Ah yes, we are continuing to branch out on this blog. First writing, then baby elephant videos, now…….
Music!
It’s ever the steady evolution.
Ahem. So. If you had to pick one. Just one. Just one song to listen to the rest of your life, your favorite song of all time, the one that speaks to you, the one that practically IS you, the one that you hold above all others.
Just one!!!
Which one is it?
I would have to go with……
“Little Eyes” by Yo La Tengo. No! “Star Witness” by Neko Case. No! “Non Je Regrette Rien” by Edith Piaf. No! “Oh Yoko” by John Lennon. No! “Georgia On My Mind” by Ray Charles.
As you can see the rules are a bit loose on this one. Let’s go with songS.
Diane J. says
Thank goodness you have loose rules:
Touring by the Ramones
WigWamBam by Sweet
The Very Thought of You by Billie Holliday
Daydream Believer by the Monkees
You're so Vain by Carly Simon
American Pie by Don Mclean
How loose are the rules, I could be here a while? Great question
Suzan Harden says
Duel of the Fates – John Williams
Yes, I know the Phantom Menace sucked, but that piece still sends shivers down my spine.
lora96 says
Drops of Jupiter–Train is my all-time favorite.
I do go thru phases so my current song to listen to obsessively is Glycerine–Bush (the band, NOT the expresident)
@Watcher55, #3 on Train's new cd, "I Got You" samples blackwater in the chorus…very fun!
D.G. Hudson says
"Non Je Regrette Rien" by Edith Piaf. (that's one of my favorites, too.)
"Thunder on the Mountain" by Bob Dylan.
"Love Struck Baby" by SR Vaughn (This one would be my all-time favorite if there can be only one.)
"Talking in Circles" by Jim Byrnes.
Mostly blues and jazz for me. With a dash of rock & roll.
D.G. Hudson says
Minor correction for my comment:
For Edith Piaf, I think the song should be Non, Je ne Regrette Rien, Nathan. Just googled it since it didn't sound quite right.
Courtney Price ~ Vintage Ginger Peaches says
There's no WAY I can choose.
I have, however, pinpointed a song that I believe is universally liked (although, I'm sure someone will prove me wrong):
Hotel California.
NO ONE hates that song. Right?
Tim Riley says
Since you mentioned 5 songs, I'll do the same.
"Drain You"-Nirvana
"Into the Mystic"-Van Morrison
"One"-U2
"All These Things That I Have Done"-killers
"Born to Run"-The Boss
Watcher55 says
@Lora96 – Great stuff. I'm listening to their playlist on Youtube. I now have a new station on Pandora.
Thanks Loads
Ted Cross says
This will seem weird since I am such a hard rock guy, with Zeppelin, Floyd, Tool, APC, Green Day, Who, and so forth always getting loads of play time in my iTunes, but the one song I can put on repeat and listen to over and over again without ever tiring is my edited version of Enya's 'Council of Elrond'. I have it fade out just after the last vocal, so it is quite short at just over two minutes, but it is an exquisitely gorgeous piece of music.
Ted Cross says
@Katt, if I could cheat like you and take an entire soundtrack, I would take the incredible Blade Runner sountrack (the extended one)!
Heather says
I'm going with album too.
Counting Crows August and Everything After. I listened to it every day for an entire summer and never got sick of it, so I think it's a safe bet.
Matthew Rush says
You started cheating before you even finished the post Nathan. Could you not have even waited for the comments?
Just kidding. Anyway, mine is Junglist, by Tribe of Issachar, on Congo Natty Records, the DJ Zinc Remix. Good luck finding it.
Kate Higgins says
"The Rainbow Connection" as sung by Kermit the Frog…no, I'm not kidding.
Anonymous says
Pee Wee Herrman Theme Song.
Doris Fleck says
For me it would definitely be U2's "40." I've heard it in concert during their War Tour (I know, that dates me) and found out the meaning of it a few weeks later. "How long to sing this song?" – Forever, for me!
farmerswife3404 says
23 by Jimmy Eat World
Stephanie Garber says
Such a hard question!
But I think it could possibly be:
Your Ex-Lover Is Dead – by stars.
Don't let the first line of this song throw you off… it really is an awesome song!
Hear You Me -by Jimmy Eat World is a close second.
Samantha G says
The call- Regina Spektor. I'll cheat and pick two… Boulevard of Broken Dreams- Greenday. Price Tag- Jessie J. It wasn't me (cough, cough.)
cwsherwoodedits says
If I only had one to pick, it would be Harry Chapin's Circle.
MJR says
oh, this is hard…interesting so many chose Halleluiah… is this the same one sung by Jeff Beck? I love that song, too.
Stand by Me–Ben E King
Over the Rainbow (sung by Judy Garland or Hawaiian singer–can't remember his name)
At Last–Etta James
Bird on a Wire–Leonard Cohen
A Change is Gonna Come sung by Otis Redding or Sam Cooke
Georgia on my Mind sung by Willie Nelson or Ray Charles
Mr. Tambourine Man–Bob Dylan
For All The Saints (hymn)
Danny Boy
All through the Night (in Welsh)
oh, I give up….
CheekyGirl says
Today I'm going with Over the Rainbow – the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole version. Amazing voice and the song just seeps with emotion.
Ask me any other day and it might be one of my other top 5! 🙂
dmc says
"Look On" – John Frusciante
"Talk Tonight" – Oasis
"Off He Goes" – Pearl Jam
Nicole says
If we're going with "you can only listen to one song the rest of your life," add my vote for Hallelujah! That was the first song that popped into my mind even before opening the comments trail. It's great because it seems that EVERYONE has their own version of it, so I could still get a good mix of music styles from one song. 🙂
Picking a favorite, though? It's too hard to choose. I love so many songs! Stephanie, Bed of Roses is up there on my list, too.
