Figuring out what I wanna be when I grow up.
Oop..I AM grown up...


Monday, November 22, 2010

A Buncha Songs I Lurv



Okay, this is the last of the lists.  We've looked at karen's Top 20 Most Loathed Songs Of All Time, and 10 Songs I'm Ashamed to Admit I Like.  Basically, that was still 2 lists of BAD music, and since I was asked about what music I actually do like, I figured I'd better finish this off with songs that I've always loved, or never gotten sick of, or are by some of my favourite artists.  Enough blabbing, here's my list:

* Linger by The Cranberries


I love the way this song builds, and the unmistakable yearning we've all felt at one time or another

* Don't Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston


If you've ever been on a booze-up with me, you'll know that invariably at some point, I
WILL be belting this out.  Dang, I even get excited hearing it on youtube here, but the kids are in bed, so I'd better stop listening to it, lest I morph into the Disco queen


* All I Want Is You by U2

Fabulous song--needs to be played at ear-bleeding volume for some reason, so you can hear Bono passionately shouting YOOOOOOOOU, ALL I WANT IS YOOOOOOU.  Makes the hairs on my arms stand up. 

* Story of Love by Voice Of America

Let's see how many of my alternative 80's/new wave loving friends remember this obscure song.  These guys apparently vanished into thin air after this, because I can not find a damn thing about them on the net.  Weird.  LURV this song. 

* Time Has Got Nothing To Do With It by Peter Murphy

I don't know what it is about Peter Murphy, but I dig him.  His voice is just saturated with that super cheesy "80's" sound, but I still like him.  I never get tired of this song.  Probably only my sister might listen to the whole thing, but it just builds and builds.  I seem to have a thing for songs that start off quietly and then keep on building, like "linger," and "all I want is you." 
Love these lyrics though:

the clock cannot be turned
with remorseful yearn

time has nothing to do with it

* Pié Jésu - Andrew Lloyd Webber

Okay, personally, I close my eyes and don't read the religious lyrics, because I'm CRUSTY LIKE THAT--sorry my Christian friends, you know how I iz.  Anyhow, I'm amazed at the beauty of human voices sometimes.  When that kid sings that last high note of "Requiem" at the end, it sometimes brings tears to my eyes.  There, I'm done being sappy. 

* O Mio Babbino Caro as sung by Montserrat Caballé

Another song that's so beautiful it's almost painful!  Oh the melodrama:  if her father won't let her be with the man she loves, she'll throw herself off the bridge into the Arno river!  I love opera, and secretly wish sometimes I could have been a famous opera singer.  Sigh. 

* Amsterdam by Coldplay

One of my favourite bands, and one of my very favourite songs, not just by Coldplay, but, well, ever.  I can even play it on my tiny electric piano! 

* Beautiful by Akon ft. Colby O'Donis and Kardianl Offishall

Say what you will!  I friggin' love this song, and I've played it a zillion times, and still love it.  Weird. 

* If You're Going to San Francisco by Scott McKenzie


Oh people...how I secretly wish I'd been a hippie; unfettered, free--I'd hop on that rainbow bus and drive off on a whim with no real destination, but surrounded by the love of other, er, high people around me.  There is something about the 60's, and something about songs like this that seem to capture that hippie movement vibe that makes my stomach flip right over with nostalgia for an era I never lived.  Also, I'd be old now, and beyond all the push-and-pull worries, yearnings and lamentations of letting go of my youth a little at a time.  Oop...did I just think that or type it out...enh, whatevs. 

* Words of Love by Mama Cass


boy, can I belt this one out.  I love you Mama Cass!  Sniff! 

* America by Simon & Garfunkle

"let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together..."

this song is so full of that hopeful, ambitious feeling of youth, and innocent dreams that will eventually be SQUASHED UNDER THE CYNICAL BOOT OF ADULTHOOD, I could just go lie down in bed and waa-waa about it till Tuesday if I really thought about it too much.  Paul Simon is one hell of a poet. 

* The Obvious Child by Paul Simon

Completely stirring.  Just listen to the lyrics.

