Wednesday, February 11, 2009
5 Songs
You have exactly one side of a mixtape--the other side has been erased. You have to fill it with no more than 5 songs that will help you maintain your sanity on a desert island. What songs do you choose? Will they be your 5 favorites? What about 5 songs custom-tailored to your new surroundings? 5 songs that might help ensure your survival? Or what about 5 really, really long songs, so you could later unspool the magnetic tape from the cassette and use it to make a rope? It's up to you...but be sure to share your thought process as well as your list!
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I'll go first:
ReplyDelete1. "Paranoid Android" - Radiohead. All-time favorite song by all-time favorite band. Has to make the cut.
2. "Against Pollution" - The Mountain Goats. "I would do it again, I would do it again." If you know the song, you know why those lines are awesome.
3. "Secret of the Easy Yoke" - Pedro the Lion. Another 'downer,' but one of the more important songs for me in my life. Also: who cares how many 'downers' I have?? I'M MAROONED ON A DESERT ISLAND!
4. "Storm" - Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The most awesome 7 minutes of music ever, followed by another 15 minutes of icing on the cake.
5. "Your Hand In Mine" - Explosions in the Sky. Another long song, but, hey, I've got time. Beautiful.
So...this is not easy. Good luck to the rest of you.
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ReplyDeleteOne song from the five major music foodgroups. I went for shorter songs that I could get into in different ways.
ReplyDeleteBackstreets / Bruce Springsteen
A song about memory, about trying to get away from where you were, about coming to terms with your current situation. "Blame it on the lies that killed us, blame it on the truth that ran us down / you can blame it all on me, it don't matter to me now..." And this heart wrenching, "I hate him, I hated you when you went away..." and this gutterall scream that's unintelligible. My song for the first year.
Let Down / Radiohead
The suicide song. I'm serious.
Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough / Michael Jackson
The montage song where I'm collecting stuff from all across the island, providing an endless beat and smooth falsetto to any number of daily tasks.
In My Life / The Beatles
My favorite love song. Simple, wistful, heartbreaking, celebratory. There will be a lot of reflecting time.
Tables and Chairs / Andrew Bird
The most uplifting song I've ever heard about the aftermath of the apocalypse.
My first attempt, when posting, disappeared into the blogosphere. So this will be short and sweet (which is probably better):
ReplyDeleteSomething old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue...and then something pink.
As far as old, Bach's "Toccato and Fugue in D Minor," (truly mind-expanding: see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o&fmt=18).
For new (within the last 50 years), I'm going to go with "Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pts I-IX," clocking in at a behemoth 25:52. I'm going for both content and length for my desert mix. A close second to this song was the Dead's "Terrapin Station Suite," particularly their live version from "Dozin' at the Knick," which, all told, weighs in at a hefty 21:13. I would pick something from the Beatles, who, let's be honest, are the true kings of pop, but their music is all 3 minutes and under.
Something borrowed: here's where I take a huge leap of faith, and allow a trusted friend pick out a song from a new band that I am not familiar with at all. I'm on an island. I need something totally new to explore. Again, I would push for content and length.
Something blue: this is hardest of all. I love the blues, and I love Robert Johnson and the many incarnations of his songs (check out the White Stripes version of "Stop Breaking Down"). But, finally, I have landed on the original version of "Me and the Devil Blues," [see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MCHI23FTP8&feature=related].
Something pink: what can I say, I am a tad fanatical. I'm on an island; what more perfect song is there than Floyd's "Echoes"? Check out the live version from Pompeii, part I [see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLJ_QVfT_wM&feature=channel_page], and part II [see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqmJKXNW6ow&feature=related].
Okay. You guys are way too cool for me! My taste in music is super-pedestrian. That being said, since this is a supposed mix tape--I would have to go with old favorites:
ReplyDelete1. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun--Needs no explanation.
2. Maybe a little Vanilla Ice--One of the all time best rappers ever!
3. I could totally chill to some Milli Vanilli, my favorite chill Milli Vanilli is "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You," but it would be hard to pick between that and "Blame it on the Rain."
4. I'm kind of digging Britney Spears' new "Womanizer" song right now (Okay, I just threw that in to make you music snobs choke.)
5. And here's an obscure one for you, I have a fantastic choreographed educational dance number to a little-known song by Sylvia called "Bobby's in Vicksburg."
So, I will be-bop and dance the days away on the desert island with my walkman and my mix-tape!
Question seems easy enough, until you start trying to narrow down 5 songs. Screw it I supposes I should just go with my gut.
ReplyDelete1) Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
I suppose this one is very obvious, but it does contain some of my favorite lyrics in any song ever.
2)I've Been Loving You Too Long (to Stop Now) - Otis Redding
Best voice ever. Otis' voice and lyrics ring of such pain maybe I wouldn't be so depressed about being stuck on an island.
3)Baba O'Riley - The Who
"Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals" Yeah, so I'm not in a field. Favorite Who song ever.
4)Purple Rain - Prince
If you have any questions take it up with God, who made Prince so f'n awesome.
5)Sweet Child O'Mine - Guns 'N' Roses
As if the opening riff isn't enough. Axl also punched Kurt Cobain in the face. Which taught me the lesson if someone is more talented than you, you can just kick their ass. And that is a lesson I should never forget.
So here's mine, which is heavily influenced by what I've been listening to the last few days:
ReplyDelete1) Pictures of You/The Cure
It's long, has a dreamy guitar part, strikes the perfectly wistful, longing tone for being stranded
2) Sunshine of Your Love/Cream
I heard this last night, and I don't think I'd ever get tired of that dirty, heavy intro riff and those trippy lyrics. Plus, it would remind me of what I was missing.
