A decade under the influence

I like the times when you feel like you just have to get back to your roots - music wise.
New styles and genres are always fantastic, they brighten your day and make it that little bit more exciting to be able to add new songs to the soundtrack of your life. But everyone has that one genre, one band or one song that ignited their love for music. For me, the absolute core of my love for music came from two bands - Blink 182 and Lifehouse. I don't think i have ever been more dedicated to anything as i was to Blink 182 in my teens. They started my day, rode with me to school, helped me through maths class, took me through the night and cranked my weekends. Looking back, my mother was admirable to have put up with Happy Holidays You Bastard starting her mornings as well as mine day after day.
Lifehouse introduced me to a softer, more melodic rock. I remember the day i first heard Hanging by a Moment. I was ten. Haha. It was my Mums birthday and we were staying at the Hyatt and Rage was playing it. For some reason, that song has stayed with me. It's my go to song when i'm down and it's my go to song when i'm on top of the world. And no matter how many times i replay it, it still gives me the same feeling.
Rock and punk have always been the heart of my music loves. Yesterday, driving home from what seemed to be the longest day on earth, i felt the need for some loud, off tune car sing-a-longs. Taking Back Sunday was my first point of call. I love the feeling when your screaming out the words to your favourite song all in the privacy of your own bubble-like car, feeling as though no one can hear nor see your off tune stage performance. No traffic light, main road or car along side of me could stop the words pouring from my mouth and the percussion of my hands on the wheel. I love the feeling it gives you when they come on your stereo and all words flowing straight through you as if you wrote them yourself. The beat of songs that you've loved for years taking over. Clearing your head. Grounding you. Getting you back to your roots and where it all began. It's the best sort of 'Me' time.