I’ve always been a decade or two behind when it comes to music. I grew up listening to a fun mix of 70’s funk, 60’s protest music, and a “Hooked on Classics” record that I would listen to as I spun myself into a silly twirly pile of nausea in our shag carpeted living room.
I didn’t listen to the radio, but I did have my own record player and a handful of my mum’s old records. Some of my favourite childhood memories involve jumping up and down on my four poster bed and whipping my hair about in time to the Beach Boys.
I discovered 80’s music in the mid-90’s when I was old enough to attend church dances. My friends would jump up ecstatically when one of their favourite songs from their youth came on. Me? I was discovering something new. I never let on though. Apparently I’ve a talent for lip-synching songs I’ve never heard before.
Sometime after I graduated from highschool I discovered MTV and the like. I spent an entire semester of University sleeping every other night. I’d stay up all night watching music videos, completely enthralled…and mildly horrified. Other nights I’d tune in to CBC’s Jazz Beat (yes, I finally discovered the radio) and groove away while I wrote essays for my many lit classes.
I never got around to buying many CD’s though. I had a handful I’d been given as gifts from my mum. Celine Dion (who I couldn’t stand, I’m afraid), Loreena McKennitt (whose music I adored but had to give up because of the melancholy it would send me spiralling down into), and some Disney CD’s that were borrowed by a quasi-friend once and never returned.
I still own relatively few. My musical tastes shift with a worrying frequency and speed. I feel I’m making up for lost time. Like I’ve been thirsty for so long and am now trying to quench that thirst with the fierce spray of a fire hydrant. I can’t seem to drink it all in half so quickly as I would like.
Slowly though, I’m forming the soundtrack to my life. It’s woefully incomplete though, and I need help. I’m 3.6 pounds away from earning my ipod (the reward for achieving my next weight loss goal) and I don’t have the faintest idea what I’m going to fill it with.
So I open the floor to you. What music brings you joy? Makes you want to leap up and dance? Given the chance, what would you fill my new ipod with?
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39 Comments
Oh my gosh, I had Hooked on Classics too! Actually my mom probably still has it :-)
I don’t think you want my recommendations…my darling husband referred to my taste in music the other day as “folk music”. He also thinks Peter, Paul and Mary are Scottish so I don’t know if his opinion counts.
I like Daughtry, Lifehouse, Cold Play and Nickelback.
I didn’t listen to the radio in high school either, New Kids on the Block ewwww.
Well, you’d have to start with ABBA, then some Donna Summer, because I loooooove me some disco!!
Then Martina McBride because she’s my favorite country artist.
But for dancing, I’d go with Duran Duran, A-Ha, OMD, New Order, Pet Shop Boys (obviously!), maybe a little Erasure (not much, though), and Bananarama.
Don’t forget Do You Want To Dance With Me by Icehouse! (they’re a 1-hit-wonder group, but that song rocks!!)
Then again, I would also have to add some Bach (Brandenburg concertos, particularly), maybe Bolero, and especially some Beethoven (7th symphony, but anything by him, really). Mozart has some really moving and intense requiems as well.
That’s a nice list, to start with…
Good luck with those last few pounds! I’m cheering for you! ;)
oy . . . I could go forever on this one. OMD Depeche Mode B-52, simon and garfunkal, peter Simon, Coldplay, Vertival Horizon, Alannis Morissette, rachmaninov, marie frederichsson, Soup Dragons, okay really you don’t want my advice on this. I like everything and there isdn’t an ipod that can hold it all. But have fun with it!
Wow… hmm… Can I just refer you to my play list? Cause it would be one freakishly long comment if I listed ALL of the songs I thought you should have on your ipod. If you REALLY want some suggestions – I’m loving a lot of the music by This Day and Age… Plain White T’s have a few songs I like… but, some that I’m not very fond of. The Fray is good… Lifehouse… um… then I like some different music. Mighty Mighty Bosstones (be super careful here – some of their stuff is nasty) and the Aquabats are favorites… Jack Johnson is good… Daniel Powter… seriously… oh, and all of the stuff that Magirk suggested is awesome! :)
hmmm…I adore love songs and ballads-particularly “waiting for you” Richard Marx. However to get up and dance to-definatly Third Day-they are an amazing Christian rock band I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!
