mel: Mayer and. No,
Gabby: no. Even a little bit. Well, I think that even if we don't say it at the top of this, that we love John Mayer, they will know by the end of this, by how we talk about his music. Um, so you
Mel: remember when you first heard John Meyer's music?
Gabby: Yeah. So I, that was, yeah, I was a late buyer in, so let's see room for squares. Like I had a bunch of musos and this is one thing I'll say about. Me. I am a huge music appreciator with no musical skills. I did try and learn how to play the piano. I was really into the piano for like middle school, into high school, um, mostly jazz, but then I just, I got disinterested in practicing that much. Like I'm not really went away. No, but I really wanted it to be. You know, it was, if it was a big deal for me, but I am always the friend in my friend groups who is the non-musical one, I'm married to a musician. All of our friends, either our music in Nashville are either musicians by profession or they like our musical and they just don't like do it professional. I am Steph yet to have the friend where they're not super musical. All of my roommates in college, one was an acapella like, like acapella, uh, and the acapella group on our campus, which was a huge deal. They were like celebrities on our campus. Um, yes, this is a real thing. The other ones like show choir and the other one was like indie guitar, chick, girl. And. I was the only one who was like, you guys are brilliant. I love what you do. I love, I love I stand. And this is who I am. I am the stand for
Mel: forever. So that is why you were late to John Mayer because of like your lack of
Gabby: musicality, do you think? And so what I, this is the, the connection is I. Wasn't enough of a museum to appreciate heavier things and room for squares. Like there were a few songs on there where I was like, yep, it's John Bayer. But the album where it like got me was continuum. Like that was where I like fully signed on board, like on board with the John Mayer mania. And it has never stopped for one second. Since then I have loved every album. Even the ones that people tell me that we're not allowed to like, like, like what, oh, like the one where he goes off to Montana and he's like, screw the end, his music industry, I'm going to become a cowboy. And everyone was like, no, that was a terrible album. We should really come back to move back to
Mel: LA and some sort of like cultural appropriation. Like I fit in the coat on the cover of it.
Gabby: Yes. Um, uh, and I also actually think that heartbreak warfare, I just feel like it's so feel like there's so many fields in that
Mel: album, heartbreak, Horford. Is that not in continuum? Is that a no. Is that a whole album?
Gabby: Wait, hold on. All right. What am I going to say? Heartbreak. Wharf. I'm looking this up. What album? Oh, battle studies. I'm sorry. Battle studies. Good one. So battle studies was the one that came out after continuum and everyone was like, Jennifer
Mel: Aniston one. Isn't them. Gabby: I feel that it was the Jennifer years. Yeah. And heartbreak warfare is about Jennifer Anniston, but yes, that was, everyone was really disappointed in that album when it came out. Yes. I remember I was working at a coffee shop at the time, and I remember we all were like, this is the day it's coming out today. And it was his first album after continuum, which was a huge, critical cultural success. And everyone was like, oh, are you joking? Edge of design? I know one of
Mel: the best songs, like maybe the smartest we'll turn on this access and find me in yours like that was lyrical genius. Please do not come at me with the bottle studies critique, because that is a great album.
Gabby: I mean, I, you and I are,
Mel: I feel like I'm projecting. I'm annoyed that anyone would think perfectly lonely. Half of my heart. I mean, it's tensed with the tailor, but that's, that's fine,
Gabby: right? No, I just remember listening to that and be like, okay. Taylor swift, because I wasn't a huge Taylor swift person. I'm still not a huge Taylor swift person, but I, I, I really likes a lot of her songs. Um, but I just remember thinking. This is so hilarious that we're putting her as a credit art, like as a, you know, like putting her in the byline of this song. And she basically does like backing vocals for 10 seconds. At the end of the song, I was like only John Mayer could get away with that. Like wanna do backing vocals for me on this one song and I'll put your name on it. People will love it. And she's like, yes, John, I love you. Cause those were, that was when the, that was also when she had a crush on him. Had that whole back and forth that we like, and she wrote, what did she write? She wrote about, oh, red came out after
Mel: John. Was that one of the
Gabby: dear John and then, um, oh my gosh. What is the song off of red trouble? Yes. So trouble was also written about John Mayer and. Yeah, those are all the same, same era ish. Yes. Mel: Yes. Well, I just mean to skim over room for squares on heavier things just feels like that. Yes. I remember first kind of coming into the John Mayer orbit when I was at university in Canada and the girls kind of entered in my, in my dorm, introduced me to that. I was just like a hub c'est completely. I was like, I CA I just could not get over high. Yeah, his just the musicality of it, the lyrics of it, I just find him so sexy. And you know, it was, it was all of that kind of classic knows what a, what a girl wants to hear. Like he's saying all these kind of fathers be good to your daughters. Like all this guy kind of, you know, like that kind of stuff that, well, it just feels like it's. It's a little bit strategic, probably that he knew that that's who was absolutely going to run to, to his, to his music and set him up as that kind of, I feel things kind of guy.
