tagged

i'm not usually big on the blog memes that go around, the 100 things about me, the chain letter type entries, but i got tagged today to list six favorite song titles, and i'm all about chatting about music, so i'll give it a go.

new world symphony - dvorak:
my dad is probably the largest musical influence in my life. he always had classical music playing, and from a very young age, i grew to love it. just sitting next to the speakers in the living room, picturing in my minds eye, the story the composer was trying to paint. the new world symphony paints an amazing view of american nature for me. the majesty of yosemite, the power of yellowstone, the wild places in this country. i get goosebumps every time i listen to this, and it always reminds me of my father.

down in the tube station at midnight - the jam:
this song is the story of a guy heading home to his wife that gets the snot beat out of him by some neds in the tube station. it's a great tune, and the narrative is told very well. something about it just hooks me and i have to listen to it a couple times before i'll let the cd go to the next track.

the bravery of being out of range - roger waters:
i pick out this song, but really, it's the whole 'amused to death' album. this came out right after i got out of the marines and the song was specifically about the first gulf war. at the time, this album hit me in a very personal spot. it summed up my feelings of the average american at that time. it's strange how dead on and almost prophetic it has been over the years.

my hero - foo fighters:
i'm a big foo fan, and a firm believer that dave grohl was the creative force behind nirvana, not curt. this song, though, stands out for me, since so many of my personal heroes ordinary people. the main line says, "there goes my hero, he's ordinary". it's power in the ordinary things of life that holds me transfixed. a father that raises his children and loves his wife...of which i know many...would be a great example.

no spill blood - oingo boingo:
animals came from miles around, tired of walking so close to the ground, they needed a change, that's what they said, life is better walking on two legs, but they were in for a big surprise, they didn't know the law. AAHHH!! every time i listen to this song, i can't help but sing along at full volume. danny elfman is a musical genius, both in boingo and now with the numerous movie scores he's written (virtually every tim burton movie features danny composing). this song features great energy and boingo's quirky lyrics and fun use of classic literature.

lakme, act one, mallika/lakme - leo delibes:
one of the most beautiful arias you'll ever experience. i think virgin or british airways picked it up years ago for their theme song, so you'll recognize it right away. picture a scent of jasmine hanging on the moisture in the air, petals floating on a slow moving river, the suns rays breaking through the tree's canopy...

anyway, that's a taste. hope you take the time to click through and listen to the samples on amazon.

oh...and, um...i'll tag warren, keith and jank.