Five Albums To Remember A Friend
Words and Picks by Annette Schaefer
This time of year is by no means my favorite time of year. Nearly four years ago one of the best friends I ever had passed away in a car accident. I could just mope around every year when the first part of March rolls around, but I like to honor him by remembering the happy times we shared and by going and making even more special memories. I choose to remember his life and how he lived it and not how he left it. Music was always something we both enjoyed and was often subject-matter for our conversations, so I decided that I wanted to make this staff pick in honor of him and as a toast to remembering to live life to the fullest.
Innerpartysystem – Innerpartysystem
This album makes the list because we both mutually loved this band. When I listen to this album, it brings back all those late night car rides filled with a lot of laughter and amazing friends. Our friendship was never boring so neither was the music and Innerpartysystem was the best background to our many adventures.
Michael Jackson – Number Ones
Like a lot of people remember where they were when JFK was assassinated, I remember where I was the day that M.J. passed. My friend and I were driving around with a few other friends and heard about it on the radio. When we heard the news we decided to hit up Taco Bell and talk about our favorite Michael Jackson songs. One or probably all of the songs off this greatest hits album got stuck in my head that day and they always remind me of the odd way we chose to honor the fallen pop star.
3OH!3 – WANT
I never really liked 3OH!3 much when they first came out onto the scene, but I did like listening to “Don’t Trust Me” in the car as my friend and I would drive around town shouting the lyrics, “Shush girl, shut your lips. Do the Hellen Keller and talk with your hips.” Listening to this album now makes me think of those times and I can’t help but laugh a little.
The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour
Before he passed, he talked to me and several of our other friends about how he was really into psychedelic-era Beatles. As we all sat cramped in his car; we seriously did a lot of driving. He played “I Am the Walrus.” We listened to it a few times and we all began to sing along “goo goo g’joob!”
Coldplay – Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
I had to finish this list with this one. “Viva la Vida” means “long live life.” Not only that, but this was one of my friend’s favorite songs. I’m forced to hear this song a lot when I’m out and about because several stores and restaurants, my work included, have this song on their playlists. Every time I hear it I instantly think of him and what kind of person he was. He was the kind of friend that called late at night wanting to incite a night of fun. He was the kind of friend that drove by your house just to make sure you were okay. He was the kind of friend that cared so much for the people around him that he put those he loved above and beyond himself. So when I hear this song I think about him and even about how much I miss him, but it also reminds me of how I should live my life to the fullest and to make sure the ones I love know how important they are to me.
Viva la Vida.
