Music is what moves us and inspires us.
In older generations, there was a smaller selection of music available. Music has become just another way to entertain ourselves for a short period of time. Growing up, I lived under a musical rock. Actually, I should face the facts. Growing up, I lived under a metaphorical rock, culturally speaking. My main genre of music was Christian – specifically christian rock and christian rap. I remember one of my friends bringing over his P.O.D. CD (Satellite) and thinking Youth of the Nation was the coolest, most hardcore song ever. Little did I know.
For years growing up I listened to cassette tapes. Often, I would tape songs off the radio.
For Christmas one year, one of my aunts bought me a Compact Disc player. I did not have any CDss, but this meant that I could now get CD’s from the library, and listen to my mom’s CDs (she did not have a player herself at the time).
After about four months of having the player, my mom and I were at Family Christian Bookstores one day, probably either sometime in 2002 or 2003ish. While browsing the shelves, I saw the solo album by TobyMac (Momentum) of dc Talk fame, and decided to buy it. I vividly remember laying down my money on the counter, and the cashier taking it. I remember the receipt was super long, and I remember putting it into the small pocket of my backpack, where it was perfectly safe and secure for the walk home.
When I got home, I had to wash the dishes, so I unplugged my CD player and pulled it out to the front of the house, finding a plug in the kitchen, and turning it on.
And that once ceremonious event of opening a CD.Do you remember that? When you carefully peeled the plastic away from the case, and lightly scratched at the sticker on top until it came off. Now when I purchase CD’s, I find that I tear the wrapping open to get to the product. But with the first few CD’s, there is a feeling of something important. I have to wonder if, with the rise of digital media, this is something that will be lost – no longer will it be a new record, 8-track, cassette tape, or CD. It will be a new iPod, which creates an entirely different epistemology than that which my generation grew up with. Even the term generation has a shorter span now – people three or four years younger than myself view technology in a much different way than people that are my age. And I digress.
For months on end, I listened to that new CD, over and over again. TobyMac’s words burnt into my brain – to the point where I can still repeat them perfectly to you today, even though I have not listened to the album in months.
What was your first CD/album purchase?
First CD was B*Witched’s self-titled album. I was 8. It was the greatest thing in the world, and I was pissed our car didn’t have a CD player because I wanted to listen to it ASAP.
Not sure, but I can tell you the first CD I stole from my brother! Aerosmith’s Get a Grip album.
I was 2. I still slept in a crib. I stole it, learned how to use the CD player, and listened to it all the time.
First CD I bought? Probably a Spice Girls single. Not gonna lie, I still think they’re awesome.
i too, didnt have a cd player for a while while everyone else did. i still listened to tapes. i think the first actual cd i got was the titanic soundtrack hahaha
ps- youth of the nation! you and i rapped that song recently i think haha
pss- yay @ your blog! 🙂
First off, great post. I think with the rise of the digital age, people who are audiophiles will go back to vinyl for a physical medium. Everyone will have and mp3 player, but records will outlast compact discs and the act of opening them will still carry over the same amount of reverence.
To answer your question: The first CD I even purchased was “Hybrid Theory” by Linkin Park. I remember purchasing it because the girl I had a crush on at the time LOVED Linkin Park, and I had to know why she liked them. I bought it for $14 at a Sam Goody that no longer exists, and I remember thinking it was the heaviest thing I’d ever heard. That’s not the case now, but it opened my ears to a great many artists. To this day, I think I can listen to about every track on that album and still come away satisfied, even though my tastes have definitely matured.
@will 90’s pop is the best!
@lauren I think we may have…
@M!ke Hybrid Theory was pretty awesome. I remember when I thought they were heavy too.