Key to Objects
1 & 2. Birth to Jr. High and Puberty
Elton John—Funeral for a Friend & Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Later: All The Girls Love Alice.) Yellow brick road and gravestone.
Lucky Man—Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Four Leaf Clover.
Talking heads— Burning Down the House. House on fire.
Michael Jackson—Thriller. MJ’s iconic jacket from the video.
Quiet Riot—Cum on Feel the Noize. Mask from video.
Janis Joplin—Mercedes Benz. Lyrics: “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me, a Mercedes Benz.”
Twisted Sister—We’re Not Gonna Take It. Twisted Sister logo.
Cyndi Lauper—Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Cyndi portrait.
Stray Cats—Stray Cat Strut. Fishbone.
Dire Straights—Money for Nothing. MTV logo.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers—Don’t Come Around Here No More. Alice in Wonderland “cake” from the video.
Prince—Raspberry Beret. Beret.
Pink Floyd— Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2. Prism from Dark Side + Lyric: Hey, Teacher!
David Lee Roth/Van Halen — Yankee Rose. DLR’s yellow and black spandexed ass from the video.
Mickey & Sylvia—Love is Strange. Dirty Dancing Logo + Lyrics: “Sylvia? Yes Mickey? How do you call your loverboy?”
Alvin & The Chipmunks-- What’s New Pussycat? Alvin and Simon. Identified with them but not Theodore because he was too wimpy for me.
The Kinks—Lola. Lyrics: “LOLA. LA LA LA LA LOLA.”
Bon Jovi—You Give Love a Bad Name, I’ll Be There For You, and Blaze of Glory. Slippery when wet sign.
Leah Landis—BOYS. Purple shirt and lace-gloved hand from album cover.
Motley Crue—Smokin’ In the Boys Room (and later, Kickstart My Heart). Cigarettes and Boys Room sign.
Midnight Oil—Beds Are Burning. Lyrics: “The time has come to say fair’s fair.”
George Michael—Father Figure (and later, Freedom! ’90). Portrait.
Bangles—Walk Like An Egyptian. Album cover.
Don Henley—Boys Of Summer. Dead Head sticker on a Cadillac.
Aerosmith—Dude (Looks Like a Lady) and Ragdoll. Burly man in a wedding dress.
Debbie Gibson—Electric Youth. Spiral neon perfume bottle.
Cher—If I Could Turn Back Time. Lyrics: “If I could turn back time.”
Guns N’ Roses—It’s So Easy, My Michelle, Patience. Roses and Patience, my parakeet.
Alice Cooper— Poison. Poison bottle with his iconic eye/makeup.
Genesis— Land Of Confusion. Atomic bomb and Genesis logo.
Paula Abdul—Cold Hearted. Her hat from the video.
Poison— Every Rose Has Its Thorn & Your Mama Don’t Dance. Poison love note on spelling test paper.
Def Leppard—Pour Some Sugar On Me and Love Bites. Sugar out of a glass and shark tooth with a heart.
Boy George— Karma Chameleon & The Crying Game. His hair with ribbons.
Chris Isaak—Wicked Game. Beach and waves from the video.
Love and Rockets—So Alive. Leg, long brown hair, stars.
Faith No More—Epic. Fish flopping scene from the end of the video.
Richard Marx—Hazard. Wheat and drop in the water from the video.
Metallica—One. Nurse cap from video/Johnny Got His Gun.
Queensryche— Silent Lucidity. Queensryche logo.
Gerard McMann—Cry Little Sister—Theme from “Lost Boys.” Keifer Sutherland and Lyrics: “Thou Shall Not Fall.”
RHCP— Sir Psycho Sexy. Pepper and stick from lyrics: “She stuck my butt with her big black stick.”
Concrete Blonde—Caroline. Roses.
AC/DC—You Shook Me All Night Long. American thighs with flag bikini bottom.
Madonna—Like A Prayer and Express Yourself. Cross with flames and monocle with gear.
