I was 14 years old when I first heard Foo Fighters. It was 2002 and their single All My Life was playing on the radio. Of course, at that point of time I had no idea the song had something to do with female genitalia , I just found the song nice. High gain guitars coupled with rimshot snares, for a kid going through a rock music phase, that was dope. Except that in those days we didn’t use the word dope.
Well in any case, I was very intrigued by this band formed by the ex drummer of Nirvana who overcame a tumultuous phase in his life with the death of his frontman and the uncertainty of what he was going to do with the rest of his life. A couple of song downloads later, I was instantly hooked.
This was 14 years ago. Some time in my twenties I stopped listening to Foo Fighters. You know… my music evolved and all of that (not really).
When news broke that Foo Fighters was going to play a show in sunny Singapore, I was 14 years old again.
Music has a way of bringing about nostalgia for me. The same way Pure Shores reminded me of my trip to Bali and Volare reminded me of Boracay (they played the song in a club), and Run reminded me of a horrible 2013, Foo Fighters reminded me of my secondary school days.
Particularly Everlong and Learn To Fly, they reminded me of afternoons studying in the library, studying with friends. A throwback to a simpler, more carefree time.
Breathe out
So I can breathe you in
Hold you in
I remember this line being the nickname on my MSN Messenger profile for months. Wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t you want to take it all in? Breathe in the very life of that special someone? I don’t remember much about any special someone at 14 but I sure did want to breathe someone in. There’s a certain melancholy to it that’s so… inspiring.
Fly along with me
I can’t quite make it alone
I had this on repeat whenever I felt particularly down and in need of a pick me up. When I need to look to the sky to save me, to help me back up. To reach for the sky (such aspirations I had at 14 years old). We never want to be alone after all. We always want someone on that journey with us.
And for me, that was Foo Fighters. Foo Fighters went on that journey with me when I needed them. And years later, after not having listened to them for such a long time, they still can tug on my heartstrings. That’s the nostalgia of music. That’s what it inspires.
I haven’t decided whether I want to go for the show. But as a tribute to the everlasting brilliance of Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel et al., here is a not-so-good cover of my ultimate most favourite song in the world, Everlong.
The Syafiq Soliloquy 