I’m listing this because Prof. Dr. Hiljary will laugh. “Grey Seal” by Elton John.
When we went to see Elton live a year or so ago, P.D.H. and I knew every song and sang along and danced. Then he played this and we were all, “what? what song is this? is he singing about a seal? who knows this song? are we the only ones who don’t know this song? wtf?” I still don’t know it.
Ugh. I cannot stand a lot of songs. Mostly country and heavy metal. But most of all, I cannot stand Richard Marx. So, I’ll say I cannot stand to listen to anything from that big album of his from when I was a sophomore in high school.
Talk about a hard one. I’ve seen a bunch of bands live and plan to see more, even though crowds aren’t my thing at all. Hearing Willie Nelson sing “Always on My Mind” was probably my favorite because WILLIE NELSON.
I have a few favorite songs: “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys for its beauty and purity. “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac for its truth. “Blackbird” and “Junk” and “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles because John, Paul, George, and Ringo. And almost everything by Ben Folds and The Lemonheads.
Side note: when my kiddos were babies I sang “Junk” to them as a lullaby as well as all The Beatles’ songs with names in the songs. I must have sang every song in their catalog one night to get Molly to sleep.
I don’t think anything would really surprise y’all except my Christmas playlist. My Christmas Mix includes everything from several Ella Fitzgerald songs to Tom Petty to Burl Ives to The Waitresses to the four different versions of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which is my favorite Christmas song. Maybe Stevie Nicks’ version of “Silent Night” is the most surprising. It’s amazing.
Me, right before looking at my iTunes, “please don’t be something stupid.”
It’s not. With 295 plays, it’s “Goodnight Elisabeth” by Counting Crows because of course it is. I’ll post a video and the lyrics because it’s one of the best songs ever. Yes, my imaginary boyfriend, Adam Duritz, adds lyrics and changes lyrics in live shows, but below are the official lyrics.
I was wasted in the afternoon waiting on a train I woke up in pieces and Elisabeth had disappeared again I wish you were inside of me I hope that you’re ok I hope you’re resting quietly I just wanted to say
Goodnight Elisabeth
We couldn’t all be cowboys So some of us are clowns And some of us are dancers on the midway We roam from town to town I hope that everybody can find a little flame Me, I say my prayers, Then I just light myself on fire And I walk out on the wire once again And I say
Goodnight Elisabeth
I will wait for you in Baton Rouge I’ll miss you down in New Orleans I’ll wait for you while she slips in something comfortable And I’ll miss you when I’m slipping in between If you wrap yourself in daffodils I will wrap myself in pain And if you’re the queen of California Baby I am the king of the rain And I say
The last song alphabetically on my iPod is actually numerical, “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders. If I haven’t said it 2000 times before, I love The Pretenders. I’m talking love. True love. “2000 Miles” is technically a Christmas song, but whatev – it’s an amazing song. It’s perfect, it really is. And it was perfect for me for many years because my husband has worked in different locations, one of them was Uzbekistan during Christmastime, so yeah, it was perfect then (as it always is because DUH The Pretenders). If you don’t have everything The Pretenders have ever done, go get all the songs and Chrissie Hynde is releasing a new album soon, so there’s that awesomeness.
The first song alphabetically by artist is “Take on Me” by A-Ha. Obviously. The first song alphabetically by song title is “Abilene” by Runaway Dorothy. If you don’t know Runaway Dorothy, here they are. Lovely band.
Only because you asked. “Bitch Went Nutz” by Ben Folds. The alternative version, ahem. Don’t play in front of the chillens or at work or almost anywhere, really.