The Shuffle

A few weeks ago my cousin and fellow blogger, Jaimee had a neat idea for a blog topic that she stole from her one brother that is not blogging.

Basically you take your iPod or whatever mp3 player you have and hit Shuffle and blog about the first 5 songs that come up and list why you like them and why you have them on your iPod.

A good idea is a good idea so I am stealing it from her and doing it today

Mephistopheles' Return - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Funny that this one would pop up first considering that this my absolutely favorite TSO song off the Beethoven's Last Night album. Most of you know that I have a real big soft spot for musicals and theatrical music and this rock opera is one of my favorites. I don't know why most of the musical songs about the devil are the most rocking and most entertaining and most fun to sing but they are and this one is a fun one.

Ballad Of Dwight Fry - Alice Cooper

"Mommy where's daddy? He's been gone for so long. Do you think he'll ever come home?"

Who would have thought that some of Alice Cooper's best would be his softer ballads. Well, ballads as far as Alice Cooper goes. This long song (clocks in at 6:33) is a real pretty song about a man that is in an insane asylum.

Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) - Mika
O boy. You know how there are some songs on your iPod that only you know are there? Those type of songs that are so cheesy that you are a little embarrassed that you have them? Well, I am coming out the iPod closet. I like Mika. There I said it. I discovered one of his songs from a movie and I really liked it so I got his albums and man are they cheesy.  AND I LOVE THEM.

I feel better now...

This song is probably one of my favorite ones of his. It has a fun beat and fun lyrics.

Dear Friends - Queen
I was a little worried that my favorite band of all-time would not make an appearance but when you have all their catalog on your iPod along with all their concerts and rare stuff, I knew my chances were good. This is one of the shortest songs they have (only 1:09) but it has to be one of their more beautiful and poignant songs that came from one of their earlier albums.

So dear friends

Your love is gone

Only tears to dwell upon

I dare not say

As the wind must blow

So a love is lost

A love is won

Go to sleep and dream again

Soon your hopes will rise

And then from all this gloom

Life can start anew

And there'll be no crying soon

Written by Brian May and sung by Freddie. Only his voice and accompaniment by the piano. I love it because of how simple it is.

Now That You Got Me - Honeymoon Suite
Honeymoon Suite is a Canadian hair metal band and it was the first tapes that I bought. Hair Metal is another love of mine and you never forget your first love and Honeymoon Suite was mine. The whole album is pretty good and I still listen to it but I do it now for more nostalgic purposes. This is one of the better songs of that album. My tape finally gave out and I bought the CD on eBay from Canada.

Tag! 15 Albums

Day 317

A friend recently tagged me in a note on Facebook. She was inviting me to name 15 albums that I have listened to that will always stick with me and then she listed her 15 albums. I have done something like this before only with 15 movies.

Since I have no idea what I want to blog about today I thought I will steal this idea and post my list of albums. If you want to participate the rules are very simple. Take fifteen minutes and list the first fifteen albums you think of. Don't take too long to think about it.

Now before you judge me and poke fun or laugh, remember, these albums are NOT necessarily my favorite movies (although there are a few), these are albums that stuck with me; ones that I cannot shake and easily forget. They are not in any order.

Men at Work: Business as Usual

I have fond memories listening to this album when my sister and mom drove down from Canada down to Utah. I still listen to these guys, Colin Hay has such a unique voice.

Honeymoon Suite: Honeymoon Suite

This was the first album that I bought. Ah.... hair metal.

Alien 3 Original Score: Eliot Goldenthal

This must be one of my favorite scores since it was the first one that came to mind. I listen to this whenever I write. It has a unique blend of orchestration along with a set of interesting organic noises.

Queen: A Night of the Opera

One of the first Queen albums I bought. I cannot listen to just a song of this album by itself, I have to play the whole album.

Led Zepplien: Led Zepplin 4

This takes me back to my high school days when I first discovered them. Another album I like to listen the whole way through.

Fleetwood Mac: Tango in the Night

This was my gateway drug to the rest of Fleetwood Mac. I ended up knowing a lot of Fleetwood Mac. Who knew that my parents at the time were cool enough to listen to them?

