Hey Mr. DJ, Pon De Replay!

Yesterday’s post still has me thinking musically.  I can't forget the lyrical genius of the Red Line rapper I ran into on Friday (and still miffed at the audio quality of my confounded phone…).  His rhymes were, if I may temporarily resort to my native Valley-girl, hella smooth!  He was really jammin’ out and I wasn’t the only one nodding my head.  Listening to him rap about his experiences in this city, you really got a certain vibe, a certain feeling about Chicago culture through public transportation.  The things you see and hear on the L train give you a brief, yet intimate glimpse into the people and things that make up this amazing city. 

Chicago's L train is composed of eight lines, all named for a color: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown and Pink.  This system of elevated and underground tracks spreads out through the entire city; like arteries, it pumps people, and life, into and out of the heart of this Midwestern metropolis.  Every station has its own unique thumbprint, and the riders themselves give each line its own unique identity.  So I thought, Eureka! Why don’t I create a playlist for the L train!  Besides, there are way too many people out there that force me to listen to their music by playing their iPod at inordinately loud levels so you can hear their earphones several seats away (y’all know who you are).  Though, I do remember one such person I couldn’t get mad at because they they were actually singing along…with exuberance, and hilaaaaariously off tune.

 So, here’s my lighthearted take on songs that remind me of each line.

Of course, I’ll start with the Red Line.  This line is the one that, to me, really encapsulates Chicago’s culture.  Spanning north to south it represents all manner of Chicagoans: Red and Yellow, Black and White, Republican and Democrat, Cubs fans and White Sox fans, Gay and Straight, Rich and Poor and everything in between.  You’ll find it all and more on the Red Line.

1. Red - northbound 2. Red - southbound 3. Orange - SW to Midway 4. Yellow - northbound 5. Green - westbound 6. Green - southbound 7. Blue - NW to O'Hare 8. Blue - southwest 9. Purple - northbound 10. Purple - southbound 11. Brown - northbound 12. Brown - southbound 13. Pink - eastbound 14. Pink - westbound