An Outside Observer's Top 5 Singles

So I am a little behind....(and as an aside, even with the prep that this was coming, when I saw "The Singles Project" I thought it was going to be some sort of dating endeavor.)

Indigo Girls - Left Me a Fool - I always liked the tune as just a standard backgroud-noise ballad. A couple years ago I was dating someone who thought our relationship should be a secret; I would cause him great embarassment. Several lines in the song caught me at the time as particularly relevant, and it was the first time that I found myself really identifying with a song. It described my life and feelings perfectly. I found it resonating again recently as I thought of people who seem to have so much on the surface, and when you reach inside them, you find they are completely hollow.

John Cafferty - Heart's On Fire - Because no matter how tired / bored / cranky / slow / fat / generally malcontent I am, a little burst of Rokcy picks up my workout. I want to write an iPhone app so that I can have a little bout of Rocky with one click when I need it.

Keb' Mo' - One Friend - It's a simple melody and a simple message, without being trite or predictable. I can sing along with every word and think of a different friend each time.

Aaron Tippin - Kiss This - It's trite and trashy and I love it.

Indigo Girls - I'll Change - Relatively new in the rotation. Just resonates with me and reminds me of an old friend that I haven't treated particularly well over the years. Never been purposely bad to him, but through my ups and downs in life I've dropped him and ignored him when I didn't want to admit to things. He's always there when I bounce back, and he's always deserved better.

BaristaBabe's Contribution to The Singles Project

The first two were obvious, especially since I wanted to add them to my 25 album list somehow. I don't have really clear reasons for loving them, but I remember when I first discovered them both. I was 16 and a high school band played both at the talent show. Cheesy, I know. But the lead singer - who, poor guy, suffered me as a date to one of my proms (and I mean "suffer" in a very real sense, I was a god-awful date) - sang both of these amazingly. The two songs have been favorites of mine every since.

1. Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
If possible, I play this song during every road trip (not that I take a ton of them). Growing up, leaving youth behind, uncertainty about the future, maybe a bit of regret about the past. All of that, and yet this song somehow lifts my spirits as well.
You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain for a saviour to rise from these streets
Well now I'm no hero, that's understood
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey what else can we do now
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Well the night's bustin' open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting down on the tracks




2. Angie - The Rolling Stones
No real explanation for this, but I love it. Love it, love it, love it. Maybe it was the opening few lyrics that caught me when I first heard it - right place, right time.
Angie, Angie
When will those clouds all disappear?



3. Elsewhere - Sarah McLachlan
I absolutely had to have a Sarah McLachlan song on here. Oddly enough, I haven't listened to her in ages. But Elsewhere immediately came to mind. If I were to dig up (and they exist somewhere, in storage) my high school notebooks, the lyrics to this song would be found written all over the margins and dividers. Well, any of those from 10th and 11th grade, I suspect. (Along with several other Sarah songs from Fumbling Towards Ecstasy - it was difficult to choose between Elsewhere, Mary, and Hold On.) I heard how I was feeling in this song. (In the entire album, really.) To say I was embracing my depression isn't exactly correct, but I was letting it consume me. I was owning it. I had become . . . comfortable in it, at least in the sense that it had become familiar, what I knew.
I believe
This is heaven to no one else but me
And I'll defend it as long as I can be
Left here to linger in silence
If I choose to
Would you try to understand?



4. 10,000 Days (wings pt. 2) - Tool
By far the most emotional song Maynard has ever written or sang. And you can hear it in his voice when he sings it live. The song gives me goosebumps and, particularly when live, makes me tear up. Especially around here:
You're the only one who can hold your head up high,
Shake your fists at the gates saying:
"I've come home now!
Fetch me the spirit, the son, and the father.
Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended.
It's time now!
My time now!
Give me my, give me my wings!"



