My year in music?
How is it possible that my cat is SO ridiculously adorable?
Now that I've reflected on my year, I'm going to celebrate the one-year anniversary of my iPod with a reflection on my top music of the year. To do that I'm going to list my "Top 25 Most Played" on iTunes (I think Andy did this at some point, which is where I got the idea), comment on each song, and add a lyric that particularly speaks to me or just tickles my fancy. This will be the only year when the list literally reflects ONLY the music I have listened to this year, because it was my first year with iTunes. Interesting how it doesn't necessarily reflect my favorite music - there's a lot missing here. Anyway.
25. She Wants to Move - N.E.R.D.
Such an irresistably sexy song. I dance to this when I'm getting ready to go out. "Mister, look at your girl - she loves it."
24. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Sexy in a different way. I've gotten into Led Zep this year, and this song is my favorite. "A big-legged woman ain't got no soul."
23. Headlock - Imogen Heap
You wouldn't think that electronic-y music could have so much emotion, but Imogen makes it work beautifully. "You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock - I don't believe any of it."
22. Baby, What Else Can I Do? - Ella Fitzgerald
From my "Ella for Lovers" CD...I'm such a sap. "If you want the moon, I'll bring the moon right down to you."
21. Clair de Lune - Claude Debussy
Probably my favorite piano piece of all time. I played this, once, and would love to be able to do so again.
20. A Lack of Color - Death Cab for Cutie
A very soft, understated, and sweet Death Cab song. I love songs whose lyrics begin with the word "and" - as though you're jumping right into the middle of a conversation. "And when I see you, I really see you upside down. But my brain knows better - it picks you up and turns you around."
19. Crush - Dave Matthews Band
My favorite love song of all time. Dave's lyrics are so gorgeous and honest. "Lovely lady, let me drink you, please - won't spill a drop, no, I promise you."
18. I'm Looking Through You - The Beatles
I'm surprised that of all the Beatles songs I have, this is the one that appears in the top 25, because it's not one of my all-time favorites. "You were above me, but not today."
17. I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor - The Arctic Monkeys
Another hot getting-ready-to-go-out song. "I bet that you look good on the dance floor, dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984."
16. So Long, So Wrong - Alison Krauss & Union Station
I'm glad some bluegrass made it on here, because this is the group to which I've been singing along since I was about five. One of their best songs, I think. "I have given up caring anymore. Once you were big in a world that's small; now you're all alone."
15. Make You Feel Better - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Here starts a string of RHCP. I'm completely in love with "Stadium Arcadium" and these next two songs remind me of the bus ride on the Canada trip, because I listened to them and tried to sort out why the whole trip felt so significant. "Someone to spare, when love is the only end, and we are the ones that will make you feel better."
14. Tell Me Baby - Red Hot Chili Peppers
See above, but more so. "Tell me baby, what's your story - where you come from and where you want to go this time? Tell me lover, are you lonely? The thing we need is never all that hard to find."
13. Cabron - Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Latin feel of this song is sort of different for them, and it makes me want to dance. "I am small but I'm strong - I'll get it on with you, if you want me to."
12. Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
I didn't realize I played this so much. I tend to like the less well-known songs of theirs, simply because I get sick of the overplayed ones. But that doesn't mean they aren't great songs. "Little girls from Sweden dream of silver screen quotations."
11. I Know What I Know - Paul Simon
My favorite Paul Simon song, besides possibly Al, and the one that most reminds me of my childhood. And then we used this album as a case study in Ethnomusicology. Anyway, I'm glad some Afropop made it in here, because as we all know, it's awesome. "She looked me over and I guess she thought I was all right - all right in a sort of a limited way for an off night."
10. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun - Claude Debussy
Hint: Debussy is my favorite composer. I'm surprised Vivaldi's not on here too, but anyway, this song is gorgeous. And reminds me of falling asleep completely and utterly happy.
9. Captain - Dave Matthews Band
Another sexy DMB song, though I'm really surprised at how far up on the list it is. "But I don't want your pity, only the promise that you'll stay with me tonight."
8. Adagio in G Minor - Tomaso Albinoni
I guess there are so many relaxing songs on here because I use them to fall asleep on long bus rides. Haha. This is a pretty one, though I don't have any particular attachment to it.
