Monday, January 24, 2011

Top 10 Songs



Ninja blogfest master Alex J Cavanaugh has done it again. Another awesome blogfest idea. Another brain boggler for me. I mean, seriously Alex! 10 songs! From a lifetime of music??? You're kidding right?

*sigh*

Apparently not.

I usually add in a few bonus choices, but I'm not going to cheat this time -even though 10 is incredibly hard!! I should include a warning - most of these songs are not from recent years - in fact several of them are before my time - I tend to like all kinds of music. :) Some of you younger folks may not know them at all!

I limited myself to one song per artist - that was really hard. And one of my favourite artists of all time didn't even make it on the list!!! I didn't put these in order. Couldn't. It was hard enough Alex!!! Okay. 'Nuf said. Let's move on.

Jack & Diane - John Cougar Mellancamp. Those first few chords are iconic. You KNOW this song when it starts. Saw him in concert and this song rocked the house. I think the audience knew every single word! Lots of fun!

Papa Can You Hear Me? - Barbra Streisand. This one's from her movie Yentl. It's got a haunting melody and the first time she sings it in the movie it is beautiful. But when she sings it at the end of the movie and does a duet with herself, I get chills. What a voice!! Stunning!

California Dreamin'. I'm a sucker for harmonies and good voices. This song can be incredible when sung well. It can also be destroyed quite easily! I've heard a lot of good versions - of course I'm including the MaMas and the Papas in that - but I think my favourite is by Queen Latifah singing under her real name Dana Owens. She puts a great jazz spin on it!

The Rose by Bette Midler. This was one of my dad's ultimate favourite songs. In his last few hours, he asked me to sing this for him a few times in the hospital. He loved it. Every time it plays, I'm flooded with memories of him. It had to make the list for dad. :)

Human Family by the Nylons. Love these guys. They're an acapella group who create the most beautiful harmonies. They sing a lot of do-wop stuff from the 50s and 60s. They also do a terrific version of O Canada! Human Family is one of their own creations with a message we all need to hear. Buy Back the Amazon is another in this vein. Beautiful messages wrapped in gorgeous harmonies! What's not to love?

Beautiful by the Bare Naked Ladies. These guys are hilarious! You probably know them from "If I Had  Million Dollars." They have awesome voices and great harmonies. This song is soft and sweet and charming. And like most of their music, the words are well worth a listen.

Piano Man. Billy Joel obviously. Awesome! I know it's the classic choice for Billy - but things become classic for a reason! It's 9 o'clock on a Saturday... (sing along - you know you want to!)

Your Song. Elton John. The master. There are so many fantastic songs this man has created and performed. I was lucky enough to see him perform live once and got chills as he sang this song. Beautiful. Almost went with Crocodile Rock here because not only is it a fun song, but my sister used to play it on the piano. She was good!

Bohemian Rhapsody. Queen. Bizarre song. Addictive too! I was never as good as my sister, but I was so dang proud of myself when I conquered almost all of this song on the piano. Years later I'm still able to play about a third of it - and I haven't owned a piano in years and years. This song just stays in your head!

Ain't No Sunshine When He's Gone. Or She's Gone, depending on who's singing. :) There are so many beautiful versions of this song. I'm not altogether sure why I love this song so much, but it gets me each and every time I hear it. Otis Redding. Van Morrison. James Taylor. Kris Allen from American Idol. Bill Withers. Sting. So many fabulous singers have redone this song, and for me it never gets old.

See - no cheating!! Although I made myself write this in one shot without backing out of any choices. I'd better get off now before I add 20 or 30 more! I'll be at school today, but I'll try to catch up with everyone over the next few days. I bet I see a 100 songs I wish I'd chosen!

What's your #1 favourite song of all time??

89 comments:

Unknown said...

You have so many of my faves posted! LOVE Ain't No Sunshine, Jack & Diane, anything by the Barenaked Ladies...

I don't know if I could name a fave song, as it changes ALL the time. Completely depends on the year, day, mood, the moon, yanno!

Happy Listening!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I love all of these!

I can't choose just one. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Mary - yay!! BNL are so much fun!

My faves change from day to day too! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Teresa - thanks! Faves are too hard! :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I remember Jack and Diane, because everyone told me I needed to date a guy named Jack. LOL
Posted my top 10 today!

Jan Morrison said...

Hi deario! My sister and her choir got to sing with The Nylons last month. And I couldn't go (was in Ontario and I'm in Nova Scotia).
My thoughts on ONE fave - just going to go with 'first thought best thought'
River by Joni Mitchell.

