This is the best I can come up with. I was set up to make a top 30 but then I realized I don’t know a lot of Hail Marx songs or at least I thought there are songs I know that could be in this list but don’t really qualify. Some are forced like Nirvana's Serve the Servant which is really about divorce and angst. It would be great if I can embed the songs here. Talking about a revolution, Wordpress. :D

Hunger Strike (Temple of the Dog)

Redemption Song (Bob Marley) / Get up stand up (Marley/Tosh)

Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve)

Run (Collective Soul)

Daysleeper (REM)

This Place is a Prison (The Postal Service)

Taxman (Beatles)/ I am the Walrus (Beatles)/ Revolution (Beatles)

A working class hero (John Lennon)

After the Gold Rush (Neil Young)

Karma Police (Radiohead)/Gagging Order (Radiohead)/ No Surprises (Radiohead)

Desolation Raw (Bob Dylan) / It’s alright ma’ (I’m only bleeding) (Bob Dylan)

Won’t Get Fooled Again (Pete Townsend, The Who)

Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell)

Something to Point to (Soundtrack "Working" musical)

Megalomaniac (Incubus)

Gimme Shelter (Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones)

Serve the Servants (Nirvana)

Of Walking Abortion (Manic Street Preachers)

What Kind of World (The Cables)

Weak and powerless (Maynard James Keenan)

Top 30 Euphoria Songs

Temporary high in no particular order.

Island in the Sun (Weezer)

Where Are You Going (Dave Matthews Band)/ Everyday (Dave Matthews Band)/ Satellite (Dave Matthews Band)

Shiny Happy People (REM)

Dancing in the Moonlight (Toploader)

Lithium (Nirvana)

Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)

Old Pair of Jeans (Fatboy Slim)

Collide (Howie Day)

Wonderful (Everclear)

Lion Sleeps Tonight (The Tokens)

Soul to Squeeze (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

It's Oh So Quiet (Bjork)

Lullaby (Shawn Mullins)

Sunscreen (Baz Lurmann)

Orinoco Flow (Enya)

Cherry Lips (Garbage)

Song 2 (Blur)

Porcelain (Moby)

Out of my Head (Fastball)

Time After Time (Cindy Lauper feat. Sarah Mclachlan)

Here comes the Sun (Beatles)

No Rain (Blind Melon)

Cornflake Girl (Tori Amos)

Take a Picture (Filter)

Beautiful World (Kenny Rogers)

Its All Been Done (Barenaked Ladies)

Not too Late (Norah Jones)

Shine (Collective Soul)

Jump (Van Halen)

Beautiful Ones (Suede)

TOP 50 Background Songs while Moping in no particular order

All Apologies (Nirvana)

Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead)

Creep (Radiohead)

Sour Times (Portishead)

The drugs don’t work (The Verve)

Creep (Stone Temple Pilots)

Skip Divided (Thom Yorke)

Why Does It Always Rain on Me (Travis)

Pipe Dreams (Travis)

The end (Jim Morrison)

Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley)

Lightning Crashes (Live)

Midlife Crisis (Mike Patton – I’m not sure if this is with Faith No More or Mr. Bungle)

How to Disappear Completely (Radiohead)

Staring at the Sun (U2)

Across the Universe (Beatles)

Everybody Hurts (REM)

Subterranean homesick aliens (Radiohead)

Nowhere Man (Beatles)

Broken Arrow (Neil Young)

Let Her Cry (Hootie and the Blowfish)

Wild World (Cat Stevens)

Am I Wrong (Love Spit Love)

Under the Bridge (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Something in the Way (Nirvana)

Losing My Religion (REM)

Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)

Last Kiss (Pearl Jam)

Crucify (Tori Amos)

It’s been a While (Staind)

Tears in Heaven (Eric Clapton)

Famous Last Words (Jars of Clay)

Faust Arp (Radiohead)

Trouble (Coldplay)

People are People (D’sound)

Misery (Soul Asylum)

Angel (Sarah Mclachlan)

Archives of Pain (Manic Street Preachers)

Sound of Silence (Simon and Garfunkel)

Vincent (Don McLean)

In the Darkest Place (Elvis Costello)

The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (The Postal Service)

Heart Shaped Box (Nirvana)

