Which songs mean the most to you?
Each one is like the page of a diary, evoking colourful memories of a time and place.
The detail of that recall is often astounding – much more so than seemingly important matters these days! Psychologists call it ‘the reminiscence bump’, which accounts for a disproportionate number of memories being retrieved with ease from the spell between adolescence and early adulthood.
The bump typically occurs between the ages of 10 and 30 – recognised as the period during which individuals produce the most memories.
The detailed stories triggered by music, of course, are just only one sort of memory. Research suggests that memories of smell are formed even younger. There’s also childhood amnesia, which explains why we don’t remember too much of our very early years!
This Easter, the memories will flood back as Boom Radio – the radio station just for baby boomers – once again stages its All Time Chart -playing the Top 200 favourite songs as voted for by its baby boomer listeners.
Do make sure you’ve voted for your three favourites – those tracks which truly mean the most to you.
For the last two years, the haunting Whiter Shade of Pale from Procol Harum pulled off the Number One spot in the chart. That track certainly evokes memories for Paul McCartney. When it was released in 1967, he spotted the quality of the masterpiece promptly. He is reported to have interrupted his first date with his future wife Linda to rush to the DJ booth at a Soho Club, demanding to know what was being played.
Vote now for your favourite tracks – whatever the era – and tune in to the chart from Good Friday to Easter Monday, 10-2 each day.
Simon Bates will be one of the guest hosts on that special programme, alongside Boom’s regular hosts John Peters, Rob Jones, David Lloyd, Dave Brown and Mike Wyer. Their voices may bring back memories for you too.
Listen to Boom on DAB. Also: ‘Alexa, play Boom Radio’ – or download the app to your phone or tablet.
