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 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: 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 at work. On a Saturday. So in my final activity on the clock, and the only non-work-related thing I’ve done for the last seven hours, I present to you day 24.
Day 24: A Song by a Band You Wish were Still Together
I was gonna choose something by The Mars Volta, but my brain totally forgot they reunited. So now I’m stumped. HmmMMmm… How about something by Daft Punk? I was pretty bummed when they recently broke up, so I think it’s appropriate. Plus, I’m trying not to “cheat” and choose something by a band that ended because someone kicked the bucket.
“Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” is not my favorite song of theirs, but I do enjoy it. And it’s the first one that came to mind.
Enjoy.
Nevermind, this one is way better.
Hit me with one of yours.
Day 23: A Song You Think Everybody Should Listen To
I’m a big fan of music. If it hasn’t already become abundantly clear. So I think everyone should be listening to music. But a particular song everyone should listen to? Hmm. That’s a toughie. As usual.
I wanna do “Hallelujah”, Jeff Buckley’s version, but that would be cheating. I’ve already used that song. Damnit.
You know what? I’m gonna pick Led Zeppelin’s “Hot Dog”, because fuck it. I love the shit out of that song, and it’s actually one of my favorites of theirs. Maybe the favorite of theirs. Yes, I’m serious. And everybody should listen to it.
What say you?
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.
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?
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?
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