"My Favorite Songs"

by Ted S.
2002.05.30

Without further adieu, here they are:
(not in order of importance)


"LET'S SEE ACTION" - THE WHO
Sure there are a plethorea of great 'Who' songs out there, but this one just stands out for me. The lyrics are great and Daltry has secured his spot as a vocalist as having the best scream in a song ever (the second one from WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN). Then when Townshend comes in with the overlapping "Nothing is . . . everything is . . Everything is . . . nothing is". It's just great. Also, the Who have so much energy that I knew they had to be on the list, but it was tough to narrow it to this one. Pete's vocal part is just a great sort of interlude to the song. One of my favorite parts.

"TAKE MY BREATH AWAY" - QUEEN
This song is from "A Day At the Races" and I took the album cross-country with me and the only song that got scratched is this one. I am infinitly pissed. This song gives me chills. The lyrics are outstanding ("Every time you make a move you destroy my mind"), but even better is the simply incredible vocal arrangement by Freddie and how the words are presented. Really ingenious. He truely had a voice from heaven. The piano, very gentle and perfectly in the same mood as the lyric and overall feeling of the song. Freddie, at least lyrically/vocally is pouring his heart completely out and holds nothing back. It's really quite beautiful. This song is so good that it strongly makes you realize what amazing creatures humans really are. After we die, whatever happens, where ever we go (if anywhere) it's a sure bet that Freddie Mercury has the TOP billing.

"THE HEART OF ROCK N' ROLL" - HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS
Just a really fun rock-n-roll song. This was the first song on the first album I ever had (a dubbed tape of SPORTS) and it has stuck with me all these years. Some may think this choice corny, but I just think its groovy and I have never gotten sick of it. And he is right. As long as there are humans, rock-n-roll will survive through all the bullshit. Also, I have seen these guys live and Huey is a great harmonica player.

"RED BARCHETTA" - RUSH
What can I say. These guys even rival my beloved Bowie. In my opinion, one of the best bands of all time (Have you ever heard 2112?). This even beat all the Beach Boys car songs I love. The lyrics are fantastic in providing mental imagery. I just really like this one. I will leave you with two words: Neil Peart.

"THE DAY THE WORLD WENT AWAY" (QUIET) - NINE INCH NAILS
Great short lyric by Trent. He really did a number on this remix to give it a completely different feel that I think better compliments the lyrics. The original is too "pissed off Trent". If he ever did just a instrumental piano album I'm sure it would be fantastic. This version is more somber after the intro and the piano is simple but unique and effective. He also captures, lyrically, almost exactly how I felt for 3 strange days in High School. It was a strange experience and I still don't know how or why it happened, but he has captured a very similar feeling here.

"THE LONELY SEA" - THE BEACH BOYS
This one is difficult. Vocally along the lines of the previous Queen entry. Brian really gives us a treat with his beautifully hypnotic falsetto here. Simply wonderful. The guitar and bass give it a "night" feel for me.  (The sea at night with a clear sky so all the stars are shining down accompanied my a full moon.)  It's not so much the words about the "girl" as it is the overall feeling of the song. It may not really be about a girl at all. I think Brian may be directing it towards his music writing ability inside of him and himself personally and psychologically. What I get from it is that he is so different that he best communicates in a way most may find difficult to understand. Kind of like people who have autism. I think it's about Brian feeling and knowing he is so extremely different that he knows he cannot possibly truely live but just survive in "our" world. There never has been since and never will be a better collection and organization of voices than the boys from the beach.

"SYMPHONY #6" - LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
OK so this isn't exactly a "song" but I never get sick of it. I listen to it all the time and one can't just take one part out of it. As most of the entries, Beethoven is incredibly emotional. I always thought this would be great if Reznor or Metallica did the entire thing (of course Metallica would FFFF it up somehow so I guess they're out, sorry Elvis). But anyway, a "heavy" version of this symphony would rule. But it would have to be done just right. Not too much, not to little. (If your not satisfied with this selection because its too long, then substitute his MOONLIGHT SONATA instead.)

"MR. ROBOTO" - STYX
Just kidding. Wanted to see if you are paying attention.

"PRELUDE TO PARSIFAL" - RICHARD WAGNER
(SIR GEORG SOLTI - conductor)
This is a tough one but I'm going to give it a go at explaining. Because of my German blood this might be the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard. The first time I heard it I was sitting in my room, laying down to bed with headphones on. It brought out feelings I had never felt before and I cried. The opera is about a quest for the holy grail. It was considered so great in its time by the German people that it was not allowed to be performed outside of Germany for a number of years. Also, when the performance was finished, no one clapped or applauded in any way. People just got up out of the opera house like they were leaving church. It was Wagner's last work and some consider it his greatest. Even better than the Ring cycle. I very rarely listen to it because I find it so powerful and it has such an incredible effect on me.

"LAID" (99X VERSION, or slow version) - JAMES
Taken (sort of) from my favorite album of all time, Laid by the band James. I've heard and listened to this album more times than any other record in or out of my collection. I picked up the original record on tape when I was in High School. It was an advertisement on a song finding machine my local record store had for a while. The machine was bascially like KaZaa or Napster (before the Internet), but the store provided it to help find info about songs and albums. I was looking up something I can't even remember now and the advertisement for Laid popped up and I read a review which really talked it up. I figured I would take a chance and buy it on tape. That way if it was crap I wouldn't have wasted much money. (If I only knew what I was in for.) I fell in love with it right away and listened to it damn near every night as I laid down to bed (no pun intended). I always wished the song order was changed cause I didn't like fast forewarding through some of the few upbeat, fast songs.Then when I was a sophmore at St. V's (before I know most of you) I came across a single of "SAY SOMETHING" (one of the tracks on the album) that had a slow live version of Laid (the song). This happened during the time I had mono which was also an extreme changing time for me (and very long as well). Now, through the wonders of the technological revolution, I have converted the album (by burning) and put all the fast songs first, then all the rest in the middle and finally, the slow version of Laid (which I eventually got off KaZaa) ending my dream album. The slow version of 'Laid' is so much better than the album version. It's more personal, effective and passionate. Funny thing about James, I dont know a FFFFFFF thing about them. I never heard any other music by them and thats just how I like it.

"MEMORY OF A FREE FESTIVAL" - DAVID BOWIE
Just listen to it.

Contenders:
"7" - David Bowie
"Why" - Annie Lennox
"All This Time" - Sting
"Come Undone" - Duran Duran

There it is. Like it or hate it, that is it.