Your Theme Song Soundtrack

A decade ago, I was a huge fan of Ally McBeal, a television show that was beyond quirky with its dancing babies and unisex bathroom. At one point, the title character is trying to think of what would be her theme song. John, one of the partners in her law firm, is known for playing Barry White’s “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” in his head whenever he needs to feel stronger and more able to handle whatever situation sits in front of him. Ally spends an episode searching for her own theme song; I admit I can’t remember what she chose.

Since then, I’ve often thought about what songs would work for me. I won’t say what song I played in my head the year I was on the job market, but I would think of it before every interview, teaching demonstration, or research presentation. Did it help me get the job I have now? I don’t know, but I can say the song did help me calm down and focus.

I’ve written before about creating a Soundtrack for the Semester. Remembering Ally McBeal’s search for a theme song, I recently developed a playlist of my theme songs. I go for the plural because there are different songs for different parts of my personality. Some are a little obvious. I’m sure Bon Jovi created “It’s My Life” knowing that people would blare it from their car stereos as a personal anthem. Some are sad. I can’t listen to Kate Havnevik’s “Grace” without crying, but it captures how I feel since my mother’s death perfectly. The list is certainly not all serious, though. After all, I have a song by Lindsay Lohan on it (but try listening to “Ultimate” without singing along)! In the end, I think the people who know me best can look at this collection and say, “Yeah, that’s Nels alright.” And the list certainly captures many of the moods and attitudes I have (or want to have) as I go through my daily life.

Music is a big part of many of our lives. Songs can sometimes help us clear our heads when we’re driving home after work, or they can get us in the right mindset at the start of the day. The songs that connect to deeper parts of ourselves affect us even more. What would be on your Theme Song Soundtrack? Let us know in the comments!

[Creative Commons licensed photo by Flickr user nhighberg]