30 Day Song Challenge, Day 6: Song That Reminds You Of Somewhere

I've been waiting for this one:

"Hotel California [live]" by Eagles.

This song was the definition of "no-brainer" for me.  No matter how many times I hear this song out of context, I will always remember listening to it at Camp Talahi.

Since 9th grade, I would go to Talahi for a week every summer.  Each would be the best summer of my life, surpassing the one before, and every time I left, I began to count the days until I would return next year.  What makes this song special is that, after every dance on the last night of the week, everyone would form a huge circle and--in some cult-like fashion--sway back and forth to this song.

It would be creepy if it wasn't so... communal.  Somehow, even with all of the bonding time throughout the week, from get-to-know-you games to late-night sneak-offs, everyone felt a real part of something special standing with their arms around each other.  You could see every one of your peers and share in this special moment where no one spoke and someone would occasionally mime a subdued drum fill.

Even though it's likely a very misinformed interpretation of the song, we all took the last line to heart: "You can check out any time you like, but can't never leave" essentially spoke what was all on our minds--we could leave this place physically, but never in our hearts.  (Hey, it was an emotional time and we weren't concerned about sounding trite or cliche!)

What made this version of the song so special is that you essentially had to earn it at Talahi.  While "Hotel California" was the last song at every camp dance, this live version from Hell Freezes Over--an acoustic reimagining of the song that deserves props for switching up the formula--was only played at Senior High II, the week for the oldest campers, 11th and 12th graders.  It was a way to point out that this was likely the group's last year together before going off to college (which sounds disarmingly cruel the more I think about it).  The extended introduction ensured that this shared experience would be shared just a few minutes longer and is considered the more "mature" version of the song.

And while I can play this song on Guitar Hero 4 and somehow managed to play it live in one of my band, Crashing Economy's shows, it will always be securely connected with Talahi and every summer I was there, warm smell of colitas rising up through the air. [Edit: upon researching, it has been brought to my attention that "colitas" is slang for weed.  So... never mind...]