"Open My Eyes" by Nazz

The first CD I had in my possession that I listened to incessantly was a Todd Rundgren compilation album. Man, I ate that stuff up! It had "Open My Eyes" by Nazz on it, the first song on the CD. The distinct intro "ONE..TWO..ONE TWO THREE FOUR!" is palpable and powerful. It brings back happy memories but also memories of loneliness. I would play the track "Wailing Wall" and cry, thinking about my brother, whom I missed, and the loneliness of being an only child. How Todd Rundgren's music became integral to my childhood will always baffle me. This is because I had no one to share my love for him with. Other than my dad of course. So, listening to him felt like it was mine and mine alone. My time to think, to cry, to feel, to grow, and to be me. His music was solitude for me and it still is. It felt like he understood my pain because of what he communicated in songs like "Wailing Wall" and "Be nice to me." Knowing all those songs by heart now is such a beautiful feeling. Perhaps, one day I can sing them to my children like my dad did me. It was one small, beautiful way that I can remember my father when he is gone and my childhood, although hard at times, filled with such wonder. The feelings that he made me feel inspired me later to try to reproduce or channel those feelings into music.