11.24.2009

My endless playlist - Volume I

You could say with accuracy that my satellites hone in and revolve around music. Choral music, Classical music, Elevator music, Oldies, Alternative, R&B, Rap, Classic Rock, Acoustic, Grooveshark, Pandora, with burned CDs in my car and often my iPod strapped to my arm. Even word phrases will remind me of songs and the background music at department stores... don't get me started.

As a kid my summers were spent poolside with my family, where my Dad would tell us his random facts of the oldies and we would listen, and sing. Some of my favorite family moments revolve around it - singing Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell or Crosby, Stills & Nash in the car with my Dad, listening to Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys in a darkend living room with the whole family - my mom, mildly uncomfortable with the volume level - but there would be no mention of turning the volume down, not on this night. And these music-filled moments have carried me into my adult hood and are still reoccurring.

When my sister comes home to visit, her husband typically lends his d.j. skills for a game of name that tune. My brother-in-law is highly skilled at identifying old-school country, classical music and show tunes where he truly puts us to shame. There is no competition. The tables are turned however when you stir in anything post 1950.

My father, sister and I have the keen ability to identify certain songs within the first 3 chords or 5 seconds of playing them - and by identify, I mean - sing a portion of the song, name the title, or artist - or - all of the above. My Dad is even better as he typically knows the artist and year the song came out. Insert snapping of fingers and a mild look of disappointment. His sweet spot spans approximately 1955 to 1988 - although the 80s begin to roll into my sister and my areas of speciality.

Sweetly settled in front of VH1 for at least my high school and collegiate years, "Behind the music (fill in the blank)", Pop-up Video, Top 100 1-hit-wonders of the 70s, 80s and 90s, were my t.v. shows of choice. Who knew I'd know so much about Def Leppard, Til Tuesday, Dexy's Midnight Runners and Lionel Richie??

And so it goes - music has filled my days and nights with endless favorites, great songs, memorizing lyrics and discovering new artists. Below are some of my borrowed favorite lines..

"It took me 4 days to hitchhike from Saginaw." America, Simon & Garfunkel

"These are the days of miracle and wonder, this is the long-distance call. The way the camera follows us in slow-mo, the way we look to us all. The way we look to a distant constellation that's dying in a corner of the sky..." The boy in the bubble - Paul Simon

"Gasping at glimpses of gentle true spirit, he runs, wishing he could fly..." Helplessly hoping, Crosby Stills & Nash

"And God help you if you are a pheonix and you dare to rise up from the ash. A thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy while you are just flying back..." 32 Flavors - Ani Defranco

"Unfolding enveloping missiles of soul, Recall senses sadly. Mirage like soft blue like lanterns below to light the way gladly. Whether whistling heaven's clouds disappear, where the wind withers memory. Whether whiteness whisks soft shadows away. Feel flows." Feel Flows - The Beach Boys

"No one you can save that can't be saved, nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time - It's easy - All you need is love." All you need is love - The Beatles

"And in a white sea of eyes, I see one pair that I recognize. And I know that I am the luckiest."
The Luckiest - Ben Folds

"Trouble is I'm so exhausted, the plot, you see, I think I've lost it - I need the grace to find what can't be found..." Long Lost Brother - Over the Rhine

"I wanna be the only one for miles and miles, except for maybe you - and your simple smile." Cowboy take me away - The Dixie Chicks

"When the world has fallen out from under me. I'll be found in you - still standing." Shadowfeet - Brooke Fraser

"Surprise, Surprise. I miss your hair, you miss my eyes, all this solitude is my confidence eroding" Carriage - Counting Crows

"I need a phone call, I need a raincoat, I need a big love... I need a sunburn." Raining in Baltimore - Counting Crows

"Fear is the lock and laughter the key to your heart... Lacy lilting lyric losing love lamenting, Change my life, make it right. Be my lady." Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills & Nash

"And for sure, we've danced in the risk of each other, would you like to dance around the world with me... and I know you're the heaviest weight, when you're not here that's hung around my head. And your lips burn wild, thrown from the face of a child and in your eyes the seeing of the greatest few. Do what you will, always walk where you like your steps, do as you please. I'll back you up." I'll back you up - Dave Matthews Band

"You don't need to change a think about you babe, I'm telling you from where I sit, you're one of a kind." The guy that says goodbye to you is out of his mind - Griffin House

"You can go heavy on me and I will not weigh you down." Heavy - Holly Brook

"Now its closing time the music's fading out - Last call for drinks, I'll have another stout. Turn around to look at you, you're nowhere to be found, I search the place for your lost face, guess I'll have another round - and I think that I just fell in love with you." Hope I don't fall in love with you - Tom Waits

"Well I guess that's how your started, like a pinprick to my heart.." Ghost - Indigo Girls

"Oh you set up your place in my thoughts, moved in and made my thinking crowded." Mystery - Indigo Girls

"Please, remember me as in the dream we had as rug-burned babies. Among the fallen trees and fast asleep aside the lions and the ladies, that called you what you like and even might give a gift of your behavior. A fleeting chance to see a trapeze swinger high as any savior." Trapeze Swinger - Iron & Wine

"I've seen fire and I've seen rain. I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end... but I always thought that I'd see you again." Fire & Rain - James Taylor

"Lesson 1 - do not hide, Lesson 2 - there are right ways to fight.... Lesson 3 - you're not alone." Boys (Lesson One) - Jars of Clay

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