Say Hello To Heaven (Temple of the Dog)

Baba O’Riley (The Who)

Jealous Guy (John Lennon)

Teardrop (Massive Attack and Portishead)

I Will Remember You (Sarah Mclachlan)

Milk (Garbage)

Heroes (The Wallflowers)

Straight to Hell (Joe Strummer)

TOP 10 Guilty Pleasures

Here are some of the songs from highschool and elementary (aka the boyband and girl power craze) that are still in my player. WTF! hehehe…

Quit Playing Games (with my heart) – Backstreet Boys

Who Do You Think You Are – Spice Girls

I’ll be There For You – The Moffats

MmmBop – Hanson

Let the Music Heal your Soul – Bravo All Stars

I Believe I Can Fly – R Kelly

Picture of You – Boyzone

This is our Song – Code Red

I Want You Back – N’Sync

Stay the Same – Joey McIntyre

]]> http://onewomanshow.wordpress.com/?p=442 Thu, 08 May 2008 02:41:58 +0000 Susan http://onewomanshow.wordpress.com/?p=442 Like most days, I was listening to my iPod in the car on the way into work. (Through the car speakers, people, the speakers!) I was tired and a tad cranky from being up late working on a few projects, and then getting up early to do more work. Apparently the little computer chip in that sliver of silver picked up on my crabby/not-enough-coffee vibe because it started playing these in sequence:

• Blue on Black - Kenny Wayne Shepherd (Depressing, sure, but I love KWS and this is one of my all-time favorites.)

• Somewhere I Belong - Linkin Park (Sort of an accidental purchase for me -- I bought the Meteora CD on impulse - pre-iPod - because I liked "Breaking the Habit." I quickly realized that every other song involved a bunch of screaming, rapping stuff my 30-something suburban tendencies couldn't take... but this angst-filled one grew on me.)

• China - Tori Amos (Yet another ditty about distant, broken relationships - because you can never have too many of those, right? Tori's voice is beautiful and haunting, but she scares me a little. I'm just saying.)

• Damn Right, I've Got the Blues - Buddy Guy (The title kind of gives it away. I really like the blues, if for no other reason than the lyrics are usually easy to sing along to.)

• (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones (If you've never heard this one, there is no hope for you. Sorry.)

When ABBA's "SOS"* came on I started to laugh. I mean, how could I not? I wasn't really in a "bad" mood when I started out, but oddly enough the songs put me in a darn good mood by the time I got to work. I guess that means both the iPod and I have a sense of humor.

*Yes, I have eclectic musical taste. And I have lots of happy songs on my iPod, too.

Palpitations, my mind is diseased

Even my vision is impaired

Im losing my hair

Cause when I hold her in my arms I feel like fred astaire

Lovesick, my temperatures high

Just met a girl, who believes we can fly

Im a bull, not a bear

Im a millionaire

Cause when I hold her in my arms, I feel like fred astaire

I believe in happiness

I believe in love

I believe she fell to earth from somewhere high above

I believe in hollywood

Dont believe that love must bring despair

Cause when I hold her in my arms, I feel like fred astaire

Who said love is just a disease

A plague for the naive

These days no one believes

Meteors may strike the earth

Nations live and die

Im the boy who got the girl

And now were gonna fly

We can cross the race divide

Bridge a gap that wasnt really there

Cause when I hold her in my arms, I feel like fred astaire

Im gonna hold her in my arms, just like fred astaire

Im gonna hold her in this charm, like fred astaire

Like fred astaire

Like fred astaire

Like fred astaire

Y la encontré:

five for fighting - 100 years

I'm 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I'm 22 for a moment
She feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
I'm 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I'm a they
A kid on the way
A family on my mind
I'm 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy, Time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
15 I'm all right with you
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you�re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on...
I'm 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
15 there's still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 you�re on your way
Every day's a new day...
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

(el video aquí: http://mx.youtube.com/watch?v=UlkSTz__Hbs)

Y miren que justo leo y como ke su significado se aplicaba más o menos a lo que estuve pasando en ese momento. Es como una "killing me softly" song, pero feliz, sin lágrimas ni mokos. Una interpretación posible del tema es que es como si ella estuviese pensando en su futuro ("helping the kids put on their coats, but wait the babies haven't been born"), en cómo le gustaría vivir alejada del ruido y tener un hogar allá en Mushaboom. Pero a la vez mira el presente y se da cuenta que deberán pasar algunos años más todavía ("but in the meantime I've got it hard, second floor living without a yard"). A simple life :)

Esta canción es muy feliz, me gusta bastante por el ritmo y la letra un tanto graciosa. O sea, no es ke vuele súper alto como para decirle "ilusa"; y tampoco es que canta como que si no se cumple se corta la vena... she is willing to wait.

