[DAY 29] 30-Day Song Challenge

Day 29: A Song You Remember From Your Childhood

Listen, we’ve already done this. Dude, I swear we did. I talked about Cyndi Lauper and Beastie Boys.

Fine. I’ll do another. But let the record show it’s occurring under duress.

Oh. And I got bangs yesterday. WHAT.

Oh. Oh for the second time. I’m woefully behind on replies to your lovely comments and thoughtful contributions, and it’s bugging the shit outta me. I’m genuinely sorry! I will catch up, but it will probably be after vacation at this point. Today is my last day at the office until October 18th. Tomorrow will be spent packing, cleaning, etc. After that, you won’t hear from me for a while. So I’m running behind, but for valid reasons! Honest!

Now. On to the song. I’m contributing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, as it does indeed remind me of childhood. Released in 1982, I first heard it at a very young age. (I was born in 1980, for those keeping count.) The first time I saw this music video (which was also the first time I heard the song), I was simultaneously enthralled and terrified. I loved it! And I was convinced it was a movie. For years, I was convinced it was a full length movie and kept trying to find it…until I finally learned what it actually was. This epic music video (which I’m still saddened isn’t a full length feature film)! Enjoy!

What song reminds you of childhood?

[DAY 27] 30-Day Song Challenge

Day 27: A Song That Breaks Your Heart

Yet again, I feel as though this is something we’ve (sorta) been over. Day 10’s theme was to find a song that makes you sad. While I understand the myriad differences between sadness and heartbreak, they are often conflated. Especially when we consider them as themes for songs. Heartache has created a vast pool of songs from which to choose, as no one is immune to it. Well, aside from sociopaths and such, but that’s not what this is about. Today’s theme makes me want to go back and choose something else for sadness, something that is sad but not pertaining to heartbreak. Ah well. Let’s see what I can come up with.

This first one will come across as extremely counterintuitive. But it is heartbreaking to listen to when the sentiments are absent from one’s life. For a time, Patty Griffin’s “Heavenly Day” broke my heart and brought me to chest-heaving sobs. It’s beautiful and full of love and hope and brightness. And yet the ache. It’s hard to listen to, even now, because of the memories it hearkens to mind.

Then there’s Lord Huron’s “The Night We Met”. This one is a no-brainer.

This post wouldn’t be complete without “Ain’t No Sunshine” by the inimitable Bill Withers.

For a bit of variety, here’s “Don’t Speak”, by No Doubt.

Adele is one of the current reigning queens of the brokenhearted. So, of course, here’s “Someone Like You”.

I can only handle Mariah Carey in small doses, but damn does she nail it with “We Belong Together”.

Let’s draw this to a close. I’m adding in The Rolling Stones with “Wild Horses”. I know it’s blasphemous to say, but I find the stones incredibly overrated. This, however, is a magnificent song.

What are some songs that you find heartbreaking?

[DAY 26] 30-Day Song Challenge

Day 26: A Song That Makes You Want To Fall In Love

I’m gonna go with this one and let it stand alone. Firstly, because it’s a great little love song. Secondly, because you really need to meet Oh He Dead. Enjoy “Show Me Love”.

[DAY 22] 30-Day Song Challenge

Hi. Have I yet told you that I’ll be MIA soon? I’m going on vacation for nearly three weeks in October. Several years overdue, this vacation, and I’m fucking stoked. It’s all I can seem to think about at present. But I will be absent for a bit, starting October 1st. I will be back this time, though. And maybe I’ll be able to type something, anything, that doesn’t require a challenge to motivate me. This has been working wonders, though.

Oh. I didn’t get the Chicago job. I didn’t even tell you about that one, because I didn’t think I’d get it. I only interviewed for the experience of interviewing for a giant, big-city firm. The interview actually went extremely well and most of my experience lined up perfectly. They had concerns that I’ve only worked with small firms and didn’t have quite enough experience with working with developers. They had someone else they were chatting with whose experience lined up more closely with their needs. I’m not upset about it. I don’t actually want to live in Chicago, but the experience of the interview was valuable to me.

I do have a very promising shot at the one I interviewed for last week, the mostly local one. I’ve already signed an offer letter for contract work between now and when she needs a full-time person. So, we’ll see how that goes.

Anydoodles. Day 22 presents a challenge, I think. Let’s see if I can tackle it, and how.

Day 22: A Song That Moves You Forward

I’m sincerely stuck and have been prowling YouTube and Google for at least ten minutes now. I’m stuck. Fuck. Lemme think.