5. Swan Dive - Ani Difranco
The album Little Plastic Castles was the first full Ani album I fell madly in love with. This quickly became my favorite song. It was one of those songs when - if I heard it live - I became happy. It's the sort of song I want to sing along to at the top of my lungs. I think, at least in part, I always wished I could embrace, adopt, become the attitude of the song. Courage, confidence, abandon . . . in life, love . . .
'cuz I don't care if they eat me alive
I've got better things to do than survive
I've got a memory of your warm skin in my hand
and I've got a vision of blue sky and dry land



Runners up: Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson (because it's simply an awesome rock & roll song, go for it and giggle at me); Peaceful, Easy Feeling - The Eagles (it makes me want to sing and dance around my apartment, given my usual demeanor this is something to be embraced); Hotel California - The Eagles (it's really all about the opening guitar solo

FPR's List of His Top Five Singles

FPR listed his top five singles as part of the Singles Project.

1. Venus in Furs (VU) - it is allusive to a novel written by the man from whom the word masochism is derived; love the viola. have sung it a number of times at piano bar in justins.

2. Sympathy for the Devil (Rolling Stones) - another masterpiece...

3. The Wanderer (Dion and the Belmonts) - kind of my theme song...sort of. Underneath it all, you have a guy who has a fear of commitment.

4. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Beach Boys) - mostly for the melody.

5. Ain't No Fun (Snoop Doggy Dogg) - i know it's wrong...the message at least...but it's a fun song that typifies the Gangsta mindset with women. Mama don't let your babies grow up to be gangstas.

Addendum to The Singles Project

I love both of these songs as they are great pop songs.

Ivy - This Is The Day

Listen to the lyrics and then think about how it was used in "There's Something About Mary". It makes the film even creepier.



Copper - Freckle

One of my favorite songs about young love and obsession. Luckily, I am too old for young love and I do not care about anyone enough any more for obsession.

Link to Last.FM (apparently no one has a video for this)

Matt M's Top 5 Songs and the bonus.

Matt M submitted a great list with great reasons why for The Singles Project.

This assignment was SO difficult! So difficult in fact that I'm going
to list 15, but only really discuss my Top 5. Any of the ones listed
from #15 to #6 (and likely several others that are not listed here)
could probably replace #5 or even #4 at any given moment depending on my
mood.

15) Suzanne Vega - "Luka": She made a happy sounding pop tune about a
very serious and unhappy subject. Brilliant!

14) Mr. Mister - "Kyrie": Did you know that the phrase "Kýrie, eléison"
from the chorus of this song is Greek and means "Lord, have mercy"?
Love this song!

13) Queensrÿche - "Jet City Woman": Great rock song and Geoff Tate's
voice is amazing.

12) Stone Temple Pilots - "Interstate Love Song": Scott Weiland kept
his shit together just long enough (just over 3 minutes) to deliver a
perfect pop-rock song.

11) Tracey Ullman - "They Don't Know": An early 80s tune that sounds
like it could've been from the 60s...I just love it.

10) Madonna - "Live To Tell": So many great songs, but this is a
masterpiece.

9) John Denver - "Rocky Mountain High": One of the records in our
collection of 45s when I was little...loved it then and still love John
Denver today.

8) Tesla - "Love Song": Tesla rocked without doubt and this is a
perfectly realized rock ballad.

7) The Ray Conniff Singers - "Ring Christmas Bells": I could listen
to this Christmas song a million times and never get tired of
it...another memory of childhood.

6) Vertical Horizon - "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)": A
brilliant song that had special meaning for me after a
breakup...should've been a bigger hit than it was.

#5) The Seekers - "Georgy Girl b/w Morningtown Ride": Another one from
the childhood 45 collection. I have a thing for vocal harmonies
involving both men and women. "Georgy Girl" was the title song from the
1966 British film of the same name and it's harmonies along with the
catchy "whistle-riff" made it really appealing to me as a child. The
B-side was "Morningtown Ride", a child's lullaby that was a big hit in
the UK...again very kid-oriented. I have fond memories of sitting in
front of that record player in the dining room watching the orange and
yellow yin-yang label on the record spin as I listened. When I listen
to these songs today, I am taken right back there.

