By Jacob Clavijo – Staff Writer
Fall is in full swing, so my record player has been working overtime lately as I cozy up at home. I currently have 779 records in my collection, and each one has a unique place and significance in my life. Here are five songs that have been on rotation this past week.
My grandparents always put on the movie La Bamba for my sisters and me growing up. It is one of my favorite comfort movies and has always inspired me to dream big. I have been on a nostalgia trip this past week, perhaps I am a little homesick.
My favorite Sinatra record, this song depicts the “love at first sight” trope that so many people long for. Sinatra reminds us that love can come instantly; in this case, “love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away.”
Sinatra and Anka may have had more commercial success than this group did. However, The Delfonics created a timeless classic with this soul ballad. I am particularly fond of the falsetto in this song, and as I mentioned before, the vocal harmonies elevate soul music above all other genres.
I remember hearing this song as a young boy while driving around Dallas with my grandparents, who always listened to KEOM, a local radio station dedicated to playing ’70s and ’80s music. Later in life, I heard this song while watching the TV show The Wonder Years and was hit with a wave of nostalgia. I was digging through my records this past weekend and stumbled across it once again.
Friday, Nov. 1, is my grandfather Vincent’s birthday. He passed away a few years ago and would have been 65 this year. Though this song was written as a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh, I share many of the same feelings towards my grandfather that McLean felt about Van Gogh. “But I could have told you, Vincent, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.” I think about that line all the time.
I hope you all enjoy this week’s selections. For more music recommendations, follow me on Spotify @Jacob.Clavijo