Gabby: Well, yes. And that is the charm of John Mayer is that he says all these incredibly insightful and like, Just really charming things and his songs. So you, when you listen to it, you're like, oh, well he is the guy who's like, who's noticing the details. Like he's absurd. If he listened
Mel: to feels things, the lyrics from comfortable.
Gabby: Yes, exactly. Like it's like all of that. And it's like, and also he's the hard to get guy it's like, that is the perfect. Combo of the ultimate. I don't know, like what you in, especially in college, like what you aspire to, who you aspire to be. Isn't it it's like no one else could get him and he's super sensitive and super kind and super observant. And he's going to be obsessed with me, but he's not going to be obsessed with anyone else because I was the one who could win his height. And that was basically I know that person. Exactly. So Joel, it's a, he represented something for a generation. So John, John Mayer
Mel: actually like sweated on. Did you know this?
Gabby: So when
Mel: I, when I left university after one year in Canada, cause I'm, um, committed like that, um, I moved to London. And the UK, he wasn't as massive them. Like he just didn't have the same profile in Europe that he did and the states. And he was playing at the Hammersmith Apollo the year that I was doing my gap year. And which is like, it's a small venue, like in, like, when you think about the news as far as any scope, have you been to the Hammersmith Apollo?
Gabby: No, I don't think so. I mean, it's
Mel: not, I kind of, I don't even know how many people it, but like standing room, like you literally can go right up to the stage and there's maybe like, it's all sound in the bottom and then, um, there's like a upper level. Um, and that's it. Yeah. My friend, Chris and I went to see him. Cause he was like the, I mean he was the guy that I, I introduced him to Joel Mera, whenever he'd been on dark Apia and we just were obsessed. So we went to see him and we got in pretty early and we just worked our way up to the stage. And I literally, I don't know, you guys obviously can't see me, but I literally had my arms on the stage.
Gabby: Elbows rested
Mel: on the stage, like looking up at me and when he, when he plays and does this like sex face when he plays guitar and stuff like that is as awful up close as it is on screen, but he definitely sweat it off. I felt a bead of sweat, drip onto my arm. I'm sure of it. Um, so I, I saw him, I've seen him live maybe three or four times. Um, that was the most intimate. And then the others were like in a rightness, um, which was less, it was still amazing, but it was less awesome. I'm so glad I got to see him in a smell, the
Gabby: nest. Yes. That, that. Experience of catching an artist live right before they go Baig so they they've worked out the kinks in their set. They have enough songs that are like, have made it to the mainstream where like, everyone's like the energy in the room is like, we are vibing with this, but they're not so big that it's like, well automatically you're going to fill an arena, but it's a sold out show. Everyone feels like they're in on this, like inside secret that the world is about to get leaded on. That is like one of my favorite feelings in the world. It's such a good one. It's hard to, and I mean, maybe I'm just like really? I like miss concerts. Cause we haven't been able to go to them for so long. But that feeling of, oh my goodness. The world is about to experience this and I'm like the first person here on like ground zero. Is really special. And you had that with ed Sheeran.
Mel: We've already talked about this.
Gabby: I think we've already talked about in the podcast. I will go back and figure out which episode the ed Sheeran stories. And so you guys can,
Mel: I know, and it's so it's so funny. Cause even like the last week we were, I was watching, watching the movie yesterday, which I was super, super late to the party. If you say. So it's like the general premise is that this kind of weird blacklight happens. There's just this guy, he's like a wannabe singer songwriter. Not really going anywhere decides to give up. And then
Gabby: this weird black guy happens where like
Mel: the whole population, except for him. Like loses their memory of the Beatles. Like nobody knows like this, the Beatles have never existed to everyone else and accessed a quirky
Gabby: concept.
