Turn It Up

Day Ten- Music you listen to when you're bored, happy, sad, mad, hyped

I think this question is too big for me. How do you sum up a lifetime of musical preference in one post? I tried once before and failed. I do love music, but over the years I listen to it less. I don't own an iPod or a stereo and the only way I can listen to music in my house is on the computer, and of course I always have music on in the car, but just whatever is on the radio. With the way that music is now, I have become more of a fan of songs than artists. I have thousands of favorite songs, but not so many favorite artists anymore.

Once upon a time though, when you used to have to buy a whole album and "pledge allegiance to the band" (I think I stole that line from Jack Black's prayer in School of Rock), I had some faves. Here are a few that I can remember obsessing over at some point in time. Oh, and most music just makes me happy so I don't have a list for my different moods, although I used to clean to Bon Jovi and Miss Saigon, until my CD player broke. Country, Counting Crows and Sarah McLachlan can leave me a bit thoughtful and melancholy sometimes, but mostly music just makes me feel alive and happy.

The Smiths I love the Smiths! My roommates used to tease me because the Smiths are dismally depressing, but for some reason they make me giddy. I realize their idea of a love song includes being run over by a truck, and that their most upbeat songs have titles like Girlfriend in a Coma and Hang the DJ, but they still make my smile. Elvis Happiest music ever. It makes me want to dance and sing. In fact, when I lived in the college dorms I always got teased for singing Elvis loud enough for everyone to hear, and sometimes I would get requests from people to sing In the Ghetto in the lobby, and I would actually do it. I guess that is before the bad voice embarrassed me. P!nk Already ranted about her in a previous post. My favorite current artist. Bon Jovi From Junior High all the way through college I was obsessed. Had a life sized poster of Jon Bon Jovi in my room growing up. First concert I ever saw, too, although I was 19 by the time I finally saw them live. Matchbox 20 Their first two albums were SO good, every single song. Seth likes them too so that is what we always listen to on road trips. Miss Saigon Soundtrack I think I used to listen to this while cleaning so I would want to keep cleaning through the whole two discs (back when I had a CD player). I would get so much done and replay the whole story in my mind as I listened. Depeche Mode I admit I even like the bubble gum sounding stuff from the early years. Tracy Chapman unique voice, great lyrics Til Tuesday another one I sang too loud in the dorms. Tom Petty for a few years I listened to it everyday Counting Crows My second year of college I remember playing the August and Everything After CD multiple times a day. I still love the music but that was a tough year and I still feel a little sad when I hear it now. Sarah McLachlan This music can make me feel sad too because of that haunting voice, but it is so beautiful and I relate to a lot of what she writes. Michael Jackson I have talked about my MJ obsession before. Guns N Roses Loved them all through Junior High and High School and listened to at least one of their albums in it's entirety every day. Bob Marley More happy music, and it reminds me of weekend drives to my dad's for the weekend. We always requested Bob Marley and Queen. Boy George and Culture Club I remember liking this in second grade and getting teased when I was still cranking it up in college, but I never outgrew it. Jewel I have never liked her again, but her first album did not leave my car's tape deck (yes tape) for at least 6 months. No Doubt First album, in particular...still one of my favorite albums ever. I wish I could share some of it since it is the stuff that never hit the air, but playlist only has 20 second clips of the songs, so just take my word and go buy the album. Sophie B Hawkins I think me and my friend Shawna might have been her only fans? Nine Inch Nails I cranked this for a good two years straight in college and my ultra Mormon neighbors kept asking me to please not listen to that kind of music and I hate to say it, but my answer to their request was to turn it up. Sorry girls. Red Hot Chili Peppers I remember drawing their little star symbol thing with their name around it on every desk I ever sat at in high school. I had a huge crush on Anthony Kiedis.

I also like lots of songs that Seth likes, or that remind me of Seth. Maybe I will create that soundtrack for you someday.

Most of my music these days comes from the car radio. Right now the kids favorite is Animal by Neon Trees and my favorites are Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri and Perfect by P!nk, of course. Another song I feel like she wrote for me with words like, change the voices in your head, make them like you instead. Careful if you look for that one on playlist though, because only one is the radio version and the others are all the f-bomb version. I also listen to country, but for my mother who HATES it and reminds me constantly that I was raised better than that, I will keep it off of today's playlist.

I originally had hundreds of songs on today's playlist, but I have scaled way back and had to cut lots of favorite songs, but at least it will give you a taste of what I like. Some bands are not fairly represented because playlist doesn't have their stuff, or because their language is not appropriate for the general public. Sorry Chili Peppers and NIN.