The Doors—Light My Fire and Carmina Burana from the film. Door on fire.
Queen—Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon. Easel with mustache.
Led Zeppelin—Stairway to Heaven. Hedges with Lyrics: “If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow.”
Elvis Costello & The Attractions—(I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea. Lyrics: “She gave a little flirt gave herself a little cuddle.”
Beastie Boys—So What’Cha Want. Money sign “bouncing.”
Nirvana—Smells Like Teen Spirit. Kurt from video with Anarchy sign head.
Chris Cornell—Seasons from the Singles soundtrack. Blue feathers.
Dead Kennedys—Holiday in Cambodia. DK logo with tree.
Yusuf/Cat Stevens—Wild World. Lyrics in yellow bubble.
R.E.M. – Losing My Religion. Bottle with flame and wings.
Sonic Youth—Titanium Expose from Pump Up The Volume Soundtrack (later, Kool Thing and Tunic). Sugar cube in mirror.
3. 8th-9th Grade and 15-17
Salt-N-Pep—Shoop. S-N-P shakers.
Fleetwood Mac—The Chain. Chain with heart.
Blondie—Sunday Girl— the French version specifically. Ice Cream.
Janet Jackson—If. Vest/Corset from the video.
The Lemonheads—Alison’s Starting To Happen. Lemonhead and puzzle piece with sky.
Sassy Magazine Logo. Not a song, but I took their music recs as gospel.
No Doubt—Just A Girl. Pink Ribbon.
Lisa Loeb—Stay (I Missed You). Purple radio with lyrics: “Lover is crying cause the other won’t stay.”
Pixies—I’ve Been Tired. “Breasts like a cluster of grapes.”
PJ Harvey. Snake—4-Track Demo Version. Snake between legs.
Ani DiFranco—Swan Dive. Tampon and shark fin.
Hole—Violet. Violets and stars/black hole.
Nine Inch Nails—Gave Up. Vaseline jar.
Tori Amos—Bells For Her. Pink cloud with bell. For Gina.
Ween—Flies On My Dick. Dick with flies.
Crass—Bata Motel. Sex doll from Penis Envy album cover.
Violent Femmes—Add It Up. Screw and + signs.
Alanis Morrisette—You Oughta Know. Nails scratching.
Green Day—Longview. Eyes with X’s.
Dar Williams—The Christians and the Pagans & Alleluia. Christmas tree with pagan sign and fluorescent lei.
Counting Crows—Anna Begins. Butterfly pinned to frame.
Liz Phair—Fuck and Run. Soda, letter, number 12.
Bob Dylan—Black Diamond Bay. Volcano.
L7—Wargasm. Grenade with wet drops.
Sarah McLaughlin—Hold On. Letter representing my close friend/incarcerated boyfriend, Matt.
The Partridge Family—I Think I Love You. Partridge Family bird logo (anachronism/out of time).
Bruce Springsteen—I’m On Fire. Daddy with knife and flames.
Chet Baker—My Funny Valentine. Purple VDay Heart with “funny” and teardrop.
The Police—Don’t Stand So Close To Me. Book with Lolita on it.
The Breeders—Cannonball. Splash.
Radiohead—Creep. Lyrics: “But I’m a creep.”
The Dead Milkmen—Punk Rock Girl. Pink pearl.
Talking Heads—Sugar On My Tongue. Tongue with white beads/”sugar.”
Creedence Clearwater Revival—Fortunate Son. Silver spoon.
k.d. lang—Constant Craving. Magnet with word “truth.”
Bikini Kill— Suck My Left One. Boob with light bulb.
Richard Thompson—1952 Vincent Black Lightning. Motorcycle.
Alanis Morrisette— Hands Clean. Lyrics: “If it wasn’t for your maturity.”
David Bowie— Suffragette City. Ticket.
Dire Straits—Skateaway. Rollerskate.
Rolling Stones—Shattered. “Glass” around motorcycle.
Edwyn Collins—A Girl Like You from Empire Records soundtrack. Baby blue crop sweater Liv Tyler wore in the film.