Mel: And the movie is just so it's a Richard Curtis movie, um, which means that it's like the quintessential British CLA like it's got everything, romance culture, British humor, just everything. The quality of Richard Curtis movie, like you're nodding Hills and you're all the rest. And yes, ed Sheeran's in the movie, like he's a, quite a significant part of, part of the movie. And I'm like watching this go going it's it just doesn't feel like the same guy that, you know, like whenever that was 15 years ago, that. He was just, it's just a way, lot. He was just a way, lot in a church hall with his dad and a guitar and a loop pedal.
Gabby: I mean, I love, uh, I love it. Ed Sheeran cameo and like Bridget Jones, baby. He is like senior more than it. Yes. Have you not seen that movie? Mel: Okay. Noted. Gabby's my song and open hair. I mean, does ed Sheeran Lova cameo? He must stay.
Gabby: He's definitely up for it. I'm always excited to see him there, musters, Italy,
Mel: but yes. Um, so that's, that's the Joan, I mean, we could definitely go into the John marrow thing much more, but it has very much shaped, like come up. I definitely feel like I, I don't know, just like even I listened to his stuff all the time. Like one of my top played songs in the last year or two years is. Uh, new light frickin love that song. So yeah,
Gabby: yeah, yeah. My last John Mayer story, and then I will be talking about him is when my dad and I went down to, so my university was a four-hour drive away from my home. And when we went down to visit and kind of. You know, do all the tourists, see where I was going to be living, you know, all of that stuff. Before I actually moved down there, we bought continuum and listen to it like pretty much the whole way, a whole drive back home, including stop this train. And it was like my dad and I are both like big feelers. So we're real. It's just like driving four out for four hours. In our fields, like basically crying to stop this train.
Mel: We'll stop this tree in whoa. That someone will hit you hard. Yeah. I mean there's any, any amount of them isn't there St. Patrick's day. I mean, get me a break. Yeah.
Gabby: Um, okay. All right. I'll speak up. Well, I was gonna say, I couldn't cannot talk about my college musical experience without. Mentioning Bonaire, um, who was from Wisconsin, it's just an hour away from where I went to school. And so he was massive. I mean, it is massive in and of its own. Right. But like, It was, he was our local celebrity. Like, it was like, you know, you go, you talk about bona Vera and everyone would be like, oh yeah, my mom was in a Bible study with his mom or like, I, you know, I served him a burger at Culver's. So like everyone has a, has a Bonnie bear or Justin Verdon story. Um, and so he felt very, like, very much larger than life, but, uh, restart. Um, from, for Emma forever ago has like maybe a thousand, like a thousand listens on my iTunes. I don't know. And that was on my old laptop.
Mel: No. So I will just never, ever get sick of, and those are the ones I think that holds the most memory. Like they transport you, they comfort. Yeah, well,
Gabby: and also he had like the best sophomore album ever. So his title, he had, he had a self-titled album Bonifair and it has like all the like Holocene and, um, like he does. Oh my gosh. Like all of those songs, like, so I, that album came out when I was on. An internship in Seattle. And I didn't know anyone in Seattle cause I was just there for three or four months. And I just remember like driving around, going on hikes and listening to that album on repeat and just being like this music has peaked like this is it. We, where do we go from that? For every time I listened to the song, it just gets better. Like I don't get tired of it. And those kinds of songs I think are really special. Oh, they are, they don't come along. And here's the thing when you're younger, you think that good music is around every corner because you're discovering so much of it so fast and there is a lot out there. That's very good. But as you get older, I think you begin to realize, like, it is a little bit, few and far between. And you just didn't ever fully realize it when you were younger because you had so much to catch up on. Yeah. Do you ever end also your, maybe your taste was evolving as well? It definitely was. And I
Mel: think, I think as you get older, you feel more permission to just like what you like.