Y qué tiene que ver conmigo? Pues de alguna manera me gustaría vivir también a simple life, pero ayer pensé que tal vez llegar a mi Mushaboom (que sería por la playa) iría a tardar mucho más tiempo, o que las cosas irían a llegar desordenadas, i mean no de acuerdo a lo esperado. Felizmente todo volvió a la normalidad.

Alors, y qué me falta para llegar a MushaB Ville? Pos lo mismo ke a Leslie, un sueldo más alto ("it may take years until the day my dreams will match up with my pay"); y bueno, conseguirme a "man to stick it out" XD and "collect the moments one by one".

"Mushaboom" - Leslie Feist

But in the meantime I've got it hard
Second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day
My dreams will match up with my pay

Old dirt road Knee deep snow
Watching the fire as we grow old

I got a man to stick it out
And make a home from a rented house
And we'll collect the moments one by one
I guess that's how the future's done

How many acres how much light
Tucked in the woods and out of sight
Talk to the neighbours and tip my cap
On a little road barely on the map

Old dirt road Knee deep snow
Watching the fire as we grow old
Old dirt road Rambling rose
Watching the fire as we grow well I'm sold

Blue Skies - Irving Berlin

Written in 1926, Irving Berlin penned a tune which would embody the optimism necessary for many who would need it as the Great Depression set out to crush the spirits of a nation in the decade to follow. At one time, the role of music and of film was seen to provide an escape to those faced with the harsh realities of life; I suppose to an extent, that's still true. I like to think that the models of unforgiving reality and the sweetnes and light in popular song is more like William Blake's idea of innocence and experience, and that the two can co-exist. Blue Skies is surely an anthem to innocence and young love, an optimist's song that comes from the point of view of those who see the simple things as being the most meaningful. This song celebrates the perspective that love in one's life is the way to clarity, and that this perspective has the power to make one notice that the world, despite its troubles, can be a beautiful place after all.

'Blue Skies' has been covered by an incredible range of performers from Al Jolson to Bing Crosby, to Willie Nelson (watch the clip above), to Lieutenant Commander Data from the film Star Trek: Nemesis, proving that when something is true, it never gets old (even in the 24th century, presumably). This is one of my favourite songs of all time.

Happy Together - The Turtles

Another song that evokes the image of the blue sky as a metaphor for a hopeful future is the Turtles smash hit, 'Happy Together' from the album of the same name. When the song was released in the Spring of 1967, the Summer of Love was just around the corner, as a sort of optimism epicenter. People held onto the idea that the simplicity of love could change the world for the better and this song shimmers with that hope, that love could create a vision for people to follow. Of course it works on the level of a finely crafted pop song about young love too, inspired as it appears to be by a Brian Wilson approach to the arrangement (listen to the "ba-buh-bap-bap-ba" backing vocals - pure Beach Boys brand aural sunshine!) which perfectly captures the feelings of unadorned teenaged love, untroubled by the cynicism which often sets in later.

The end of the decade would also see an end to this age of innocence. Even in the year that followed, the assassinations of both Bobby Kennedy and Doctor Martin Luther King and the escalation of the war in Vietnam would temper the perspectives of many to feel that optimism would be something to work hard at as as the clouds of war and political disillusionment began to gather. Still, the music would endure and continue to be heard in new songs from bands like Apples in Stereo and The Pearlfishers.

