Many of us take for granted what our favorite songs sound like; in the car or on our smartphones, we can listen to anything from Terry Reid to Nirvana. But imagine, for a moment, what it might be like to hear those songs for the first time ever. That’s what Joanne Milne faced recently after receiving cochlear implants; the 40-year old was able to not only hear a voice for the first time, but the beautiful strains of John Lennon’s “Imagine”.

Milne was born deaf and actually had the surgery in February, but was forced to wait an entire month to have the implants turned on. The moment she was able to hear for the first time was captured on video, and prepare yourself: you’ll need some tissues.

“The switch-on was the most emotional and overwhelming experience of my life and I’m still in shock now,” she said. “I have to learn to recognize what these sounds are as I build a sound library in my brain. Hearing things for the first time is so emotional from the ping of a light switch to running water. I can’t stop crying and I can already foresee how it’s going to be life changing. I’m so happy. Over the last 48 hours hearing someone laughing behind me, the birds twittering and just being with friends,,, they didn’t have to tap my arm to get my attention which a massive leap.”

Milne was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome in her 20’s, which means she is now legally blind. She’s not letting that stop her from living her life, however, and now helps mentor others who have been diagnosed with the disease.

When she found out she was going to have the operation, she asked a friend to make a playlist of songs for her to listen to for the first time. He chose one song from each year of her life, listed below.

What songs would be on your playlist if you could hear them for the first time?

Ken Boothe – Everything I Own

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – She’s the One – Live at Hammersmith Odeon

Paul McCartney – Silly Love Songs

Joni Mitchell – Black Crow

Steely Dan – Peg

Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky

Gary Numan – Are ‘friends’ Electric?

The Specials – Do Nothing

Soft Cell – Tainted Love

The Jam – Town Called Malice

Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

Prince – When Doves Cry

Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)

The Smiths – Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

Fleetwood Mac – Big Love – Live (Lindsey Buckingham solo acoustic version)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car

The The August & September

Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart

Ozric Tentacles – Sploosh!

INXS – Baby Don’t Cry

Nirvana – All Apologies

Richard Thompson – King Of Bohemia

Pulp – Common People – Full Length Version / Album Version

Everything But The Girl – Missing

Foo Fighters – Everlong

Massive Attack – Teardrop

Jimmy Eat World – For Me This Is Heaven

The Avalanches – Frontier Psychiatrist

Daft Punk – Digital Love

The Streets – Turn The Page

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

Beastie Boys – An Open Letter To NYC

Nine Inch Nails – The Hand That Feeds

Arctic Monkeys – I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor

Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling Into Place

Elbow – One Day Like This

Maximo Park – Tanned

Gruff Rhys – Shark Ridden Waters

The Joy Formidable – Whirring

Bat For Lashes – Laura

Haim – Don’t Save Me

Image via YouTube