Winter's Coming
With the first snow coming to Toronto this week, I decided to make up a playlist of all the songs which, for one reason or another, I associate with the coming of winter. As a special added bonus, I'm going to give you all the songs! You may have to right click on them and select "Save As..." or whatever comes up. Get 'em before the RIAA forces me to take them down!
1) King of Comedy - R.E.M.
Back when I was maybe 13 or 14, I got really into R.E.M.'s Monster album. I had a cheap, portable CD player hooked up to a stereo system, and I was always listening to this damn album. So why is it on this winter playlist? After forgetting all about this album for years, I finally gave it another listen when I was 18. For that winter, it was pretty much the only thing I listened to. This song stands out the most, I think.
2) Now I Understand - Lynn Miles
I first heard of Lynn Miles in May 2007, when I went to see Sarah Slean and the Art of Time Ensemble perform classical/jazz versions of songs written by Canadian artists. I knew that night that I had to explore the Lynn Miles discography a little more. I ended up buying her CD last fall, and so this song really reminds me of the coming of winter.
3) The District Sleeps Alone Tonight - The Postal Service
Christina got this CD around Christmas time a few years ago. This was the first song I ever heard from The Postal Service, and I fell in love instantly. Heterosexual man love, that is.
4) That's Mr. Baby to You - Kaia Wilson
Back in the winter of 2002, I used to do some pretty strange things. One of those things was to trek out (on foot!) across town at 2:00am every night to go have coffee. On my walk to Tim Horton's, I had a Walkman (the kind that played cassettes!) and these giant headphones. The headphones kept my ears warm, and Kaia was the only thing I'd listen to.
5) Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen = Canadian. Find a photo of him. If winter looked like a person, it would be Leonard Cohen.
6) Closing In - Imogen Heap
Last winter, my grandfather was really sick. I'd go to visit him in the hospital every chance I could get. Often times, that would mean taking the bus back and forth from Toronto to Niagara. Imogen Heap was one of the artists that somehow made her way onto my iPod playlist each and every trip.
7) When the Levee Breaks - A Perfect Circle
When I was a member of Mistaken Prophecy, Kyle used to pick me up and drop me off for band practice. It was the middle of winter, and I can vividly recall sitting in the back seat of his car at night, watching the cold rain start falling. This song has more of a trip-hop feel to it than the Zeppelin version, and it just seemed to fit the mood so well.
8) Firecracker - Lisa Loeb
A friend of mine was in the hospital a few winters ago. In the waiting room, there were come CD's sitting on the table. On a whim, I stole this one and brought it home. The first time I listened to it, I was alone in my room playing Super Nintendo. It was a pretty dark time for me, but I've grown to love this song so much more in the last years.
9) Tell Me What You Want (I'll Be Anything) - Ultimate Fakebook
UFB was an obscure emo band from Kansas. When I was visiting Christina for Christmas one year, I was sleeping in her parents' basement, and I remember staying up long after Christina went to bed, listening to this album. Wait... is there a word for emo that doesn't suck?
10) Bobcaygeon - The Tragically Hip
If you can find the video for this song, you'll know why I associate it with the coming of winter.
11) Last Year's War - Sarah Slean
In October of 2006, Sarah Slean released a live album called Orphan Music. This particular song, one that I never heard before, stood out against all the rest. At the time, I was kind of in a bad place. I wasn't sure where my life was going, or how I would fix the situation. This, my friends, is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I was fortunate enough to see it performed live the following December. It was life-altering. You say you're scared? Well, so am I.
12) Lovers in a Dangerous Time - Barenaked Ladies
This song, for some reason, has always reminded me of winter. I think I remember seeing the video, where the band is in the back of a pickup truck in the middle of winter, still playing their instruments and everything. Bonus fact: I'm not sure why, but it really reminds me of my friend Charlie.
1) King of Comedy - R.E.M.
Back when I was maybe 13 or 14, I got really into R.E.M.'s Monster album. I had a cheap, portable CD player hooked up to a stereo system, and I was always listening to this damn album. So why is it on this winter playlist? After forgetting all about this album for years, I finally gave it another listen when I was 18. For that winter, it was pretty much the only thing I listened to. This song stands out the most, I think.
2) Now I Understand - Lynn Miles
I first heard of Lynn Miles in May 2007, when I went to see Sarah Slean and the Art of Time Ensemble perform classical/jazz versions of songs written by Canadian artists. I knew that night that I had to explore the Lynn Miles discography a little more. I ended up buying her CD last fall, and so this song really reminds me of the coming of winter.
3) The District Sleeps Alone Tonight - The Postal Service
Christina got this CD around Christmas time a few years ago. This was the first song I ever heard from The Postal Service, and I fell in love instantly. Heterosexual man love, that is.
4) That's Mr. Baby to You - Kaia Wilson
Back in the winter of 2002, I used to do some pretty strange things. One of those things was to trek out (on foot!) across town at 2:00am every night to go have coffee. On my walk to Tim Horton's, I had a Walkman (the kind that played cassettes!) and these giant headphones. The headphones kept my ears warm, and Kaia was the only thing I'd listen to.
5) Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen = Canadian. Find a photo of him. If winter looked like a person, it would be Leonard Cohen.
6) Closing In - Imogen Heap
Last winter, my grandfather was really sick. I'd go to visit him in the hospital every chance I could get. Often times, that would mean taking the bus back and forth from Toronto to Niagara. Imogen Heap was one of the artists that somehow made her way onto my iPod playlist each and every trip.
7) When the Levee Breaks - A Perfect Circle
When I was a member of Mistaken Prophecy, Kyle used to pick me up and drop me off for band practice. It was the middle of winter, and I can vividly recall sitting in the back seat of his car at night, watching the cold rain start falling. This song has more of a trip-hop feel to it than the Zeppelin version, and it just seemed to fit the mood so well.
8) Firecracker - Lisa Loeb
A friend of mine was in the hospital a few winters ago. In the waiting room, there were come CD's sitting on the table. On a whim, I stole this one and brought it home. The first time I listened to it, I was alone in my room playing Super Nintendo. It was a pretty dark time for me, but I've grown to love this song so much more in the last years.
9) Tell Me What You Want (I'll Be Anything) - Ultimate Fakebook
UFB was an obscure emo band from Kansas. When I was visiting Christina for Christmas one year, I was sleeping in her parents' basement, and I remember staying up long after Christina went to bed, listening to this album. Wait... is there a word for emo that doesn't suck?
10) Bobcaygeon - The Tragically Hip
If you can find the video for this song, you'll know why I associate it with the coming of winter.
11) Last Year's War - Sarah Slean
In October of 2006, Sarah Slean released a live album called Orphan Music. This particular song, one that I never heard before, stood out against all the rest. At the time, I was kind of in a bad place. I wasn't sure where my life was going, or how I would fix the situation. This, my friends, is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I was fortunate enough to see it performed live the following December. It was life-altering. You say you're scared? Well, so am I.
12) Lovers in a Dangerous Time - Barenaked Ladies
This song, for some reason, has always reminded me of winter. I think I remember seeing the video, where the band is in the back of a pickup truck in the middle of winter, still playing their instruments and everything. Bonus fact: I'm not sure why, but it really reminds me of my friend Charlie.