Today’s theme is “a song that reminds you of yourself”. But I’m gonna cheat and make my own category. Similar to one we’ve already done, really. But different enough.
Leaving town tomorrow, but I’ll be back on the 17th/18th.
So how about…
Day 30: A Song to Kickstart Vacation
What would you choose? And I promise to catch up with replies upon my return. Y’all have been wonderful, and I’ve missed you.
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 28: A Song By An Artist Whose Voice You Love
What the hell kind of question is this? Obviously, I only listen to music by artists whose voices I loathe. Pfft. Who listens to music they enjoy? Fucking peasants, that’s who.
Seriously. This one is stupid.
Instead, how about a song I recently Shazammed because I thought it was lovely and I’d never heard it before. And its fucking beautiful.
“Still” by Niall Horan.
Your turn.
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”.
Doing today’s post from my phone. Which is a royal pain in the ass, but I’m being lazy and also don’t wanna miss a day this month. So this is my compromise.
Day 25: A Song You Like by an Artist No Longer Living
There are so many, so so many. But, as I’m on my phone, I’ll just pick one. And since I can only choose one, it’s gonna be “Space Oddity” by the late David Bowie. This one could also double as an entry for the day that called for a song that has multiple meanings for me. Have a listen.
What would you choose?
I’m tired. And hungry. And my eyes are burning. And I’m grumpy. And I don’t wanna go to Wal-Mart after work. But I have to. Gross. I’m behind on replying to your comments, but I will. Promise. Just been a hell of a day at sea.
Let us enjoy some tunes, shall we?
Day 21: A Song You Like with a Person’s Name in the Title
My first pick (the first that popped into my mind) was “Jolene”. And no, I don’t mean the “Jolene”. I mean this one, by Ray LaMontagne. (And no, JMF, this doesn’t mean you know my musical inclinations of late. Fine. Hmph.) I love this song. And Ray LaMontagne.
This one is perhaps an obvious selection. Or so it seems to me, but who doesn’t love Leonard Cohen? (If you don’t, stay silent or begone!)
This is definitely a favorite. Good ole Bob Dylan, with his “Visions of Johanna”.
How about “A Letter to Elise” by The Cure? Yes, don’t mind if I do.
Would this be a list of songs about women without “Billie Jean”? Thanks, Michael Jackson.
Surely you knew the Peppers would be back. I love “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” and so should you. There are plenty of folks who find them overrated and derivative (of themselves) and stale has beens. But they’re one of the bands I credit with music that “saved my life”. More than once. So I love them and unashamedly so. I’ve seen them in concert twice and hope to again someday.
Ahhhhh Jimi Hendrix. Here’s another good one: “The Wind Cries Mary”.
I cannot explain how much, or quite why, I love this song. I mean, really love this song. Here’s “Vera” by Pink Floyd.
I think that’ll do nicely. Hard to stop on this one, but that’ll do, pig.
What are some of your favorite songs with the name of a woman in the title?
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?
I made it back home. The whirlwind trip to Alabama was fun, exhausting, and educational. Educational in that I learned that Alabama is perhaps the most intense state in the country when it comes to college football. I lost count of how many vehicles (standard cars, sports cars, mini-vans, campers, RVs, etc.) that were in full football regalia. I’m talking logos, slogans, you name it…plastered all over their vehicles. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m guessing there was a game this weekend, because fucking hell were they everywhere. I haven’t visited every state yet, but I’ve been to most (I realize living there would bring things into sharper relief.). Living in Oregon, I quickly learned that they have not only a lot of college football fans but an intense homestate college football rivalry. But even being from Louisiana, where LSU love runs deep (with football fans) and judgment is swift and severe for anti-LSUers or anti-football fans (ask me how I know), I’ve never seen fanboys fanboying to this extent. (To be fair, I’ve never been to Baton Rouge on a game day.) It was mind-boggling. And, to be honest, I just don’t get it. But that’s a post for another day. I made it there and back in once piece, and the only football I had to endure was flying past their fans on the interstate.
So. Day 18 is gonna be an easy one. Let’s get to it.
Day 18: A Song from the Year You were Born
Okay, it’ll be easy with a quick google search of songs from 1980. I’m gonna pick some random selections from the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1980. Here’s what I dug up:
There was Blondie’s #1, “Call Me”, though I confess I like her more than I like her music.
For a completely different feel, Commodores came in at #23 with their beautiful “Still”.
I have a special love for Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, and they put on a hell of a live show. In 1980, “Against the Wind” was #51.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers made it to #64 with “Don’t Do Me Like That”, and I’m sad to say that I never got to see them live. (He also had “Refugee” bringing up the rear at #100). They’re another personal favorite.
There’s Billy Joel’s #75, “You May Be Right”, which far outshines his #9, “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”. As for him, I like his music more than I like him.
Pat Benatar came in at #83 with “Heartbreaker”. Love this woman and her energy.
That’s enough. There were some other appearances, but I tried to mix it up a bit with the sounds/genres.
What about your birth year? What are some of the top songs the year you were born, whether you liked them or not!?
I’m cheat-blogging. It’s 9:52 PM on Day 16. But I’m going out of town tomorrow (now today) and won’t have time to do this. So I’m scheduling this post. Haven’t done that in years. Anyway, I’m saying all of this as present me, but you’ll be reading it in the wrong tense by the time it posts. My bad. But at least I made sure to do the thing! So there!
Let’s get to it.
Day 17: A Song You’d Duet in Karaoke
Okay, first of all, I don’t karaoke. Second of all, I don’t karaoke. Third of all. Okay, okay, you get the point. But if I did? I wouldn’t.
Shit, I hate this one.
Uhm.
Uhhhh.
How about this one?
Is that a duet kinda song? I suppose it could be. I mean, there are two characters. But. Shit, I dunno.
What would you perform a karaoke duet to?
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?
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