Softies - The Softies
by Admin
published: 24 / 11 / 2008

intro
In our 'Soundtrack of Our Lives' column, in which our writers tell of the personal impact on them, Tommy Gunnarsson writes about the mid 90's American indie pop band the Softies, whose song 'The Best Days' at the funeral of his brother's girlfriend, who died in 2000 at the age of 20
First of all, let me tell you a little about the Softies... Back in 1994, Rose Melberg (a former member of bands such as Go Sailor, Tiger Trap and Gaze) and Jen Sbragia (then a member of Pretty Face and later of All Girl Summer Fun Band) decided to make music together, and immediately settled for a setting of two electric guitars and two harmonizing voices, mostly singing slow love songs. During the next six years, they would go on and release three full-length albums, a 10" album and some singles and EP's. In 2000, their last album together, 'Holiday in Rhode Island' was released on K Records, and since then I haven't heard a thing from the two girls, which is very sad, as their albums are all amazing, especially the second one, 'Winter Pageant', which came out in 1997, an album that included the song 'The Best Days'. And that brings us to the subject of this column. In May 1999, my older brother's girlfriend was diagnosed with cancer, and not just any cancer, but a kind that was incredibly hard to battle and treat (I can't remember the name of it now). When the 20th century turned into the 21st, things were kind of hopeful, but just a month or so later, we got the news that it was incurable, and, in April 2000, she passed away, just 20 years old. The funeral was held later that same month, and as she was a huge fan of the Softies (she had a great taste in music in general, I must say), she asked for 'The Best Days' to be played in the funeral chapel, along with 'I Say a Little Prayer' by Aretha Franklin. Needless to say, it was very hard to sit there in the chapel for what felt like many many hours (but I suppose it wasn't even a full hour), and, also needless to say, it was almost as hard to hear those songs afterwards. Now, more than eight years later, I can listen to those songs again, which is great, as I return to that Softies album every now and then. But that doesn't mean that I will ever forget that moment in the chapel. Because I won't.
Picture Gallery:-

most viewed articles
current edition
Spear Of Destiny - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Gary Numan - Berserker
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPDwina Gibb - Interview
Boomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Serge Gainsbourg - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Brad Elvis - Interview
Susie Hug - Interview
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Little Simz - Lotus
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
HAIM - I Quit
Eddie Chacon - Lay Low
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart