Most of the time, music for me is just for background entertainment, but there are some songs that gain my full attention every time.
I read a headline today that the song “You oughta know” from Analis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, was a breakup song. I always liked that album but never fully appreciated the meaning behind that song.
So I listened to it again today and was shocked at how much rage is behind that song. I have never had a breakup like that, but despite then I will never be able to listen to this song casually ever again. See for yourself:
Another song that always affects me is Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. No other song to me shows the importance of spending time with your kids as they grow up.
Anything Bee Gees and many Eagles songs take me right back to high school and college where I have nothing but great memories.
DH kissed me for the first time to Billy Joel’s “You’re My Home” – forever engraved in my heart, and we will both stop and listen to that one wherever we hear it. We have the lyric on a wall in our primary home and in our cabin:
Definitely agree with Hallelujah, Mary Did You Know, and I Will Always Love You.
Would add to my list:
You Are So Beautiful
Lady in Red
Unchained Melody
Many Bread songs (Everything I Own, Lost Without Your Love, Diary…)
We May Never Pass this Way Again (HS prom theme)
Wind Beneath My Wings
Old Time Rock and Roll (gets me moving every time, love Seger, hometown boy)
You Oughta Know is about Dave Coulier. He is from my area & I have met him. It’s hard to imagine him sparking so much anger, but we never know what happens behind closed doors.
Hallelujah, when sung well, gets me every time. I cried when it played during Shrek!
Don’t get me started. Everything gives me the feels. There Goes My Life by Kenny Chesney, Some People Do by Old Dominion, Sparrow by Ashley McBryde, Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw.
I also have never had a breakup like that, however always loved the song, and the anger and anguish. If you haven’t already, take a look at the version she did at the 38th Grammy’s - with orchestral back up. It blew my mind then, and it continues to do so. There’s something about hearing an artist without a recording studio behind them.
There simply isn’t enough bandwidth for me to list the songs that stop me in my tracks. My friends think I’m a human jukebox, as I am intimately familiar with songs that range from the early 50s to today (including songs that were recorded close to 10 years before I was born), almost every genre. So much so that I can almost always start singing within the first 5 seconds of hearing a song. I would have swept the house on Name That Tune. Even if I might not know the lyrics, I will absolutely be able to keep up with the tune. I have 18,127 songs downloaded on my phone. When I play them I shuffle, and I know every one of them that plays.
I love music. The love of my life is a musicophile, and while they don’t sing the lyrics like I do, their knowledge spans the Family Tree of Rock and Roll - don’t know what that is? Name a musician and they can tell you what other band(s) they played in before/during/since the band you most likely know them from. I cannot do that! We met through music. Our home is filled to the brim with music (and books). Every kind. Now our adult D loves music (every kind) and is designing wardrobe for musicians.
After writing all that I realize how odd our little family is! Gotta go listen to all those pieces others are sharing…
