Monday, January 24, 2011

My Top Ten

Today I'm counting down my favorite 10 songs of all time.  The talented Alex J Cavanaugh is hosting this blogfest so be sure to hop on over to his blog and check out what other bloggers deem their top ten favorites!

The songs I chose are ones I liked or listened to during significant parts of my life.  The words themselves don't necessarily mean anything, but listening to those songs brings back certain memories of certain times of my life. 

Of course I have many more favorite songs, and some I may like more than the ones I have listed here.  But I wanted to make this list more focused, so that's why I chose songs that actually have some kind of significance in my life.

I couldn't sort these 10 songs into a list of most favorite to least favorite, so I listed them in chronological order.

1.  "Masquerade" from Phantom of the Opera.  This was the first musical I saw on Broadway when I was in 5th grade.  This was my very first "favorite" musical and the vocal power of this particular song brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it.  This musical has a special place in my heart, because I feel like it's what made me pursue theatre in school.

2.  Torn by Natalie Imbruglia.  Wow, this song brings back every high school memory.  It was number one forever in the late 90's and I remember belting it out in the car with my friends as we cruised around looking for something to do.  We were so tragic and dramatic back then.

3.  Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band.  I chose this song because you're not a true Dave fan until you can master his "Dave speak" and I can proudly say I can decipher most of his gibberish in this song.  My boyfriend in high school got me hooked on Dave so he (Dave, not the boyfriend) will always have a special place in my heart.  This song reminds me of high school, dating, hanging out in basements, parties, and heart break.

4.  "What You Own" from Rent.  I lived, breathed and bled theatre in high school.  If I wasn't in a show, I worked on one.  I was at the theatre from the end of school usually until 6pm every day either rehearsing, working on the set or just hanging out.  It was my life and my job.  I probably know every word to every song from Rent, and we'd all break out into song during lunch (I know, total Glee moments!)  Anyway, I can't sing, but musicals move me to the core and I guess this song had a lot of meaning too.  We're living in America, at the end of the millennium, you're what you own.  This musical represents my time with theatre in high school, and even though it had it's own drama, I don't regret any minute of it.

5.  Closing Time by Semisonic.  Okay high school is beginning to have a theme here (can you tell why I write YA?  High school is a HUGE important time for teens).  Anyway, this song reminds me of graduating.  It came out the year I graduated (I think- don't quote me on that) and the lines: "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"; and "Time for you to go out to the places you will be from".  And, "This room won't be open till your brothers or your sisters come."  I don't know the true meaning of the song, but to me, it talks of opening new doors, closing old ones, and beginning a new adventure: college.

6.  Breathless by The Corrs.  This is the hubster's and my "song".  It came out when we were in college, and it was on the radio all the time.  The acoustic version is the one we danced to at our wedding, so yeah...'nuff said.  The hubs still leaves me breathless after 11 years.

7.  American Baby by Dave Matthews Band.  Here is another Dave song.  This was on his album that came out in 2005, the year my daughter was born.  My sister bought me the album shortly after we got back from the hospital.  I played it over and over while feeding Little Monster. The first 5 months were extremely hard for me, and this song brings back all the agonizing pain- physical and emotional, as well as all the joys.  I will never forget the sadness and emptiness that accompanies PPD, and this song is a reminder that we got through the toughest time in our lives.

8.  I Don't Want To Be by Gavin Degraw.  I played this song, as well as the whole album over and over when Little Monster started eating solids.  We had a book shelf in our dining room with the cd player and we'd rock out to this album while she ate her mashed broccoli (her favorite food).  It just brings back a lot of fun and happy memories singing and dancing around while shoving mashed up veggies into her mouth, and cleaning most of it from the floor.

9.  "Defying Gravity" from Wicked.  I bawl like a baby every time I hear Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth sing this song.  Every. Time.  It's so beautiful and powerful and tugs at my heart strings.  Little Monster is obsessed with Wizard of Oz- especially the Wicked Witch- so I got her hooked on this musical.  She loves to hear the music about the Witch and I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

10.  Bad Romance by Lady Gaga.  Listening to Gaga makes me happy.  Plus she gets me through my workouts.  What can I say?  Gaga is my hero.  She is a strong woman who is not afraid to express herself.  She's talented beyond words and fights for her beliefs.  She fights for equality among people; for us to be able to be who we are and not be ashamed.  She's a passionate writer, and loves her Little Monsters so much.  My daughter is also in love with her, and I can only hope I can teach her what a wonderful person Gaga is inside and out.  Can you guess where I got Little Monster's name??

Well that's my 10.  If you're still reading after this UBER long post, thanks for hanging on!

41 comments:

Unknown said...

Ha ha, Gaga gets me through my workouts too! She's got some good "jumping around" music!

Meredith said...