3)Wanna Be Startin Something/Michael Jackson
For its dancability
4)Save the Last Dance for Me/ The Drifters
The melody, the internal rhymes, the orchestration, Ben E. King
5) Happiness is a Warm Gun/The Beatles
Love the tone of Lennon's voice and I think this might get me through those long lonely days on the island.
I'm gonna be honest and tell you that music isn't something I've ever really embraced. I didn't start listening to it until I was mostly through high school, and it's still not something that speaks loudly to me. About the only song I'd really want on there is Jesus Christ by Brand New. The other four I'd let other people pick so that I could spend some time learning to appreciate music and maybe even get some insight into the people I'm probably not going to see again. It'd be good fodder for the conversations I'd start having with myself on day three.
ReplyDelete-James the Bardoner (not James the Walden)
Ok, here we go Kenny... 3 of my favorite songs by 3 of my favorite artists:
ReplyDelete1. Zero by Smashing Pumpkins- I had trouble picking between this and Thirty-Three, but since I've got all lighter stuff, I needed something heavier for those dark days.
2. Holland, 1945 by Neutral Milk Hotel- Now I have something to sing at the top of my lungs to, which is a shame because only my pet lemur will hear me. I feel like I could argue that this whole album is one long song, but I won't go there. I wish I could also bring Ghost.
3. 40 oz. to Freedom by Sublime- One of my favorite songs, this is perfect for my new island life.
Now 2 songs that I won't claim are that good, but hold a lot of sentimental value to me:
4. Godspeed by Dixie Chicks- For Evangeline.
5. The Luckiest by Ben Folds- One of my favorite songs by an artist that I don't care for, this will remind me of what I left behind. This is for Kenny, to prove that above all other earthly things, I loved him most.
So, today I'm picking a winner. The choice was difficult: Meredith went for the heart strings, referencing both me and my daughter...but if I pick her on the first post, I can say goodbye to my precious street cred. James the Walden certainly had the most well-researched post, as he kindly included links to YouTube videos for each song. Unfortunately, he also referenced the Grateful Dead in his post, which is (of course) a big no no...AND he went with Bach over Mozart or Beethoven? Bach?? Get with the times, old man! I also appreciate the enthusiasm for the 1980s shown by both Professora Speece and Britt, as well as the classic rock greatest hits collection put together by Joseph Wyatt...but in the end, I have to go with our old friend Gaston Monescu, whose post not only included some sweet songs, but also organized those songs thematically according to his island experience. The kicker: that Michael Jackson reference was laugh-out-loud funny.
ReplyDeleteIn conclusion, great job, everyone. Let's see what you guys can bring to the next post.
P.S.-As of right now, I have about 10 post ideas in my head. If you can think of anything awesome to post about (and given the pretty remarkable creative talents on display here already, I know you can), please let me know.
Late, but I don't have a computer to check regularly, so deal with it.
ReplyDeleteTop 5, with reasoning and the song it most closely contested with for a spot:
I. Godspeed, You Black Emperor!
Because it's long and epic. Plus it's one of the more beautiful things I have ever heard when those trumpets come in.
Runner-up: Sigur Ros - Svefn-G-Englar
II. The Pogues - Waxie's Dargle
Because it's rowdy and fun, and you're really going to need to cut loose when you're all alone on a goddamn island.
Runner-up: Andrew W.K. - I Get Wet
III. The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Because it's got soul; mournful but prideful, down but not out. Plus the whole association with home, i.e. the South.
Runner-up: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary
IV. Neutral Milk Hotel - Ghost
Because I have to have a NMH song in here, and though Holland, 1945 is my favorite, this one is a little easier to associate with, say, fond memories of a loved one lost...you know, now that you're marooned and all.
Runner-up: The Polyphonic Spree - It's the Sun [KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic version]
V. Emmylou Harris - If I Could Only Win Your Love
Because when you're planning on spending the rest of your life alone, you're really going be glad to have a female voice at least, since you're never going to actually see a woman again. Plus Emmylou has a really hot voice+accent.
Runner-up: Blonde Redhead - Missile ++
1. Bob Dylan: If You See Her, Say Hello
ReplyDelete2. Neutral Milk Hotel: Oh, Comely
3. Damien Jurado: Ohio
4. The Mountain Goats: Quito
5. Cat Power: Lived in Bars
Because I like them and they make me happy, sad, and in-between.
1. It Is Well With My Soul a hymn penned by Horatio Spafford. Just to remind me of what is really important.
ReplyDelete2. When I Need You sung by Leo Sayer. This is for Dennis, our song in high school.
3. Get The Party Started by Pink.
4. Here I am to worship, a fairly new praise song that I like. An Island seems like a fine idea of heaven, so bring on the praise.
5. For my love of bagppipes and something very long and no lyrics I choose, Hymn To The Sea.
Love Mom
I'm late, but I'm on a desert island, so I have no concept of time.
ReplyDeleteAnd since the contest portion of this one is over, let's call this a practice round for the later events. Anyway, my five choices are things that I could hopefully listen to until the tape disintegrates (or I decide to make a swim for salvation).
1. Hurt - Johnny Cash
If I want to feel sorry for myself, I can't really think of a sadder song. And yes, I picked the cover. Because it's better. So there.
2. Still Alive - Jonathan Coulton
Just to remind me about all the video games that I'm no longer playing. And to remind me about cake.
3. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Monty Python
We're getting to the point where I'd be just singing these songs, loudly, to avoid going crazy. We can only hope that by the time I'm rescued, the only things I'll be able to say to my rescuers will be random lyrics.
4. Don't Stop Believing - Journey
Again, because I'm a cliche.
5. Adagio of Spartacus and Phyrgia - Khachaturian
At least one classical song on the list, and this one is just sublime. Watch The Hudsucker Proxy if you don't know it.
Well, that's this list. On to the next one!