7. Try - Nelly Furtado
I can't explain how amazing this song is. Ashton introduced me to it one day when I was really feeling low, and it just lifted me. Totally out of the norm for Nelly. Makes me cry (or at least get choked up) every time. "Then I see you standing there, wanting more from me, and all I can do is try."
6. Grace Kelly - Mika
My anthem! Just pure fun. Also my favorite dance-around-the-room song of all time. "Why don't you like me? Why don't you like me without making me try?"
5. The First Taste - Fiona Apple
Oooh, seriously sexy. Mmm, honey. Just makes you want to get it ON. "I'm building memories on things we have not said."
4. In the Waiting Line - Zero 7
I guess this one is high on the list for two reasons. Firstly, it's the perfect driving-at-night song, for whatever reason. Secondly, it's perfect for whenever I feel (or want to feel) emotionally detached. Like the scene in Garden State when he takes all those crazy drugs. Except I don't take crazy drugs, so I listen to the song. "Do you believe in what you feel? Doesn't seem to be anybody else who agrees with me."
3. Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi) - Shakira
Oh boy, I went through a real phase with this song. Listened to it over and over just thinking about beautiful eyes. Mm. Definitely my favorite Shakira song. "Tearing down windows and doors, and I could not find eyes like yours."
2. Keasbey Nights - Catch 22
Catch 22 isn't my favorite ska band, but this is one of my favorite ska songs. Probably listened to this so much when I was briefly in a ska band, because this was one of the songs we played. "Don't stop because you might get dropped. And if you do, who's going to pick you up? Well, I won't."
1. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - Charles Mingus
It's fitting that this should be my top song - and probably will be for a while - because of how much meaning this song has to me. I listened to it a lot during Creative Nonfiction, because I wrote a couple pieces about it, and about playing the solo tenor sax part senior year. It's an incredible song all around, and the more I listen to it - even after the fact - the more I appreciate it. But this was the only Mingus song I owned until recently, when Adrienne jump-started my jazz collection, and after discovering the completely delicious "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady," I've fallen head-over-heels in love with his non-ballad side.
I was going to write more but I'm feeling nauseous for some reason, and I need to wake up at 7:15 tomorrow for my first day back at work. Good old Springfield.
Now that I've reflected on my year, I'm going to celebrate the one-year anniversary of my iPod with a reflection on my top music of the year. To do that I'm going to list my "Top 25 Most Played" on iTunes (I think Andy did this at some point, which is where I got the idea), comment on each song, and add a lyric that particularly speaks to me or just tickles my fancy. This will be the only year when the list literally reflects ONLY the music I have listened to this year, because it was my first year with iTunes. Interesting how it doesn't necessarily reflect my favorite music - there's a lot missing here. Anyway.
25. She Wants to Move - N.E.R.D.
Such an irresistably sexy song. I dance to this when I'm getting ready to go out. "Mister, look at your girl - she loves it."
24. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
Sexy in a different way. I've gotten into Led Zep this year, and this song is my favorite. "A big-legged woman ain't got no soul."
23. Headlock - Imogen Heap
You wouldn't think that electronic-y music could have so much emotion, but Imogen makes it work beautifully. "You say too late to start, got your heart in a headlock - I don't believe any of it."
22. Baby, What Else Can I Do? - Ella Fitzgerald
From my "Ella for Lovers" CD...I'm such a sap. "If you want the moon, I'll bring the moon right down to you."
21. Clair de Lune - Claude Debussy
Probably my favorite piano piece of all time. I played this, once, and would love to be able to do so again.
20. A Lack of Color - Death Cab for Cutie
A very soft, understated, and sweet Death Cab song. I love songs whose lyrics begin with the word "and" - as though you're jumping right into the middle of a conversation. "And when I see you, I really see you upside down. But my brain knows better - it picks you up and turns you around."
19. Crush - Dave Matthews Band
My favorite love song of all time. Dave's lyrics are so gorgeous and honest. "Lovely lady, let me drink you, please - won't spill a drop, no, I promise you."
18. I'm Looking Through You - The Beatles
I'm surprised that of all the Beatles songs I have, this is the one that appears in the top 25, because it's not one of my all-time favorites. "You were above me, but not today."
17. I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor - The Arctic Monkeys
Another hot getting-ready-to-go-out song. "I bet that you look good on the dance floor, dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984."