U2: Zooropa

I still think this is the best U2 album. Definitely their most underrated album. And it has Johnny Cash singing on it.

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Growing up my parents introduced me to a ton of different music. They would often play classical music and "A Night at Bald Mountain" quickly became a favorite of my sister and I.

Pink Floyd: The Wall

I discovered Pink Floyd much later in life and I was blown away by this album. This one sticks with me.

Queen: The Miracle

It seems like Queen is split into two different bands. The earlier Queen sound and the later stuff. I am a fan of both but this is my favorite "later" stuff.

Rob Zombie: Hellbilly Deluxe

I think the only reason this came to mind is that I am preparing myself to go see his show next month. This was his first album that I took from my sister and never gave back. Oops.

Men Without Hats: Pop Goes the World

I must be thinking of albums that I listen to the whole way through because this one came to mind too. A very well put together album that can fit any mood.

Les Miserables: The Complete Symphonic Recording

This 3 CD set is the complete show. I don't know why this came to mind but it did. One of my favorite Broadway shows that I was lucky enough to see in person.

Sweeney Todd: Highlights

My sister raved about this show and she gave me the CD to listen to it. I had no idea what the crap I was listening to but I remember listening to it when I was alone and it was stormy outside and I almost peed my pants when that whistle went off.

Black Sabbath: Masters of Reality

Apparently my sister made an impact on what I listen to. Surprisingly this album is not as dark as people think. There are some very beautiful instrumentals and a very tender song. All around one of my favorite albums.

 

So what are yours?

List-Mania: Totally Awesome 80's Songs

Day 195

I grew up as a child in the best decade ever being the 80's. It was then that I formed my own personality and my own tastes. Even before I entered the 80's decade I loved music and was raised on a plethora of different styles of music and I have my parents to thank for that.

The first tape (yes, a cassette tape, I was modern for my age) was the self-titled Honeymoon Suite tape and I remember playing that tape over and over again.

The '80s had it all. Whatever style of music you liked, there was something for you. Listening to 80's music is therapeutic to me too. It takes me back to my childhood and those good times. I even have TimeLife's full Sounds of the Eighties collection. All 30 of them!

It is hard to pick which songs of the '80s were my favorites so I decided to let my iPod decide it. I looked into my Cheesy 80's playlist and sorted them by how many times I have played them. I didn't include any Queen or U2 since I already covered them in a separate List-Mania. I am sure that I am missing some songs but I think generally my iPod nailed it.

These songs ARE the 80's to me.

5) In Your Room -The Bangles

I admit that I liked the Bangles a lot because I was crushing on Susanna Hoffs. Time hasn't changed a thing. I still dig Susanna Hoffs and listen to the Bangles a ton. She also has a project with Matthew Sweet called Under the Covers where they cover old 60's and 70's songs. Excellent stuff. This is my favorite song of theirs, just a catchy, cheesy pop song. Which is exactly what the 80's were.



4) U Got the Look - Prince

My sister was more into Prince than I was but I admit these was something intriguing to his music. This song he teams with Sheena Easton is perfect dance/rock song.



3) Overkill - Men at Work

I love Men at Work. I remember driving to the United States from Canada for summer vacation and w would listen to Business as Usual until the tape wore out. They had such a unique sound, something I have never heard again. This song came from their second album "Cargo" and it was a departure from their normally happy pop music. If you like this song you should check out Colin Hay's acoustic version. Much more haunting and intimate.



2) Summer Rain - Belinda Carlisle

I am sensing another trend here. Three of my top 5 songs have some girl that I crushed on. Belinda Carlisle really nails this song. This song strikes a chord for those people out there who have had to say good-bye to someone they love never to see them again. It is just a beautiful song, I love it when pop/rock songs incorporate strings.



1) One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head

Does this surprise anyone? Decades before I was part of the musical Chess I loved this song. It was something unique and nothing like anything else playing. I had no idea at the time that it was part of a concept album that later turned into a musical. After my LDS mission I began to listen to a lot of musical stuff and I picked this one up and I am glad I did.

HONORABLE MENTION:

New Girl Now - Honeymoon Suite

I loved this song and I still do. Sure it is cheesy but that doesn't change anything. I still love it.