A mix-tape meme.
Teaching October 30th. 2006, 10:58pmSomeone at a forum I post at had a idea to post a mix tape of ten songs to represent your musical tastes. I thought I’d give it a whirl, as I don’t do much meme-posting.
Air - Walkie Talkie -Universal TravelerWhenever I come home stressed out from work and need to write, I can put this song on and have the words start flowing. It’s basically "me" when I write in song form.
Radiohead- Hail to the Thief- There There
I love the whole lyrics and vocals to this song. I have many favorite Radiohead songs, but this one gripped me right away.
Aphex Twin- Drukqs - Ruflen Holon
I’ve been a fan of Aphex Twin since college, but this simple, beautiful song reminds me of a simple countryside in peace.
Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
This was my "Working in Korea" theme for my first few years. Things kept getting worse at work, and I needed to do more with less, which had me feeling alienated and robotic most of the time. I was a tool in an English teaching machine.
Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine- A better version of me (Alternative Mix) / Extraordinary Machine
I’m a frightened fickle person/ fighting, crying, kicking, cursing, / what should I do?
…
I’m good at being uncomfortable, so I can’t stop changing all the time
If this is cheating, so be it. I can’t listen to one of these songs without the other anyway. I’ve been a fan of Fiona Apple for as long as she’s been around, and her lyrics are always her strongest when she’s pissed off and uncomfortable yet assured. When I was switching jobs and having a hard time finding myself, I really got into listening to Fiona Apple again.
The Flaming Lips - Fight Test
To lose I could accept/ but to surrender I just wept and regretted this moment
There is always a time where you have to pick your battles, and sometimes you don’t forget the ones you stepped away from.
Incubus - Morning view - Wish you were here
When I get all lonely and introspective I like to listen to this song on my own. Staring up at the stars at night with a lighter being held above your head is almost a requirement when listening to this song.
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
This track is one of those cheesy emo songs that I really like for the sweet lyrics. When I get all weepy from traveling alone, I like to listen to this song.
Mike Doughty - Haughty Melodic- American Car
My circus train pulls throught the night/
full of lions and trapeze artists/
I’m done with elephants and clowns/
I want to run away and join the office
When I stopped digging the foreigner heavy drinking bar scene in Korea, this was the song that sort of encapsulated that feeling for me very well.
Weezer- Self Titled (Blue) - Say it ain’t so
I dare ANYONE to listen to this song and NOT sing along. It’s simply not possible.
*Note: The Beatles aren’t on the list because they deserve a list of their own. I can’t choose one song. The list was difficult enough as it is!
Anyone with decent taste and some free time, post your list in the comments!
5 Responses to “A mix-tape meme.”
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October 31st, 2006 at 1:10 am
Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
This song just makes me happy whenever I hear it. Sort of restores hope in the world, you know?
Barenaked Ladies - Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits 1991-2001 - If I Had $1,000,000
This song was quite popular with my girlfriend’s circle of friends my senior year in high school. It brings up alot of important memories. Plus it’s just funny (Kraft dinner…I love it,too!).
Ludwig von Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata
If I ever feel depressed and want to stay that way, I put this on repeat. Despite any argument to the contrary, I think this is the best piece of classical music ever composed.
Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around - Hurt
Though I usually absorb the entire album each time, Hurt is just haunting. When I want to meditate on my own mortality I give it a listen. Oddly, it can manage to me up because I realize that no matter how bad I feel, Johnny Cash at one point had felt much, much worse.
John Coltrane - Ken Burns Jazz: John Coltrane - ‘Round Midnight
When I need to mellow out, this is what I put on. I lie down in a dark room, close my eyes, and let Coltrane’s melodies wash my stress away.
Billy Joel - The Essential Billy Joel - Piano Man
This is the song I enjoy belting out in the car when no one else is with me. Tasteless, I know, but what can you do?
Dean Martin - Dino: The Essential Dean Martin - That’s Amore
Sometimes I play this, somewhat loudly, and sing along off-key, when I’m making spaghetti.
Willie Nelson - You Don’t Know Me: Songs of Cindy Walker - You Don’t Know Me
The refrain pretty much sums up my completely incompetent and regret-laden approach to women:
For I never knew the art of making love
Though my heart aches with love for you
Afraid and shy, I let my chance go by
The chance that you might love me too
Elvis Presley - Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits - The Wonder of You
Often the opening lines perfectly express my feelings about God:
When no-one else can understand me
When everything I do is wrong
You give me hope and consolation
You give me strength to carry on
Simons and Garfunkel - Old Friends [box set] - Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall
Though I enjoy their entire catalogue (I did buy the box set, after all) this is my most favorite song.
Through the corridors of sleep
Past the shadows dark and deep
My mind dances and leaps in confusion.
I dont know what is real,
I cant touch what I feel
And I hide behind the shield of my illusion.
[refrain]
So Ill continue to continue to pretend
My life will never end,
And flowers never bend
With the rainfall.
The mirror on my wall
Casts an image dark and small
But Im not sure at all its my reflection.
I am blinded by the light
Of God and truth and right
And I wander in the night without direction.
[refrain]
Its no matter if youre born
To play the king or pawn
For the line is thinly drawn tween joy and sorrow,
So my fantasy
Becomes reality,
And I must be what I must be and face tomorrow.
[refrain]
N.B. I agree that The Beatles deserve their own list, so they are not featured in mine either. I almost left Simon and Garfunkel off completely because, for me, I think they deserve their own list, too. Ditto for Johnny Cash.
October 31st, 2006 at 9:00 am
Barenaked Ladies - Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits 1991-2001 - If I Had $1,000,000
This song was quite popular with my girlfriend’s circle of friends my senior year in high school. It brings up alot of important memories. Plus it’s just funny (Kraft dinner…I love it,too!).
Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around - Hurt
Though I usually absorb the entire album each time, Hurt is just haunting. When I want to meditate on my own mortality I give it a listen. Oddly, it can manage to me up because I realize that no matter how bad I feel, Johnny Cash at one point had felt much, much worse.
I love both of these songs too, but they aren’t list material for me. Top 100 for sure. No one was knocking your musical taste.
October 31st, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Andy and bob have both knocked my muscial taste…to my face! But that’s cool. Andy just doesn’t care for Billy Joel and bob…well, he’s bob.
Upon reflection, I’m disappointed that there aren’t any They Might Be Giants Songs on my list. Huh. I wonder how that happened.
October 31st, 2006 at 1:21 pm
I thought the same thing. It’s easy to think of a few “near misses”. Hell, I had to cheat just to get ten songs (I have eleven). I was thinking when I scanned my TMBG folder, “Oh, Birdhouse for your Soul…” but it never made it. I’ve kind of burnt out of TMBG recently though. There new stuff doesn’t do anything for me at all.
Also, I listen to Beck *constantly*, and I love his music, but choosing one of his songs to make my list was basically impossible. On one day or another a song of his WOULD be on the list. My favorite Beck song rotates so often it would be impossible to choose one. So few slots, so many choices.
March 4th, 2007 at 12:45 am
1. Rolling Stones - Jumpin’ Jack Flash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZZaR_K47ps
2. Prefab Sprout - Diana
3. Genesis - It
4. Replacements - Kiss Me on the Bus
5. Frank Sinatra - Willow Weep for Me
6. Jaurim - 미랍천사
7. Alicia Keys - You Don’t Know My Name
8. Beach Boys - Caroline, No
9. Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb - Illegal
10. Santana - Game of Love