Remember my list of Twenty Songs That Mean Something To Me? At the same time, I also made a list of Twenty Songs I Love, without any meaning attached to them, just songs I say "oooh" to when they come on the random shuffle.
I remember that I hadn't ever posted the second list when one of favorites popped up yesterday. It's listed first below. Especially appropriate for this weekend, though I play it year 'round.
I steered clear of universally loved songs like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" or "Stay" or "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" or even "Mama Says Knock You Out." Who doesn't love those songs? Classics. I was hoping to give you a few nuggets that might send you clicking over to iTunes.
Here's to a fun, hot, sweaty, music-filled holiday weekend!
Twenty Songs I Love, in no particular order:
1. Fourth of July by Shooter Jennings – This song gets me singing at the top of my lungs every time. Guaranteed I’ll be singing it all weekend. “You were pretty as can be/Sittin’ in front seat lookin’ at me/Tellin’ me you loved me and you’re happy to be/With me on the Fourth of July."
2. My Love Is Your Love by Whitney Houston – Whitney can bring tears to your eyes singing Itsy Bitsy Spider but the sentiment behind this song makes my heart thud. “[When] the Lord asks me what I did with my life/I will say I spent it with you.”
3. The Old Apartment by BareNaked Ladies – I can’t pinpoint why I like this song, other than it reminds me that nostalgia can be almost painful.
4. Landed by Ben Folds – I partly don’t even understand this song. Sometimes those are the best. When you don’t but you do. It’s like The Wasteland.
5. West Coast by Coconut Records – This is good style. Runner up from Coconut Records: It’s Not You It’s Me.
6. The Blowers Daughter by Damien Rice – I first heard this song in the movie Closer (which I loved), but it has always stuck with me.
7. Songs About Rain by Gary Allen – For a long time this was the most played song in my iTunes. I realized that in my old apartment I would put it on first and then hit shuffle. It’s a good kickoff song.
8. Still by Macy Gray – Her voice is so distinctive. Her lyrics so good.
9. High Hopes by Neil Halstead – Sleeping On Roads is such good writing music, but this is my favorite. “You’re beautiful enough to make me stay.”
10. Beauty Mark by Rufus Wainwright – I mean, Rufus. He’s so great. This is the first song I loved by Mr. Wainwright and the song is big enough to overshadow the circumstances where I first heard it. And for a song to surpass what it was tied to, well, that’s a good song.
11. Dear Chicago by Ryan Adams – This song is short and almost every single time I hear it, I play it over again. “She picked me up on Friday/Asked me if she reminded me of you/I just laughed and lit a cigarette/Said that’s impossible to do.”
12. 18 Bullet Holes by Waterdeep – It’s hard to pick a Waterdeep song when you’re in that mood, but this one always stands out. “The funny thing about the way a girl gets destroyed/About the way that deal goes down/Is that everybody pretty much sees it comin’ at the sister from all the way across town/And she’s always blinded/She isn’t always far astray/She just might not be thinkin’/She might be havin’ a bad day.”
13. Hotel Yorba by White Stripes – I remember exactly where I was when I first heard this song. I was a housesitting at a posh high rise apartment in Los Angeles and the video came on MTV (which is weird in itself). I remember thinking “This is the best song I’ve ever heard in my life.” Maybe that initial reaction was an overstatement, but I became a WS fan for life.
14. Tennessee by The Wreckers – Such a quality album. The whole album makes me wistful for Oklahoma, and this song in particular makes me think about life and choices and all those things I like to get wrapped up in.
15. Rise Up With Fists by Jenny Lewis – My girl crush on Jenny Lewis stays strong. I challenge anyone not to love this song.
16. Promising Light by Iron & Wine – They are what I love about mellow music. “Lookin’ for you in this other girls eyes.”
17. Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss by Built to Spill – Great band, so good live. This isn’t my absolute favorite BTS song, but it fits the purpose of this list. And it sounds great on a boat.
18. Ego by The Sounds – I hadn’t even heard of this band until I attending this wedding where they performed. I downloaded the album that night. Beware: The Sounds are not for the faint-hearted.
19. Angry All The Time by Tim McGraw – I don’t relate to these lyrics, but this song is just so fun to sing with your whole voice. I’m not even a big Tim McGraw fan, although I can sing Something Like That with gusto and meaning.
20. Love You Madly by Cake – I bounced in my seat when this was the opening song in Forgetting Sarah Marshall because it had been on my fave list for a while. “The ornaments look pretty but they’re pulling down the branches of the tree.”
I'm sure I'll think of a hundred more by noon and want to re-vamp the whole list. But I'm going with my gut, and the first ones that jumped out at me while skimming through my music library. Hope you found something you liked.
Happy Independence Day, peacoat readers!
I've never even heard of any of these songs. Where's Rod Stewart? Lynard Skynard? Willy Nelson?
Posted by: mom | July 03, 2009 at 02:25 PM
good picks. #6 and #12 stick with me,too. can't wait to check out the ones i haven't heard yet, thanks for the recs!
Posted by: trisha @ myolio | July 05, 2009 at 09:00 PM
ohhhhhhhhhh, yes! What a list. Can't wait to add more to my playlist. Your taste is impeccable. Really.
Posted by: Megan@SortaCrunchy | July 06, 2009 at 11:55 AM
You need to be aware that Angry All the Time is NOT a Tim McGraw song. I don't even think he can write songs. It's by Bruce Robison and he does it as a duet with his wife Kelly Willis.
LAW
Posted by: Lance | July 08, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Way to keep her in line, Lance. I know Laura probably wishes you'd comment more often... :)
Posted by: jaime | July 09, 2009 at 07:43 AM