THIS IS THE STORY OF A GIRL
Be honest. Show of hands, after reading the title of this post how many of you sang--either out loud or in your head--the words that came next: “who cried a river and drowned the whole world”? I’m sure now most of you are singing the rest of the chorus, and possibly the whole song. You can probably close your eyes and a specific memory, or several, that are associated with the song come to mind. Good or bad, or both. Music has a way of doing that, doesn’t it? Not only can it be a passionate means of worship, but also it can elicit emotions and memories that we may not even know are there or are buried and long forgotten.
Any time I hear “Meet Me in Montana” by Dan Seals and Marie Osmond, I am transported back to my childhood--maybe around 5 or 6 years old--riding around in the car with the family while everyone sang their designated parts of the song. Brooke and I took turns singing Marie’s part; though, I will say, Dan’s were easier to sing for this alto. We’d drive around--I can’t remember where we were driving to or from or why--stop for food, and sing our hearts out. My dad would bust out his signature move every time: the slow, yet enthusiastic, fist pump. To this day, I crank that song every time a radio or itunes shuffle brings it back to life.
“Hit Me Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears signified a high point in my dramatic high school career. It was rumored that Britney Spears’ cousin went to our high school...riiight. So, to piggyback off that rumor and to help promote a talent show that a club, of which I was president, was hosting, we told everyone a very special performance would kick off the spectacle. We let the rumor mill do its job, and everyone assumed Ms. Spears herself was coming to perform at our very own Rogers High School. Students piled into our mildly large auditorium; standing room only. As my sister (Vice President) stepped out on stage to introduce our secret special performance, someone screamed from the audience “It’s Britney Spears!” The crowd erupted...the curtains parted...and there I sat, Brittney Boatman, not Spears. Along with a few of my friends from drama class, we reenacted the music video to, of course, “Hit Me Baby…” It was epic. Or so I was told. I went on to reenact our reenactment several more times that year: a drama competition, karaoke days in Calculus class, prom. Like I said, epic.
Inappropriate? Yes. Annoyingly repetitive? For sure. Fun to dance to? Duh. Forgettable? Nope! At least not for this chick. I will never forget my introduction to *Lil Wayne’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” In the late Fall of my freshman year in college, we had a dorm mixer to get better acquainted with those we shared a living space. The typical humdrum of cookies, punch, and chatting quickly escalated into a dance lesson from a couple of the more experienced girls in the hall. It should be noted this was a co-ed dorm. The lesson turned into a free-for-all dance party, which was probably not sanctioned, but no one cared. Not only did I learn to drop it like it’s hot, but I also got to dance with the guy ho I had been crushing on all semester. He went on to be one my closest friends and continued object of my affection for a couple more years. I digress. The night ended with bang. I decided it would be super fun to dance on one of the couches rather than the flat, stable floor. It should now also be noted that I am extremely accident prone. While dancing to what was probably an Usher song, I felt my right kneecap remove itself from its normal front-of-the-knee position to the side of my knee then pop back into place. Yep. Let the final record also show that I was a fastpitch softball catcher on partial scholarship for the university. I ended up my freshman year with my second knee surgery and a medical hardship badge to save my softball eligibility.
*Sidenote: On my second mission trip to Czech Republic we adamantly had “Drop it like a hot biscuit” translated to Czech, inspired by the “Drop it like it’s hot” phrase. It just felt right. It’s a rough translation, which comes out to something like “drop the hot biscuit,” but still cool.
I remember every dance move that was choreographed to the song “Revolutionary Love” by David Crowder Band. It was the theme song to all of our English Camps my first summer in Ukraine. I danced my heart out roughly 8.2 million times that summer...once, sometimes twice, every morning to wake up all the campers (and myself as I’m definitely not a morning person), then again later that day before the evening program. It is ingrained in my brain and muscle memory. “Revolutionary Love” brings forth mixed emotions for me. Sweet memories of my favorite parts of camp ministry: church songs with motions, watching the joy of campers as they clumsily learn the moves and attempt to sing the words, food day in my English class, looking out at the campers’ faces as they listen intently to the speaker bringing the Truth during the evening program. New, deep friendships were forged that still stand strong today. I cried every day the first two weeks I was in Ukraine that summer, swearing I’d never go back. By the end of the 9-week internship, I knew Ukraine was where I needed to be. “Revolutionary Love” symbolizes that pivotal time.
During the Summer of 2010 every night at every camp I fell asleep to “Be Here Now” by Ray Lamontagne. I couldn’t relax, clear my mind, and fade off to sleep without it. It was my last summer in Ukraine. My last time leading teams, teaching English, leading the songs before meals, leading the camp dance, speaking full-time in a combination of Ukrainian and English, and doing the ministry that captured my heart seven years before and loved but came to hate. This song has deep pain associated with it. I still love it, though. It helped me survive, to rest when it felt impossible.
“Awake My Soul” by Mumford & Sons, or really anything by them, holds a special place in my heart and memory. I poured into all things Mumford during my season of repatriation and adjustment back to a “normal” American life. Their songs that felt passionate and sometimes angry with a hint of the spiritual, spoke to my wounded heart. They are accomplished musicians who sing lyrics with depth and raw authenticity. I needed that. I still do.
Every time I hear “Yes and Amen” by Chris Tomlin/Housefires I cry. Every. Single. Time. This song is a reminder. Its words are actually taken directly from 2 Corinthians 1:20-22, in a letter Paul wrote to believers in Corinth. It is a reminder of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises through Jesus. A year and a half ago, almost seven years exactly to the date I left Ukraine, the last bit of wall that was built around my broken heart was realized, exposing additional bitterness, anger, and distrust toward God that I didn’t know was still present. For several years I was blind to all the ways God had protected and blessed me during my life overseas. But in a single night the blinders came off, and I tore down those final bricks and wept, suddenly overwhelmed by thankfulness and awe of all God had done. Instead of only remembering what He didn’t do, when He wasn’t there, and the bad things He allowed, it was revealed to me every moment He showed up, everything He did do, the bad things that could’ve happened from which He protected me. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
Believe me, I have several more, but I’ll leave these here to marinate. Now it’s your turn. What are your songs? What eclectic tunes would be on the soundtrack of your life? I’d love to hear them! Comment below and/or send me a message here. Share with us the silly, crazy, sad, beautiful songs that help tell your story.