16. So Long, So Wrong - Alison Krauss & Union Station
I'm glad some bluegrass made it on here, because this is the group to which I've been singing along since I was about five. One of their best songs, I think. "I have given up caring anymore. Once you were big in a world that's small; now you're all alone."
15. Make You Feel Better - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Here starts a string of RHCP. I'm completely in love with "Stadium Arcadium" and these next two songs remind me of the bus ride on the Canada trip, because I listened to them and tried to sort out why the whole trip felt so significant. "Someone to spare, when love is the only end, and we are the ones that will make you feel better."
14. Tell Me Baby - Red Hot Chili Peppers
See above, but more so. "Tell me baby, what's your story - where you come from and where you want to go this time? Tell me lover, are you lonely? The thing we need is never all that hard to find."
13. Cabron - Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Latin feel of this song is sort of different for them, and it makes me want to dance. "I am small but I'm strong - I'll get it on with you, if you want me to."
12. Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
I didn't realize I played this so much. I tend to like the less well-known songs of theirs, simply because I get sick of the overplayed ones. But that doesn't mean they aren't great songs. "Little girls from Sweden dream of silver screen quotations."
11. I Know What I Know - Paul Simon
My favorite Paul Simon song, besides possibly Al, and the one that most reminds me of my childhood. And then we used this album as a case study in Ethnomusicology. Anyway, I'm glad some Afropop made it in here, because as we all know, it's awesome. "She looked me over and I guess she thought I was all right - all right in a sort of a limited way for an off night."
10. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun - Claude Debussy
Hint: Debussy is my favorite composer. I'm surprised Vivaldi's not on here too, but anyway, this song is gorgeous. And reminds me of falling asleep completely and utterly happy.
9. Captain - Dave Matthews Band
Another sexy DMB song, though I'm really surprised at how far up on the list it is. "But I don't want your pity, only the promise that you'll stay with me tonight."
8. Adagio in G Minor - Tomaso Albinoni
I guess there are so many relaxing songs on here because I use them to fall asleep on long bus rides. Haha. This is a pretty one, though I don't have any particular attachment to it.
7. Try - Nelly Furtado
I can't explain how amazing this song is. Ashton introduced me to it one day when I was really feeling low, and it just lifted me. Totally out of the norm for Nelly. Makes me cry (or at least get choked up) every time. "Then I see you standing there, wanting more from me, and all I can do is try."
6. Grace Kelly - Mika
My anthem! Just pure fun. Also my favorite dance-around-the-room song of all time. "Why don't you like me? Why don't you like me without making me try?"
5. The First Taste - Fiona Apple
Oooh, seriously sexy. Mmm, honey. Just makes you want to get it ON. "I'm building memories on things we have not said."
4. In the Waiting Line - Zero 7
I guess this one is high on the list for two reasons. Firstly, it's the perfect driving-at-night song, for whatever reason. Secondly, it's perfect for whenever I feel (or want to feel) emotionally detached. Like the scene in Garden State when he takes all those crazy drugs. Except I don't take crazy drugs, so I listen to the song. "Do you believe in what you feel? Doesn't seem to be anybody else who agrees with me."
3. Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi) - Shakira
Oh boy, I went through a real phase with this song. Listened to it over and over just thinking about beautiful eyes. Mm. Definitely my favorite Shakira song. "Tearing down windows and doors, and I could not find eyes like yours."
2. Keasbey Nights - Catch 22
Catch 22 isn't my favorite ska band, but this is one of my favorite ska songs. Probably listened to this so much when I was briefly in a ska band, because this was one of the songs we played. "Don't stop because you might get dropped. And if you do, who's going to pick you up? Well, I won't."
1. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - Charles Mingus
It's fitting that this should be my top song - and probably will be for a while - because of how much meaning this song has to me. I listened to it a lot during Creative Nonfiction, because I wrote a couple pieces about it, and about playing the solo tenor sax part senior year. It's an incredible song all around, and the more I listen to it - even after the fact - the more I appreciate it. But this was the only Mingus song I owned until recently, when Adrienne jump-started my jazz collection, and after discovering the completely delicious "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady," I've fallen head-over-heels in love with his non-ballad side.
I was going to write more but I'm feeling nauseous for some reason, and I need to wake up at 7:15 tomorrow for my first day back at work. Good old Springfield.