Put Your Records On: Garbage – Version 2.0

Welcome to a brand new segment I like to call Put Your Records On. For a more detailed intro, click here.

Tonight I’m going to discuss one of the most influential albums in my collection: Version 2.0 by Garbage, which has just turned 15 years old this weekend!

Version 2.0 was the first Garbage album I ever bought. I remember hearing “I Think I’m Paranoid” in early 2003 and becoming obsessed with it. I know, I know. I was 5 years late to the party but it was perfect timing for me. That album, along with lead singer Shirley Manson herself, shaped me into the person I am today.

Back in 2003 I was in the 9th grade. I was awkward and didn’t have too many good friends. I just dreaded going to school every day because of what I might encounter or how someone would tear me down. I’m not going to sit here and talk about being bullied, though. It’s a story we’ve often heard so much of lately, which, don’t get me wrong, is a good thing. Back when I was being tormented, it was a very alienating experience. No one was really talking about it and I felt as if I was the one in the wrong if I even mentioned it – like it was all in my head. I dived into this topic a while ago here.

Shirley Manson helped me stand strong and believe in myself when I wasn’t sure if I was strong enough to deal with it all. I’ve talked about this song zillions of times before on here about my love for the song “The Trick Is To Keep Breathing” from Version 2.0. The lyrics “maybe you’ll get what you want this time around” have been playing back at me lately. Ten years later and I’m finally on the verge of getting what I want…possibily…if I work hard at it. But it all started with one bad ass woman fronting a rock band to tell me that I could. I always felt like Shirley was one of me, my ‘kind of people’, and time and time again she has saved me in more ways than I can count.

“Special” also holds a ‘special’ place in my heart as well. I tend to associate that song with the unfortunate guys I’ve come across in my life. Why I ever spent so much time on them is beyond me. I personally like to sing this song super obnoxiously loud. It’s just one of those empowering ones. 😉 With lyrics like “do you have an opinion? A mind of your own? I thought you were special. I thought you should know. But I’ve run out of patience, I couldn’t care less,” I’ve come to the conclusion that if I could have written any song i this world, this would be the one. I love that Shirley has a mind of her own. I also pride myself on that as well. I’ve encountered so many people who are crippled with the thought of thinking for themselves that it saddens me. Find your backbone!

Happy Birthday, Version 2.0! I hope it continues to change lives as it has changed mine.

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