So...
I thought this might be a good thing to do chronologically.
Then I tried to remember what the first song I ever heard was; the logic being that if you only know one song it becomes by default your favourite, and the most life changing song you've ever heard.
Surprisingly difficult.
According to my studies (see footnote 2), apart from a few random early memories, humans' "true memories" - that's a scientific term. Google it. - really start from around 5 to 6 years old.
Even though I suppose the music that my parents listened to must have imprinted on me in some way in those formative years pre quinquennial, the first song that I can remember at this time is Mr Noah.
I went to a boarding school. I, myself, was not in the boarding. My parents taught in said school and I grew up on the campus and went there as a sort of boarder / day-scholar hybrid.
Boarding schools in India (and the other Commonwealth countries) are modeled after the British Public school system. They, much like their counterparts in the Motherland, do a fantastic job of instilling in us the most important of all life skills – the ability to look at anyone that did not go to a similar school and go “I’m better than you.”
Boarding schools also tend to have the same general routines. Morning Assembly with Prayers / Bible reading, a Hymn. Who is playing whom in the current House matches, etc. We follow similar cycles of Football, Cross Country,Basketball, Gymnastics, Athletics, Boxing, Swimming, Volleyball and Hockey.
This is so we can play St Peter’s or Bishop’s or Christchurch or whoever your rival school in these sports. Because that is a thing. This is also how you get to meet other luminaries from this school system that you can form nexuses with in the future. I know Romeos and Juliets that were from Barnes and St Peter’s. That is also a thing.
Anyhoo. Mr Noah.
There were two assemblies. The Senior School one, which was shrouded in mystery. No one we knew had ever been there. Not even the teachers. They came to Junior school assembly with us. In the Quadrangle.
Senior School got the Hall. With the Music Teacher.
We got the Quadrangle. With a guitar. And we Sang Mr Noah.
Mr Noah may not even be the first song I ever learned. Honestly that’s a toss up between Mr Noah, The Wise Man Built his House upon the Rock and the one about the Dude in the Sycamore tree.
It is, however, one of the first ones I ever learned. So it makes its way onto the list. Whether the music my parents listened to imprinted to at that age I don't know, but the fact that I can remember most of the lyrics and all of the actions of Mr Noah at this point definitely means that it did.
Here’s Mr Noah being sung by a young vampire hatchling. Bless.
Footnote 2: My studies consist of me polling me about my first memories. Not that I’m ordinary or anything and that my experiences can be extrapolated into commentaries on the rest of human society As we know it. Because that would be like yuck and shit. I’m unique. Just like everyone else.
Also my first memory is from about 1 or 2 or so. I just wanted to use the word quinquennial in a sentence since I’d gone through the trouble of googling it.
