I was driving around in my car today and I came to the realization that I'm way too into movies. And that my appreciation for music tends to play out like a soundtrack.

There was an article out about Quentin Tarantino back in the day, right after Reservoir Dogs had been released. (Yes, I am quite the fangirl. Try not to snicker too loudly.) He was quoted as saying that he wrote out scenes for his movie based on songs that he'd heard. The infamous scene in which Mr Blonde hacks off the cop's ear to "Stuck in the Middle With You," was developed specifically because of the song.

Most of the time a script is written, the actors are chosen, the scene is directed, that part of the movie is edited perfectly and THEN the song playing in the background is added. After that, when the average movie fan hears a song, they then think about that scene. Music is an incredible influence on how well a movie does in the box office, but more importantly it is a reflection on how well people will remember that movie over the years.

Richard Linkletter is one of my favorites for making me remember scenes. Most specifically, I can't listen to War's "Why Can't We Be Friends?" without envisioning Parker Posey stepping menacingly over the freshmen girls, spraying them down with catsup and mustard in Dazed and Confused. The instant that song starts blaring on the radio, I'm screaming "FRESHMEN B!TCHES!!!"

PT Anderson's Boogie Nights flashes in my brain every time I listen to Three Dog Night's "Mama Told Me Not to Come." And who wouldn't want visions of a nubile Heather Graham rollerskating around in their head?

My affection for music has always been more greatly criticized than my appreciation of cinema. It's odd when I think about it. I'll watch any movie that's made (save for a couple of select ones- bet you can't guess which two), even the bad ones just so that I have them as a reference point whenever I'm talking about a movie that I really like. Most movie fanatics agree that this is the best way to get a feel for determining what is good and what is bad.

That opinion isn't shared by music lovers. When I openly admit that I love pop music, I am typically greeted with a scoff and arms folded across the chest. After that, all of my opinions on music are discredited by that person, someone who believes that by listening to everything I couldn't possibly appreciate what's "good" out there.

While I am a firm believer of the concept that what's "good" in any artistic medium is completely subjective (the old adage "beauty is the eye of the beholder"), I don't have a great deal of company. It amazes me how people can get so bent out of shape over music preferences, deciding your entire life's value on the fact that you have Kelly Clarkson in your CD library.

When I listen to music, I just like what I like. Sometimes that's obscure shit that is so strange that there isn't even a Myspazz page for it. Sometimes it's one of the most popular artists being played on Top 40 for the week. I take issue with lyrical content, but for the most part, if the beat of a song moves me, reaches into a part of my brain and strangles it, I'm sold.

Which is where the movie soundtrack reference at the beginning comes in. Sweet Child o' Mine, I will always be at the 8th grade carnival when I hear that one, waiting to go doen the tall slide again with Christi and Dawn. Bonded by Blood is forever me at 18 when I met my future ex-husband. Animal, even though it was way before the song came out, the lyrics coinside with the time that Skye and I got caught in the car together. China Girl, takes me to James wearing fishnets and heels in the theater.

I could go on listing songs and assigning them to sections of my life, but the soundtrack is incomplete. I'm not done living yet