Summer Frey said...

Oh, "River" is a great song!! I should have put it on my list...grrr.

I did my in some genre sub-categorization, and I almost, almost did a showtunes/Broadway musicals category. So much fantastic music, including "Papa Can You Hear Me".

Old Kitty said...

I love your list!! Anyone with Bette Midler on their list is my best friend for life!! Oh yes!!! Take care
x

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I wasn't kidding! But you did it.
Thanks for participating!

Jules said...

A great list and you have several I truly love but this fest threw me for a loop. It sure was harder than it sounded :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Matthew MacNish said...

You can't listen to Bohemian Rhapsody without singing along! Especially not after Wayne's World. Great choices, love your list Jemi.

vic caswell said...

so many great choices! bohemian rhapsody, ain't no sunshine, your song, piano man!!! excellent list jemi!

Luna said...

Great list! It is tough to choose only one song by your favorite artist. Kudos!

Paul Greci said...

My favorite all time song? There are so many.
I loved seeing Jack and Diane on your list. I went to school at IU Bloomington and saw JCM in concert twice!! Thanks for bringing back the memory!! :-)

Anonymous said...

The Bare Naked Ladies were so fun! So sweet about "The Rose" and your dad. What a beautiful memory.

Lydia Kang said...

Some of these are so lovely! Great picks!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Fantastic songs!

I actually know all of these...lol

Michael

Lisa Gail Green said...

Great choices! Mine change all the time. Right now, I'm obsessed with Rhythm of Love by Plain White T's. It's always something that has to do with my WIP though.

Kelly Polark said...

Great classic choices. I've seen Elton John and Billy Joel. Such talented men. When I was little I asked for the Billy Joel Glass Houses album and listened to it over and over and over.

Terry Odell said...

Great picks; some would be on my list. Some are "too new" for me. I could never pick just 10. But my list would include selections from Simon & Garfunkel, the Beatles, Dan Fogelberg, The Eagles, and some "oldies" like The Way You Look Tonight, Beyond the Sea ... and on and on..

Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery

Erinn said...

BNL-- awesome I"ve seen them in concert 4 times now. I love your list.. love it! Excellent mix of classic rock. Great stuff

Unknown said...

I had Queen too! Love them... and Barenaked Ladies.

Lola Sharp said...

A nice selection, indeed, Jemi. :)

I love Bill Withers singing Aint No Sunshine...and really every song he ever sang.

I'm impressed you didn't cheat. You're a better woman than I. ;)

Love,
Lola

CA Heaven said...

Bohemian Rhapsody is a great song, didnæt remember to put it on my list. I picked Stairway to Heaven as my #1 >:)

Cold As Heaven

Stephanie said...

Great picks!!

VR Barkowski said...

Your Song is one of my favorites. And you're right, ten songs in a lifetime of music is very, very difficult!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I love Queen! And The Rose is a classic. Great choices. :-)

Pat Tillett said...

A great list! I could have easily put "Your Song" on mine also. Sir Elton would have a few songs on my top 100, that's for sure.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Great songs! I actually remember studying the lyrics to "The Rose" in English class in 9th grade. :) I guess we must have been studying metaphors!

M Pax said...

Can't choose just one, but love listening to most of your list.

Wendy Tyler Ryan said...

Wow, an entire list I can relate to.

Unknown said...

Can't single out any of your favourites, Jemmi. We obviously have much the same taste. No surprises there :)

Arlee Bird said...

This is my kind of list. I almost put "California Dreaming" on mine. I have a few cassettes by the Nylons--a great group. I used to really like them back in the 80s but haven't listened to any of their music for quite some time.

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

Jemi Fraser said...

Diane - lol - that would have been fun!!

Jan - I'm so jealous of your sister!! What a fabulous experience that would have been! :)

Summer - what a good idea - using sub-genres! Can't wait to see your picks!

Old Kitty - I guess we're best buddies then! Works for me :) Love Bette!

DEZMOND said...

love Elton's YOUR SONG, and I loved it in MOULIN ROUGE when Ewan McGregor sang it :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Alex - I can't believe I narrowed it down!! :)

Jules - I know!! It was so hard!!! But we did it!!

Matthew - I know! Bohemian R is a must for singing along - Mama, just killed a man... Talk about a great hook!

