It is a well-known phenomenon to nearly everyone who has heard a song in church, on the radio, or at a live event to register a memory of the ditty. These are often recalled by our amazing brains, sometimes decades later, along with the memory of hearing the song again.
Experiences such as these are scientifically classified as music-evoked autobiographical memory (MEAMs).
Recently, I had one of these to a popular song by Meat Loaf that came out in the 1970s, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” Ironically, this very tune by the artist closes with a repeated verse of
“It was long ago, and it was far away
And it was so much better than it is today.”
The words have so much truth, and that is the basis of this website, YesterYearHub.com, to help take readers and viewers to happier times in their lives.
We can get to my personal memory of that song, brought on by the MEAM, in a moment, but let’s take a closer look at the phenomenon.
What Science Says About Music Spurring Memories
MEAMs are involuntary, spontaneous recollections of past events, people, or places that are triggered by a piece of music. The science suggests that music is a powerful memory cue because it tends to be present during distinctive, self-defining life events (like weddings or graduations) and captures our attention, thereby enhancing the encoding of the surrounding context into long-term memory.
Durham University research highlights that music uniquely evokes memories that are consistently more positive than those elicited by other emotionally matched cues, such as words or sounds, even when the music itself is emotionally damaging (sad or angry). This is partly because we re-engage with music, particularly familiar songs, more often over our lifetimes, continually strengthening the memory link. Furthermore, MEAMs usually surface during non-demanding activities, such as commuting or housework, when the mind is free to wander. These findings demonstrate music’s therapeutic potential, such as helping patients with dementia or clinical anxiety access positive emotional memories.
To learn more about this area of research, you can check out this talk: How music influences your memories – Dr Kelly Jakubowski – Bright Talks. This video features Dr. Kelly Jakubowski, the researcher cited in the article, discussing her team’s findings on the relationship between music and memory.
Back to my Dashboard MEAM
The 1977 Meat Loaf hit has more than a couple of “earworms” (a great subject for another post in the near future), as its bridge and verses are magnificent all their own without the rest of the melody. The song is a ballad of an assumed teenage man trying to get lucky in a late-night car makeout session. The boy’s thoughts on the event are represented by the melodic voice of Meat Loaf himself, but they are countered by the young lady’s reactions in the encounter, sung by powerhouse female vocalist Ellen Foley.
Though my memory was in a car well into the evening, it was not a makeout session. Still, it takes me back to visiting Cleveland in the late 1980s, when I was riding with a group of friends on our way to a night out on the town, when the song came on the local Cleveland FM radio station. We had fun wailing out the verses in the car as the guys and gals took turns singing along with the original artists.
Another memory of this moment was the radio DJ coming on shortly after the song ended, talking about a rising movement to establish a ‘Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame’ in the city. This action culminated on September 2, 1995, when the museum opened its doors to the public.
Backstories of “Paradise”
“Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” written by Jim Steinman, is a theatrical, operatic rock duet released on the 1977 album Bat Out of Hell. The song’s structure features a middle section narrated by former New York Yankees shortstop and broadcaster Phil Rizzuto, who uses baseball terminology as an extended metaphor for the sexual act, culminating in the boy striking out (being rejected) before agreeing to the commitment.
The song was heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen’s grandiose, passionate style, particularly the album Born To Run. The album was produced by Todd Rundgren and featured members of Springsteen’s E Street Band, Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg. Despite its complex, nearly nine-minute length, it became a massive success, helping the Bat Out of Hell album sell over 40 million copies worldwide. Although Ellen Foley sang the female vocal on the record, Karla DeVito famously appeared in the sexually charged live performances and the accompanying music video, which was initially shown in movie theaters before midnight screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (in which Meat Loaf starred) before it found rotation on early MTV. The track remains a popular, if controversial, choice for weddings and has been used in various commercials.
Conclusion
Before I add to my rant of rabbit holes with memories of going to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show in theaters, I will end this segment with a question.
What are some of your MEAMs, and what songs have triggered the nostalgic thoughts of your past? Let us know in the comments section
About the Author