And sadly enough I grew up on a 2000 acre ranch so counrty is definatly part of my life (just not the old stuff-definatly prefer new!)Good luck with the last few pounds!
Go to this site for the best on music. Thats mostly what she blogs about and she seeks for good and different music. She is my friend so be nice. meetthepassionista.blogspot.com
She has really made me look at music in a whole new way. I love variety and I really like alot of Canadians music. Whats with you people? Love it.
I don’t know if you’re looking for 80’s stuff or just everything… but, as I was thinking of all the 80’s music I thought of Roxette :) Oh, and Milli Vanilli ;)
I loved “Hooked on Classics” when it first came out.
A site that I like for “trying out” new music before I buy it is pandora.com You can make your own radio station there, based on music that you already know you like. I’ve discovered some new “music loves” that way.
Hey! What’s so funny about Hooked on Classics?! Oh wait, I grew up listening to Moon River and Puccini… I thought Hooked on Classics was rock and roll till I was about 12… Right. You need to listen to Corrine Baily Rae, Natasha Bedingfield, Micheal Buble. I like the mellower current stuff, if I’m not listening to oldies or jazz.
For a little Canuck content – Tragically Hip (for days when you want loud) and Blue Rodeo… my kids are addicted to their latest CD. And Michael Buble is nice… and very funny in concert.
I am sure there are more, but I have not been alone for 4 days now… small brain…
It’s terribly hokey, but my best happy music is from Musicals. All I have to do is turn on Singin’ In the Rain or The King and I, and my mood is transformed.
I know, I’m a geek.
I’m lost when it comes to contemporary music, but I agree that you’d need to add some ABBA. Simon & Garfunkle couldn’t hurt, either. Or James Taylor. Love the Eagles.
For some more modern stuff, I adore Patrick Doyle’s film scores, like Much Ado and Sense & Sensibility.
Wilco, Iron & Wine, ABBA, Cranberries and Allison Kraus to start. I may be back with more of my favorites.
There are some flowers for you at my blog…
80’s music.
Arrogant worms.
I have to agree with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones recommendation
Norah Jones!
i love you for hating celine. i call her silly dion. i’m original like that.
ooooooh. i am totally inspired to send you a sampling of my favorite stuff. that will be fun. oh yes. now i gotta find my itunes computer. that beast is downstairs.
icehouse had more than one hit, magirk (who won’t probably look at this). and i bought that stupid album for that stupid song (was it electric blue?) and never listened to it. it’s long gone. but i LIKE you for liking pet shop boys, OMD and erasure (yes, not much of it, but some).
oh YES BRANDENBURG!!! dude, whoever magirk is, he should be listened to. hey, if you’re going to talk classical, dude? smetana’s ma vlast is one of the most BEAUTIFUL.PIECES.EVER oh, and mussorgsky’s pictures a exhibition.
oh now julie i’m with you too here. b-52s, depeche mode, coldplay, all great choices.
melissa, milli vanilli is not music. roxette yes. kim, step away from the millis.
okay, i will stop listening to rufus wainwright for a few hours and will go through my collection for you. i got some air, i got some annie lennox, i got some space, i got some robbie williams. yummy. lighthouse family is beautiful. ocean colour scene really grows on you. and what about some shania and some dixie chicks?
i could go on all night. but i won’t.