* Don't Leave Me On My Own by Chris Isaak

(couldn't find a decent version on youtube, so if you're dying to hear it, here's a snippet from another site, just scroll down to play sample, but you've probably already said EW, and you won't)

Okay, I'm a wicked huge Chris Isaak fan.  No, I don't have his face as my desktop wallpaper or anything, and no, I don't have a t-shirt or anything like that, but I have more cd's, in my collection, by him than any other artist.  But, DON'T SAY HE'S 'COUNTRY.'  No, that would just be mean.  Say "rockabilly" instead.  Anyhoo, if he sang this song into my ear, I'd melt.  Done.  The end.  No more karen.

* I've Been Loving You Too Long by Otis Redding

This was something of a toss-up between this song and "These Arms Of Mine" that we all know from Dirty Dancing. I FREAKING LOVE OTIS. I defy anyone to name another singer with more soul. Oh the passion and yearning in that man's voice. karen plus whisky plus Otis equals a legendary combination. Don't panic, I don't run for the bottle every time the song comes on. Sheesh.

* More Than This by Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music


Always loved it. I also dig the version by 10,000 Maniacs.
I could feel at the time, there was no way of knowing

falling leaves in the night, who can say where they're blowing
as free as the wind, hopefully learning
why the sea on the tide, has no way of turning*

Forever Live And Die by OMD


One day after about two years, I found my OMD cd wedged down beside the front passenger seat of my car.  Yay!  I was so happy.  Don't watch the video, just listen to the song.

* Every Day is Like Sunday by Morrissey

This was the group that formed most of the soundtrack of my glum, square peg, teenaged years.  I think my Mother once described The Smiths' tape I was listening to as "morose."  Ha, perfect for a teenager, no?  Still, it brings back memories of wandering by foot endlessly because there was no place to go, or sitting in a dark corner of someone's basement feeling that life is darker than it really is, or of friends with Smiths lyrics posted in their lockers.  Morrissey feels like an old friend somehow.

* Our Lips Are Sealed by the Go-Go's

Why did The Bangles get more airplay?  The Go-Go's, in my opinion, were waaaay better.

* 500 Miles by Peter Paul and Mary

Thanks to an alcohol-laden indiscretion, The Man's musical family from England try to rope me into singing this whenever they're here for a visit and a party's going on.  When I lived far enough away from my family in suburban hell for 9 years, I'd sing this song and have a huge pity party.  True story!

I love Peter Paul and Mary.  I even saw them in concert, nerd that I am.

* Air That I Breathe by The Hollies

When my sibs and I were kids, my parents would sometimes pull out this great disco/70's star hits compilation RECORD and play it on our giant, cabinet-style record player.  I can still imagine the pops and crackles that should accompany this song. 
My little guy Jack LOVES the Hollies.  He found them himself on youtube.  Crazy kid.  This one NEEDS to be played loud. 

* Hey Jude by The Beatles

I can't help it.  I get caught up in the optimism of this song.  It's a good one to help pick yourself up every day and try again.

Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup by Nat King Cole

I love Nat King Cole.  This is one of my favourite songs he sings.  It's sweet and romantic, with that soap-bar innocence much of the music of that era had.

Immenso by Andréa Bocelli


Okay, I'm guessing this song is about the vast and 'immense' beauty of the world.  No, don't run away from the cheese, embrace it and listen to how wonderful his voice is, and the soaring musical score running along with it. 

* Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran

I would be remiss if I did not include one song from my favourite, favourite band of my early teen years.  My room was covered with Duran posters.  I even tried to tape a huge one to the ceiling, but no amount of tape would keep that thing up there.  I can still hear the great "sssshhhhWAP" noise as the thing unpeeled itself and fell to the floor.  Once my brother came along with a black pen, to one small poster, and coloured the pupils of each band member in, and I noticed IMMEDIATELY.  THAT'S how much of a fan I was.  I saw their newly beady eyes right away. 

something to ponder:  how did Simon not die after that kid squeezed the water out of the sponge into his mouth??? You KNOW that's not boiled water.