Gabby: Yes. Right. You don't have to like everything, you know, just like Mel: what you like, listen to what you like. Um, rather than try and hard to get into something that everyone else seems to like and that kind of thing. Um, yeah, definitely. Um, it's probably a similar kind of hope and tone or local guy saying for many of us that live in Northern Ireland and 40 fonts and his music has absolutely shaped. Yeah. The law. I mean, probably our whole, our whole married life has kind of been, been lived to the sewn track of foil, you know? Um, we've seen him countless times. In fact, just before Dave and I got together for, he was playing a local, a local bar every Thursday night. Like just in the, in the corner plan and not to bring children into so six degrees of separation from Sharon, but now he's like, I think a thank you sign to ed Sheeran's record label. He's obviously done tracks with ed, um, and. I just struggled to find an artist that moves me the same way that forties music move, especially early foil has moved me. I think it was just so like when he first, every, everyone I think in Northern Ireland, especially, it was just written for him, you know, just like he could feel that collective like. Dude we want, we really want you to do well, like you deserve to do well. You've grafted all over our, our country plan, little gigs and has built such a loyal fan base here. And he has definitely got to levels of,
Gabby: I mean, it's so, so well-deserved like his, I do want to come back to talking about his music, but like, One thing people don't know about me, maybe don't know about Foy, Vance and Northern Ireland in general, as you guys put out. And I mean, this is going to sound really, uh, special coming from me as I'm married, I'm married to a Northern Irish musician, but like the there's some real musicality that happens in Northern Ireland. Like when you think about how Ian Archer and Foy Vance have written. And ed Sheeran. So like, okay. But he's not from Northern Ireland, but the other two are though those three guys are no patrol, no patrol. Yes. Um, Gary Lightbody right. They are responsible for so much, many of the songs that appear. British pop music
Mel: and Grey's anatomy.
Gabby: And in grace it's like them and sleeping at
Mel: on rotation in grace. I'm no sad about
Gabby: it. That's great. Well, like, I mean, yeah, those guys have like written almost every. Like incredible album that has come out of the UK in the last few years, like pretty much re wrote into all of James Bay's music. Like it's, it's a pretty special little, I don't know. What's what's in the water over there by you guys, but it's just a lot of stuff coming out. Heritage
Mel: music, music. Yes. You know, we've got, we've got fire on the man from Morrison.
Gabby: Oh my gosh. Yeah. And then just, you know, south of the border, there's Hozier. Right, right. Yes. He's from Ireland, Ireland, right? Yep. Yeah, for sure. I mean, I love his stuff anyway. Foy Vance though, getting back to FOI because there's so much to be said, oh, we can't not talk about this most recent album that came out. I mean, so beautiful is not, it is. So this week, this last two weeks, I've been so deep in my fields. And like every time, like. I just need, like, to really just cry this out. I will put on his new album and just like sob through sapling saw through what if Chris are recalls sub through basically all of them and it just, which,
Mel: which, one's your favorite on this album?
Gabby: Little emo. Ah, gosh. Yeah. I am an OG email. Uh, let's see. I think it's gotta be it's it's gotta be when Christopher calls or if Christopher calls, if Christopher calls. Yeah, it is. If, if Christopher calls I'm like, okay, some of these lyrics, I just need to read to you. Like they are just, you don't even have to know the song to have your heart wrenched. Okay.
Mel: Okay. I mean, I'm going to go from there, go for it. And the lyrics from signs of life as well, like signs of
Gabby: life to me, signs of list
Mel: is the one that just like the line that is song in the refrain where it's like, cause we're only here a while and we're such a long time ago. Don't let it overcome. Don't let the RS grow long. Cause we are only here awhile and we're such a long time
Gabby: going. My gosh. It's just it's so gut-wrenching okay. This one. It doesn't matter who it is. Don't answer the door. Say only want to ask if I'm all right. I can't say yes anymore. Like how do you even like emotionally survive that line? You don't it's like, I'm not okay.
