I would sing you a song of devotion

Ask anyone who my favorite band is, and if they know me BUT AT ALL, they will tell you that it is the Indigo Girls. I don't know why I love them as much as I do -- it could be because their voices are so different and yet their harmonies are so perfect. It could be because they are phenomenal musicians. It could be because they are great songwriters. I don't know, but they have been my favorite band since I was introduced to them in 11th grade. I had this boyfriend who made me a mix tape -- yes, a mix tape -- and it included the songs "Galileo" and "Ghost" off of the "Rites of Passage" cd. I remember sitting in his car and listening to "Ghost" because he thought it was such a great song. I did too, and so he then made me a tape of the entire cd. One time, he also showed up at my house with a bouquet of flowers, 5 videotapes full of episodes of "Magnum P.I." and a Detroit Tigers hat just like the one Magnum always wore. That's neither here nor there, but looking back, it seems that he was a pretty thoughtful boyfriend. Anyway, from then on, I was hooked. On the Indigo Girls, not him -- we broke up after maybe a month I think.

So I was at an Indigo Girls concert last Thursday with Jeff, who ALWAYS goes to see them with me, which is great because he is also a big fan and also because everyone knows how I hate going places by myself. Anyway. It was an acoustic show, and it was awesome. They played a lot of old stuff and stuff that they don't always play at every concert. I know, because this concert marked the 12th time I've seen them since 1993. As I'm listening to these great songs, I'm remembering lots of cool stuff about what these songs have meant to me and what they remind me of.

So here they are, in no particular sappy order:
Prince of Darkness: We're driving around the summer before our freshman year of college and merrily singing along to the song, when all of the sudden, Becki bursts into tears because she's going to miss all of the stuff we always did together, including a lot of singing in the car. Which we still do.
Ghost: Red Rocks, 1994. I don’t necessarily remember when they played that particular song, only a couple of years later when they came out with a live album and hey! the version of the song from that concert was on it and hey! I was there!
Thin Line: I was listening to the aforementioned live album a lot in 1995 as I was agonizing over whether to get married or not (in retrospect I guess if there’s agonizing involved, it’s a good bet that you SHOULDN’T get married). I remember that particular song and the words “there’s a thin line between pleasing yourself and pleasing somebody else” and how that was probably something I should think about because it’s really never a good idea to marry someone just because you don’t want to hurt their feelings by telling them no. Deep thoughts.
Love will come to you: Kendra loves this song and one time we put it on a mix tape. That’s all – it just reminds me of her and her eternal optimism that no matter how many jerks we date, there’s one out there who won’t be. Something I love about her.
Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee: Also on the live disc, and not one I ever paid attention to until 2 years ago when I went to Wounded Knee and learned all the history. It’s a great version of a great song.
Nomads, Indians and Saints: This whole disc reminds me of going to Mexico with Mandy and Sally and Anita when I was in 11th grade. I listened to it a lot while I was on the beach. “Watershed” is a great song from there – again about the making of a tough decision. Why do those always speak to me?
Cara Mia: Driving to Santa Fe with Chris, the boy I was totally in love with at the time. I was singing along with this song and sort of forgot that he and my other friend Scott were in the car and so I started singing louder than I meant to. Chris looks at me and goes “Wow. I had no idea that you could sing like that.” Long story short, there was trip magic and kissing and I still have a big ol’ crush on him today. He was so hot.

Ok, so there are a lot of songs that I love. I love ALL the songs, for the most part, and since I’ve listened to all of the cds extensively, even the ones I didn’t really like at first have grown on me. The concerts have ranged from front row at Red Rocks (that was cool) to Lilith Fair to the Fillmore to the mountain at Winter Park – that was one of my favorites, because I was there with my (now ex) boyfriend and it was just the best day.

So that’s it, my own Indigo Girls retrospective. And speaking of retrospective, if you’re just STUMPED as to what to get me for my birthday, well, I lost my copy of “Retrospective.” I think it was one time when I was playing drinking games with one of my friends using cards we made ourselves with paper and crayons and I remember I was singing along with one of the songs and then I wasn't, because he kissed me… anyway, I can’t find it.

Oh yeah, and in case you're wondering what the title has to do with the blog besides the fact that I'm clearly devoted to the music of the Indigo Girls? It's a song -- called, surprisingly, "Devotion." I tell you, as stream of consciousness as I may be, I'll tie it together eventually.