Before I even start this post, I'm going to let you know what is on my most listened to playlist of the moment. (There isn't a particular order, I just set iTunes to random.)
- "Call and Answer" - Barenaked Ladies (Stunt)
- "Come Back to Bed" - John Mayer (Heavier Things)
- "Incommunicado" - Jimmy Buffett (Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads)
- "Hang" - Matchbox 20 (Yourself or Someone Like You)
- "If The Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me" - Jimmy Buffett (Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads)
- "Rough Draft" - Yellowcard (unreleased?)
- "Comfortable" - John Mayer (Inside Wants Out)
- "Somewhere In Between" - Lifehouse (No Name Face)
- "Nautical Wheelers" - Jimmy Buffett (Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads)
- "Covered In Rain" - John Mayer (Any Given Thursday)
- "Fear" - Sarah McLachlan (Mirrorball)
- "Arms of a Woman" - Amos Lee (Amos Lee)
- "Come Monday" - Jimmy Buffett (Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads)
- "Room at the Top" - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (Echo)
- "Baby Won't You Come Home" - Jon Randall (single)
- "My Beloved Monster" - Eels With Strings (Live At Town Hall)
- "Dirty Girl" - Eels With Strings (Live At Town Hall)
- "Changes In Lattitudes" - Jimmy Buffett (Songs You Know By Heart)
- "Survive" - Jimmy Buffett (Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads)
- "Everlasting Moon" - Jimmy Buffett (Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads)
- "White Flag" - Dido (Life For Rent)
- "The Flag" - Barenaked Ladies (Gordon)
- "Hopeless" - Train (Drops of Jupiter)
- "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" - Barenaked Ladies (Gordon)
But why is it that sorting through music makes me feel better? Not just me.. I know I'm not the only person who has cried to a song because it makes them feel like the person is singing to or for them. (Let's not even go in to how emotional I've gotten at "Have You Ever" by Brandy and "I'm Not That Girl" from Wicked lately!) It's like Paul Fischer (my History of Recording Industry teacher, who is really pretty cool) has said in one way or another- you listen to the music that speaks to you and doesn't set off your bullshit detector. I can't listen to "Dirty Girl" without getting teary because it's like E (who is pretty much The Eels) wrote the song for me. ("Once in a while your life gets so good/It's worth all the trouble of the past/Well, that was the case but I think I always knew/Good things don't ever last.") And I think I've hit repeat for "Hopeless" more times than I care to count.
How about when you listen to a song that doesn't even make sense with the situation you're going through? "The Flag" is a song about a woman in an abusive relationship- not me in the least. And all the Jimmy Buffett? Maybe sometimes you don't need a song that vocalizes your emotions, but ones that act like a security blanket. Jimmy Buffett is one of those artists I like because of my dad. It reminds me of riding in my dad's car when I was little, and of the beach. So maybe some people attach emotions and memories to songs like they do objects, and use them in the same way? Instead of hugging a teddy bear and wearing out my favorite pajama pants (which I cannot find at the moment- that's annoying), I'm listening to songs that remind me of times when I was really happy. It's an interesting juxtaposition- the songs that remind me of what I'm going through, and the songs that remind me that my life doesn't always suck.
Maybe it's the same logic that a friend and I were using when I ranted before class: yes, stuff sucks- but thinking of happy thoughts (in that case, it was Hugh Laurie naked- House is more than a little awesome) will generally make you smile long enough to get through it.
I do this a lot, actually. I've made playlists that are just relaxing and help me get to sleep when I'm stressed. Last year, right before I went home for Thanksgiving, I made a three CD mix based on stuff I wanted to do while I was at home. (And, wouldn't you know, I accomplished my big goals.) I have a lot of playlists on iTunes where the titles are emotions ("Crappy"), things to do ("Nap"), or occasions ("Thanksgiving Break 2006"- unfinished because of things that went on pre-break, sadly). Some people eat Ben & Jerry's while watching sappy movies, I make playlists and think about music.
Now that I'm done with that- I expect that through Christmas break I will try to get some more of my CD collection added to the audio of this. I've filled up my big binder now, so I have to reorganize that, too. Oh, the things I have to do.
What is your favorite cover song?
Question submitted by Ray.
I guess I'll answer this since it relates to music.
If I check iTunes, it says my most played cover is "Home" by Michael Bublé. He's the artist I have the most covers by (28 songs- or two albums, since none of his stuff is original..), followed by Eric Clapton (Me & Mr. Johnson is just Clapton doing Robert Johnson songs, then I have "Knocking On Heaven's Door" and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out") and then Streetlight Manifesto. (I guess Keasby Nights is entirely a cover album... but Thomas Kalnoky wrote the album... so did he cover his own stuff?) And then there's U. Penn.'s a cappella choir, Off the Beat. All popular songs.
My favorite genre-jumping covers are probably "Bye Bye Bye" ('N Sync/Further Seems Forever), "My Boyfriend's Back" (The Angels/Me First & the Gimme Gimmes), "Come On Eileen" (Dexys Midnight Runners/Save Ferris), and "Gangsta's Paradise" (Coolio/Off the Beat).
Then I have "Somebody's Baby" (Jackson Browne/Phantom Planet), which could be my favorite cover. I have a punk version of "What A Wonderful World" that I like. (It's from a soundtrack, so I don't have the artist.) And "Message In A Bottle" (The Police/John Mayer), but mostly because John Mayer can do no wrong in my eyes. (Or he hasn't yet.)
So that's the highlights of the 153 (I think) covers I have on my computer!
So I have a Vox account because Zzyzx was nice enough to let me have an invite. I'm not sure what I'm going to use this for. But it's not replacing the other blogs.
So there will be more experimenting tomorrow!
on Question of the Day