My name is Justin and I'm a developer on the Zune Client Shell. Before your eyes glaze over, let me say that it's the coolest job in the world–I get to turn artist's concept drawings of how the Zune software looks and make it real. For example, that cool button color animation that goes across when you buy a track in the marketplace? I made that.
It's all part of the experience. Music
Outwardly, there’s little indication it’s happening. Perhaps the eyes close slightly; the body slowly rocks to the beat; a sigh; a slowly growing smile. Inwardly, however, it’s like an explosion; the toes tingle, warm colors appear and the world washes away. It’s emotional. There’s something deeply satisfying each time it happens.
For me, the first time it happened was about 14 years ago. I had a crush on this girl who was obsessed with the chain-smoking, binge-drinking lead singer of Oasis, Liam Gallagher. Beyond a couple of catchy tunes by the Beatles, I was generally oblivious to rock, or for that matter, music in general. In a bit of logic that should have been beyond my 7th grade mind, I somehow had realized that having a common interest in music would generally improve my chances with this girl; I took it upon myself to brave the music store and find myself a copy of the album Definitely Maybe.
One by one, the songs played and the raw sounds of drums and major chords and guitar solos came through to my ears. A few songs later, I removed my headphones, crestfallen—this terrible noise was becoming an insurmountable barrier between me and the girl I was destined to work up the courage to speak to. I sighed and decided to give it another chance. Pressing play, it was then when I finally had my epiphany. It happened.
The song was called Cigarettes & Alcohol. It played. I listened. It rocked. I was changed. And I listened to it a couple dozen times on repeat, obsessed.
Is it worth the aggravation / To find yourself a job when there's nothing worth working for / It's a crazy situation / But all I need are cigarettes and alcohol
It was a song with all of the arrogant British swagger of rock ‘n’ roll, bending and twisting my impressionable young mind. It was against everything I was taught and I felt this thrill as I listened to it over and over again. I listened to it, headphones on, around my parents, beside little kids, in front of my teachers. And they had no idea that they disapproved of what I was listening to. When I got home from school each day, I hid the CD under my bed.
An endless stream of bands would follow. Pearl Jam, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, and oh yes, Radiohead.
I never ended up talking to that girl. I was too busy crushing on music to care.