I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash

Much like the sentiment in Berlin's 'Blue Skies' the way to clarity is not gained by relying on happy circumstances, or by ignoring bad ones, but by noticing one's own state of being and finding strength in it. And again, the eternally useful image of the clear sky is evoked, with Nash's gloriously passionate vocal making it an undeniably powerful statement, as well as one of the greatest hit singles of all time. Nash was one of the first American performers to notice, fall in love with, and promote reggae in a pop format for First-World radio. It helps that it is almost impossible to write a depressing song and set it to the sun-washed sound that is at the heart of the music. Nash was a living connection between American R&B and the music of the Carribean, having toured there in the 60s off of the back of the success of his singles in Jamaica in particular where R&B has a significant following. And his 1972 hit in 'I Can See Clearly Now' would introduce a whole new range of sounds for First-World performers when Nash brought his take on reggae back to the States. This cutlural exchange had been completed for many years before Jimmy Cliff a hit in 1994 with his cover of the song.

I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers

The influence of reggae on R&B would not be limited to Johnny Nash in the early 70s. Stax recording artists and soul and gospel legends the Staple Singers were in their "message music "phase, yet still retained some of their gospel roots. Where their approach was far from Christian escapism which is common in lot of gospel music, this classic track by the Staples was pure joy at the hope for a better world. And in this song, such hope is palpable and present, set as it is to a loping reggae lilt and carried to even higher ground by the soaring alto voice of the incomparable Mavis Staples. The song is both spiritual and sexy  at the same time (and what better a definition of 'Soul' is there?).  It casts a light that seems to banish any doubt that Mavis can take you there!

Like Johnny Nash's influence illustrated, the sound on 'I'll Take You There' is the fruit of a cultural exchange, with 60s soul music having made an impact in the Carribean, with domestic attempts at recreating soul  resulting in ska and reggae being then reflected back into the sound of soul music in ensuing years. But what strikes me here is the hopefulness apparent in both cultures, like rays of light leaping out of what some consider to be cultures who had no cause to be this optimistic about the state of the world or their places in it. Yet perhaps the place where "ain't nobody cryin'" is a state of mind too, a perspective gained when one is singing about the existence of such a place.

For more evidence of what I'm talking about, consider the unofficial 11th song on this list, the Five Stairsteps' 'Ooh Child', which is an unabashed anthem to this same kind of optimism.

I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross

Diana Ross won a whole new audience in the disco era, partially thanks to her album Diana which was released with great adulation in 1980. The track 'I'm Coming Out', one of the lead tracks off of the record, is an exuberant statement which was soon to become a gay anthem upon release, being as it is an empowering expression of pride in one's identity. The fact that Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic produced the album makes it pretty easy to understand how it became such a second wind to Ross, who to be fair had gained a lot of traction with her appearance in the movie The Wiz with Michael Jackson. But the song itself has the same qualities of innocence as many talked about already, along with a celebratory lyric that makes the realization of self-discovery more than just a personal milestone, but as an event to be shared . In other words, it is not unlike what the Christian Right describe a 'born again' experience to be; spiritual, life-changing, and worldview-defining.

Rise Up - The Parachute Club

Canadian collective the Parachute Club's 1983 hit is a theme song to a hoped-for political golden age, with a gay-pride-meets-spirituality message worked in for good measure. The countercultural force of the 1960s is present here, although updated for the 80s - quite a feet in the middle of the Reagan era. This song was recorded when a political swing to the right was largely due to a fear that humanity would do the wrong thing when it counted as opposed to preserving the peace. It was a time when optimism was a tough business - like it is now. In this song, there is a sentiment of protest with a wish for "madness to end". But for the most part, the song seems to be a celebration of the possibilities of a bright future, when "the spirit's time has come". I think that spirit to which they refer is less about a divine presence coming to bail us out, and more about the kind of spirit that is present when people adjust their ways of thinking on a mass scale, and take action to initiate change as a result. Once again, a change in perspective means everything.

Friday I'm in Love - The Cure

You can vote this the most unlikely song of optimism on the list, with quite a bit of dark shades to the song from a band who is known for more sombre tones. But what I get from this is an overall sense that even in a week of black moods there lies the hope for love which makes everything worth getting through. I think this is ultimately optimistic, even if (maybe especially if) the weight of depression and despair is all too present. I think this song shows the difference between happiness and optimism, the latter acknowledging the presence of negative forces in life a bit more than the former. It also demonstrates a certain amount of faith that ultimately there is value in life, love to be found regardless of the burden of what also comes along that may make one think otherwise. Of course the joyful jangly guitars help to convey the idea on this one. Despite the darkness in some of the lyrics (hey, it's the Cure after all...), I think this song is life affirming, with the added bonus of also being an acknowledgement of emotional and spiritual contrast with darker periods in one's life brings.

