gunner5's Disc

Behind the disc

Disc swaps are a relatively new experience for me, introduced on the MiniDisc Wiki Discord Server in 2022. I discovered that anonymously swapping mixtapes, particularly MiniDiscs, is an exhilarating way to share one's passion for the format and curate musical tastes. It also opens opportunities to make acquaintances and potentially forge friendships globally—a modern-day pen pal system. In today's world, distance has never been so irrelevant, yet the physical exchange of nostalgic media serves as a unique reminder of time and distance. Eager to start, I sought permission to initiate my own disc swaps instead of waiting for the next official event. Beginning with Fantastic Voyage 2023, I have now organized five swaps. Spring Break 2024 marked the first event to include the largest three online MiniDisc communities: Wiki Discord Server, MiniDisc Sub-Reddit, and Facebook’s MiniDisc Central. Users from Instagram and Twitter were also invited. The latest event, Memento Mori, aligns with the somber mood of late October, in recognition of National Plan Your Epitaph Day, observed on November 2nd annually in the United States. Memento Mori, which translates to “Remember Death,” is a common theme across various philosophies and religions, encouraging individuals to live each day to the fullest while acknowledging the uncertainty of tomorrow. It prompts us to consider what we would stop doing today if we had only three months to live—Stoicism suggests that if feasible, we should cease these activities now. In honor of National Plan Your Epitaph Day, I decided to create a playlist for my wake. This playlist represents my journey and conveys my message to those who survive me. As the youngest of four, with my parents and my next oldest sibling departed, I am left with my brother as the only bearer of our father’s name, as neither of us have any male children. My nearest relatives live a day's drive away, and we are estranged. Thus, the MiniDisc community has become my de facto family, with bonds that grow stronger daily, especially with the expansion of MDCon, re-establishing my global network after the end of my athletic career in 2005. Music serves two crucial purposes in my life: it is the soundtrack to my journey, linking songs with experiences and places, both good and bad, much like a smell or picture can evoke memories. In exchange for support of MDCon and it's events, a limited number of copies are available at Ko-Fi.com/mdcon [*]

Tracklist

Track 1. “Kin” – Tourist

This song inspired me by a happy mistake. I mixed up the title and artist, thinking the song's name was “Tourist” by Kin. I was once told that we are all Spirits on a Human Journey. Consequently, I have always felt like a tourist in life, wandering and following instinct and curiosity rather than adhering to others' expectations. I have pursued every dream and goal to their conclusion, exploring everything along the way. When the artist and title are viewed in their full context, Kin by Tourist it reveals a deeper meaning. It resonates with the theme in a John Donne poem, where we’re reminded of our intrinsic connection to one another—that the loss of any single person diminishes all of humanity. This truth feels inescapable to me, so much so that I’ve chosen to embody this sentiment as a tattoo.(1)

Track 2. “Teardrop” – Massive Attack

This song symbolizes the sadness we all encounter. My deepest sadness occurred in childhood, living a life beyond description. This song is an homage to the universal experience of sadness. Each person's pain is valid and deserving of empathy, regardless of its source.

Track 3. “It’s My Life” – Talk Talk

The next three songs are from my final year in high school and freshman year at university, a time when I was finally on equal footing with my peers. This song became my first mantra: “It’s My Life.”(2)

Track 4. “Life’s What You Make It” – Talk Talk

The seeds of Stoicism were sown here, long before I formally discovered the philosophy. I learned to navigate my world by making choices based on my ideals, morals, and ethics, without positive role models. (3)

Track 5. “Happiness Is Easy” – Talk Talk

This songwriter guided me through life's journey when no one else could. Life is about choices, and happiness is a daily decision that must be reinforced.(4)

Track 6. “As The Rush Comes” – Motorcycle

These lyrics reflect my life—always on the move, never still. The song's repetitive nature mirrors the unchanging soundtrack of my life, with only the scenery shifting.(5)

Track 7. “Hurt” – Johnny Cash

Though a cover, Johnny Cash's version gave new meaning to this song for me. His interpretation, recorded in his final days, conveyed the profound truths of Trent Reznor's original lyrics about life's “Empire of Dirt.”(6)

Track 8. “Hurt” – Nine Inch Nails

Initially, this song's raw pain was too much to bear. Only after Johnny Cash's cover could I appreciate the depth of suffering it conveyed, and the resilience required to overcome it. (7)

Track 9. “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” – Bob Dylan

In my youth, this song made me cry, as I thought of my elderly parents facing their mortality. It taught me that loss is an inevitable part of life.(8)

Track 10. “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” – Guns N’ Roses

This version brought home the reality of my mortality, delivered by my contemporaries. It was my first experience with the concept of Memento Mori.(9)

Track 11. “Dead Soon” – Autograph

This song embodies the ethos of Memento Mori in the present moment. It encourages us to stop doing what we dislike and pursue joy, as time is fleeting, and opportunities may never return.(10)

The Wake: The final set consists of the first four tracks from Big Audio Dynamite II’s album, “The Globe.” These are the messages I want to leave behind, each open to interpretation. While the lyrics hold specific meanings for me, they will resonate differently with each of you.

Track 12. “Rush” – Big Audio Dynamite II

Track 13. “Can’t Wait” – Big Audio Dynamite II

Track 14. “I Don’t Know” – Big Audio Dynamite II

Track 15. “The Globe” – Big Audio Dynamite II (“It’s Party Time!”)

Regarding the physical disc itself. It depicts Vanitas.(11) Vanitas often have a message that is rooted in religion or the Christian Bible. I am not gifted with any creative expression to create the visions I see. However, often in life it’s not what you know, but who you know! I showed a picture of one that is dear to me that hangs in the Louvre(12) to someone with talent and a love of MiniDisc as well who brought my vision to this disc. This person was Eddie Chan. Only through his ability to express ideas combined with his talents was this disc able to come into existence in this form. Without him, only my musical epitaph would have been created by the track list. A very special thanks to Eddie, I am in your debt!