The other day I left a long comment for Kateastrophe with some recommendations. Copying and pasting:
. I like to think I have obscure, eclectic taste, but bear in mind that I am a 41-year-old SAHM who never watches TV. With that caveat:
Artists/Albums off the top o’ my head;
Bryn Terfel, especially The Vagabond (if you love BSM, you’ll love this tasty Welsh baritone)
Hem, especially Rabbitsongs
The Wailin’ Jennys, especially Firecracker
The Duhks
Resorting to my massive iTunes file for some singles:
Ben Harper: “Steal My Kisses” and “Pictures of Jesus”
Cake: “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”
Calexico: “Cruel”
Carbon Leaf: “Life Less Ordinary”
Chemical Brothers: “Let Forever Be”
The Corrs: “Breathless”
Cute is What We Aim For: “There’s a Class for This”
Deep Dish: “Sacramento”
Delays: “Nearer than Heaven”
Donna the Buffalo: “Love and Gasoline”
Dukes of the Stratosphear: “Vanishing Girl”
The Elms: “Hey, Hey”
A Fine Frenzy: “You Picked Me”
The Fratellis: “For the Girl”
Great Big Sea: “Stumbling In” and “Sea of No Cares”
Mike Doughty: “Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well”
Monsoon: “Ever So Lonely”
Nickel Creek: “Green and Gray”
The Nylons: “Up the Ladder to the Roof”
Polyphonic Spree: “Light & Day/Reach for the Sun”
The Postal Service: “Such Great Heights”
The Raconteurs: “Steady as She Goes”
Rogue Wave: “Publish My Love”
Saint-Privat: “Tous les Jours”
Shout Out Louds: “Very Loud”
Sixpence None the Richer: “Don’t Dream it’s Over” and “Kiss Me”
Stellastarr: “My Coco”
Toni Price: “Beautiful Garden”
The Veronicas: “4ever”
There’s much more where this came from…. :D
I can’t be of much help. My ipod has very little on it yet.
I think I’m going to add some pathetic hip/hop music to walk to.
I used to love those trashy songs when I did Jazzercise.
*sigh*
Way to go, meeting your goals.
I would have so many songs on an ipod (if i had one!) and it would be hard to even know where to start. The 70’s and 80’s would be a jumping off point–The Cure, The Jam, Aerosmith, Lynard Skynard, etc.–I don’t even know if I could choose! Have fun picking your playlist!
I usually only listen to the radio these days. So whatever the top 10 songs are that get played over and over again on the radio are my favorite. Really. I’m very easily pleased.
Though, I also really like Black Eye Peas, High School Musical (any musicals or any Disney things really), and Enya
definitely liking most of the suggestions so far . . . but yes . . . milli vanilli . . . a little too umm . . . well we won’t go there . . .
THE BEATLES!!!!!
Avril Lavigne, Vanessa Carlton, 5 for Fighting, Chris Rice, Coldplay, MercyMe, Josh Groban, Hayley Westenra, Charlotte Church, Matt Dusk, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald (if you’re inclined to like big-band-era stuff), Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand, and if you like LDS music . . . Cherie Call, Hayley Anderson, Hilary Weeks, Kenneth Cope, Jenny Oaks Baker . . . oh . . . and a recommendation for Neil . . . since he likes Bocelli and the like . . . he probably would enjoy George Dyer.
Personally, I find songs that bring back good memories are my favourites . . . but good luck with filling your ipod and those last few pounds! :)
Billie Holladay, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong… I’m in the wrong generation!
I also love Harry Connick Jr!!
I love all kinds of music but country and 80’s are probably my favorites.
I think I would some Billy Joel, Reba and Eagles to your IPOD. My favorite Eagles song is called “Get over it” I play it when I need to do as the title suggests and it’s great!
Oooh 80’s music especially the cheese hair bands. The Eagles,Aerosmith..Blue Rodeo! My favourite! Don Alder..um…JOhnny Cash..Journey,lol,Air Supply;p
I coulda sworn you did a post on this a while back.
I don’t remember my suggestions.
I didn’t start listening to “popular music” until I was 16. My listening was limited to a little soft rock and oldies until then, so I did the catch-up thing too.
Some of my favorites:
Roxette
Erasure
MICHAEL BUBLE (who I get to see next week!)
KT Tunstall
Gin Blossoms
Coldplay
There’s a few, I’m sure I can think of more.
I was also in a musical time warp growing up. In the 80’s I was listening to the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkle, etc. Ha ha ha, I also had to attempt lip syncing to 80’s songs at church dances. Sometime in the 2000’s I became obsessed with finding music that I picked out without the influence of the radio, or popular trends. I don’t know if this will help at all, but here are some of the artists I really, really ldike right now:
-Regina Spektor (Soviet born, awesome pianist/singer/songwriter)
-Imogen Heap (English singer/songwriter with some electronic flair)
-Arcade Fire (Canadian husband/wife based band. Successfully uses somewhat unconventional instruments together such as guitars, accordians, violins and sometimes a pipe organ.)