Walk On the Wild Side— Lou Reed. Holly and piece of candy.
Poe— Trigger Happy Jack. Bullet with wetness. One of my songs for my mom’s abusive boyfriends.
Rocky Horror Picture Show—Sweet Transvestite and Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me. Frankenfurter; hairdryer and Mickey ears.
Blatz—Lullabye. Eye with stars in it.
Butthole Surfers—The Wooden Song. Lyrics: “Lately I’ve been dancing in ceiling fans.”
Babes in Toyland— Istigkeit. Lyrics: “I breathe I dream I lead.”
Spitboy— What Are Little Girls Made Of?” Lyrics: “Swaddled in red like a target.”
Weezer— Say It Ain’t So. Lyrics: “Say it ain’t so.”
Underworld— Born Slippy. Lipstick boy.
They Might Be Giants— Particle Man. Little triangle figure.
The Runaways— Cherry Bomb. Tiny cherries with explosions.
4. 18-22
TLC— Waterfalls. Waterfall crashing over Suffragette City ticket.
Tool— 46 + 2. Lyrics. “I wanna know what I’ve been hiding in my shadow.”
Indigo Girls— Closer Than Fine. Diploma with lyrics: “He graded my performance.”
DMB— Grace is Gone. Whiskey in a glass.
Tom Waits— Frank’s Wild Years. Sign “Wild Years” hanging from a nail.
Leonard Cohen— Seems So Long Ago, Nancy. Green stockings.
Fiona Apple— Paper bag. Paper bag with apple on it.
Nick Drake— Pink Moon. Pink moon.
Melissa Etheridge— No Souvenirs. Telephone booth with street lamp.
The Rolling Stones— She’s A Rainbow. Small rainbow.
R.E.M—Try Not To Breathe. Pink Lungs.
The Cure— Edge Of The Deep Green Sea. Green sea with sand under lungs.
Suzanne Vega. Soap and Water and Widow’s Walk. Head full of bees with ocean waves and a kite.
Nelly Furtado— Turn Off The Light. Boxing Gloves with lyrics: “Tough tough tough.”
Butch and Animal— Traffic and Best Cock On the Block. Traffic light flanked by two dildos.
The Smiths— How Soon Is Now? Lyrics: “I am the son and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar.”
5. Coming Out
The Cure— Love Cats. Pink and black cats with intertwined tails.
Tracy Chapman— Smoke and Ashes. Pile of ashes with smoke.
Allman Brothers Band— Whipping Post. Whipping post.
Postal Service— Clark Gable. Movie marker with text referring to Casey and our relationship.
Metric— Combat Baby. Combat boot with blue “light.”
The Killers— Somebody Told Me. Androgynous faces with the same hair and “Feb” and “Last Year.”
Modest Mouse— Float On. Mouth blabbing “Blah blah blah.”
Death Cab For Cutie— Soul Meets Body. Greyhound logo.
Patti Smith— Gloria: In Excelsis Deo. Red parking meter.
Benny Benassi— Satisfaction. Button to push with “wet” drops.
Patty Griffin— Making Pies. Table Talk pie.
Gillian Welch— One More Dollar. Pine tree with dice.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs— No No No and Pin. Clock with “ice” and push pin.
Melissa Ferrick— Willing to Wait. +1.
Laura Viers— Parisian Dream. Hands cupped with light/flame.
Cat Power— He War. Needle with thread.
Alison Krauss— Lucky One. Horseshoe.
Gravy Train— Tittie’s Bounce. Boobs in green bikini top.
Coldplay— Warning Sign. Bubbles bursting.
Blur— Girls & Boys. Lyrics: “Girls who want boys who do boys like they’re girls.”
Dido— White Flag and Who Makes You Feel. White flag and Lyrics: “Who makes you feel?”
6. 27-35
Heartless Bastards— Into the Open. Field/meadow of green with blue sky.
Neko Case— Hold On, Hold On. Lyrics: “The most tender place in my heart is for strangers.”
