Made of Music

A post from Rob

Jess loved music. In her room, the shower (she sang sometimes and what she may have lacked in pitch she more than made up for in joy), the car, and the ever present airpods - music was an integral part of her life. I am a Swiftie because of her, sharing the most intense concert experience of my life as part of it. I would never have known about groups like Last Dinner Party, or how to do Chappell Roan's H-O-T-T-O-G-O dance. We texted each other with reviews within minutes of Olivia dropping Vampire and again numerous times with different artists. She didn't restrict herself to the newest releases, with ELO, Fleetwood Mac, the Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack and many others from "my time" occupying high spots on her playlist (although I could never get her hooked on Pink Floyd even after multiple attempts ) . Anyone who spent time with her and her friends in the past can't help but have the Hamilton Soundtrack etched into their memory ("It must be nice, it must be nice, to have Jessica on your side" .... iykyk).  

I'm grateful she introduced Beabadoobee to me - both the music and sharing the concert  (feels like songs like The Glue Song, Sunny Day and many others of hers were just made for Jess?). For years I've wanted to go to Lollapalooza - SHE made it happen. She really wanted to get to a Clairo concert but wouldn't have turned down Sabrina Carpenter or Faye Webster tickets (who wouldn't?  ). 

We recently had some friends over for dinner and game night and Jess was in control of the background playlist (duh!). At some point "Hooked on a Feeling" played and at the start of the chorus there is a part with two heavy beats, and  Jess and I both had simultaneously made fists and knocked out the two beats on the table at which point she giggled, smiled ear to ear,  looked at me and said "I guess we know who's daughter I am!"  Tiny moments can live so huge!

I was inspired to write this after a wonderful observation on Instagram by one of Jess' friends (Genevieve - Parker '24). Genevieve really did say it well about Jess and music - "she was made of it, no doubt!"  Love and Miss  you Baby Girl!