22 Comments
User's avatar
Helen Marie's avatar

I absolutely loved reading this. The power of music to shape us and pull us back so strongly!

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

Thanks so much, Marie. It does take us back.

Expand full comment
Laura Lloyd's avatar

It makes absolute sense to me that we remember most strongly the music from our teens and twenties - thank you for providing the science behind this!

B*Witched - C’est la vie 🙇‍♀️

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

Ha Ha, I loved B*Witched. It reminds me of a road trip to Keele to visit one of our friends at university! Thanks for reading Laura 💛

Expand full comment
Una's avatar

Love this. I choreographed the Spice Girls “Stop Right Now” too! Do you remember Uncle Cracker “follow me?” I’m immediately 17 again when I hear that. ps - music is used as therapy with those suffering from alzheimer’s, to spark memories. Fascinating.

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

I didn't remember it until I played it and now I do!!!!

Ha, ha, what are we like? I can imagine you doing that.

Yes, I had read somewhere about how musical therapy is used with alzheimer's, it is so fascinating how the brain works. Sending you Sunday love.

Expand full comment
Lauren Powell's avatar

Just catching up on this and loved it!! I was a big time choreographer back on the school playground - spice girls, steps, s club, Britney - you name it, I had a routine for it 😂

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

School choreographer!! 😂 I love it. Thanks for much for commenting and glad you loved it 💛 It really resonated with people x happy Saturday x

Expand full comment
Lauren Powell's avatar

Yeah enjoyed reading through all the other comments of people’s musical throwbacks too! 😊 happy Saturday x

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

It was fun to see people’s memories!! X

Expand full comment
Nicola's avatar

Love this! 🙏 Scientific proof to explain why my favourite music, at the age of 50, is still the stuff I listened to as a teenager and in my student days!

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

Thank you, Nicola - ha ha absolutely 😍

Expand full comment
Helen Morris's avatar

I think I was 13 when 'True' hit the charts. Loved loads of other 80's groups too and the Spice Girls feature in my 90's line up! 😁

Expand full comment
LDC's avatar

I love this post! I was just relistening to The Cranberries after a trip to Ireland, and it brought me back to high school. Especially this song, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUmdWdEgHgk

Love the Spice Girls dress!

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

That was me on the way to our 6th Form Leaving Party - It was fancy dress and I went as Geri Halliwell, Natalie as Mel B, and our friend Rebs as Victoria 🤣 That's a Cranberries song I don't know that well! I love Linger - reminds me of Mum and Dad taking me check out Colleges before I stayed in 6th Form ha ha xx

Expand full comment
Sandie Luti's avatar

You've done it again - spiralled me back to teenage years, when boys, cafes and Juke boxes defined my life.

There was George and his brother, what's his name? Then there was Mike, followed by Drew, Keith and my sister's ex. I fancied them all, in quick succession, with mixed results. I cried a lot over Drew, the most popular of the boys, when he fell for someone else. I played "Kelly" by Del Shannon and Cliff Richard and the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Animals and the Yardbirds, the Searchers and the Hollies. These were played endlessly, on the juke box at Peter's cafe, while sipping on a coca cola and puffing on illicit cigarettes, supplied by Peter.

Halcyon days at the time!

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

SANDIE!! I think you are kindred spirits - I love this recollection. I can imagine you there with your Coca-Cola and cigarette by the jukebox. Halcyon Days 🌀

Expand full comment
Amy I Beeson 🐝's avatar

Love this. I've been listening to Pulp a lot.

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

Yes, Pulp is definitely from that era. I was a Blur fan, and my Dad took me and my two friends all the way to Manchester to watch them. The arena had just opened. My friend fainted and had to be pulled over the barrier at the front 🤣

Expand full comment
Amy I Beeson 🐝's avatar

I never saw any cool bands till I went to university. My friend's mum took us to see an ABBA tribute band but I loved it. My family did take to see stand up though.

Expand full comment
Helen Morris's avatar

Thanks for sharing, Ruth. From the age of 8, listening to music has played a huge part in shaping my life. I think the neural nostalgia for me reaches back that far! No. 1 during my teenage years definitely have to be Spandau Ballet.

Expand full comment
Ruth Cooper-Dickson's avatar

Thanks so much for reading Helen. Wow, 8 years old is a long way back. Ha, yes, I remember my Mum loving Spandau Ballet.

Expand full comment