#4) Rob Thomas - "Little Wonders": From the movie Meet the Robinsons, I
first heard this song on VH-1. It became a minor hit around the time my
Dad was dying from pancreatic cancer. It was also around this time that
I asked my family to start contributing stories and photos for a family
memory book that I had intended to complete before Dad passed away, but
unfortunately that didn't happen. After his death, I had a renewed
vigor to complete the book as a Christmas present for my siblings. I
decided that for the final section of the book, I wanted to include
several pages of photos interspersed with the lyrics of a song and,
somehow, I decided on this one. The book was titled "The Magin Family:
Small Hours and Little Wonders". Before ordering the books from the
online service I used to create it, I sat at the computer watching a
slideshow of the pages while listening to the song, bawling my eyes out.
I included a copy of the song on CD inside each of the books I gave my
siblings...I've heard it had the same effect on several of them. It's
almost like it's been adopted as the Magin theme song. I still get
misty when I hear it.

#3) Gordon Lightfoot - "Rainy Day People": It's just a simple
county/folkie song from the 1970s and, again part of my c
hildhood record
collection. (When I talk about my childhood record collection, they
were actually my parents' records.) There's something I have always
loved about Lightfoot's recorded voice. It's really a sad, moody
acoustic ballad...it really takes me away. Another song I remember
sitting in the dining room listening to and looking at that heavy
Spanish/Mediterranean painting on the wall over the record player
imagining myself in the dark, lonely place depicted. The string
arrangement that comes in at the end of the instrumental always kills me
in this song. "Rainy day lovers don't hide love inside, they just pass
it on..."

#2) The Mamas & The Papas - "California Dreamin'": Another one of those
girl/guy harmony tunes I love so much...I don't know that I've ever
listened to another song that made feel like I was experiencing what
they're singing...like I'm the one who went for a walk on a winter's
day, like I'm the one who stopped into a church and got down on my knees
to pray...literally like I'm living the song. I dig the dark and somber
tone to the song and that flute solo...holy crap! There has NEVER been
a better use of a flute solo in rock history! This is the classic of
all classics. The other thing I like about The Mamas & The Papas is
that they always have so much more going on in their songs than it
seems. If you don't believe me, take this song or "I Saw Her Again" for
example, and change the balance on your speakers so it only comes out of
the left one. Then listen to the song again through only the right
speaker. It's like listening to 2 totally different songs...they were
very intricate with their stereo sound for a group of the 1960s and I
think it only added to the fantastic male/female dynamic of the group.

#1) Def Leppard - "Hysteria": I have to admit, I wasn't the biggest fan
of this song when it first came out in 1988. Over the years, I have
grown to appreciate it immensely. I understand the production on this
(and the entire album) is insane, but there is so much going on in this
song, it's astounding. Take a listen to it sometime and really try to
listen for all the different guitar parts to this song, especially at
the end. I think I count at least six. The overall result is amazing.
The song, lyrically, ("magical mysteria" aside) is great for me, too.
And the video for it is quite beautiful. The entire execution
surrounding this song is pristine! I recall listening to the cassette
version on my walkman one day on the porch outside my parents' house...I
think I was about 14. I had the volume cranked as high as it would go
and I was standing with my eyes closed. When the song got to about the
4:33 mark, with all the instruments whirring in my head and the vocals
soaring at the highest point of the song, I literally felt like I was
about to pass out...I got dizzy and had to pull the headphones off.
Awesome! I can totally understand this not being people's cup of tea,
but there are so many great things about the recorded version of this
song, I think this will always be my #1 of all time.


Thank you!

This is the best annotated list so far and I am impressed with the effort and the time that it took to do this. For this one, I feel that embedding the videos will take away from the words.

