My Gen X Playlist: Island in the Sun – Weezer

After college, I spent a year in Japan teaching English. It was an East meets West experience for me. While on that side of the world, friends and I spent a week in Thailand on our time off. We veered from the touristy hot spots of Bangkok and Phuket. Instead, we landed on Koh Samui, a small island off the coast. Now, it may be different today, but back then, it was an undeveloped island with warm waters and beautiful coastlines. Upon landing, we all agreed to remove our watches – there was no need for time when roaming the beaches on a tropical island. We walked the dirt roads, stopping at wooden carts to choose from the fresh catch of the day that was kept cold on ice. After pointing to our fish, we chose from a number of different spices and sauces. All were cooked over an open fire and we enjoyed lunch under palm trees. We kayaked the beautiful sea, lay on beaches soaking up the sun, drank cold beers while reggae sounds soothed our souls. We embraced and melted into the slow pace of island life. Unfortunately, we were unable to stop time and our week in paradise came to an end. I remember landing in Tokyo and seeing the sharp contrast of neon signs, crowded streets and tall concrete buildings reaching for the sky. It was hard to believe we were in a different world just a few hours before. We checked the train schedules and looked at our watches to make sure we were on time for our ride. We lined up, followed the crowd onto the train, the doors closed behind us and our train sped home. So as I think about a city of the future this morning, I find myself torn. A futuristic city sounds exciting and I can’t even fathom the technological advancement. But a part of me still yearns for that small island from thirty years ago. Strolls down dirt roads, watches hidden in suitcases, the sounds of beaches and reggae shaken together and poured into a glass with a tiny umbrella. That doesn’t sound too bad, either.

On an island in the sun. We’ll be playing and having fun. and it makes me feel so fine. I can’t control my brain.

– Island in the Sun, Weezer

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Hip hip
Hip hip
Hip hip
Hip hip

When you're on a holiday
You can't find the words to say
All the things that come to you
And I wanna feel it too

On an island in the sun
We'll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can't control my brain

Hip hip
Hip hip

When you're on a golden sea
You don't need no memory
Just a place to call your own
As we drift into the zone

On an island in the sun
We'll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can't control my brain

We'll run away together
We'll spend some time forever
We'll never feel bad anymore

Hip hip
Hip hip
Hip hip

On an island in the sun
We'll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can't control my brain

We'll run away together
We'll spend some time forever
We'll never feel bad anymore

Hip hip
Hip hip (We'll never feel bad anymore)
Hip hip (No, no)
Hip hip
Hip hip (We'll never feel bad anymore)
Hip hip (No, no)
Hip hip (No, no)
Hip hip