Patricia Lynne says
Basketcase by Green Day. Not because I feel like the song describes me or anything remotely deep but because from the moment I heard it, saw the music video I was in LOVE. It was instant love and is still going strong. (Can't say that about a lot things in life.)
Bryan Russell (Ink) says
Actually, I only need one:
What A Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong.
Number two, if needed, would be:
Waiting For the Sun, by The Doors.
Catherine says
Hard to pick just one, but I'd have to go with Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. It's the total package.
Lu says
Hotel California by the Eagles
OR
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
OR
…this is too hard. How about our favorite five?
Kate Hart says
I like a lot of different kinds of music, but for fifteen years my favorite song has been "Wiser Time" by The Black Crowes.
Huntress says
Inna Gadda Da Vida by Iron Butterfly.
End of discussion.
Anonymous says
Ray Charles, 1967, "Here We Go Again" composed by Don Lanier and Red Steagall.
I've enjoyed it since 1967. It's even better today, trucking alone along down a sidewalk with my creative imagination stirred up to fever pitch mentally composing a scene, listening to it from my digital player and earphone buds, oblivious to anything but my immediate environment and even that merely an impressionistic backdrop to the proxy reality I'm creating.
Otherwise, give me Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, Marshall Tucker, Bob Weir, John Prine, Janice Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Wills, Hank Williams Junior or Senior, Allman Brothers with Dickey Betts, acid rock, country rock, bluegrass instrumental, soul, and rythym and blues.
Just da rock-a-billy blues, mon. Keepin' on truckin'.
Bryan Russell (Ink) says
I gotta put Pearl Jam's Jeremy out there, too…
Parisa says
I'm so happy to hear Neko Case is on someone else's list besides mine!
"I'm an Animal"-Neko Case
"Casimir Pulaski Day"- Sufjan Stevens.
Wow, that was easier than I thought! I'm sure I'll think of more favorites later but I don't know if they can top these two.
T. Anne says
I know this is SOO wrong, but I love Pebo Bryson's If ever your in my arms again. Weird, I know, right? But believe you me it's been the inspiration of more than one of my novels.
I also like the oddball, The Rose, by Bette Midler. I might even cry on occasion when I hear it.
So many others that make me pause.
John says
My favorite songs change pretty often, but here are five that have been consistent over the years:
The Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson
Everlasting Love – Carl Carlson
The Scientist – Coldplay
Roads – Portishead
Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
Kristina says
"Yellow" by Coldplay. Favorite. Song. Ever. I've been told before that it's a weird song to be your favorite, but I don't care! It makes me indescribably happy.
Ulysses says
Enya, Orinoco Flow.
Ulysses says
Wait, no. Rainbow Connection, by Kermit the Frog, but only if it's sung by my daughter.
Jeffrey Ricker says
"Running up that Hill," by Kate Bush.
Or maybe it's "Moments of Pleasure," also by Kate Bush.
On the other hand, it could be "A Coral Room" or maybe "Joanni," also by (surprise!) Kate Bush.
Either way, I'm pretty sure it's a Kate song….
Kate says
Not sure if this one "is" me, but Long Cool Woman (The Hollies) is a lingering favorite.
Robena Grant says
I Hope You Dance, Lee Ann Womack
Mira says
I love the Rainbow Connection by Kremit, too! 🙂
I thought of another song that speaks to me consistently:
Let the River Run by Carly Simon. It's the title track to Working Girl (I know) and won the Oscar that year. Wonderful song.
I also like the (badly titled) Nature Boy – Nat King Cole's version.
Okay, I think that's my five (at least). Fun thread.
Anonymous says
When you wish upon a star
Elaine AM Smith says
Naming my absolute favourite (pop) song is less painful than narrowing the rest down to, say, a top ten.
My favourite is Don't Speak by No Doubt.
Susan Antony says
I love too many songs to pick just one. I have no favorite. But, Get Together by the Youngbloods is playing in my head right now.
Jill says
Easy…my father – self taught guitar – recorded before he met my mother – found it after he passed and was able to transfer it to a CD. He sang "House of the Rising Sun" and many others. He passed away in 1998 – my mother passed away July 2010 and we played his cd for her as she passed peacefully surrounded by all of us. Love transcends and I have it on a CD…Love you mom and dad, miss you and see you soon.
Anonymous says
Right now, Sweet Song by Blur .
Michelle @ The True Book Addict says
Like you said, it has to be songS!
You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart by Sinead O'Connor, Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith, Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, Your Woman by White Town, Jenny was a Friend of Mine by The Killers, Full Moon by Black Ghosts
I could go on and on…and on! I have a lot of faves, but these are the stand outs.
StaceyW says
My favorite song changes probably weekly. But here are a few that stand out:
With or Without You, U2
The Scientist, Coldplay
Alone, Heart
No One's Gonna Love You, Band of Horses
Comfortable, John Mayer
Such Great Heights, Iron & Wine AND The Postal Service
Fun topic.
Anonymous says
Being Alive, Sondheim
Carson Lee says
Limiting myself to ONE song per artist, just for a parameter….
(and these are not in any order)
"Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry
"Proud Mary" by Tina Turner
"Anticipation" by Carly Simon
"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" by Bob Dylan
"End Of The Line" by The Traveling Wilburys
"L-O-V-E" by Natalie Cole
"Gold Dust Woman" by Fleetwood Mac
"Mac The Knife" by Bobby Darrin