Claire and Her iPod: A List

Okay, so I’m a pathetic copycat. I was reading one of my favorite blogs yesterday and she was playing a really cute little game that I am going to do too. But don’t worry, I’ll give provide a link to her blog, so you can all go read her blog instead of mine, since she is just so witty. You’ll probably see me mention her from time to time, since I have nothing better to do that read her blog and copy her ideas. But my copycatting is beside the point. On to the game!

The object of the game is to turn on your iPod (or iTunes on your computer), put it on random, and list the first 5 songs that come on. Then you explain (or defend) why on earth those particular songs are even on your iPod, and if you ever dare to subject your ears to them. I have to say that I’m very nervous. What if one of the Army Man’s weird songs come on, and I write about it and say that it’s his, I swear, please don’t judge me, but nobody believes me? I’ll be an outcast forever. More likely though, is that the embarrassing music will be mine and I will have no defense.

Here we go!

1. Mama Can’t Buy You Love by Elton John. Phew, we’re off to a good start. We all know how much I love Elton John. This isn’t my favorite of his songs, but it’s certainly not his worst. I don’t remember this song from when I listened to Elton John as a child, so this is one I came to love as adult. It’s actually a pretty good one.

2. Big Iron by Marty Robbins. I had to laugh when this song came on. I’m certainly not embarrassed by it, but it’s rather amusing that I haven’t listened to this song in ages and it comes on today when I’m writing my list. According to Wikipedia, Marty Robbins was “one of the most popular and successful American country and western singers of his era”. His era being the 60’s, if that gives you any idea of what his songs sounded like. His is the only country music on my 2,030 song iPod. Listening to this song is like watching an old Western. It has an actual plot. There’s a handsome Arizona Ranger and a bad guy named Texas Red. Plus it’s really catchy and reminds me of my parents. What more can a girl ask for in a song?

3. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window by The Beatles. Well, I guess this just disproves the Army Man’s theory that I don’t listen to the Beatles anymore. I wondered to myself if one of their songs would come on-as a young teenager, they were essentially the only music I listened to. I LOVED them. I probably would have been screaming and fainting at their concerts had I not been born in 1979. But oddly enough, as I got older, I got a little tired of them. Not sure how to explain it-maybe I had listened to a lifetime’s worth of their music in a 6 year stretch? But this song brings back good memories for me. Abbey Road was always my favorite album. The songs were so goofy, but not weird and creepy like some other ones I can name. On my CD (this was before iPods, sonny), this song would always segue right into Golden Slumbers which was another one of my favorites from the album. I am actually inspired to listen to this album again once I finish this list!

4. Come As You Are by Nirvana. I’m curious who bought this song on iTunes, me or the Army Man. I was the perfect age when Nirvana came out, yet I never listened to them. I didn’t approve of them at all, since I was listening to artists like Billy Joel and Marty Robbins, and looking down on my peers who would listen to such trash as Nirvana and Green Day. I thought they were horribly inappropriate, but I suppose I probably thought that since I knew my parents wouldn’t want me listening to them. So I discovered Nirvana when I was a bit older, maybe late high school. I enjoyed them, but never to the extent of many people my age. My favorite of their songs is “All Apologies”-a very quiet, sad song. Green Day though- I can’t tell you how mad I am that I ignored them for so long.

5. Black Water by the Doobie Brothers. This is probably one of the Army Man’s songs, but I’ll take ownership of it as well. I like the Doobie Brothers and this is actually one of my favorite songs from them. I DO like to hear some funky Dixie land every now and again, thank you very much. I can’t remember when I first started listening to them, probably back in high school when I was discovering classic rock and bemoaning the fact that I lived in the 90’s.

So that’s my list. And to shake things up a bit, I’m going to list my 5 top played songs on my iTunes on my computer. This will probably be more embarrassing that the other list.

1. Good Time Girl by Nancy Sinatra (LOVE this song)

2. Danny’s Song by Loggins & Messina (Seriously. I have no explanation. I understand if you stop reading my blog immediately. But for whatever reason, this song is really touching to me. The line “Even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you honey, and everything will bring a chain of looooooove” just really gets me. It reminds me of when we were first married.)

3. Sentimental Heart by She & Him (I love this song. Thank you Kim, for telling me about them. I’ll write more on my blog one day about this group. Love. Them.)

4. Keeping the Faith by Billy Joel (My favorite Billy Joel song. It also has one of my favorite lines ever from a song: “Ain’t it wonderful to be alive when the rock-n-roll plays?” True that. Also, what is with singers using the word “ain’t”?)

5. Old Days by Chicago (I think this is my favorite Chicago song. I love Chicago. The city and the group.)

So what are your 5 random songs on your iPod? Do this post on your blog or leave your list in the comment area. Don’t be shy!