TV On The Radio— Wolf Like Me and Ambulance. Moon and crutch.
Fischerspooner— Everything To Gain. Odyssey graphic/logo.
Lovers— Igloos For Ojos. Igloo with eye and heart.
Magnetic Fields— The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure. Bulldozer with an orchid.
Crystal Castles— Untrust Us. Castle made of beads with Bates College mascot, bobcat.
Santigold— L.E.S. Artistes. Gold “blob” like on the album cover with lyrics: “If I could stand up mean for all the things that I believe.”
The National— Brainy and Slow Show. Blue ribbon around a brain.
MIA— Come Around. Dollar sign on a hook.
Feist— Brandy Alexander. Brandy Alexander drink.
JD Samson & MEN— Credit Card Babies. Sontag in the crib.
Lady Lamb— Bird Balloons. Balloon with birds in it.
Fred Astaire—Babbitt and the Bromide. Tap shoe.
EMA— California and Butterfly Knife. Butterfly knife with blood.
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down— Swimming Pools. Bee surrounded by blue.
Flight Facilities, Giselle— Crave You. Heart in silver cage.
Alt-J— Something Good. Bullhead with blood.
of Montreal— The Past Is A Grotesque Animal. Anatomical eye.
Mykki Blanco— Waavy. Purple Waves.
Lady Gaga— Bad Romance. Shoe from video.
Arcade Fire— Neon Bible. Bible with neon light radiating form it.
Alela Diane— The Way We Fall. Cigarettes burning.
Dark Dark Dark— Patsy Cline. Jukebox with lyrics: “And we’d slow dance to Patsy Cline at the bar.”
Rilo Kiley— A Better Son/Daughter. Telephone.
Wye Oak— If Children Were Wishes. Dollar sign, heart, peace sign.
Slothrust— Crockpot. Crockpot.
Lucius— Turn it Around. Telescope.
Mirah— 24th Street. Street sign.
Shovels & Rope— Birmingham. BQE sign.
Iceage— Morals. Lyrics: “Where’s your morals?”
7. 35-43
Kate Bush— Cloudbusting. Cloud with yoyo and rain.
Lia Ices— Creature. Wolf howling with flowers coming out of its mouth.
Wolf Parade— I’ll Believe In Anything. Olive branch.
Lower Dens— I Am the Earth. Earth with “I AM.”
Angel Olsen—White Fire and Creator, Destroyer. White flame with lyrics: “Murderous bitch I am out of my mind.”
Phosphorescent—Terror In the Canyon. Tiger and snake.
Mitski— First Love/Late Spring. Black hole behind a window.
Kississippi— Cut Yer Teeth. Tooth and diamond.
Du Blonde— After the Show. Hotel sign.
Jenny Hval— Conceptual Romance. Face “high on madness” with lyrics: “I lose myself in the rituals of bad art, in failure.”
Perfume Genius— Queen. Crown with “disease.”
Phoebe Bridgers—Motion sickness. Car window handle and vomit.
Haley Heynderickx— The Bug Collector. Praying mantis.
Father John Misty— Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins). Piano.
Big Thief— Masterpiece and Not. Coffee mug with “NOT” on it.
Andrew Bird— Sisyphus. Lyrics: “Sisyphus peered into the mist.”
Songs: Ohio— Farewell Transmission. Beak with blood on it and small moon behind it.
Regina Spector— Laughing With. Genie bottle with “hahahaha” coming out of it.
Hop Along— Not Abel. Bloodstain.
Slothrust— New Red Pants. Red pants.
Caroline Rose— Jeannie Becomes A Mom. Blue apple.
Dilly Dally— Sober Motel. Bottle with XXX label.
Otis Redding— (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay. Dock with water.
Petey— Lean Into Life. Key.
Iron & Wine, Ben Bridwell— This Must Be The Place. Lyrics: “Out of all those kinds of people, you got a face with a view.”
Florence + The Machine— King. Crown.