Teen Talk
Here Comes the Sun
By Jessica Small
Music provides one with an extended connection to different people, in different times and places. It can comfort the lonely, evoke fond memories, or energize one’s soul.
I’ve always admired my dad’s taste in music. It’s current, but not saturated with Pop. We used listen to his collection of CD’s and tapes during our car rides to my soccer games. He exposed me to the classics (from a teen’s perspective,) such as the B52’s and Blondie and Billy Joel.
Shortly after my family moved to Florida, “Welcome to Miami” by Will Smith was released. My dad would play it all the time, and it became the first song I remember loving. I wasn’t even five years old, and I didn’t even understand the song, but I wiggled and spun to the music, regardless. At that time, all that mattered was hearing a beat I could move to.
As I grew up, I got into Brittany Spears, and other pop-culture artists. It was a total phase. I look back now, and know that if one of those songs was to come on, I would still know every lyric (and probably the 
corresponding dances from the music videos, as well.) At the time, I could enjoy virtually any song that made me feel “normal.”
Around that time, my brother’s friend had burned him a CD of Blink-182, and we listened to it on his handheld CD player throughout the duration of hurricane Frances. Blink became one of my first true music obsessions, and I entered my punk-rock phase.
As I matured into the young adult I am today, so did my taste in music mature. On a family road trip to New York, my dad popped in a CD of The Beatles greatest hits. I had heard their music throughout the years, but had never taken a strong interest in it. Maybe it was the 22 hour car ride, or maybe I just developed an
appreciation for the way their songs reflected the time and revolutionized the industry. Either way, I was hooked. I now have every song created by the Beatles on my iTunes, iPod Nano, and iPhone.
Recently, I’ve added Death Cab for Cutie to my mental list of “Favorite Artists.” In my opinion, they’re like the less popular Beatles of my generation. But no artist could ever truly compare to the musical genius of The Beatles, if you ask me.
I’ve gone through a lot of music phases, from trendy Pop music to breakthrough punk-rock and finally a respect for timeless quality.
Our choices in music often reflect where we are in life. So, take a little time to reminisce the songs that bring back fond memories. Dance to the tunes that energize you. Find comfort in the melodies and lyrics that relate to you. Who knows? It might just help you reflect on your own past from a perspective you never considered before.
“Little darling, the smile’s returning to their faces. Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here. Here comes the sun. Here comes the sun, and I say ‘It’s alright.’” –The Beatles
Jessica Small is a junior at Wellington High School. She is the Sports Editor of the school’s online publication, whswave.com. She is enrolled in rigorous courses at WHS and aspires to study journalism and business in college. She is involved in her high school dance team and is president of ThinkPinkKids.