I find it more satisfying to post things about music, so instead of more liquor recipes and car porn, I’m going to tell you about some of my favorite songs. Hopefully you’ll check them out if you’re unfamiliar…
Big Country – “In a Big Country”
I honestly have no memory of hearing this song before hearing Moe. perform it at numerous festivals. I loved how it’s bright guitar sounds and guarded optimism complimented the sun and mud and rain at outdoor venues, so it stuck with me, and always evokes those memories. It also features one of my all-time favorite lines:
“I’m not expecting to grow flowers in the desert,
but I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime”
Pretty darn close to my own outlook on life, which is why I ultimately love this song.
Dream Academy – “Life in a Northern Town”
This is another song that I love because of a specific images it reminds me of, mainly of one of my favorite meteorological phenomenons: sunshine through the clouds during an afternoon shower. Although far from life in a Northern town, this song to me is memories of playing in backyard mud puddles with my brothers as children. Funny how art can mean things to people that were so different from how they were intended.
Enough of 80s one-hit wonders
My Morning Jacket – “Hopefully/Bermuda Highway”
Two of the best songs by one of the best bands of the last decade. Appearing back-to-back on their 2001 masterpiece At Dawn, these simple, quite gems compliment each other so much that they’re like two sides of the same coin. Clearly addressed to the same person, Jim James’ otherworldy voice communicates longing, hope and sexual desire so well that lyrics are almost unnecessary. This band has had a big impact on me in recent years – as a friend of mine so eloquently stated: “I got laid a lot more because of MMJ”
Time for another tearjerker…
Gillian Welch – “Annabelle”
The song that contains the words I’ve requested to be inscribed on my tombstone, Gillian’s heartbreaking story of poverty and the loss of a child is one of the most memorable and poignant songs of its kind ever written. I’d like to name a daughter after the song if I’m ever blessed with one, but I’ll probably end up getting vetoed…
Radiohead – “True Love Waits”
The definitive love song from our generation’s greatest band. What makes it so special is how different it is from everything else they’ve done. Memories…
Charlie Robison – “Photograph”
Pretty sentimental, but it really speaks to exactly how I feel about my family…
Bob Dylan – “The Times They are A-Changin’”
Maybe the best song ever written – take it away Bob…
The Knife – “Heartbeats”
Probably didn’t expect to see this one here. Jose Gonzalez does a great acoustic reworking.
CSNY – “Southern Cross”
My favorite classic rock song, nothing reminds me more of how much I miss the ocean. Also released right around the time I was born.
Bright Eyes – “First Day of My Life”
The song that will be played at my wedding, also one of my favorite music videos. The lyrical genius of Conor Oberst in a rare tender moment…
I liked writing this, so I may make this a recurring topic for future posts. Hope y’all enjoyed…
