Mazzy Star’s Fade into you had that 70s-based imagery that permeated many 90s acts. Go figure, Gen X obsessed with childhood memories of long road trips on petrol-guzzling monstrosities.

It really clicked with me.

I never thought much about the tambourine until I heard this song. Then I grew to respect it, up to the point that I once got invited to play tambourine on stage at The Grapes during a Repo Man gig. I was half drowning on pear cider and loving every minute. The guys from Repo Men complemented my playing, I guess I was lucky as I don’t think of myself of a rhythm person.

That night, while talking with some friends from Cats:For:Peru, I thought about Mazzy Star, and it came up on the PA. Back in ’94, I would dream of a road trip with this song and even if I managed to live that dream of several road trips, I don’t believe I’ve listened to Fade into you. Oh, well.

The song also reminds me of watching SNL with my parents. Most of the time, they would switch out to another channel during the musical acts. My mum in particular hated REM because of losing my religion, and my dad hated every single frickin’ band. However, when Mazzy Star played, they left the song. I guess the song was universal enough to speak to them, perhaps we all need a little Hope Sandoval in our lifes.

The Grapes is gone. The 90s is gone. My parents are gone. Ric from Repo Men is gone. But the magic ambiance Fade Into You brings, that moment of solace and reflection, with dashes of nostalgia, lingers on.

-Sam J. Valdés López