Aspiring X - thank you! It was so hard to narrow it down - I feel like I missed so many great ones! :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I don't think I could name my #1 song of all time. It changes every day. I love your list though. Brilliant choices!

Donea Lee said...

I have a soft spot for the Kris Allen version of Sunshine. LOVE Streisand and Bette's The Rose is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

Jemi Fraser said...

Karen B - I know - it's so hard to choose. There are so many great songs out there!

iZombie - thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed :)

Paul - Thanks! I love JCM too - he puts on a great concert! :)

Karen W - it was REALLY hard narrowing it down. Glad to see we share similar tastes :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynn - I love BNL -- so many great songs. And thanks - The Rose will always make me think of Dad. :)

Lydia - thanks! Glad you enjoyed :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Michael/gideon - thanks! Glad to see we share the same tastes! :)

Lisa - thanks! I've never actually tied songs to my wip - I'll have to try that one day!

Kelly - I love that album - I did the same & I think I still have the album in the basement! :)

Terry - thanks! Love the ones you listed! If I'd thought of them Simon & Garfunkel might have made it too - such beauty :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Erinn - thanks! I do love BNL. I've only seen them in concert once - and they were fantastic!! :)

Clarissa - love Queen - they were such a fun group! So many great songs - Bicycle always made me laugh!

Lola - lol - this would be the first time I didn't cheat! I'm quite proud of myself :) Withers has such a nice sound!

Cold as Heaven - oooooo - I forgot Stairway to Heaven! We listened to that SO many times way back when - great tune :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephanie - thanks! Glad you enjoyed :)

VR - I know!! 10 songs is just a drop in the bucket. There are so many classics I really love! :)

Shannon - Queen was such fun! I think I wore out that album! :)

Pat - Sir Elton is an icon! Love his stuff. His concert was the best I've ever seen - amazing!

Jemi Fraser said...

Elizabeth - love it! What a fun idea! When Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire came out - I wished I'd taught high school history!

M Pax - thanks! There are so many great songs out there - it was hard to choose. :)

Wendy TR - thanks! I'm glad you enjoy them all!

Wendy Quill - thanks! Somehow I'm really not surprised we have the same kind of tastes either!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lee - yay! We have the same kind of taste. Love the Nylons - such great sounds. :)

Dez - Elton John is the master. I love Your Song - I'll have to check out that version - can't remember it!

Lynda - thanks! It is too hard to choose a #1 - I totally agree :)

Donea - I thought Kris Allen did a beautiful version of sunshine - great voice!

Colene Murphy said...

Awe!! Awesome choices!!! Now I have aint no sunshine stuck in my head!

WritingNut said...

This is a great list, I used to love all of these (still do!)... Aww.. I remember Jack & Diane.. I know exactly what you mean about those first few chords being iconic.

Jemi Fraser said...

Colene - I know! Sunshine gets stuck in my head all the time! It's that kind of song :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Writing Nut - lol :) Jack & Diane rocks - really! It's impossible for me not to sing along! :)

Budd said...

all great songs.

Jemi Fraser said...

Budd - thanks! Glad you enjoy them :)

Stephanie Thornton said...

I love Queen! I almost put them on my list- it was hard to narrow it down to just 10!

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephanie - I agree - it was incredibly hard!! I adore Queen - the Night at the Opera album was fantastic!

dolorah said...

The only song on your list I didn't know was Human Family.

I can't tell you what my favorite is. When I saw THE ROSE by Bette Midler (no other artist does it justice) I thought, yeah, there. But Billy Joel and Piano Man could also get there, and could Your Song, and so many others on the blogs I've visited so far.

This was just cruel of Alex to only allow 10. You were so brave to not cheat :)

......dhole

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

I always figured The Mamas & The Papas OWNED "California Dreamin" and there was really no point in anyone else attempting it. And then I heard...

The Beach Boys' version.

Of course, that's one of only a few groups who could match The Mamas & The Papas when it came to harmonizing, and then some. Throw in a fabulous sax solo, and I had to admit that - to my great surprise - The Mamas & The Papas didn't "own" that song anymore.

Nice to see a couple of songs from MY generation on your list!

~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'

Jessica Bell said...

Ah yes, good old Barbara! Was wondering whether anyone was going to list her :o) Great list!

Jemi Fraser said...

Donna - I agree - but I would have been complaining if it was 20 or 30 or 100! There are just too many great songs!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephen - The Mamas & the Papas really created some beautiful, beautiful harmonies! I'd forgotten about the Beach Boys version - but I do remember (now) that it was awesome! I'll have to check it out again!