Mel: come to the door, you know, not okay. Oh yep. Oh, I hear ya. Big time. And I think for those of us who maybe were like, You know, maybe new FOI when he was, um, involved in like the Christian sane and stuff and, and Northern Ireland, there's that kind of watching his watch and his faith on his spirituality and his intellect level over the years has been so fascinating as well and how that comes through in his music. And there's just still such a deep respect for him. Across the board. Um, but I have to say like his, oh, his hope album, um, is, is just spectacular, you know, to actually finally, after hearing him play countless times, play Gabriel in the vagabond and discriminate act of kindness to hear him play all of those songs live for so many years. And then to finally get the album. That we had, all of his fans had waited for, for honestly like five years. We waited for him to bring an album like with those songs on it and not just like little one-off coordinates. And it was such a moment. I just remember that being such a big moment. Um, and when I released my AP, one of the reviews was that. Being compared lyrically to 40 pounds. That's all I'm saying. That's all I'm saying. It was sad. It was sad. It was written on paper by a music critic. That's all I'm saying. I mean, I mean, life may have, right. Like just say
Gabby: good night. That is the ultimate compliment you can. That is amazing. And she never made music. Stop it. The last song you sent me did make me cry as well. Oh, okay. Voice memo a couple months ago. Oh, that was
Mel: lovely. About a year ago that,
Gabby: um, so that full year ago?
Mel: Well, yes, because that was much later Michelle's husband and I were recorded that during lockdown remotely. Isn't that cool? I did not. We had big, big, like hopes that we were going to. And record a bunch of songs. And then we just really lost, lost steam. I lost steam.
Gabby: I have to say lockdown really sucks the life out of everyone. So, but that song was really, really lovely and it was very emotional. I really liked. So I, I can see, I, I understand that the comparison. Oh, I'm
Mel: just being a Dick. I am just
Gabby: being a Dick. I know. I know you are awesome. I know you. I
Mel: know he listened to it for a minute. Let's go there while we won't be. Gabby: Well, I was gonna ask you before we get to that, if you don't mind go, I want to know about any guilty pleasure. From your life of music. And do you believe in guilty pleasures? No,
Mel: not anymore. No. I like own my, my guilty pleasures if I have them. Um, well, I mean, when I growing up, we listened to, so the, the men music that was playing in our house on actual vinyl were the carpenters , um, Eva Cassidy. Uh, Carol
Gabby: King and Carol K. Oh, obsessed. I mean, yeah,
Mel: incredible. Just these like beautiful female lyricists and vocals and, um, a lot of gospel music as a, not like, not like gospel as in like the Winans gospel. Country gospel. So my parents loved like Southern American. Hmm. You know, Christian gospel music. So that was a big, big feature in our house. But I would say like, no, it's not even guilty pleasure, but I still love to listen to the carpenters. Um, and like, Um, I have a real thing for seven days, music. Like I really love music from the seventies. Like all of those kinds of S real, like, just that, I don't know. There's something about seventies, mellow music that I love, like James Taylor, you know, Carol King carpenters, Eva Castillo. They're all. They would all be, I don't mean that's not a guilty pleasure. There's me as an artist.
Gabby: Yeah. Yeah. They're just, yeah, absolutely. But
Mel: I also, I also love a bit of like nineties, R and B, I mean, very much so.
Gabby: Um, and he's R and B is its own brand. Yes, it's so good. What about you? What's your.
Mel: Here's here's what you might not know about me kind of music.
Gabby: I would love to not believe in guilty pleasures, but there are definitely songs that I keep well under wraps. So, uh, I am a huge pop appreciator. There's I love like a good dirty pop song. Yeah, a huge Ariana Grande's. Although I am getting like in my mommy ears, as my son gets older, I'm like, I don't know if I want Ariana Grande day to have the sex talk with my son, because it is so graphic. I want me and Chris to have that conversation. So I have started listening to Ariana in my headphones, not like some weird moral prudish region reason, but because I just am like, I will explain a 69 to you Mel: when the time is right when it's right near 69, Gabby: that will be the right time. Um, I will probably be dead so sacred. Uh, no. Um, so I don't even feel guilty about that. I do feel guilty about liking tequila by Dan and Shay.