Wake Up Boo! - the Boo Radleys

How is it that a song which is so geared for morning people, so unrelentingly upbeat, can also avoid being really annoying? Easy; it's convincing, and infectious whether you're ready to leap out of bed every day or not.  The Boo Radleys pull  from the best in pop and soul, pulling out all the stops in this ode to love and to a renewed sense of well-being.  In an age of irony, this is just pure exuberance and joie de vive.  What else can be said?

You Get What You Give - the New Radicals

The weight of adulthood is a popular theme in pop music if for no other reason that the traditional audiences for pop have been the young, going through the clichéd  "changes" that come part and parcel with adolesence.  The power of music that can be a binding force is also a pretty compelling theme, and falls in line with the idea that the value of life can be found in the best art, and the simple pleasures which put any trials we go through into the right perspective.  This tune by The New Radicals embodies this idea, that a love of music and letting oneself be immersed in the joys to be found in it is a liberating experience, and one which can allow us to hold onto that which is most important, even in trying times.  Heady stuff.  And optimistic?  Oh yes.  But one again, this is a state of mind, and a choice to make when standing at the crossroads of important decisions in life.  You only get what you give indeed.

XTC - Stupidly Happy

It's great when a writer who is associated with weightier themes - the existance of god, racial hatred, divorce being some of the many - can also be associated by feelings of giddiness which seem to put all of those other areas of life into perspective.  Andy Partridge is such a writer, as I've memtioned in other posts.  And here on the track 'Stupidly Happy' from XTC's Wasp Star, Apple Venus Vol. 2 album, the song beams out joy for all to hear.  And again, the theme is all about how the presence of love can be transformative, and can change  one's perspective immesurably. With this song, what is most striking to me is the surprise in the singer's voice, as if he didn't expect to feel the way he feels, but that his own sense of well-being and purpose has been changed for the better.  "All the lights of the cars in the town form the strings of a big guitar/I'm the giant who'll play you a tune from whereever you are." I love that line.

***

Optimism, then.  It has a solid tradition in pop music through out the decades, through wars, fear of wars, poverty, and any other blight that has plagued humanity from the beginning.  The best of this tradition of optimism in pop is that which acknowledges that the world is not the best that it could be, but that it is conceivable that we'll get there one day.  In the meantime, sometimes it's enough just to sing along.

Used to live in a world with a future
Used to plan following days
But I lost my watch and agenda
And dreams got lost as well

Now i don't know when it's time to love
when it's time to hate
when to say the truth
when to hide away

An ex called the other day
saying how much he missed me
luckily batteries ran out
Forgot what his name is

Now i don't know when it's time to laugh
when it's time to cheat
when to do right
when to call in sick

No, I don't know
I don't know and however
Surprises catch me since then
Realizing it's better this way

Now i don't care when it's time to love
when it's time to cry
when to give or get
when to say good bye

• "Praise of Chorus" - Jimmy Eat World
• "The Middle" - Jimmy Eat World
• "Shinny Happy People" - REM
• "Pop Song 89" - REM
• "Stand" - REM
• "Everybody Hurts" - en la versión de The Corrs (me gusta el sonido dl violín)
• "Come on Eileen" - la versión de Save Ferris
• "The Remedy" - Jason Mraz
• "Do you right" - 311
• "Coin operated boy" - Dresden Dolls
• "Semi-charmed kind of life" - Third eye blind
• (tal vez "kriptonite", pero no si estoy muy depre)
• "Pop rock and coke" - greenday
• "Big Brat" - Phantom planet
• "Stranger than fiction" - Bad religion
• "I predict a riot" - Kaiser Chiefs
• "buddy holly" - Weezer
• "Keep fishin" - Weezer
• "Dope nose" - weezer
• "CAll me mellow" - Tears for fears
• "Al right" - Supergrass
• "I'm a believer" - la versión de Smash mouth

Las comparto cn uds, tal vez les sirva :)