I love your list! So many of those songs bring back memories for me, too--"Closing Time" was the last song played at my last formal in high school (we didn't have prom), and it made me cry!

Ellie Garratt said...

An awesome list. Lady GaGa has certainly inspired me and Defying Gravity is such an emotional song!

My Top Ten Songs

Michael Di Gesu said...

A great mix. It's such a wonderful thing that we can always find a song to fit our mode or to change it.


Michael

Unknown said...

Listening to Lady GaGa makes me happy too. I just want to dance. Love the Coors BTW.

Jessie said...

What no push it? :P Love the list though!!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You enjoy plays - and high school!
Thanks for participating.

mom said...

Great list! I do think that songs that remind you of special times will remain in your heart the longest...I'm glad we were able to share our love of theatre and music.

Pat Tillett said...

Although I can't say I've heard every song on your list, it's a great one! I could easily have put Torn or Closing Time on mine!

M Pax said...

Songs can take me back to a place and time so clearly, it's like it's happening again. Thanks for sharing your great picks.

Luna said...

Great list! I enjoyed reading what they meant at certain times in your life. Love Dave Matthews Band and Gavin DeGraw! That's a good song by The Corrs and I love the music from Rent. Never had a chance to see the musical. I could keep going....

Wendy Tyler Ryan said...

I can relate to some of these. Love Ga Ga.

Hannah said...

oh, Phantom of the Opera!! Excellent choice!!

Jennie Bailey said...

LOVE Bad Romance. And now I have Masquerade, paper faces on parade...in my head now! I'll be humming that for awhile. Love your list!

Budd said...

what ever happened to the coors. That was a good song.

Lydia Kang said...

Love lots on your list, but Ants is one of my favorites. Such a clever song about our society!

Lydia Kang said...

Oh, and I listen to that Corrs song a lot too.
:)

vic caswell said...

great list! love defying gravity! (but especially the lea michele/ chris colfer arrangement)

Melissa said...

Wicked! Phantom of the Opera! The best musicals of all time and EXCELLENT song choices from both. You have an AWESOME list Abby!

Heather Spiva said...

Wow, closing time ... haven't heard that one in a while. It's a good one!

Nice to find your blog and agree with your mutual interests and hobbies. :)

Thanks!

Donea Lee said...

I sooo wanted to do drama in HS!! Sadly, my HS drama teacher was an a**. A regret, for sure... great songs, here! Love Breathless, Defying Gravity, and yes! Gaga is great! :)

Tara said...

Closing Time - what a great song!

DEZMOND said...

love seeing Gaga in your list! Little monsters army rules! :)

Unknown said...

1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 10 WOW! You have six tracks I love. That hasn't happened a lot; I'm learning. :)

lotusgirl said...

Defying Gravity would definitely have to be in my top 10.

David P. King said...

Great list of songs, there, Abby!

I gave you an award on my blog. Come check it out! :)

Liz P said...

Nice list! I haven't listened to Rent in ages. Closing Time also reminds me of high school. :)

Sam said...

Oh, gosh. I've only heard three of those.
-goes to get Rent from the library- -hands head in shame-

Arlee Bird said...

I'm with you on the Dave Matthews choices.

Lee
Make sure you check my Wednesday post!
Tossing It Out

Colene Murphy said...

BEST. LIST. YET! I love all those songs!!

alexia said...

Great list! Love Phantom! Love Natalie! And Closing Time and Breathless and Dave!

Jessica Bell said...

Oh my gosh! Natalie! You just gave me flash backs ...

Unknown said...

Awesome list! Love me some GaGa!

Unknown said...

I'm not one with a huge selection in music, nor do I listen to a whole lot but it's nice to be jumping from one to one to see what everyone loves.

Looks like I'll be searching for some songs I haven't heard before!

Anonymous said...

"Masquerade" always brings tears to my eyes. It's such a powerful piece of music. If I ever have the opportunity to see Phantom live (and I really hope I do), I'll probably cry like a baby.

I'm so with you on "What You Own". Lyrically, there are so few songs that can touch it.

Ack, I could go on and on, but suffice it to say I love your list and you have excellent taste.

Regina said...

This is a great top 10 list. I like it. Some I've heard and some I haven't. But, I have to have music on all the time, so my list would be really hard to figure out.

Anonymous said...

OFCOURSE The Corrs! A FAB group I love their songs too.I don't know any of the others except for the Phantom one :O)

Karen M. Peterson said...

Yay! Another musical geek! I LOVE musicals!

Trisha said...

I'm checking out some of these songs; twas fun reading your list and your reasons :)

Unknown said...

Hey, I left an award for you over on my blog!

Deniz Bevan said...

Closing Time reminds me a lot of going out, right around the time I started university. Nice idea, to tell us what each song means to you!