The Almost Authentic Jukebox

Also at the pizzeria (aka Deenos) last week was a real, working jukebox.

And I’m sorry, but obnoxious as it probably was, I had to put a quarter in and play a couple songs. Just because, well, that’s what you do when faced with a retro-vintage machine such as that.

To my dismay (as well as the dismay of a few of my Twitter followers) none of the songs available were by Boys II Men or Richard Marx.

*nods at gasps of horror*

I realize this is a travesty. But I did what I could and played an old Sheryl Crow and an old Martina McBride song. (You do what you must when faced with such challenges.) While those songs didn’t take me as far back as others might have, the over-loud, treble-heavy music reminded me of other times.

The problem was that the jukebox and the memories evoked by the music didn’t quite jive together. It felt just a little bit like I was pretending—which was totally true. I think this is one of the dangers of not fully fleshing-out our research, be it time, character, place, object, or any other number of elements in our creative ventures.

The facts don’t line up exactly and people will notice, even if they can’t put their finger on what they’re noticing. Like a painting that looks like it was meant to be centered, but didn’t quite get there. Or a person who looks like they’re almost having a good time, but not quite. Or a vase that looks like it was never broken, except for one small line of paint that doesn’t quite line up.

Those who are paying attention will always notice, the way I noticed the songs not quite going with the jukebox. I was okay with that because I know what a rarity it is to find a working jukebox in this century. But that isn’t always the case.

Theoretically, in what situations is it okay to pretend, and when must you be absolutely authentic?

A Theme Song

There’s this Facebook poll where you fill out the questionnaire to have a computer tell you what your life theme song should be. I took that poll once. It wasn’t even remotely accurate. In fact, I’m still trying to figure out how Boom, Boom, Pow by the Black Eyed Peas could be anyone’s theme song.

But my life does have one. It’s different every day. Or maybe every week, depending. Music, like the written word, has a way of reaching inside me and pulling out the very best parts. Deep, strong, true emotion.  

Of course, in order for me to feel that emotion, the artist who created it must have been feeling something similar when they sang/wrote/played it. Same with beautiful writing, or incredible artwork, or actors in a touching film or play. All art boils down to emotion. And when we identify with something, be it a song, or a painting, or story or whatever, when we let that thing touch our souls in protected and hidden places, those things have a tendency to fill us up, give us strength and courage.

At least, that’s how it goes for me. So. My theme song is probably more like a playlist. And I won’t bore you by listing all of this week’s picks. But I will share with you lyrics to a new one.

This is ten percent luck

Fifteen percent skill

Twenty percent concentrated power of will

Five percent pleasure

Fifty percent pain

And a hundred percent reason to remember the name.

~Title: Remember the Name by Fort Minor

Do you have a theme song today? Tell me about it!