Thursday, October 19, 2006

Soundtrack for a Waiting Mother


I've made soundtracks that accompanied me through adventures big and small. Musical collections on tape carried me through heartbreaks, ego crushings, triumphs of the heart, death, birth and every other life transition. The day I got my first tape player, I started making mixes.

My love for the compilation grew as my musical library did. In high school, my boyfriend and I would compete. Remember the movie High Fidelity and how the guys would list their top 5's? Top 5 Ultimate Breakup songs? Top 5 Songs to Play at Your Funeral? Yeah, our competitions and banter were a lot like that. The high school mixing was fun, but it became an entirely different sport after I was chosen to DJ for the college radio station. The edgy vibe, the audience...the vinyl. And, the mixes...oh, the mixes!

I can reminisce for hours about those good times. Fun, carefree, hazy times...fun times. And, such is life, those feelings have changed quite a bit since college. My love for the mix, however, and my need for a musical accompaniment during life's twists and turns - is still very, very present.

I have a huge collection of tapes gathered over years of genres and pinnacles of experience. The one soundtrack that I've worked on the longest continues to tumble around in my mind. It has developed slowly, changed tone dramatically and gotten very long over the years. I just can't seem to finish it - to wrap it up - to record it.

It all began as I romantically anticipated and approached motherhood. That was at least 10 years ago. Does this not just scream "work in progress"?

Yes. A "work in progress". And, yes, my parallel growth experience.

During what I refer to as "the infertility years", the idealistic tone of my soundtrack was replaced with an introspective and questioning one. As I get closer to resolution, the music refects that as well.

Originally I intended to use a separate blog to explore and share the various songs that comprise The Soundtrack for a Waiting Mother. I wanted to look at each song individually, read the pertinent lyrics and collect others' thoughts as I did so. What a collective, I thought! However, due to copyright related complications I have changed my mind on the format.

What I feel that I can share however, is an ITunes version of my soundtrack. On the right sidebar of the buttercup blog you can click on The Soundtrack for a Waiting Mother and it will connect to the ITunes version of the compliation. My personal version is a bit longer (quite a bit) than the one here because ITunes didn't include all of my selections. But, hey, I thought that it was better than nothing.

Please feel free to email me or post here any other songs that you think should be a part of The Soundtrack for a Waiting Mother. I truly welcome any creative/constructive thoughts.

This is a working document!

My hope is that one of these days I'll have it all updated and at a point where I will feel comfortable finally recording it.

I would like to think that by that time I'll be working on an entirely different Soundtrack. At least, I sure hope that I am...because, well you know, I'll hopefully be a Mom by then.

Cheers! XO

21 comments:

C's Mom said...

Wow...I can't wait to check that out later. For now, duty calls but that is one great idea.

Anonymous said...

Very cool idea. It's funny how you find songs you've forgotten about when you look at someone else's playlist. Thanks for sharing...

Anonymous said...

Hey Wendy,

When I click on the link, it only brings me right back to your blog. First though, it acts like it's going to load the list before taking me back to your page.

I'm a mix junkie myself, and have even considering staring my own internet radio station, just so I could share with the masses. Can't wait to see/hear yours!

Anonymous said...

*slaps forhead*

Doh! Nevermind! Apparantly I didn't have iTunes on my work computer, so I had to download it to see your list.

*sheepishly skulking away*

Anonymous said...

Me, AGAIN. Just wanted to let you know that I *love* your mix! I think I'll have to do some of my own when I get home, so we can compare lists!

walternatives said...

Oooohhh. I love this. I'm going to go back later and explore your list but I'd love to turn you on to a few that are on MY adoption wait list: Natalie Merchant-Wonder, Be Good Tanyas-The Littlest Birds, Dixie Chicks-Baby Hold On and Godspeed, Bob Scheider-The World Exploded into Love & Round and Round, Billie Holiday - The Very Thought of You, Bjork - It's So Quiet, Jack Johnson - Sitting Waiting Wishing, U2 - In a Little While, Stevie Wonder - I Was Made to Love Her, Jane Siberry -Calling Al Angels, Jimmie LaFave - Never is a Moment....
Ok, stop me know. Mixes, as you can probably tell, are important to me, too. Great fun - thanks for the list.

Unknown said...

Mixed tapes. Does THAT take me back!! Funny thing is I still have many of them from jr. high and high school, including one an old boyfriend made me in which he professes his love between songs! It's a keeper!!

And I was totally pissed that Jeffrey won, although I must say Michael's collection wasn't what I was hoping for. He had a lot better to offer then what he put out on the runway.......

Special K said...

The ones that have been playing in my head recently are Lullaby~ Dixie Chicks, In My Daughter's Eyes~ Martina McBride, The Broken Road~ Rascal Flatts. And no I don't exclusively listen to country music. Those are just some of my recent faves that seem to fit this journey I'm on. I know there's more just can't think of them right now....

You've got some great ones on your list. And so does Walternatives. Love this idea!

Tammy said...

Very creative.

BTW, check out my blog for a little invite game.

Chow!

Anonymous said...

Very cool sweetie. You have some great songs in there. I always sand the Alanis Morrisette version of Seals "Crazy" when I was waiting. It just seem right.

4D said...

Argh..not accessible in the ITunes store for Canada....double argh!

Keep smilin!

Irena said...

HI! Glad it's finally up. Haven't had time to "explore" all your choices. I was excited to see "the adventure" by A & A... I was going to tell you about that one. Also reminded me of this process!

I'll continue to keep you posted on other "finds".

Tamara said...

I love the idea of mix tapes too- can really bring back memories in a flood of emotion. You've done a spectacular job here!

Debra Sue said...

I love it! There are so many songs & artists that just hit the nail on the head. I gave you 5 stars and will be downloading some of the ones I don't already have.

Great idea

Sugar Cookies And Hope said...

I am so sad that I cannot access it. I have iTunes, but when I click on your link it tells me that my selection is not available on the Canadian iTunes Store. Can you post the titiels to your songs? Do you have Coldplay's "Fix You" on it?
What a great idea, sweet girl!

Joannah said...

I love some of your choices, and some are unfamiliar to me. I've been thinking along the same lines, though. I've got songs that just speak to me about motherhood that I want to put together on a CD. Great idea!

Polar Bear said...

You song choices are great! I can't wait to see the entire collection!

Gen said...

I love this idea!

Gen said...

Oh..I forgot to add a song if it's not there (I haven't had a chance to download the itunes thingy)

It might sound odd at first but I really relate to the "waiting in vain" version by annie lennox.

Jessi said...

A girl after my very own heart! I'm also a mix fiend. (Also a lover of John Cusack, which means when High Fidelity came out, my head almost exploded.)

That's a great soundtrack. Now you've got me thinking about what I'd pick...

Anonymous said...

Do you burn a cd for folks?