Introspection Section

Nostalgia is one of the most immersive feelings that a human can experience.  As creatures that are aware of linear time, the longing to relive the past is an inevitable endeavor. For some, the feeling is often associated with childhood and the happiness of simpler times. Adding to the paradox that many of us have faced, as we grow older, there seems to always be a craving to reach adulthood. But, once adulthood has been achieved, it usually reverses and leaves the individual yearning to go back in time before the pressures of bills, work and relationships. 

Movies are one of the surefire ways to trigger this effect of overwhelming nostalgia. However, music is another example that captures the essence of time. Listening to the right song can immediately transport you back in time. It can rekindle that specific smell of your grandma’s house or even trigger the heartache of a past relationship. One way this happens is by listening to old songs or watching old movies. This allows the brain to connect the memory of first experiencing the media, and relate it to other memories of that time period. However, some artists take this a step further and try to capture the essence of nostalgia through actual words and rhythm. Either by telling stories from their own childhood or referencing retro pop culture, the artist opens the floodgates of memories for the listener and carries them away to a simpler time.  

One of the best examples of this storytelling ability is on Grieves’ 2012 release called “Light Speed.” Grieves is a Seattle based hip-hop artist currently signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment. He has an impeccable flow, vivid storytelling ability, and a fantastic control over melody. On “Light Speed,” Grieves takes the listener on a detailed timeline of his childhood and his rise as an artist. The beautifully crafted chorus flows out with the poignant line of, “You need to slow down, every once in a while/ Cause you don’t know, you don’t know/ You don’t need to go, so fast.”  Reminding us all that we need to slow down a bit and enjoy the present moment.  

Throughout the verses Grieves tells stories of games on the playground, bike rides and trick-or-treating. Bringing the listener to the doorsteps of childhood and pushing them along as the song travels through space and time. The song is also chalk full of cultural references that would make every 90’s kid crack a smile. Everything from Fleer card packs to Tamagotchi and Pogs. A recipe for true 90’s era childhood fun. The video is overlaid with a nostalgic camera filter and features clips of home movies to further add to the experience. If any song truly captures the nature of nostalgia, Grieves’ “Lightspeed” takes the cake. From the lyrics, the buildup of the instrumentation and the touching video, everything comes together to make you feel like a 9-year-old kid at home on a snow day again.  

Then you have the aptly named 2011 track by Chance the Rapper, “Nostalgia.” This song speaks the reminiscent atmosphere into existence with call backs to almost all our favorite childhood cartoons and TV shows. Building on a beautifully constructed instrumental by MF Love, Chance raps, “I used to chill with the kids next door/ And SpongeBob came around ’bout four/ And then I’d hang with Bart’s guys/ Around the bend was Smart Guy.” 

He continues with a similar structure to “lightspeed,” highlighting fun childhood activities and anecdotes from his past. Reaching the listener on a personal level that allows for a deeper connection to the music and lyrics. The video features a young, 16-year-old Chance rapping along to the words as flashes of childhood photos and characters from the TV shows referenced appear on the screen.  

Nostalgia hits home for everyone at some point in their life. While it can be a great thing to remember the good times of our past, it’s also critical to stay present with our current situations. It’s easy to live in the past as a way of coping with an unpleasant present. Just head to any local bar and ask the all-star quarterback that it is still bringing up the State championship game he almost won 10 years ago. But, a healthy relationship, with time, finds the individual reflecting on the good times while maintaining the focus needed to create more pleasurable experiences for the future. And that focus requires attention to the life that is passing you by right now, second by second. Feel free to take a short vacation through nostalgia, but don’t get lost in time.