Mel: I don't even know that. So that's how old I am. There were, that were at the VMs because if they were, I wouldn't even, I wouldn't be able Gabby: to, I didn't watch the DMEs, but I don't think that they were they're like country pop. Like they're not even like, um, I don't know. I don't want to like slug anything off. I'm not trying to slap. They're like your real bog standard Nashville, sparkly country pop. So nothing edgy, but there's a song called tequila that I so vibe with and Chris always grown. So when I put it on, so please go listen to it. Cause I think you'll understand what I, um, if you haven't listened to it already. Um, so yeah, that is one where I just am kind of like, Ooh, Yeah, it's not that I'm not proud of it. It's just like, I don't want to be defined by, you know, we're
Mel: not here to define you enough. Honestly. I promise this isn't this conversation is not the, the McAfee or may. Thank God. Um, okay. Now let's talk about what you're listening to at the minute. What's your go to. My
Gabby: go tos. Um, these days I am super into Maisie Peters, um, who also just got signed into the ed Sheeran family to be, to bring it back to ed every all roads lead back to ed, apparently on this podcast. Um, but she's a, I have really lived, she has a little like NDE, almost old school Indy. Girl cutesy UK situation. Um, but her, her like storytelling and her lyrics is amazing. I think the reason I really love her is because she writes a lot about like, it's very like it listening to her music feels like watching a John Green movie or reading a John Green book where you're just like, in these, like, she talks, it's a ton of nostalgia. It's a ton of like, Talking about putting on makeup before going out at age 16 and with your friends and catching a bus Taylor, 2.0 is a little bit, yeah, much less country. Um, lot less, a lot more from like a nostalgic perspective, as opposed to like, this is my reality that I'm living right now. Right. You know, adults can kind of be like, oh yeah, I used to relate to that. It's more like as an adult writing about those years and just, I think some of the best songs, like you think when you write songs, the more specific you get, the less relatable they would be to O'Bryant broader audience. But the reality is like, we all have a ton of really common shaded shared experiences. So like, you can say stuff like, um, I don't know, like, like castle on the hill by ed Sheeran is like all about those back, those roads, the roads that you grew up on, and these, this is the place we were made, or actually that this is the place you were made is a Maisie Peters song, which is a lovely song. But yeah, it's that kind of stuff. So I'm really into her, really into Joseph. Band Joseph re really into them, really into Maggie Rogers, lay on a, the RLD artists. We mentioned previously to this sure. Band Camino is in there. I don't know if you listened to them much. They have a song called sorry, mom. That is very endearing. And I think you would like it. Um,
Mel: yeah, I always love your playlist. Often where I find good news, I guess, through, through my girl, Gabby. Um, I am listening a lot to lick straight dive that their whole lit like their last album, obviously it's called obviously, um, is just tune after tune is perfection to me. Um, and the lead singer, her voice. Uh, so there's some good, so pure about it that I, yeah, I can't get over it. Um, I also recently have started listening to a band called Balen. I don't know if you've heard of B a I L E N. They have this one track that kind of caught my attention cold. Something tells me and I. Yeah. I listened to it all the time because I'm obsessed with harmonies and the harmonies are unreal. And then there's this other artists that I discovered like probably four or five years ago, um, called yabba. Yes. Yes. And she, this week has just brought out her first album and I guess one of those like Foy Yvonne situations where I'm like, I have been watching you. For four years, listening to your rifts, listen to you. Absolutely kill it. Your voice is like nothing I have ever heard before she is nuts. Her voice is crazy. It's unreal. She's finally brought out an album, so I am much, and I'm going to be like, listen to that album are paid a lot as well. Cause I just I'm just so for her, you
Gabby: know? Yeah. John Mayer actually just posted about her album and his stories.
Mel: Did I, oh, look at us. Just tying it all up nicely. I know. Gabby: Yep. Yeah. I, I do love when John Mayer loves something like when he was super into Maggie Rogers.
Mel: Well, yeah, because magic Maggie wrote. Amazing. Like Dave loves Maggie Rogers. When we go on our road trips up north, he's like put that one song on
Gabby: He loves fine. Oh.
Mel: Right. Good on that note, literal, um,
Gabby: tell us all your
Mel: favorite songs. We're gonna make a playlist. We're gonna, we're gonna make an effort playlists together. God was going to do that cause she is. The bomb at Meg and a playlist. Um, and so we'll send that in the show notes and you guys are welcome to enjoy that. Let us know if you'd listen to it, um, and send us your faves, any bands, music songs. Do you think that we would love based on all of that you've heard today? We'd love to hear it. Okay. Thanks everybody. Gabby: Thanks everyone. Bye.
