My Favorite Songs

This topic is prefaced by a short story that you will have to read through.

  It starts with my boyfriend graduating college two weeks ago.  A few weeks prior his sister asked him for a list of his favorite songs to play at his graduation party.  He calls me up after an hour or so of compiling songs and asks if he can send it to me for approval.  This got me thinking about what his definition of "favorite song" is, and how my definition is a little bit more involved.

Now, let it be known:

It took me more than an hour to pen a definitive list of my favorite songs because I take this stuff a little too seriously.  I have my favorite bands (which is a topic for a different day), but favorite songs are different.  Songs are much harder to list. First, I'll tell you my requisites for a "favorite" song.

1. Must be unconditional.  No matter what time of day, age, or emotional state, it will always be your favorite.  I think this requires some perspective, aka your favorite song is not one you heard for the first time 2 days ago.
2. Must have emotional connection.  There are no favorite songs that are your favorite just because they are catchy.  You have to connect a life event to this song.
3. Whenever you are shuffling through your iPod/iPhone/MP3 device, you always stop to listen to it.  Obviously it doesn't count when the circumstance isn't right, but when you are alone and hear the intro, you stop and listen to it.  If you skip over it because you've heard it too many times, it's not one of your favorites.
4. There is NO ORDER to a favorite song list.  Songs are like best friends, you can have more than one.
5. You must love literally EVERYTHING about the song.  There's nothing you would change.

So, without further ado, this is my Favorite Songs List as of 2013. 

• Layla- Derek and the Dominos.  I would listen to this song on repeat for hours as a kid because I was struck by how fantastic it is.  There aren't enough words to express its genius.  Also I would like to note that the story behind 'Layla' is really interesting.  

• In Your Eyes- Peter Gabriel.  This is a perfect song.  It describes how I feel about God, the people I love, and life in general.  It's just that simple.

• Time of the Season- The Zombies.  Also, if you have ever seen "Prom Night" (the lame horror movie about everybody getting murdered on Prom Night) there is a more contemporary version of this song by the Ben Taylor Band that is also good.  It is not, however, better than the original.

• All I Want is You- U2.  The story behind this is that I've always loved U2, but I didn't know this song until Valentine's Day 2008.  The reason I remember that date is because it was on a VH1 Classic Valentine's Day special.  At first I was more infatuated by the music video (you will see why when you watch it), but it slowly became a song I couldn't live without.

• Fire and Rain- James Taylor.  My teacher in Pre-K would play this during nap time.  True story.  Some things you just never forget.

• Remember (Walking in the Sand)- Aerosmith (originally performed by the Shangri-Las).  Aerosmith is such a fantastic band, so it is odd that my favorite song of theirs is actually not theirs.  I just love what they did with this song.  It is everything that a cover should be.

• I Miss You- Blink 182.  This is because, despite what you may think, I am actually only 20 years old and enjoy the music of my generation.  When people say that music these days has gone to hell, they forget bands like Blink 182 and songs like this.

• Heavy- Collective Soul.  My dad used to play the intro to this song over and over while he drove my brother and I back from school.  When I think of being happy during my childhood I think of those car rides and how this song made me feel invincible.

• Danny's Song- Loggins and Messina.  Despite what you may believe, the reason I like this song is not because my name is Dani.  It's just a happy coincidence.

• Because- The Dave Clark Five.  When I dance with my father at my wedding, it will be to this song.  Out of all of the ways "I Love You" can be said, this song says it in the purest, most wonderful way I can think of.

• Mama, You Been On My Mind- Jeff Buckley (originally by Bob Dylan).  This is another song in which the cover, to me, is better than the original.  Jeff Buckley got me through things that my closest friends couldn't have.  His voice, I'm convinced, has actual healing powers likened to that of Rapunzel's hair and the tears of a Phoenix.

• Shiver- Coldplay.  That's right, this song beats out all of the other Coldplay songs that have hit the top of the charts.  What can I say, I root for the underdog.  Also, if you think about it, the song makes so much sense.  They are shivering because they are COLDplay.  Get it?!! Ha.

• Unchained Melody- The Righteous Brothers. Fun fact: I think Simon Cowell also really loves this song.  There's just nothing better than a man hitting notes that high.  

• Sunday I'll Be Gone- VAST.  A theme that I've noticed in this list is that beautiful voices are important to me.  This is especially true for Jon Crosby and this track in particular.  I am just a sucker for tragic songs and that is something VAST excels at.  

• Silent Running- Mike and the Mechanics.  I have always thought this song was a perfect combination of lyrics and melody.  Paul Carrack's voice is haunting (see Tempted by Squeeze), and the words he sings are unsettling in a very good way.

• Everybody Wants to Rule the World- Tears for Fears.  The beginning of the song sounds like a cold shower right after a grueling workout.  It is refreshing.  It's everything I love about music of the 80's.  

• And I Love Her- The Beatles.  You may believe the Beatles are overrated, the Stones are better, or maybe you have never even bothered to listen to them.  Regardless of these beliefs you can't hear this song and not fall in love with it.

I just realized that there are no songs by women on my favorite songs list.  This is upsetting, but the facts are facts.  I must make a post about female artists soon.  That is all for today.