As I’ve posted about earlier, I collect sealed music singles that are either personally meaningful or artistically timeless. Both of these are subjective, of course, and many will probably disagree with my judgment on the latter. Either way, here are some highlights from my growing collection.
My favorite one is “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind, which I feel perfectly captures the simultaneous optimism and cynicism of the 1990s. It meets what I call the ‘Voyager Test’: A song I could provide to a future generation or alien species that epitomizes an era of American culture. Bonus points if the cover includes a KMart sticker.

Found this throwback yesterday at my LCS. Haven’t seen one in so long. I’ll always pick up these for $1.

https://youtube.com/shorts/26pPTiEisRI?feature=share

2000 UK Real World Records PGDJ2000
Promotional sampler CD for the 'OVO' Millennium Dome Show, music by Peter Gabriel.
@themerriment's PG reference to me today brought this one up for me.
I've been a hard-core Genesis and Peter Gabriel fan since 1979, collecting their stuff from the go. Around 2003 an acquaintance had access to have PG personalize something for me. I chose this from my collection. Track 1, 'Father, Son', is about coming closer to his father at the end of his life. Given my own father's own similar pending passage, and my own recent health scare that threaten my role as a father, it was the right piece.
I've been "Polo" since grade school. The "doktor" spelling is from a 1974 Genesis album lyric of his. That the word "survived" has worn is something I actually find amusingly ironical!
As if that weren't enough, about 15 years later, I met PG by pure chance at the Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica, CA. He was having quality time with his older daughter and her kids in the pool in advance of his show with Sting that night. It was just them and me in the whole pool area. I got to chat with him one-on-one for about 20 minutes in the spa. This CD, the song, its meaning to me, to him all came up. He was gracious, charming, insightful, personable.
When my wife showed up to join me at the pool I had the distinct and schoolboy-giddy pleasure to say "Oh, Peter, this is my wife. [Wife's name] meet my new friend Peter." We all got a good chuckle on that one!
$1.19 + shipping to some, to me: priceless.