Today's Memory Taper is Rosie Chambers in Melbourne, formerly off of Birmingham & North Devon. And she likes to drive.
And here's the tape in her own words:
"I moved to Melbourne at the end of last year, and finally learned to drive at the ripe old age of 27. So, ten years too late, I am discovering the beauty of the driving mix CD – because radio here is rubbish (sorry Australia) – and here is my very, very first one.
The old stuff, Beatles, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell are all from my childhood. We lived in Birmingham and used to drive to France for camping holidays every year. We used to get up at the crack of dawn to start the drive; my parents, my sister and me. Mom and Dad would inadvertently have a massive fight about getting lost on the way to some obscure camping park, my sister and I would be fighting in the back or generally moaning about something, but there were these moments when a really good song would come on (tapes back then) and we’d all find ourselves singing along and feeling much better for it. So I think I put them on there because they’re pretty much my earliest and best driving memories, and they remind me of my family.
The David Bowie track is for my Mom. It’s from a funny album of his which she always used to play, and having come back to it in recent years, I’ve started to notice how gorgeous some of the lyrics are. This song particularly, the first line is so gorgeous, I just love it! The Isley Brothers – aaah it’s just so romantic!!
Ok so what else…
Roots Manuva is about being 18-19, going out dancing every Friday night with my three best friends and generally thinking we were way cooler and better dancers than we were.
Moby, Nina Nastasia, Finley Quaye? Just such lovely driving music. The Moby track is so, so amazing, you put it on and the sky seems bluer and you feel calm and exhilarated all at once. I think it’s the perfect driving music because it feels like you could be going anywhere. And Nina Nastasia – it’s so simple and pretty. Even if I’m just on my way to work, I feel like I’m going out for a picnic in a meadow or something. It makes me think of summers in lovely England. And Finley Quaye – sunshine music, gorgeous.
And the rest – Friends, The National, Major Laser, Bombay Bicycle Club – these all remind me of the last few years when I lived in London with some awesome friends. The National and BBC are both on my running playlist, and they take me back to Greenwich park when I’d just started running and thinking I’d never ever be able to run up the hill, and then doing it and being the most proud person ever! Friends is just a super cool song, with awesome lyrics too. Plus you feel dead cool when it comes on and you’re driving. And Major Lazer – there was a time last year when it was always on 6music when I had the radio on and I used to turn it up really loud and dance with my housemates in the kitchen. This year they all went to Glastonbury and they called me during that song which made me really happy!
The Driving Mix
Moby – Porcelain
Beatles – And Your Bird Can Sing
Bombay Bicycle Club – Beg
David Bowie – Let Me Sleep Beside You
Major Lazer – Get Free
Fugees – Fugee La
Paul Simon – You're The One
The National – Blood Buzz Ohio
Roots Manuva – Witness The Fitness
Isley Brothers – This Old Heart of Mine
Joni Mitchell - California
Friends –I’m His Girl
Finley Quaye – Sunday Shining
Nina Nastasia – Our Day Trip