-Sufjan Stevens (folk influenced singer/songwriter. Try his song “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!”)
-The White Stripes (girl/boy duo influenced heavily by 70’s minimalist garage rock.)
-Koop – Swedish Jazz duo. Very relaxing, modern jazz.
Gnarls Barkley – (Fun Hip Hop influenced duo between a producer and Hip Hop vocalist (has a beuatiful voice, I must say))
-Low (Husband/Wife LDS indie rock band. Brooding mimimalistic arrangements.)
Caribou – (relaxing electronic arrangements by a Canadian musician/mathematics professor. )
Sigur Ros – (very unique Icelandic band. This band’s lead singer had to grow on me, but the music is just beautiful. Very slow, brooding climatic songs)
Bjork – (another super unique Icelandic artist. Probably one of the weirdest musicians ever. She created one of her albums using all human voices instead of any instruments. Heavily electronic in other albums. Try “It’s oh so Quiet”, “Joga” and “Hyperballad” for starters.)
Goldfrapp – British band, sounds like Madonna without the popish elements.
If you liked any of the above artists, also try these (this was getting much too long):
The Shins, Mogwai, , Spoon, The Album Leaf, TV on the Raio, The Decemberists, Thom Yorke, Animal Collective, Gorillaz, Mew, LCD Soundsystem, & Radiohead.
When I’m exercising I love Enigma, anything Techno and avril lavigne (most of the time). don’t laugh! It gets me RUNNING!
I literally RUN to Snow Patrol and Lifehouse but will always love Journey. TIMELESS!
I know, long time no comment, right?
I couldn’t resist a blog about music, though.
Right now, Kings of Convenience bring me absolute joy. And The Decemberists. And Mike Doughty. And Sondre Lerche (especially the song “Track You Down”).
If you listened to my ipod you would think I was about 12 years old! It’s full of Girls Aloud, Mika, Will Young, Madonna and Liona Lewis.
The last cd I purchased? The soundtrack for OLIVER.
Holy TaMoly there is alot of music in here. This should suffice your curiousity. You got what you were after.
for boppin around the house and doing housework and dancing with my little one: ABBA, Dixie Chicks, Ricky Martin (seriously), Creedence Clearwater Revival, Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson (first album), Michael Buble, Aerosmith, the Beach Boys (makes ya feel like summer!) and Showtunes. Lots of Showtunes (Sound of Music, Music Man, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast). For mellow-out music: Norah Jones, Maren Ord, Sarah McLachlan, Regina Spektor, Sting, Aida Soundtrack, John Schmidt. I know, I have particularly excellent taste spanning multiple decades ;)
You’ve gotten a lot of good suggestions. My last cd purchase was Brandi Carlile.
My friend Jan linked me to you, and to this post specifically, because she knows how music obsessed I am.
I love every genre of music so it is hard for me to really pick absolute favorites. But…I’ll try…
1. I love jazz standards by the greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin. I am also a huge fan of more modern standards artists like Michael Buble, and Jane Monheit.
2. My newest music crush is anything indie folk. I love artists like Kate Walsh, Rosie Thomas, Missy Higgins, Jaymay.
3. Anything Indie, that isn’t overdone on the radio, really makes me happy. Here are some new discoveries that I am in love with…
1. Reed KD
2. Oren Lavie
3. The “Once” Soundtrack
4. Anything Brandi Carlile has done
5. Willoughby
6. Griffin House
7. Rocky Votolato
8. Josh Rouse (love him)
9. Matt Costa (love him too)
10. Jessie Baylin (folkie, but fun)
Oh, man, I could go on forever and ever, but being a new commenter here, I should probably limit myelf and not wear out my welcome!
Happy Music finding!
The incredible Leonard Cohen. Patsy Cline. Fats Domino. Frank Sinatra. Tony Bennett. The Bee Gees. Three Dog Night. Judy Collins. Joan Baez. Chris Rea. The Beatles. The Walker Brothers. I could go on and on. I love music.
I don’t know if anyone already said this, but Madonna’s “Holiday” always makes me want to dance. In fact, my kid and I often have dance parties to that very song on dreary winter days.