The school year is winding down and we can now begin looking back at all the fond memories we have accumulated from the previous year. Whether it was "Rally in the Alley" where we saw Guster and Black Eyed Peas at Turtle Creek, the Spring Break road trip with all of our roommates, or one of the two top 40 bands to grace the University with its presence, music has no doubt played a huge role in how we will remember this "academic" year. When the school year started, we were all happy to see our old chums, but who can forget the catchy collaboration of Allen Jackson and Jimmy Buffet on "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere." I remember it as though it were yesterday -- the first time I heard the chorus as I made my way to a popcorn machine. As I look back at August, I could never have predicted that such a modest track would go on to become a staple at establishments such as Linebacker Lounge. As the football season began, our expectations were as great as our love for "Shake Ya Tailfeather" by Nelly, P. Diddy and Murphy Lee. There were two certainties about Heartland on a Thursday night in September: you could expect way too much artificial fog and you could expect to hear "Shake Ya Tailfeather" about 10 times throughout the course of the night. So, when you got home after a late night out you might have forgotten the person's name you were dancing with, but P. Diddy's hook could never be forgotten.During Fall Break, many people took road trips throughout the country. My roommates and I decided to head to a warmer climate and that meant Boston. We must have listened to a hundred songs during that trip, but one song made its mark. When students first hear "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by The Darkness the reaction is usually one of shock. The falsetto of the chorus makes this the perfect karaoke song and one that we still sing today.The month of turkey and stuffing brought us the expectant mother's anthem "Baby Boy" by Beyonce and Sean Paul. Beyonce proved that she was bigger than Destiny's Child and we responded with "You no stop shock - girl" in a Jamaican accent of course. This song proved to be a big hit all across campus and this time you could expect two certainties from dorm dances: sweaty underclassmen and a Beyonce mix that included "Baby Boy."The end of the first semester and beginning of the second semester saw two songs by one group that captured our hearts. Andre's "Hey Ya" and Big Boi's "The Way You Move" were a staple of the first semester, but they reached their peak near its end. Whether you were tailgating, lifting at the Rock or chillin' with the homies, the boys of Outkast were everywhere first semester.During the month of lovers, one man dominated music with his appearance on a collection of love songs. No matter where you turned Lil' John was all over "da" club as he leant his vocals to "Yeah" by Usher and "Salt Shaker" by the Ying Yang Twins However, his greatest triumph might have been "Get Low" with the Eastside Boyz as it added the phrase "skeet skeet" into the hearts and minds of club goers from Notre Dame to Nicaragua.The start of the spring season gave us midterms and Spring Break. There were a myriad of songs that were in the running for "Spring Break Anthem," but the clear winner would have to be "Toxic" by Britney Spears. It would take the greatest poets years to describe the appeal of this song, but the bottom line is that the music is catchy and the undeniable fact that Britney Spears is hot.The remainder of the school year will bring songs that we will listen to if the weather ever gets warm or if we decide to study for finals. Those songs will remind us of the different events during this school year and perhaps school years of yore. Years from now we will hear a song on the radio and it will jog memories of our friends and good times we spent with them while in school. The time we have left during this school year is precious and that means time is running out to make a mix for the power hour for graduation.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Contact Brian Foy at bfoy@nd.edu
