Name That Tune

05. Top 10 Favorite songs of all time

Number 5 of my 25 day challenge...stayin' alive! So, of all the songs of all the times, here are 10 that I can think of that are favorites.

1.  Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral -an Irish lullaby.  My mommy sang this to me and I sing it to my little one.  I actually just recently found out my husband's dad sang it to him.  It's quite possibly my number 1 song of all times because it has been sang/sung (which one?)  for generations in my family, and I hope that will continue with Serena.

2.  "Someone to Watch Over Me" by George Gershwin, but my favorite version is Linda Ronstadt.  My mommy also sang this to me.  It happens to be in a ton of films and all over the place, but every time I hear it I just melt.

3.  Money- by Pink Floyd.  I remember sitting on my brothers bed when I was about 13 and hearing the intro to money (with all the coin sounds) playing in surround sound and thinking that it was the coolest song ever.  I love Pink Floyd, it  brings back many good and bad high school memories of things I shouldn't have been doing, but I am glad I did.

4.  Moonlight Sonata -Beethoven.  I had to put a classical song in here.  I am by no means a classical music buff, but at certain times in my life I will get really into classical music.  In college I heard it helped you study better, but for me I would always want to listen to the song instead.  Moonlight Sonata (Piano Sonata No. 14) is an obvious and popular pick, but it's just so amazing.  It's so deep and beautiful and dark.  

5.  At Last - Etta James version.  This is another obvious pick, but I chose this because it was my Aunt Jan's favorite and we played it at her funeral.  She died in a motorcycle accident in 2004.  She was a badass.  It was a very traumatic time for my family and I miss her.  It also has the best melody and it's so soulful and rich.

6.  Stand By Me -Ben E. King.  I actually loved this movie.  The song embodies childhood for me.  Probably because I watched the movie 100 times when I was a kid.  It has the best bass part.  It's just summery and romantic and I could listen to it 24/7.

7.  Sounds of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel.  I always thought I should have been a child of the 60's.  You don't get better songwriting than S & G, and the lyrics to this song are intoxicating.  Let's just read them together here.

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools", said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls"
And whispered in the sounds of silence

How can you not love the lyrics and melody and background and vocals...AHHHHH!  It's great.

8.  Crazy- Patsy Cline.  Why do I feel like my mom is writing this?  This is another song my mom always sang me.  At this point you can see that my mom has influenced my musical tastes...JUST A LITTLE.  She is a great singer and she always sang to me.  So songs that she sang make me feel loved and like I am home. Crazy is one of them.

9. The Funeral - Band of Horses.  So here is a newbie, but a goodie.  This is another song that I could, and do, play over and over again.  I have seen BOH in concert twice and they just blow me away. They are the perfect mix of back woods, folk, and rock....they are contemplative and epic. I love their music.  This song is epic to me.  I love all of their songs though.

10.  Green Eyes - Coldplay.  This definitely isn't one of the top 10 songs of all time.  Coldplay is one of those bands that you love, but don't want to admit because they are so "scene" and overplayed.  If you locked yourself in a room and listened to nothing but Coldplay songs for a day, then I bet you would realize that they are also epic.  This song was my wedding song.  Neither my husband (Alex) or I have green eyes, but the lyrics spoke to me and remind me of my love for Alex.  He was in the Mercant Marines when we met and went off to sea for 6 months shortly after.  This song reminds me of how I feel about him.

Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand
And I come here to talk
I hope you understand

That green eyes, yeah the spotlight, shines upon you
And how could, anybody, deny you

I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter, now I’ve met you
And honey you should know, that I could never go on without you

Green eyes

Honey you are the sea
Upon which I float
And I came here to talk
I think you should know

That green eyes, you’re the one that I wanted to find
And anyone who, tried to deny you must be out of their mind

Cause I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter, since I met you
Honey you should know, that I could never go on without you

Green eyes
Green eyes

Ohohohohooooo
Ohohohohooooo

Ohohohohooooo
Ohohohohooooo

Honey you are a rock
Upon which I stand