What’s your musical era? When did you transition from child into young adult and have all those special first experiences: first teenage party, first visit to a pub or club, first kiss, first date etc. ?
For me it was the early 1980s. Songs by Adam and the Ants, Soft Cell, Human League and Frankie Goes to Hollywood always whisk me back to that time and I feel again the strong emotions that seemed to accompany everything I did. If I close my eyes when I hear ‘Tainted Love’, I’m at the university Union disco, dancing on a floor which is sticky with spilled beer. I feel the excitement and anticipation of a time when so many things were new and responsibilities were few.
Re-capturing this mood through music enables me to write from the heart about being young and in love. When I get in this zone it’s great – the words flow and I get lost in the story. Pete’s Story was the result of one such emotional interlude and my inspiration came (very loosely!) from a boy I went out with in my teens who was a member of a band.
What songs whisk you back to that heady time of new independence and experiences? And do they help with your writing today?
Pete’s Story is available as an individual ‘short‘ or as part of The Museum of Fractured Lives boxed set.
This blog post is part of a music themed blog event organised by Elaina James, a guest blogger on Mslexia. Her author page on Mslexia can be found at www.mslexia.co.uk/author/elainajames.
Details of participating bloggers in this event can be found on Elaina James’ blog.
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by Steve Wand on April 28, 2016 - 1:13 pm
Although I’d prefer not to admit it, the 70s were my formative years, musically. No, NOT G.Glitter, Slade etc. but Steve Harley, Queen, Be Bop Deluxe and so on. None have influenced my writing (thank the stars) but some did play a part in my surrealist painting ‘back in the day’.
But the ’80s – ahh! The New Romantics (et al.). Live Aid. Bruce Springsteen in Dublin, then Leeds and London … the opening bars to ‘Born in the USA’ still raise hairs on my neck. Fleetwood Mac with Daryl Hall and John Oates (SUPPORTING, for heaven’s sake) in Manchester. Heady days, never to be repeated … in fact, one last chance to make it real, you could say.
#2 by Sally Jenkins on April 28, 2016 - 2:14 pm
All that brings back the memories, Steve. But I have to admit to liking a bit of Slade to get the party going especially ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ and ‘Cum on Feel the Noise’. Fleetwood Mac was significant too – I got ‘Rumours’ for my 18th birthday. I think we’re both showing our age here!
#3 by ElainaJames on April 28, 2016 - 8:21 pm
I love my old 80’s reunion CDs to take me back to carefree days (if I’d only realised it back then). But I have to admit none of the songs I grew up with have inspired my writing. Music does now, but it tends to be country songs that create the most ideas.
#4 by Sally Jenkins on April 29, 2016 - 5:50 pm
That’s the problem, Elaina – when we’re young we don’t appreciate that we’re ‘carefree’! Country music is something I’ve never got into – must try some day.
#5 by juliathorley on April 29, 2016 - 8:23 am
‘The magic morning sets your morning mood.’ Thus spake the mighty Rush, surely the best band EVER! I was and still am a rock chick at heart, grey hairs not withstanding. Give me a sternum-rattling bass line and I’m yours! Free, Bad Company, Led Zep, Deep Purple and all the spinoff bands, but also Springsteen, Enter Shikari . . . and did I mention Rush?
#6 by Sally Jenkins on April 29, 2016 - 5:52 pm
And do you do a bit of air guitar, Julia? I once saw Black Sabbath live but was never a proper rock chick.