SONG: “Drownin'”
ARTIST: Sponge

In a February 5, 2012 post titled “Music is My God My Best Friend”, I wrote In 1994, Rotting Piñata from Sponge was released and it had the radio hits “Molly (16 Candles)” and “Plowed” on there but that album was so much more than those songs. That album saved my life. That band’s music saved me from some of the darkest moments in my head and in my heart. To this day, I still get a lump in my throat when I hear “Drowin’.” 18 year old me was in a dark place and this album was the white light at the end of the tunnel. I cannot remember the number of nights I spent in my room crying in the dark wishing and hoping and praying that the feelings I was feeling away.

“How long will I be down? I’m out of air I can not breath. I’m drownin’ … “

Many years later, I would work for Sponge. (If my 18 year old self had only known!) And years after that, I would finally work up the courage to tell Vinnie how much his music, “Drownin'” and the album meant to me and how it saved my life.

I was so blessed and fortunate to be a part of the video performance below. When they started to play this song, I regressed to my 18 year old self and spent most of the performance fighting back tears. This time it wasn’t over the dark inside, it was because I survived and the music that helped me survive was before me. I’m very honored to know Vinnie and the guys from Sponge. Their music means the world to me and so does their friendship.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDlFG9raZSo]