I always remember where I am when I hear a song for the first time. This is country specific of course, and I most vividly remember when it's one of my favorite artist. 90% of the time it's when I'm in my car, I'll either come into the middle of it, or hear the DJ say "here's a new one from...."...either way I crank up the volume and listen intently to each word. My sub-concious takes over my driving as I focus on the message and the notes. This is the only chance my mind has to focus on the words, because it's the only time that I won't be singing along. My two favorite parts of a song is the intro music and the first line, and the music progression between the chorus and the bridge. The intro pulls you in and immediately gets your mind in the right state.....happy, she loves me song? sad, my dog ran away song? loud, exciting Saturday night at a honky-tonk song? or the hurt so good, I'm doing alright, but I still think about you sometimes song? You know right away what you're getting into. And depending on where you are in life, or in your day, it appeals to a situation you've incountered and you want to hear what they have to say. My favorite intro of all time is Dierks Bently's "What was I thinking?" A simple few fast guitar chords and nothing else.....and then everything else comes in full blast- and you just know it's a trouble-maker song. The part of a song right before the bridge is a tease- you don't know what's going to happen next- is he going to be ok? what crazy thing are they going to do next? do they live happily ever after? And the bridge is the answer. My favorite example of that is Blake Shelton's "I Don't Care". The whole song is about how he's seen his ex around town with another guy and he claims he doesn't care.... and then the bridge comes: When I got home, the light was blinkin' on that old machine. She said, "My brother's been in town, but he just left. And, I miss you! Give me a ring." 

I still care. She's all that matters. I still love her just like always, gotta have her. I never got her off my mind, been hopin' she would call sometime.

I know it's late, to be drivin' over there, but I don't care.