Meghan's Top Five Singles

Meghan submitted her top five singles for The Singles Project.

Sarah McLachlin – Hold On

I have loved this song for years and it remains one of my all time favorites. It speaks of such love and strength.



Pearl Jam – Black

I turn the car radio up the loudest when this song comes on. It contains some of the most haunting and heartbreaking lyrics I know.



The Promise - Tracy Chapman

I first heard this song after a bad break up, and I listened to it on repeat every night before I fell asleep for a long time. Within a year, I met my future husband (again) and realized that we had been separated by time and distance and didn’t even know it. The song described us in so many ways.



Coldplay – Clocks

I fell in love to this song. It was our theme.



Landslide - Fleetwood Mac/Smashing Pumpkins

I don’t even know where I first heard this song, as I’m not a Fleetwood Mac fan, but I love it, and all of the covers that have been made of it, especially the one by Smashing Pumpkins.



Such a good list! Thanks, Meghan!

Please keep sending your lists in!

ODB's Top Five Songs

ODB listed his top five singles for The Singles Project:

1. "Strawberry Fields Forever", The Beatles ~ The greatest pop song ever written.



2. "Possession", Elvis Costello ~ It's just a good tune. It's written about a woman he has seen but doesn't know. There is a certain enigma about it. It is brilliant.



3. "Fat Man in the Bathtub", Little Feat ~ It has good hooks as far as music and filthy lyrics without being obscene.



4. "Memo From Turner", The Rolling Stones ~ Filthiest, nastiest blues ever heard. And, makes reference to abortion.



5. "Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me)", Steely Dan - it's a story with hooks. Depressing and sad with upbeat melodies.



Thanks, ODB, this is a great list!

Tracy's Top Five Songs

Tracy listed her top five songs for The Singles Project.

I'll bite.

1. Clair de Lune ~ Claude Debussy: I first learned this song when I was 14 years old and performed for the Guild. Impressionist, poetic, and epic. It's what a sunrise would sound like.




2. Prelude in C# minor ~ Sergei Rachmaninoff: A song about a man who is buried alive and wakes up in his coffin: it's dark as Clair de Lune is light. Compelling stuff.




3. Hey Pretty ~ Poe/Polyester Bride ~ Liz Phair/Here and Now ~ Letters to Cleo: All songs that remind me of being hot, single, and in my late twenties. It's a three way tie.

Hey Pretty





4. La Vie en Rose ~ Edith Piaf: Exemplifies my life: lots of shit but always a happy outlook on things.



5. Ave Maria ~ Schubert: Will forever remind of my mother.



A great list, and a departure from the the usual pop singles that I have seen.

Thanks, Tracy!

Please keep your lists coming in!

Jenny's Top Five Singles

Jenny contributed her top five singles as part of the singles project!

Un Jour de Paix - 113

Si la paix pouvait embrasser ce monde juste un jour,
Une trêve, une pause pour que l’on sache après quoi on court.
Sait-on encore c’que signifie l’amour ?



Gravel - Ani DiFranco

And maybe you can keep me
from ever being happy
but you're not going to stop me
from having fun...




Big City Life - Mattafix

Don’t you wanna know me?
Be a friend of mine.
I’ll share some wisdom with you.
Don’t you ever get lonely,
From time to time?
Don’t let the system get you down...



Kill Yourself - Timbaland

I'm number one, you ain't nothin' but shit.
When they need a hit, I'm who they come to get.
Talk to me...



Holiday - Madonna

You can turn this world around
And bring back all of those happy days
Put your troubles down
It's time to celebrate...



Thank you, Jenny! I had never heard three of those songs until you pointed them out. That is a great result from this project that I didn't anticipate!

PVH1976's Top Five Singles

@PVH1976 contributed her top five singles to The Singles Project.

