Five songs that have left their footprint in my life
June 6th, 2008
This is the hardest list I think I’ve tried to put together, it’s personal, ever changing and way too crowded for a list of only five. But five songs it is. These are probably as close as I can reasonably get to a top five and I guarantee that tomorrow morning it will be way different.
They’ve all left their mark on my life at different times for different reasons and each holds a special place because of it.
- The Ship Song: Nick Cave and the Badseeds - It’s simple, this is the song that my wife and I danced to at our wedding. This is our song, it never fails to move me. In an interview once Nick Cave spoke about selling his songs to advertise stuff and he explained why he would never do it, basically he believed that his fans had associations with the songs for various reasons and it would cheapen their connection to them if he sold them to some advertisement. For this I respect him and am grateful.
- Paranoid Android: Radiohead - Probably have a similar connection to this song as it has to do with Tracey, this song was one of the first if not THE first song we discovered together. We lived in Toowoomba in a tiny flat and managed to scrape together enough money each money for pay tv. Here we discovered the animated series Robin and eventually discovered the band Radiohead and Paranoid Android (yes we’d both heard the brilliant Creep but it didn’t burn itself into our minds like Paranoid Android did).
- Kiss: Tom Jones - There has to be a Tom Jones song on this list, that’s the law, sorry that’s just the way it is. I chose Kiss because it really stands out in my mind and sums up what I think the essence of Jones is. I mean he’s cool but kitsch but cool at the same time. He’s awesome and he thinks he “better dance now!” Of course anyone who has seen him live know that he probably shouldn’t dance now. It’s Not Unsual comes in a very very close second.
- Everybody Knows: Leonard Cohen - If you’ve never heard any Cohen, shame on you, go out and get the essential Leonard Cohen and allow it to change your life. If you have any connection to any kind of art then Cohen will speak to you. I love this song which embarrassingly enough I first encountered in the movie Pump Up The Volume. Again a very close second would be Tower of Song.
- Intergalactic: The Beastie Boys - OMG the Beastie Boys are just brilliant and Intergalactic is a prime example of their brilliant work, best of all they mention Spock! These guys are unbelievably cool and they are Trekkies, it honestly doesn’t get much better for me. It doesn’t hurt that the music is just great too.
I can’t go into the songs that I didn’t include, there are simply too many deserving tracks and I could be here all night. You guys throw some out there!
Popularity: 8% [?]
More posts like this:
Categories: Top five | Tags: Beastie Boys, Friday top five, Intergalactic, Kiss, leonard cohen, nick cave and the badseeds, paranoid android, radiohead, ship song, tom jones, Top five
pssst make youtube links for them
Arjans last blog post..Korrewegbrug (Korreweg-bridge)
[Reply to this comment]
and now on topic:
1: I don’t know this particular song of Nick Cave & the Bad seeds.. But I can relate to attaching memories to music and I can’t stand some music after it’s been attached to commercials.
2: Radiohead is great!!
3: Of course I know who Tom Jones is..but I don’t know 100% sure if I know this song..
4: My dad has a cd from Cohen, great music, but I don’t know the titles of the tracks by heart.
5: The beastie boys rock!
Arjans last blog post..Korrewegbrug (Korreweg-bridge)
[Reply to this comment]
One of my all-time favourites is Burn For You by John Farnham.
Now I’d be suprised if anyone outside of Australia would have heard of John Farnham, let alone this song, but I strongly suggest to seek it out as it’s one of the most beautiful ballads I’ve ever heard.
[Reply to this comment]
You’re right. This is a tough list.
I’m gonna have to think about this one some more. In fact, it might even become it’s own blog post.
I’ll tell you this, though. #1 has to be Simon and Garfunkel - 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy). That was the first non-kids song I was introduced to (somewhat formally, oddly enough), and that album (Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme) was the first record I ever owned. And I do mean record. Vinyl. Played on a record player.
Kids these days…
Anyway… in my ‘last post’ link below you’ll find a few songs, one or two of which might fit this list, but I’m really going to have to think through this one.
I’ll be back…
Jeffs last blog post..MTV Yearbook - where does it take you?
[Reply to this comment]
Oh, and thanks to you I’ve had “It’s Not Unusual” and random scenes from “Mars Attacks!” running through my head insidiously for hours.
Jeffs last blog post..MTV Yearbook - where does it take you?
[Reply to this comment]
FINALLY! I find the new link to your blog! I like the new look. How’ve you been besides?
Vedas last blog post..To The Hands That Built…Buildings
[Reply to this comment]
Beastie Boys reminds me of my daughter’s birth father. He was a DJ and into rap. Love Fight for your Right !!!! And She’s Nasty.
Tom Jones, lol, still going strong.
And I LOVE Johnnie Farnham Burn for you….and I live outside of Australia, lol.
Widdle Shamrocks last blog post..Smiley Saturday
[Reply to this comment]
Arjan - now you’ll have a new artist to check out Nick Cave is pretty cool and has shown up on a few soundtracks too
[Reply to this comment]
Ian, I’ve often wondered how well known John Farnham is in other countries, the New Zealand Prime Minister didn’t know him
And it is a pretty awesome ballad.
[Reply to this comment]
Jeff - my first grown up record was probably Code Blue by Icehouse (I really wish I had bought Man of Colours instead!!).
Simon and Garfunkel are cool and I’m glad that Tom Jones is in your head!!
[Reply to this comment]
Veda! I didn’t know that you thought I was missing! I just figured you were really busy (which I know you are anyway) and off winning awards and such.
[Reply to this comment]
Cool Widdle Shamrock - Fight for your right to party and She’s Nasty - both awesome!!
[Reply to this comment]
[...] By Jeff Lee has his weekly Top 5 list up over at Quit Your Day Job. This time it’s the “Five songs that have left their footprint in my life.” That’s a tough list to come up with. I’m glad he didn’t say 5 favorite [...]
Add to that list, any song by Regina Spektor and then I’ll believe the title of the post…
[Reply to this comment]
LOL but then JohnnyC it wouldn’t be imprints in my life
But Regina is pretty awesome.
[Reply to this comment]