iTunes Shuffle

When I started this blog I had the idea of writing about music as well as whatever popped into my head.  I am watching American Idol, well watching JP dance to the music and thought I would do an iTunes shuffle and write about each song that comes on.  Prepare for an eclectic mix of music and a view into how much music is a part of my life and memories.

1) Vital Signs by Rush from Live In Rio- Possibly the only song I will write about that does not immediately bring to mind a memory.  The big things for me on this song are the way the keyboards come in to start the song sets a rhythmic tone for the whole song, but does not assault you with really dated 80's synth.  Then Alex kicks in with a guitar that keeps that driving rhythm moving without blowing you out.  As usual Neil sets the tone on the drums, helping maintain that rhythm while adding something almost bordering on funky at times.

2) Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran from Rio-  This song takes me back to junior high school as it peaked on the Billboard chart in March of 1983 (when I was about to turn 11!).  It actually was released in May of 1982 and the B side of the single was a live version of "Careless Memories."  Duran Duran sort of changed music being the first band to really break due to MTV (remember when the played music videos).  They were good looking guys, dressed well and made great videos.  All the girls loved them, but the big memory I have is how awkward it seems being 11 or 12 in a car with your dad listening to a song with a girl moaning like she is having an orgasm! 

3) River City Sunday by PM- A great St. Louis band that never made it big.  The band actually brings back a lot of memories, but this song only brings back memories of coming home from college and singing it to myself as I drove across the river into St. Louis.

4) One Tree Hill by U2 from The Joshua Tree- When U2 made this album it was supposed to be their version of America and One Tree Hill really feels like driving through open spaces and small towns in the southwest.  It has that guitar that seems to blend into the whole song and makes The Edge seem like he is not a very good guitarist, but when you really listen to the guitar you realize what a master he is.

5) On The Loose by Saga from Worlds Apart- A truly 80's song, with some serious synth running through it, a driving bass and drum line with that crunchy 80's rock guitar sound flowing through it.  With the exception of the solo that goes guitar, keyboard, both, guitar, keyboard, both, it is a very typical 80's rock song.  Saga was a good but very unheralded band.

6) Paul Revere by The Beastie Boys from Licensed To Ill- Ahhh, rap by four white, Jewish guys, from a time when white kids didn't listen to rap...how the world has changed.  Humorous tale, not just about how awesome the MC is or how gangsta he is.  The music is very simple but brings the rhymes.  I remember listening to License To Ill with Emory Jackson after I got the cassette (remember those) from Dave Kendrick.  We always cracked up at the Whiffle Ball bat line.  It was rap, it was fun and it opened up other people not thinking we were crazy listening to stuff like Public Enemy or NWA.

7) Hungry For You by The Police from Ghost In The Machine- Ghost was the first record (remember those!) I ever bought and it was purchased from Styx, Baer & Fuller at Chesterfield Mall back when they had a music department in the lower level.  I loved all songs by The Police, but I really loved the parts in French, it was fun to sing in another language and have people wonder.

8) Stairs by INXS from Kick- What a great band INXS was (sorry without Michael Hutchence it's just not the same), they were the biggest band in the world for a time kind of bridging the gap between The Police and U2.  Their music always felt like it was just a step ahead of what everyone else was doing and Stairs is no exception, a driving bass beat, an almost Latin drum beat, guitars sort of hiding in the background and Michael exuding sexuality.  It builds from the start seeming to kind of float into the speakers and keep getting bigger and bigger until the chorus comes in and melts away. Then the guitar solo comes in but in away that it does not carry the song away. Fantastic!  The lyrics aren't lacking compared to the music either.  A small selection: "The nature of your tragedy ,Is chained around your neck ,Do you lead or are you led ,Are U sure that you don't car"

9) Boys of Summer by Don Henley from Building The Perfect Beast- The first time I heard this song was on a bus heading to junior high.  It was a snowy day, the bus was taking forever and Kelly Jones had his boombox in the back of the bus and played it for us in the back.  A great drum/cymbal intro catches your attention while the music does not feel dated nearly 30 years later.  As usual great lyrics by Don Henley.  What guy of the right age does not hear this song and think of girls with tan skin glistening in the sun and cool summer nights with friends.