How about “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor? Best I can do, but I’d say it’s pretty damn fitting.

Please send help. I need more songs that fit this theme, and I’m drawing a blank.

[DAY 20] 30-Day Song Challenge

Have I yet mentioned how redundant some of the prompts are? Some of the prompts are redundant. There, now I definitely have. Today’s feels like one of those, as though it’s something I’ve already covered, just under a slightly different prompt. I have no idea what to even select here. None. I’m coming in blind. (That’s what she said?) So let’s see what happens.

Day 20: A Song That Has Many Meanings To You

This first one came to mind and probably seems a bizarre selection at first glance. “You Are My Sunshine” is a bright, happy, positive love song. Right? Yes. But it’s also a song about fear. The fear of loss. The fear of darkness. The fear of abandonment. This is Christina Perri’s version of the oft-covered classic.

The next one is “Hurt”, and I actually prefer Johnny Cash’s cover. That’s no shade to the original NIN version, which I also love. There’s just something particularly powerful about the Johnny Cash cover. This song definitely has multiple personal meanings for me. Listen to the lyrics and see which path it takes you down.

I’ll throw one more at ya. “Tearing at the Seams” by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. Y’all, I really love them. And this particular album? I’ve listened to on repeat so much that I know the lyrics to every song. As with a few others of theirs, this song has more than one meaning for me.

What songs have multiple meanings for you?

[DAY 19] 30-Day Song Challenge

Day 19: A Song that Makes You Think about Life

I mean, in what way, exactly? Lots of songs make you think about life, but there are so many different facets of life to think about.

If I wanna think about the current state of society, I may suggest “Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck)” by Run The Jewels feat. Zack de la Rocha.

If I wanted something to remind me about self-worth, “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera would be among the selections.

As would Pink’s “Fuckin’ Perfect”.

How about another important social commentary song? Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick In The Wall” certainly resonates.

Let’s not forget the indelible Nina Simone and her “Ain’t Got No, I Got Life”.

What list of songs about life (and the finiteness thereof) would be complete without “Dust In The Wind” by Kansas?

And Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World”.

Geez, I didn’t realize how much today’s theme would inspire. Let me stop there for fear I never will.

What songs make you ponder life?

[DAY 16] 30-Day Song Challenge

Married Boss: Are we still on for tonight?

Married Employee: Of course, sweetie. I’ll be ready when you are.

Married Boss: I can’t wait.

Married Employee: I just need to pick up my dress.

Married Boss: I can’t wait to see you in it.

I have an interview in three hours. Elsewhere, obviously. Should go great. We know of each other, professionally, and have worked with the same people at different times. If it results in an offer, cross your fingers that the money is right. This area pays abysmally low. The only remaining good thing about my current position is the pay. The aforementioned Hush Money. It’s not wonderful on a national scale, but it’s fucking stellar on a local scale. Fingers crossed?

Okay. Music time.

Day 16: A Song that’s a Classic Favorite

Some of these feel redundant. I’ve used “classics” for other themes. But “classic” is a relative term, anyway, isn’t it? Bleh. A classic favorite. As in a favorite that’s considered a classic? Or a classic favorite in the sense of “Of fucking course that’s one of your favorites.” Let’s go with a “classic song”. From my perspective, anyway.

I fucking love this song. Ever since watching American Beauty when it came out, I’ve associated this song with that film. But I still love it on its own merits, with or without the movie (which I also love). (There I go abusing that word again.)

Enjoy.

Share yours?

[DAY 15] 30-Day Song Challenge

Good morning. I think. Kinda. Maybe. Sorta. I’m tired and sleepy and haven’t been getting much rest in the last week or so.

I’m finding myself grossly unmotivated to focus on work yet this morning, so I thought I’d get today’s post done. (In the effort of full disclosure, I’m also playing with a puppy at the same time. So you’re sharing me this morning.)

Here we go!

Day 15: A Song You Like that’s a Cover by Another Artist

I love Prince, so much. But I will confess that I only heard his version of his own song after I heard and fell in love with with Sinéad’s cover. So, I still have a preference for her version, as much as it pains me to say that. But I’ll always love her, too. (I’m aware I’m abusing the shit out of that word. Love. But that’s a topic for another day.)

Have a listen to Prince’s version first, in case you were like me and only knew Sinéad’s cover for a while. Or perhaps even until now. I have a feeling I would have much preferred his if I’d heard it first and if so much time hadn’t lapsed between “falling in love with” hers and discovering his.

And now for Sinéad.

Which one do you prefer? And what are some covers you love, maybe even more than the original?