Jemi Fraser said...

Jessica - good old Barbra indeed! She can sure sing. Her voice is so pure and beautiful - gives me chills! :)

Anonymous said...

What a great list! You have so many songs that I absolutely adore :-)

Ellie Garratt said...

Ain't No Sunshine - that song always fills me with emtion. And Bette Midler's songs. Great list!

My Top Ten Songs

Tara said...

Well, you already saw my all-time ;) Awesome list. There's so many I forgot for mine. I could make music lists for weeks on end and not finish.

Jennie Bailey said...

Jemi - love love love your list!! Papa Can You Hear Me? is a favorite. Totally slipped my mind. I have to listen to today.

Jayne said...

Ah love California Dreamin'! Only know The Mama and the Papa's version though, didn't realise there were others. And agree with Your Song, and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. My number one song? Oh so hard... it would probably be a Beatles song I think.

RosieC said...

Great choices, Jemi. I love California Dreaming. I'll have to check out that Nylons song, though. Don't think I know it. Thanks :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Kelly - yay! It's nice to know others have the same kind of taste as me sometimes! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Ellie - I just love that song too - and Bette Midler is awesome. Such a talent!

Jemi Fraser said...

Tara - that's exactly it! Every time I go to someone's site I find at least 1 I could have added to my list! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Jennie - I love that song! Barbra has the purest voice and when she sings that harmony with herself it gives me chills every time! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Jayne - thanks! I love so many of the Beatles songs too! Hey Jude is gorgeous - and Lennon's Imagine is beautiful! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Rosie - California Dreaming has so many beautiful harmonies! :) The Nylons are awesome - but not too many outside of Canada know about them. Hope you enjoy!

laughingwolf said...

i like: storms never last... waylon wrote it for his wife, jessi... that's jennings and coulter... and macarthur park

also: kristofferson's: jodi and the kid; and - silver tongued devil

and nelson's: blue eyes crying in the rain; and - red-headed stranger

of course, middler's, the rose, from your list

plus tons more....

Jemi Fraser said...

Laughing Wolf - those are some great songs. Terrific lyrics and great voices. Good choices! :)

Shannon said...

Excellent list. Some of my favorites are on here! =)

Jemi Fraser said...

Shannon - yay! I'm not too surprised we like some of the same music! :)

Julie Musil said...

Jemi, this is an awesome list! LOVE Ain't no sunshine, especially in the movie Notting Hill. It's been so fun checking out all the song choices in Alex's blogfest!

Jemi Fraser said...

Julie - thanks! It really has been a fun blogfest - love seeing so many great songs! :)

Velvet Over Steel said...

Wow, great list & they all brought back so many memories that I had long since forgotten about. & I just wrote about lossing my memory.. funny! :-)
HUGS,
Coreen

Anonymous said...

From your list: I LOVE The Rose and Piano Man. Another favorite of mine is American Pie. Yes, this music blogfest does bring back old memories!
Ann Best, Author

Rosalind Adam said...

What a great idea. I shall pop along and see if there's still time to take part in the blogfest. I think from your list I love Bohemian Rhapsody the most... or is it Elton John... No, I love them all. We obviously have the same taste in music ;-)

Jemi Fraser said...

Coreen - thanks! :) I'm glad I could help with that memory! Wish I could somehow help my own!

Jemi Fraser said...

Ann - I love American Pie! I never thought of that one - it's an awesome song :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Rosalind - Go ahead and post! It's a lot of fun to see what songs everyone chooses - we're all so different :) Elton John is definitely a master!

Helen Ginger said...

Really great choices! I can't think of a song that would be my absolute favorites. I have about a hundred on my iPod.

Jemi Fraser said...

Helen - thanks! Yes - I think coming up with one favourite song is truly impossible!! :)

Deniz Bevan said...

Oh you are brave, following the rules and posting only ten songs! Great choices, too [s]

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Deniz! I was quite proud of myself for actually sticking to the rules! :)

Patti Lacy said...

WOW, JEMI!!! What an IDEA!!
Talking about takin' me BACCKKKKK!!!

Great, great idea!

Some of the oddest songs stick in my mind, like "Brandi, you're a find girl."
Blessings,
Patti

Jemi Fraser said...

Patti - thanks! Loved Alex's idea too - so much fun! :)

I enjoyed Brandi as well - there are so many good songs out there - it's a fun song!