May 7, 2025
“Fireflies” and “Poker Face”
Some songs instantly take you back in time, and for me, “Fireflies” by Owl City and “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga encapsulate my childhood perfectly. I vividly remember listening to “Fireflies” at six years old during a long car ride when my family moved from Indiana to Wisconsin. The dreamy melody surrounded me as I gazed out the window, trying to process what it meant to leave behind everything familiar. This song became the soundtrack to that transition — bittersweet, soothing, and enchantingly magical.
On the other hand, “Poker Face” evokes a completely different energy — loud, entertaining, and wonderfully chaotic. It was always playing on the radio during our trips to swimming lessons, with my sisters and me crammed in the backseat, belting out the lyrics at the top of our lungs. We might not have understood half of what we sang, but that was beside the point. It became our car anthem. Those rides were filled with laughter, off-key singing, and a unique energy that only siblings can create. Both songs carry such vivid memories — they not only remind me of the past; they transport me to the past.