10) Blister In The Sun by The Violent Femmes- Just an absolutely fun song!  I remember Amy something or other singing this song in Algebra class in high school with the volleyball coach (darn if I can't remember her name).  It also reminds me of a great movie Grosse Pointe Blank.  This is a song that really catches you  and gets into you, you are either dead or have had a funectomy if it doesn't.  How you can one resist the clapping beat and the dropping to a whisper and bursting out into full voice?!?!?!

11) Summertime by Kenny Chesney- Yes I like country music!  This song really captures the spirit of summer, hanging out with friends, meeting girls and all to a soundtrack of music.  Who can forget the feeling of watching the girls take of their shorts with a bikini underneath!

12) Something So Strong by Crowded House- Possibly the quintessential pop song of the 80's.  An infectiously happy melody, not too strong, but not too soft.  About love but not too syrupy sweet.  This song will always remind me of Cross Country camp at Florida St the summer before junior year of high school and everyone singing this in the fans on the way back from our long morning runs.  Everyone feeling the runners high and having fun.

13) Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie from The Dutchess- I told you my tastes are eclectic.  I really like this song.  It's got a nice acoustic guitar combined with a hip hop type beat and Fergie has an excellent voice.  I will always remember listening to it before a soccer game while setting up the field after my usual pre-game run...and having my assistant coach give me crap for liking this song.

14) Miss You by Blink 182- This song has a sort of military beat with piano, strings and guitar.  If you asked me for a song to put in a Goth movie this would be one I would pick....and all from a punkish band.  It's somewhat haunting an the change of singers really changes the mood as it creeps up on you.

15) Brilliant Disguise by Bruce Springsteen from Tunnel of Love- This song will always remind me of two things:  The first is the first time I heard it. I was in Mike McKee's car coming home from morning pre-season cross country practice and it was the new song by Bruce being played for the first time.  The XC team was filled with long time Springsteen fans, so this was huge.  The second thing it reminds me of is going to the Westminster Carnival the day I hurt my foot in a cross country meet.

16) Colorblind by Counting Crows- A great song mainly on piano and one that Adam Duritz sings to perfection.  He really sounds like he is singing with the real emotions of the song.  Sometimes it almost hurts to hear his voice.  This reminds me of hanging out with Rob and Nick my first year at UofL and going to Ear X-Tacy where a guy in my theater class gave me a small box of CD's which included this single.

17) Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by The Police from Ghost In The Machine-  My absolute favorite song.  Great music, great lyrics and a great story of Sting sitting by the pool in Monserrat writing songs with a metaphorical black cloud over his head and coming out with this beautiful song.  "It's a big enough umbrella, but it's always me that ends up getting wet."

18) I Want To Know What Love Is by Foreigner from Agent Provocateur- This song came out in 1984 when rock was just beginning to embrace the power of Journey...the power of the power ballad!  This song will always remind me of going to the St. Louis County Library Headquarters branch across from Frontenac on saturday mornings with my dad.  It is a great memory of spending time with him and of my love for books.  Though I always picture a gray winter day.

19) No Surrender by Bruce Springsteen from Born In The USA- A hard driving song that doesn't overpower.  This was one of my go to songs when getting psyched for a race in high school.  To this day I still get stoked when I hear it.  It also reminds me of friends and how you would do anything for your really good ones.

20) It's The End of The World As We Know It (and I feel Fine) by R.E.M- A great song that you can't help bounce around too.  The lyrics were always a mystery in those pre-internet days (how did we live without being able to instantly google something?!?!?!) until I borrowed a Parkway West yearbook from Dan Inabinet and saw someone had put the lyrics in it.  I still love singing all the lyrics when I hear it.  It reminds me of hanging out with the West guys and girls and having a big crush on one Kitty Hynes!

Well, I think twenty is about enough for tonight, but iTunes was kind of weak tonight on showing the true eclectic nature of my music collection.  I hope you enjoyed it and see you next time.