Norton: The soundtrack of our lives
It was 1975. Bruce Springsteen had just released “Born to Run,” and my world changed. The moment I heard that heart-pounding anthem, I knew I had to hear more. That led me to “Greetings from Asbury Park” and “The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle.” I was officially hooked. But Bruce was just the beginning.
The ’70s were a golden age of music: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, The Eagles, Elton John, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, YES, Aerosmith, Jethro Tull, Queen, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Carole King, Carly Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Meat Loaf, the list goes on. Those songs weren’t just on the radio; they were the backdrop of our lives. When one plays now, I’m immediately transported. I can recall exactly where I was, who I was with, and sometimes even what we may or may not have been doing (use your imagination, we didn’t have cell phones to capture the evidence, after all). Those memories live in the melodies.
Then came the ’80s, and everything changed again. MTV crashed onto the scene and revolutionized how we experienced music. Artists didn’t just sound different, they looked different. Videos added a new layer of storytelling. Pat Benatar, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Dire Straits, Prince, U2, The Police, Tears for Fears, Hall & Oates, Bon Jovi, Huey Lewis, Phil Collins, and so many more, they weren’t just on our screens; they were in our souls. Every club at the Jersey Shore, every party, every new crush or heartbreak had a soundtrack. Some of those songs still hit so hard, they bring tears or laughter or a smile that stretches back decades.
I am not sure about you, but whenever I hear Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 tune, “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” I see all of my friends on the beach, having a blast, and being happy.
The 90s? That was a different rhythm for me, but it still left its imprint. Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, and Counting Crows weren’t my core, but they were the music of the era my kids were born into. I remember birthday parties, backyard barbecues, and road trips that all came with a soundscape. Those songs hold a different kind of meaning, connected not to my youth but to my fatherhood.
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Post-2000, sure, there were great songs and new discoveries, but I started to realize something: I was stuck, in the best way, in the ’70s and ’80s. And honestly, I’m good with that. To this day, my friends and I send each other songs that trigger a shared memory. We post them on social media, tag each other, laugh, sometimes cry, but always remember.
Music does that. It’s not just entertainment; it’s a time machine. A 3-minute melody can bring you back to your first dance, a broken heart, a long-forgotten friend, or the moment you realized you were truly in love. It fills us with joy, nostalgia, grief, healing and often all at once.
One of my proudest joys as a parent is that my kids know Springsteen songs word-for-word. Every year, we used to take road trips, and our tradition was to kick off each morning with our favorite Bruce songs. Each child had their own anthem. And now, when those songs play, I’m instantly back in the truck, sun rising over the highway, our voices blending with The Boss himself.
So as summer approaches and you start building your playlists, do yourself a favor. Include those songs. The ones that take you back to a school dance, a beach party, a road trip, or a quiet moment that changed everything. Let those verses and notes wash over you. Let them carry you back to where you’ve been, and remind you who you’ve always been.
Music fills our memories because it fills our hearts. Don’t just hear it. Feel it. And then … pass it on.
How about you? Do you have songs that just touch you to the core? As always, I would love to hear you story at gotonorton@gmail.com and when we get to relive our most memorable moments through the gift and beauty of music, it really will be a better-than-good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager, and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
