My favourite song. Released in 1997 as the second single from the brilliant Foo Fighters album ‘The Colour and the Shape’, surely Dave Grohl and the band knew they were on to a winner. Arguably the best indie rock single of all time and one that managed to enter mainstream radio, still played regularly on the airwaves. And it still sounds fresh and energising every single time. From the edgy opening chords through to the build up to a relentless and soaring chorus, every note is pitch perfect. The music video (link below) to accompany it is surely one of the most original of all time, both hilarious and downright strange! A glimpse into the creative mind of Dave Grohl; a musical genius as well as an all-round nice guy.
What makes a favourite song? This will always be a subjective decision, and it’s not only the quality of the song that decides it but where the song sits in the soundtrack to a life. Songs are always intertwined with personal emotions. A song can instantly bring back the strongest of memories from a seminal time in our lives, whether euphoric or heartbreaking. Memories of being in a particular place, memories of a person and all the emotions attached to them. On the simplest level, a song has the power to instantly bring positivity. A song you love suddenly comes on the radio when you’re sitting in evening traffic and within seconds you’re singing along while stress fades away!
For me, Everlong will always bring back memories of university and in particular the Erasmus year spent in Aachen, Germany (See ‘A’ in this blog!). A soundtrack to accompany cold crisp winter days exploring the streets of a beautiful city. Memories of endless laughter and chat with fellow European students in warm bars and cafes, with shoulders light as we weren’t yet burdened in the slightest by life’s tough responsibilities. Memories of my sparse room in the university accommodation nestled in the shadow of the massive science-fiction looking Klinikum, the university hospital. ‘The Colour and the Shape’ album was played to death on the CD player in my dorm room during that time, and Everlong was one of the standout tracks. Every time I hear it on the radio now, not only am I singing along instantly. I’m also transformed back in Aachen as a happy-go-lucky twenty year old with not a care in the world.