Last Song Syndrome (LSS)

Officemates and I went to have lunch last Thursday and one of them (a female) started talking about “last song syndrome” or, as she called it, LSS. It’s the last song that you heard (in one way or another) and keeps with you through the rest of the day. I understand this concept though I never knew it had a name. For several years now, I’ve been setting the component system at home as (a relatively loud) alarm. At least with this system, I can’t set the alarm to snooze. You have to move out of bed to turn off the set. And just in case, it plays for one hour, giving you ample time to wake up.

[Note: There was a time when I set the component system with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and I forgot to tone it down a bit. When the music started, I literally flipped over like a pancake and dropping into bed wide awake. Nowadays, I check the volume before going to bed.]

Several days ago, the song for the day for me, LSS as it were was Kelly Clarkson’s"Since YOu've Been Gone." And last Thursday evening, it was Plumb’s “Stranded.” Crazy songs I understand. When I was in college, the neighboring room always played Christopher Cross’s “Sailing” at the same time of the morning, every day. It could be a good thing, and it could be also bad. Knowing this, I’ve tried to set the tone in the morning, first hour in the office, I try to listen to music I can relate to. Like “Downtown,” for instance, in French.

I've been posting some song lyrics lately. Mainly because these are the songs in my head at the moment, giving me a grip on reality from the mayhem of the office.

-=0=-

"Since You've Been Gone"
Artist: Kelly Clarkson


Here's the thing we started off friends
It was cool but it was all pretend
Yeah yeah
Since you've been gone

You dedicated you took the time
Wasn't long till I called you mine
Yeah Yeah
Since you've been gone

And all you'd ever hear me say
Is how I pictured me with you
That's all you'd ever hear me say

But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
What I want
Since you've been gone

How can I put it? you put me on
I even fell for that stupid love song
Yeah yeah
Since you've been gone

How come I'd never hear you say
I just wanna be with you
I guess you never felt that way

But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
I get what I want
Since you've been gone

You had your chance you blew it
Out of sight, out of mind
Shut your mouth I just can't take it
Again and again and again and again

Since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get
I get what I want
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get (I get)
You should know (you should know)
That I get
I get what I want
Since you've been gone
Since you've been gone
Since you've been gone

-=0=-

Stranded
Artist: Plumb


You know it only breaks my heart
To see you standing in the dark alone
Waiting there for me to come back
I'm too afraid to show

If it's coming over you
Like it's coming over me
I'm crashing like a tidal wave
That drags me out to the sea
And I wanna be with you
And you wanna be with me
I'm crashing like a tidal wave
And I don't wanna be
Stranded, stranded, stranded, stranded
I can only take so much
These tears are turning me to rust
I know you're waiting there for me to
come back
I'm to afraid to show

I miss you, I need you
Without you, I'm stranded
I love you so come back
I'm not afraid to show

-=0=-

Just for the record, my singing ain't worth diddly. And when I listen to a song on the computer, I try not to move. Literally, I try to freeze. Else, I might raise my hands to the sides and started looking ecstatic. Now that would be something.

--andoy
27 February 2005