Saturday, February 14, 2009

Synchronicity in Songs

A couple of weeks ago, someone out in the blogosphere wrote about synchronicity. According to Wikipedia, in order for it to count as synchronicity, the events should be unlikely to occur together by chance.

I decided to pay more attention to the meaning behind random events in my life. My first notice of synchronicity was when I was driving up to the drive through window of a local mexican restaurant when I realized Melissa Etheridge's Come to My Window was playing. I was suddenly blown away by the synchronicity. What are the odds?

Since music isn't typically piped into the halls of an elementary school (not a bad idea, eh), the main locale of my music listening diet is in the car driving to and from work/home (So let us take a sec to pause for a moment of thanks for XM radio.). My powers of observation grew sharper with the revelation of synchronicity in songs.

On the way home from school, I got stopped by a train. At about the same moment, Sheena Easton's Morning Train started playing. Although it wasn't morning, a song about a train while waiting for a train to pass wasn't lost on me.

While singing along to Chicago's Hard Habit to Break, I noticed a sale at the Cigarette Outlet Store. Don't get distracted by my sucky music taste to not notice the synchronicity in this one. For the record, I still miss the days of big hair and cheesy music.

At the red light, while singing Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics, I looked over and noticed the Sleep Clinic on the corner. And while driving past the local track, I Ran by Flock of Seagulls started piping through the speakers.

The next morning, I had a meeting at the board of education. While driving past the local nut house, I noticed that Crazy for You by Madonna was playing.

Are you with me in thinking I just may have been handed a keen gift of observation? It isn't often I impress myself.

After leaving the long meeting, I was really focusing on finding the unlikely chance in the random songs. As I pushed the buttons, I just couldn't find anything related to what I was driving past. That was about the same time I realized I had missed the turn to get back to school. And what song was on the radio? You guessed it. Supertramp's Take the Long Way Home.

The best one I saved for last. Why? Because that is how you build suspense, now isn't it? And it was the last to happen. Order can be important. When I drove into my carport at the end of the day, one of my all time favorite songs began it's familiar thump. Red, Red Wine by UB40 is a sure sign of how I am to spend my evening. And now that I am enlightening myself with all this synchronicity, I am questioning less. I took this sign and indulged myself.

Now, where is the Tylenol?

17 comments:

♥ Braja said...

I got down the bottom and laughed at the label :)))

cheatymoon said...

You are too funny. Hope your head is feeling ok. Interesting post.

Pseudo said...

Is it synchronicity that we both were drinking red wine last night?

Fun post.

Kristina P. said...

Baby Got Back is a sure sign I need to eat more and make sure my butt gets bigger.

Deb said...

i think we listen to the same xm channel.

Aracely said...

That's why I don't listen to satellite radio... they're watching you Beth, they're tracking your every move!

Kulio said...

No, seriously?? Ha! K, now I'm going to be watching for it around here...

drifter said...

one time i switched stations four times and the same song was playing!!
oh wait, no, that was the time i set all the buttons to the same station...

Deb said...

Hi~ I am trying this out tomorrow! And I hope 'Red, Red Wine' plays as I drive into my driveway or maybe 'Margaritaville'! :)

Smart Mouth Broad said...

I'm not sure I would notice synchronicity if it slapped me in the face. I'm completely engrossed in the music in my car, singing, head bobbing, finger drumming and seat-dancing to notice my surroundings. It's a wonder that I make it safely to my destination.

patresa hartman said...

woo! synchronicity is one of my favorite things! i'm so glad the radio was speaking to you. the universe is always so interesting when it talks. :)

Irish Gumbo said...

And Synchronicity was an album by The Police. heehee.

I had that Flock of Seagulls album on vinyl, and skinny ties and a blond streak in my hair. Ah, good times...:)

And be careful with the vino...

LTYM said...

Huh--maybe I need to stop listening to NPR non-stop & put your theory to work. :)

nikkicrumpet said...

LOL I guess I better start driving with the radio on something besides "talk radio" lol...or does Glenn Beck have some kind of hidden meaning lol

Sunny said...

Every song tells a story. Music matches my moods and locations very often, so it's as normal as it could be :)
Glad you're enjoying the radio.

And thanks for your wonderful comment on my recent post. He is out there.. somewhere :)

Laufa said...

You know those people that ask for signs or say look for the sign - you may have seen them all that day!!

Just B said...

I love your lame 80's music taste!! I think we should tease up our hair and open that bottle of red wine:)