Monday, October 01, 2007

Manic Monday #26: Orange



I didn't know that I knew this song. When the title came up in conversation with a friend (whose national color is orange, btw) a few weeks ago, it didn't ring any bells (even though I enjoy REM's music). But after looking it up and listening to it, I found that I knew it after all. I could even sing along to it. (But please do me a favor and don't ask for proof.)

So that got me wondering if it's true that our brain stores everything we hear, see, feel, and touch every single day. And if it is, is that a good or a bad thing? I think that everything we experience happens for a reason, and that something good comes out somehow from even the worst experiences. But it's kind of troubling to think that the vast majority of memories are locked in the subconscious, forgotten until something -- an aroma, a taste, a sound -- releases it, by which time it can be too late to do anyone any real good.

Oh, for a more direct connection to this week's Manic Monday theme, orange, I'll state for the record that it's one of my favorite colors. I hope this fact isn't in my buddy Avery's memory bank anymore. He loathes the color and threatened me with bodily harm when I told him I liked it. Kidding! He's a terrific writer (read this, you won't regret it), too bad he doesn't seem to be posting anymore.

Everyone have an enjoyable week!


27 comments:

Durward Discussion said...

Sometimes I think those memories are just stored for access when they are needed again, such as watching jeopardy and there is an answer you didn't know you knew. Now you have a song you didn't know you knew and we have the gift of another good writer.

H said...

I like orange too.
A lot.

memories triggered by smell are the strangest. they bring along this whole other emotional overload.

Schmoop said...

Does any word rhyme with orange? Cheers Lizza.

Anonymous said...

Certain memories live in the subconscious and we only have access to it whenever something reminds us of it.

(:

CS said...

Memory is not physcially stored in the brain, the way they used to believe, but things get associated with other things and are often remembered only when prompted. That's why people's recall memory isn't nearly as good as their recognition memory.

Anonymous said...

i LOVE that song and it actually inspired me to try that carbonated drink.

Natalia said...

I look good in orange, which not too many people can say.

-N

Daddy Papersurfer said...

I'm with Avery - orange is not a good colour except on an orange. Almost as bad as purple. There I've said it.

Lisa Ryan said...

I like the song and the drink. Music always evokes amazing memories for me.

Sandee said...

I love this song. Very well done. Have a great MM. :)

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Photo Cache said...

hi just passing through. cool song, btw. havent heard it before though.

Ian said...

Thirty years ago, my local football team's defense was nicknamed the Orange Crush.

We also have a soda called Orange Crush. :)

Ian

Eastcoastdweller said...

cs says that science doesn't believe it anymore, but I once read that everything you've ever seen, tasted, thought, etc., is stored somewhere in the brain and that technology someday might figure out how to extract it all and make a movie of your life.

Scott from Oregon said...

orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Scott from Oregon said...

crap, someone beat me to it!

Christy said...

When I was a little girl orange was my favorite color. I still enjoy it, I think it is because of my love for Halloween.

Unknown said...

Oh, I love the song (and R.E.M.) - but I didn´t think of it.

Sorry for catching up so late on your MM, but there´s so much stuff going on here, like the Totally Fabulous Award (which you won today) ♥

Mindy said...

I've never heard the song but I too love the soda! I love the color orange because it always reminds me of the sun when you are lucky enough to capture a glimpse of it dropping down over the horizon on a beautiful fall evening. :-)

Odat said...

Hey I reconize that song too, altho if you asked me if I knew I would say no....I too, think that e'thing we do or say or e'one we meet we remember on some level..that's why we get that deje vu feeling at times.
Peace....and good to see you!

Odat said...

Hey I reconize that song too, altho if you asked me if I knew I would say no....I too, think that e'thing we do or say or e'one we meet we remember on some level..that's why we get that deje vu feeling at times.
Peace....and good to see you!

Anonymous said...

I think we register at least almost everything with our senses
However recalling is a different matter
Hope you have a great weekend

Sidney said...

I don't think my brain store anything useful ! ;-(

Gumby said...

OK, 5 days without a post?!? what's up with that?

Nikki Neurotic said...

I find that there's a lot of songs that people mention that I don't think I know, but then when I hear them I'll recognize them.

Travis Cody said...

This is interesting. When I was a kid, I wondered why it was so easy for me to remember song lyrics and movie dialog, but so difficult to remember things I read in my textbooks!

Maybe it wasn't so much a faulty memory. Maybe it was the recall part of my brain.

Tammie Jean said...

Oh yeah, I remember that song! And I agree with Trav - isn't it funny how easy it is to remember song lyrics? Stuff you haven't heard in years ends up flowing out of your mouth when you hear it on the radio. Maybe it is all in there somewhere...