I would have a hard time choosing a fave scene from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a seriously beloved book. But I have a great big soft spot in my heart for the Caterpillar. Even the Disney version. He keeps asking Alice what might be the most important question anyone can ask us: Who Are You? Of course I don’t mean the “Who are you?” demanded by snotty receptionists and harried school administrators. I mean the more reflective, theoretical question.
Right now, I’m in the early chapters of a book about Clara, a girl who’s struggling with that question– who’s convinced that if she can choose the right personna, everything will be better. As I was planning my weekly playlist, I got to thinking about identity. How we express it. The amount of mental energy we expend thinking about it. How its definition changes by age and circumstance (…parents, gender, ethnicity, school, relationship status, college, marital status, work…). Wow. And it’s only 8am.
Anyway. Here’s my list. Lemme know if you have songs to add. I love getting new music suggestions, or new perspectives on old ones.
Some Songs to Ponder Identity By:
1. New Soul (Yael Naim)
2. What a Good Boy (Barenaked Ladies)
3. Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads)
4. Walk on the Wild Side (Lou Reed)
5. Misunderstood (Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane)
6. Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)
7. Hollywood (Kasey Chambers)
8. I Am So Ordinary (Paula Cole)
9. Defying Gravity (I hated this song until Kurt sang it. Glee lovers will understand.)
10. Who Are You (The Who)
"Who are you?"