* One Day by The Verve (already in a previous post--sneaky, huh! Just scroll down to find the video if you like)

This was another toss up between this song and "Lucky Man". Some of the songs on this album were fantastic, and some sucked large, but still, isn't the lead singer one sexy stick?

* Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds

Ah, the defining song from my favourite movie The Breakfast Club.  What I heard was that Simple Minds didn't write this song, and they hated it, but performed it anyway.  Funny too, because it was their biggest hit. 

*** I will Give You Everything by The Skydiggers
The Skydiggers are a vastly underrated Canadian band, in my opinion--and at the top of my favourite band list, with a select few others.  This is probably my FAVOURITE SONG OF ALL with it's haunting beauty and mesmerizing chant-like quality.  NOW, LISTEN TO THE WHOLE SONG. 
And now back to our regularly scheduled program of tedium and whining.  Hooray!

19 comments:

  1. I was delighted to see the song "if You're Going to San Fran" on your list! Aim and I used to listen that song ALOT while driving in the yellow truck...wishing we were hippies too!
    ** my most loved song that i could listen with out ever getting sick of...."Folsom Prison" by Johnny Cash...have loved it since I can remember, thanks to my dad playing Old Johnny Cash RECORDS all the time!

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  2. there are so many great songs..maybe the record execs aren't all deaf.here are some of my faves. TOWER OF STRENGTH by THE MISSION,LOVESONG by THE CURE,BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY by THE VERVE,VIVA LA VITA by COLDPLAY,AGNUS DEI,CEMETARY GATES by THE SMITHS,AMAZING GRACE,LIPS LIKE SUGAR by ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN,CRANK by CATHARINE WHEEL...I could go on and on but i'll leave some space for other peoples faves.

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  3. Steph, I like Johnny Cash too. I love that song "Jackson" he did with his wife.

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  4. Paula, that Mission UK song was in my mind when I thought of this list too. If it had been a longer list, it would be on there. I see you love the Alt stuff like I do. I'd forgotten how much I like Echo & The Bunnyment. I also love the Psychadelic Furs.

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  5. I love love love that song by the Cranberries...Linger!!!!!!!!! One of my favs!!!

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  6. Hey Karen.. I like some of your choices. What's neat about your choices are some of them I just NEVER would have guessed you like so much.
    It's actually hard to think of my favs but these are the ones that stand out in my mind.. mainly because they are songs I can play over and over again and NEVER get sick of them.
    Stay – Shakespear Sisters
    My Lagan Love – Sinead O’ Connor
    Patience – Guns N’ Roses
    Master – Razed in Black
    A Message – Coldplay
    Amsterdam – Coldplay (hehe Karen. This my favourite too!)
    Sweet Disposition – Temper Trap
    Just Call Me Lonesome – Elvis
    San Antonio Rose – Ray Price
    Ave Maria – (Most versions)
    Mull of Kintyre – Paul Mccartney
    Cars Hiss by My Window – The Doors
    Boogie Man – White Zombie
    I Put a Spell On You – Marilyn Manson
    Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode
    Thinking About You - Radiohead
    Lost! (acoustic) - Coldplay

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  7. Stephy! You're right. I remember belting that song out with you all the time. Ah, the memories.

    For me it was hard to go back in time and remember all the songs I loved as a teenager. In a Darkened Room by Skid Row is one I remember. hehe. Fade to Black (that awesomely depressing, and controversial song) by Metallica...

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  8. Karen, I thought I had ruined it all for you with the song 'Linger' when I twisted the lyrics one time. No? Glad you recovered. Great band though. I think I also ruined the song Creep by Radiohead for Becky using the same twisting of lyrics technique. Guilty of many crimes, I am...

    So very agonizing it is to pick songs loved.

    When you mentioned songs that built up as they went on, I immediately thought of 'Troy' by Sinead O'Connor. Not one of my favourites, but a powerful song nonetheless.

    Hmm, I seem to be stalling. Okay, I will attempt to pick those cherished 'lurv' songs...

    Friday I'm In Love, by The Cure, also Fascination Street, Love Cats... hey I better quit it listing songs by this band; Somebody, by Depeche Mode, also But Not Tonight, Violator, I Feel You...okay, I've got these two out of the way! Deep breath.