This is the order they popped in my head. Interestingly, "The Eagles" are not in my top 25 albums (and, would not be in my top 40), but that is b/c the only song I really am addicted to (no pun intended) by them is in my top five songs. I'm sure I am forgetting songs, but I went free-flow, and did not analyze my selections.

"Run", Snow Patrol ~ There is something about the melody I love, & I relate to the lyrics because of past relationships.



"Hotel California", The Eagles ~ This song was played @ every dance, prom, etc... when I was in h.s., & it has always just stuck w/me. Yes, it deals w/drug & addictions (interesting for h.s. dances, but something I deal with weekly because I run an addictions group now), but I just always loved the melody & rhythm.



"Brown Eyed Girl", Van Morrison ~ If you know me, you may notice I have huge brown eyes. It's my theme song :-)



"High and Dry", Radiohead ~ Ever since I heard this song, I have loved it. I listen to it every day @ work (literally). Not the happiest of songs, but too many times I was left high & dry... Another song that has personal meaning regarding relationships of the past.




"Fix You", Coldplay ~ The story of my life! Nothing else needs to be said.



Great list, P.!

Thanks for taking the time to do this and I look forward to seeing many more!

Erik's Singles for The Singles Project

Erik compiled a list for The Singles Project.

Serve the servants – Nirvana (After the Nevermind album alters music forever by destroying every 80s hair band on earth, what does Kurt Cobain croon in the opening two lines of the first track on the very next album? “Teenage angst has paid off well, Now I’m bored and old”. Perfection – no more needs to be said.)

Beautiful People – Marilyn Manson (I understand that the artist has offered several interpretations of this song. That being said, I as a listener I have supplanted my own singular interpretation and will forever view this song as a giant f-you to all opponents that stand in your way and gloat about it.)

Starve – Henry Rollins (Because I make the colors go, I push my senses out, I keep my existence lean.)

Geek Stink Breath – Green Day (A gruesome cautionary tale about meth howled over a grinding punk riff and bombastic beat. What’s not to like?)

Colors – ICE T (The only song I knew ALL the lyrics to by heart. Before Ice T became a TV cop, he had an incredible ability to tell gripping stories and paint a crisp picture of gang violence. See also, Ice T’s “6 in the morning “.)

Thanks for the great list, Erik and I hope that we see more lists of people's favorite songs!

Announcing The Singles Project

So, a lot of you have shared you top 25 albums of all time as part of The Album Project which I appreciate more than I can explain, and I have a new project...

The Singles Project.

Here is the deal...

What are your favorite five songs of all time and why? The reason could be musical...or autobiographical...or even scatological (meaning you cannot use the lavatory without humming the theme to "Knight Rider"...come on...it's a thing)!

They do not have to be in order because I know for some, it would be akin to choosing which child you like more and I don't wish to make anyone into a character from a Styron novel.

Without further ado, here is my list:

Divorce Song - Liz Phair

This song was my life for a long time. What is means to me is that some times, being in a bad relationship is better than being alone, but the whole pull of yourself into the abyss of your own doubt, and feelings of failure, and the weight of the expectations of people who have your best interests at heart can be suffocating.



The River - Bruce Springsteen

In my opinion, no one sings about the failures of lost youth and disappointment with life better than the Boss. I listen to this song and I can see myself in a similar situation if I hadn't been lucky and made decent choices.



Throw It All Away - Zero 7

Just for the lyric, "Side One, Track Two, on a record of you" which strikes me as the most romantic thing I have ever heard.



This Modern Love - Bloc Party

When I say that I want to live my life like an indie rock love song...this is what I mean.



Troy - Sinead O'Connor

For the longest time, this was my favorite song in the world, and after more than 20 years, it is still one of the songs that I will sing in the shower. Plus, it helped set the standard for the type of woman whom I ultimately fall in love with, much to my detriment.



So...same rules as before...there are no real rules, but if you want to participate, please send me an e-mail, a message on Facebook or leave your list as a comment.