Pull up a chair... take a deep breath... and get yourself a beverage... it is yet another mega-entry! As mentioned earlier today, Scott "tagged" me with the music challenge and the timing was good... today, my mindset is totally against doing anything truly productive. Per usual, this entry is long-winded & out of hand... thanks, in advance, for your patience and endurance!
1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
Well, this is not terribly accurate. I just switched to a new computer and have not moved my entire "collection" over. This is my 3rd computer since mp3s and other music files entered into our lives. On computer #1, I had tons of music. This was back in the day when music collecting did not have much of a conscience (wink, wink). Computer #2 had some of that stuff + some of my own "ripped" music + the emergence of legally purchased files... and that brings us to computer #3... right at this moment, I have 220 songs - 14 1/2 hours of music - 827mb...
2. The last CD you bought was:
Same as Scott - U2's How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. I don't buy a lot of CDs these days. The reason? I don't listen to them all that much. I don't drive a car all that much, so no real need for it there... and even the household stereo/CD player is feeling archaic of late. Fortunately, we put my office in the back bedroom of the house that faces the swimming pool... so when we are out there, I just put the stereo speakers by the window and get the music going. But getting back to the question, U2 is one of the few artists that I would consider buying a full CD instead of just purchasing a track or two online.
3. What song did you listen to just before reading this message?
Well, I am going to amend that and make it the last song that I listened to before starting this entry. Trying to determine the answer to question #1, I opened up Windows Media Player and accidently started Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." And once you hear the opening notes, there is no good reason NOT to listen to the rest of it. It will also fit the forthcoming theme for question #4... all things hopelessly (helplessly?) romantic... "Let's, let's stay together/Lovin' you whether, whether/Times are good or bad, happy or sad"
4. Name 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you and tell why they mean so much:
This questions seems to the toughest for most of us in this blog exercise... not coming up with them, but narrowing them down to just five. If you asked me last week or would ask me again next week, the list would probably be different ... but this is the "now." I often thing of myself as cynical and sarcastic (snarky!), but deep down there is a softie inside. I come from a family that does not express emotion often or in a carefree manner... and unfortunately that continues to be a dominant gene. So while I hope that my man knows how I feel about him, when I thought about this question it ended up being an unexpected sort of "love letter" in a way...(ok, I see that eye rolling!)
Elton John "Your Song" - Simply put I think this is one of the best pop songs ever. While there is no replacement for Elton's rendition, I also loved Ewan McGregor's take on it in Moulin Rouge. The lyrics are so simple but incredibly eloquent... and an unabashed expression of love...totally what I was just saying above:
"You can tell everybody this is your song/It may be quite simple but now that it's done/I hope you don't mind/I hope you don't mind that I put down in words/How wonderful life is while you're in the world."
Gladys Knight & The Pips "Midnight Train To Georgia" - Another piece of pop perfection in my humble opinion. While this song was terribly politically correct in the time of the women's lib movement in the 70s, it is still one of the best love songs ever. We were fortunate enough to see Gladys Knight in Vegas last year and it was one of the musical highlights of my life to have her perform this song literally just a few feet from me. What better expression of selfless love is there?
"I'll be with him/On that midnight train to Georgia/I'd rather live in his world/Than live without him in mine" ultimately building to the emotionally packed "I got to go I got to go I got to go" climax. You go Gladys!
Rent Soundtrack "I'll Cover You" - This one did not immediately pop into my mind, but I think it holds a special place for me. It is from the Broadway musical Rent -- it is heard first in the first act as a fairly bubbly and light-hearted love song and then re-prised in the second act as a "rip your heart out" tear-jerker. I could be wrong, but it is probably the first (and only?!) gay love song (initially, is a two-man duet). Since this selection is a tad more obscure, here is a lengthier set of lyrics:
"Live in my house/I'll be your shelter/Just pay me back with one thousand kisses/Be my lover/And I'll cover you/Open your door - I'll be your tenant/Don't got much baggage/To lay at your feet/But sweet kisses I've got to spare/I'll be there - I'll cover you/I think they meant it/When they said you can't buy love/Now I know you can rent it/A new lease on you were, my love, on life"
[Ok, this officially ends the sappy portion of question #4. ]
Annie Lennox "Why" - Now this list could have been filled up totally by Annie Lennox songs. As Todd mentioned in his take on this blogger-cise, we had the great fortune of seeing her in concert a few years back (row 3!) and she was just incredible. One of the purest voices out there today (ever!). Annie's lyrics are usually emotionally scalding and I don't think there is a better example of that than "Why" ...
"This is the book I never read/These are the words I never said/This is the path I'll never tread/These are the dreams I'll dream instead/This is the joy that's seldom spread/These are the tears.../The tears we shed/This is the fear/This is the dread/These are the contents of my head/And these are the years that we have spent/And this what they represent/And this is how I feel/Do you know how I feel?/'Cause I don't think you know how I feel/I don't think you know how I feel/I don't think you know how I feel/You don't know what I feel" One word... Wow!
Bruce Springsteen "My City of Ruins" - Agreeing with Todd on this one. While this song was written well before the actual day, it has become an anthem of 9/11. While I was physically far removed from the tragedy of that day, the emotions can still be pretty raw. It is hard not to an emotional reaction to this song... when Bruce pleads "Come on rise up! Come on rise up!" it never fails to send a shiver down my spine (and not so stoically a tear in the eye). A somber, but ultimately an uplifting and powerful tune. Springsteen morphs into some kind of rock & rolll faith minister, I dare say the spirituality of this song compares favorably to that of any "traditional" gospel song you could throw my way.
Beyond this top 5, I thought I'd share some other "time travel" musical memories. Simple Minds' "Don't You Forget About Me" takes me back to my high school days and Molly Ringwald teenage movies (of course it was the main song from the John Hughes' classic The Breakfast Club). The movie soundtrack of Grease was also an early childhood influence... and would turn into college-time karaoke with a guys vs. girls version of "Summer Nights" though readily admit to indulging in some "Hopelessly Devoted To You" and "Look At Me I'm (rest in peace) Sandra Dee" as well. Also, another sing-a-long would be Meatloaf's "Paradise By the Dashboard Light." Finally, there was our dive-bar classic ... The Georgia Satellites "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" ... at the end of the night (and too many drinks later) we would always play that one on the jukebox.
5. Who are you going to tag next? (3 persons) and why?
Ok, this is where I am going to be a very bad boy... but I have my reasons. Looking at my blogroll on the right, if my memory serves me correctly the vast majority of them have already done it!! I am also a shy, so if I haven't communicated with a person regularly... I feel funny asking. So being pretty late to this particular "music" blog-around, I feel somewhat out of options. If you are on my list and read this and haven't done it ... please volunteer in the comment section!! I do have one person in mind, but I am going to keep it private for now... if she goes through with it I will definitely let you know and provide a link. Sorry!
Ok, I will shut up... way too much posting today, I am sure I have stretched well-beyond my words per day quota!
UPDATE: I can know reveal my secret "tag" ... it is JD over at What Makes Me Tick(ed), I have "known" JD for a long time online and had the chance to meet her a couple times... once in her hometown of DC and just recently in Vegas. From her blog, I know she is knowledgeable and passionate about music, so I figured she would be a good person to pass this along to... as totally expected she blows everbody out of the water with her answer to question #1. The link will take you to her music entry. Thanks JD!