    I won't repeat the songs you mentioned, Karen, but OMD and Simple Minds both still time warp me back. Remember, Secret and Book of Brilliant Things, respectively?

    The Wonder Stuff's Thirty Years In The Bathroom, Give Give Give Me More More More, Welcome To The Cheap Seats, etc.

    Everyday Is Like Sunday still can make me cry with heartache, as can November Spawned A Monster by Morrissey. The Smiths' Asleep happens to be our wedding song!

    More recently, Switchfoot's The Setting Sun and others.

    The Classic Crime's Four Chords.

    Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart (yes, one of Karen's hated tracks).

    And I still have a soft spot for hard bands like Skinny Puppy's Assimilate and Sister of Mercy's This Corrosion. I think I'll look them up on Youtube right now...

    Yet I'll still turn up lighter fare, such as A-ha's The Sun Always Shines on TV and Erasure's Addicted To Love.

    Canadianna such as Econoline Crush's Home and Treble Charger's Hundred Million.

    I guess I have narrow tastes, but the depths are endless. Many would disagree, I'll bet. Many more would rather I just stopped typing. So I will.

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  9. Rocket Queen By GN'R...i will never get sick of that song!! Or Any thing by Pasty Cline...and as I already mentioned...Johnny Cash. Yes, I am ol' rocker at heart but the "old" stuff...just love it:)
    Stuff from the 50's and 60's makes me want to boogie down!

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  10. Well Aim, who'd a thunk it that you like Ave Maria...

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  11. Matt, I know what bands you've always loved best. What I do have to say is this though: I love you and Paula, but "Asleep" as your wedding song choice?!? You kids are crazy! That's one of the glummest,(is that a word), gloomiest Morrissey songs of all! Fantastic song though...

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  12. steph, I love Patsy Cline too. Love her whole greatest hits cd, sigh.

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  13. I LOVE that Skydiggers song. And the Sisters of Mercy too. It's hard to narrow down a list.

    Badge - Cream. List must include Clapton

    Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers. Simple perfection in 2 minutes

    The Barber of Seville opera - as familiar as a Bugs Bunny cartoon and always makes me think of Elmer Fudd sprouting flowers instead of hair.

    Theme from a Summer Place - Percy Faith.

    Eyes of a Stranger - Payolas

    Boys of Summer - Don Henley. Mmmm Don Henley. ; )

    Brandy - Looking Glass.

    Peace Frog - The Doors

    I can't pick just 1 or 2 or 5 by other bands like the Cure, The Tragically Hip, Dierks Bentley (yes.. it's country Karen).

    We need to do a "who have you seen in concert?" I might need to go hang with Matt, I've seen Morrisey, Depeche Mode and the Cure (3 or 4 times!).

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  14. Good list, Lisa! I've always liked that Payolas song too. That percy faith one almost killed me--I'm already WAY, WAY too crippled by that feeling of nostalgia, and this song is saturated with it. I'm sorry to say though, that "Brandi" is a song that could be on my next 20 ralphers. Still, it was a very eclectic list, and I like that.

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  15. Oh, Matt--I forgot to say that no, your version of "linger" didn't scar me for life. And yes, I remember it.

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  16. Hmmm. I'm curious how Matt twisted the song Linger.... MUST know. :)

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  17. yeah, yeah, you know I'll be talking to you on the phone later, nerdo.

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  18. Lisa, one sign of age is the waning desire to go to concerts. But, yes, I have many, many fond concert memories, including The Cure, Depeche Mode (one with OMD opening, who actually were cheered back to an encore, unheard of for opening bands..), Morrissey and others. I especially remember the Joshua Tree tour by U2 where if memory serves your folks gave us a ride to it. What a crowd.


    Karen: schucks. I'l try harder next time in the pyschological scarring category. ;)

    Also, 'Asleep' was genuinely romantic in our books, also it was kinda our inside joke, because of course, no one pays attention to the lyrics. HEY, I would love (lurve) to tell you a story relating to that some time if you are interested....

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  19. Oh, yeah. I love Cash as well. His version of the NIN song is much better than the original.

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