I’ve oft professed my undying love for music. As an angsty adolescent, I laid in bed with earphones every night, my yellow Sony walkman clasped in my hands, listening to the Little River Band’s Help is On the Way or Chicago’s I’ve Been Searching So Long. Way before that, as a new-to-school third-grader, I stuck Neil Diamond’s Beautiful Noise on my parent’s dark wood phonograph console with its red velvet screened doors, and wished my world were how it sounded on that song. Way after that, I played Marc Cohn’s Things We’ve Handed Down to Toots as she floated in utero (also, R. Kelley’s Ignition, and I can think of no better example to illustrate the dichotomy of my personality) (or hers).
In between and far beyond, it’s been Toad the Wet Sprocket or Melissa Etheridge spun to excess as my heart broke during starless bitter nights in my L.A. studio apartment, Fisher blessing my wedding, and Sarah McLachlan and Wilco for everything, just everything.
If I had to pinpoint, I’d say my musical preference runs maudlin, soul thrumming, melancholy. Most of the time, the music I listen to are like poems I’d wish I’d written and set to music. I’m a lyrics girl first, but the melody’s got to be there, too. And I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, here: No one does THAT better than the Indigo Girls. Still, I need music — all music — every kind, every word, every soul thrum. Truly they are Notes to Soothe the Savage Cells.
My point? Well, I’d get to it eventually. I’m participating in Thursday’s Drive music carnival, and wanted to jot down some of the songs that (a) Make me remember who I am or (b) Remind me of who I want to be or (c) Give me a margarita craving.
So here we go.
My Old Standards
(Note: Listen far away from gas stoves big enough to fit your head.)
My New Standards
[Note: Wait. Could these songs explain this?]
My “Workout” Songs
[Note: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!]
Hope you enjoy some of these songs. And one last thing because I can’t help myself: If you want a great CD to play during mid-energy cocktail parties, you must get THIS.
Enjoyed your outlook on music as music has definitely been the backdrop of my life and continues to be. We are definitely impacted by the music of our youth but our musical tastes continue to change and evolve. Haven’t listened to the playlists yet but I will. Great post!
I like #’s 4&7 from your 1st list, #5 from #2, and 1,4,5,6 &11 from the third. For me the rythems got to be there. It has to make me move. I love to dance, just as it says on my post for Promt. Then comes the lyrics.
OMG! Ignition??!! How funny…I haven’t thought of that song in FOREVER! Toot Toot! Beep Beep! ;)
Can’t wait to listen to all of these!
I’m so glad you got things started (you’re my favorite).
Love it! I listen to everything, I should have been in radio. I love hearing other people’s playlists and such, this is a great post.
I can’t believe that you were a angsty adolescent.
I absolutely love Hot ‘N Cold by Katy Perry! What a great song. How can you NOT move to the music when that song is on?? I sing to it in the car much to the amusement of those around me. Another one of my favs is Nickelback’s “Gotta Be Somebody.” You just have to get up and DANCE! Wooo!!!
i LOVE the ting tings. and who DOESN’T love gina g.!?
Love it! I spent my time as a teenager listening to Amy Grant. Ahhhhhhhhh. “I’m Raining on the Inside” was the one I used to get to sleep at night. Imagine that!
Hey, I posted the first installment of why I got kicked out of church. It’s not well-written but it’s there if you are interested.
No wonder people think I’m nuts. I would go from rockin sockin songs to run to to the “I want to kill myself” songs during all the other times.
No “grey” in my life
OMG, seriously, Neil Diamond was a massive part of my growing up years! My mom had every LP that man put out, and while I didn’t realize it at the time, she was indoctrinating me into the cult that is Neil Diamond every time she would put one on our old stereo. That man is fantastic!
Also, I still play that Toad the Wet Sprocket cd (or casette, depending on what vehicle I’m driving!) on a regular rotation, and Verdi Cries? Swoon! There have been times when I’m driving and it comes on the iPod and I will drive a bit longer so I can hit replay three or four times and perform it in the driver’s seat. I love 10,000 Maniacs.
Sarah = goddess; Indigo Girls = Icons; R Kelly = Lyrical Genius (“I’m like so what I’m drunk” is one of the greatest lyrics of all time); Waiting for that Day = One of the best hauntingly painful cry-and-eat-a-tub-of Haagen-Dazs songs ever. I’m so feeling you on this post. Love it! Please tell me you love Cowboy Junkies. Talk about maudlin…”Misguided Angel love you til I’m dead.”
I love how all over the place your playlist is–makes me feel more normal.
omg we have the same taste! I LOVE Brandi Carlisle and Sonya Kitchell!
and yes, I love “stick your head in the oven” songs :)
Re: the Workout list…. FINALLY all those great songs from my spinning classes have a name so i can download them myself – yeah!!
That same Ting Tings song is on my workout playlist!