Top Something Lists No. 1: Favorite Songs
September 17, 2009
That’s right, I’m selling out and joining into the fad. I’m going to start making some Top Something lists! Not to worry though, I’m planning on keeping these personal, and not link bait. That’s just not how I roll.
Anyways, I give to you, in no certain order (I can never actually sort these kinds of lists) my top … lets say 10. My Top Ten favorite songs of all time.
Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
Alright, If I had to choose a song to be my favorite, this would probably have to be it. I cannot think of a song for the life of me that I can say I’ve loved for as long as this one. I first heard it on the soundtrack of City of Angels. This is also where I fell in love with Nicolas Cage, but that’s neither here nor there.
Something about the composition of the song, the message therein, and my love of acoustic guitar just makes this song hit a spot with me. If you can find and play the acoustic version of this song when I’m around, you’ll see me smile.
Voices – Yoko Kanno
You may or may not know this, but as a young man I was quite into Animé. I grew up in the time of Dragonball and Sailor Moon, so on some level I figure it was bound to happen. Now I’ll be the first to admit that neither of those are stellar examples of animé, but everyone has to start somewhere. Somewhere down the line Télétoon played Macross Plus in four parts. I managed to stay up late and watch these four parts.
I am so very glad I did.
Now I will say that I’ve never actually watched Macross, a sin my brothers never really forgave me for, so much of the back story to Macross Plus was lost on me. Thankfully, you don’t need to know everything that transpired in Macross to ‘get’ Macross Plus. I’m getting off topic, but I had to gush a little.
Anyways, Yoko Kanno did a lot (if not all) of the music for Macross Plus, and I can say that it’s got some of the best music for an animé that I know of. Second and third place are Cowboy Bebop and Trigun, but again we’re getting off topic. One of the songs from Macross Plus is called Voices. Something about the subtle tones, and the voice of the singer in it hits me in a soft spot. It’s a little sad, and a little soft, but it’s an amazing song.
Best part? It sounds good in both Japanese (original) and English (dubbed version).
Kryptonite – 3 Doors Down
I’m not a fan of Superman, so this is a somewhat odd choice, considering it’s basically about him. Anyways, to top it off I’m not even a fan of 3 Doors Down so how would one of their oldest songs become a favorite?
Once again, animé comes to the rescue. Specifically animé music videos or AMVs were pretty big when I was young, and though I’m too lazy to check, I’m pretty sure they’re still around. The video I’m talking about in question was about Gundam Wing W, and the song featured was Kryptonite.
Beyond being a very solid music video, which was on key and topical, the song just got to me. It could have been my repeated watching of said video, it could have been my impressionable youth sucking in the media, who’s to say? The end result was this quick-paced, dark-esque song hitting a spot with me. It’s got a solid beat, it’s got good lyrics, and it lands itself a spot in my brains’ appreciation centres.
Somewhere Out There – Our Lady Peace
Ah, now here’s a song that tugs a bit at my wistful heartstrings. This song came out just when I had my first real crush on someone. We spent a lot of time together, and she was a huge fan of The MTV. When we hung out, this song was on the charts, and for some reason it just stuck with me.
Now all that aside, it’s a fantastic song, and is a great love song without being a great love song. It’s heart-felt, it’s well-written, and it moves me.
And let’s not for get that Our Lady Peace is a fantastic band, and loving one of their songs shouldn’t really be that big of a stretch of the imagination.
Mixtape – Butch Walker
I love Butch Walker. I’ve stated this before, but it needs stating again. I love Butch Walker, were I woman I would have troublingly dirty thoughts about him, but as I am a male, I simply wish I could be him.
Anyways, this was, as near as I can tell, Butch Walkers first big hit. It’s a song about love never had, and given my terrible streak in my love life (before Theresa, thankfully) and so something about the song just speaks to me. I may sound like a little bitch, but that’s just how it is.
All Over You – The Spill Canvas
This song is my favorite “I’m want to fuck your brains out” song. Ironically I’ve never had sex to this song, but that really doesn’t matter. It’s got a strong base beat, the lyrics are impressively sexual and angry, and it’s just… fantastic. Granted I could be somewhat biased as I’ve been a Spill Canvas fan for years…
It’s a great song and easily my favorite off of the album from which it came. That’s “No Really, I’m Fine” in case anyone is wondering.
Konstantine – Something Corporate
It was a little torn between listing this song or Bruised from Jacks Mannequin, but in the end I chose Konstantine. Why? Maybe it’s the fact that it’s a 9 minute epic of bleeding heart singing. Maybe it’s the fantastic use of piano from start to finish. Maybe I’m just a sucker for heart-felt writing and high-pitched male singers.
In the end it doesn’t matter because the fact remains that this song rocks my socks completely off. It’s an amazing song that you don’t even notice is playing until your 5 minutes in and your brain clicks in that this isn’t just another background noise song.
If (Jeannie’s Song) – Butch Walker
Two Butch songs on this list? How dare I! I told you I loved him didn’t I? Not two paragraphs ago? Yes, I’m sure that I did. In any case, I’ve been a fan since I first heard the song, and years later I still love it. It’s rockish and a little sad, with just a touch of angst. It’s everything younger me loved, but somehow years later it still strikes me as a solid song.
Bouncy, morose, and long enough without dragging itself out too long.
Doomsday – Murray Gold
Le Gasp! A song without lyrics! Can Corey even listen to music without lyrics? Yes, as it turns out, I can. I have quite a love for theme songs, orchestra, and video game music. Anything that is soundtrack related can usually find it’s way into my grubby little hands at some point or another. I’ve got a variety of movies and TV show themes sitting in my iTunes right now (Rescue Rangers represent), so it’s only natural that Doctor Who would eventually find it’s way in.
I’m a big, big fan of most of the stuff that Murray Gold has put out for Doctor Who, but Doomsday stuck way, way out to me. Sure “Father’s Day” and “Rose’s Theme” are great tracks, and “This Is Gallifrey: Our Childhood, Our Home” is close to the feeling for Doomsday, none of them really compare in my mind.
I’ll grant that I have the moment of Rose and the Doctor separated between the wall forever fried into my brain, which probably contributes to just how much this song hits me, but still! It’s a stunning piece and it sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it.
When I hear this song, I’m moved to say “Fuck. Yes.” either in my head or out loud. It’s that awesome.
Wonderwall – Oasis
A classic, as far as I’m concerned. I can’t remember when it came out (I could look it up, but I’m far too lazy) but it’s been in my head for as long as I could remember. It’s one of those songs that you can totally forget about, but then hear it on the radio, and it’s like it never left. It’s got the power of Revertago. It’s like an old friend that you meet up with after years of separation. It all feels the same regardless of the years between seeing.
It’s got a good sound to it, a good beat, and everything about that song drips of awesome. Also, it’s a Rock Band 2 downloadable track so now you can even play it there. What’s not to love?
Categories: Top Somethings
Tagged under: Music Reviews, Top Somethings
