After agonizing over which songs to choose for this
(apparently I listen to too much music), I finally just picked my most recent
playlist, hit shuffle and ended up taking the first ten songs that showed up.
Luckily, they are all fantastic. My iPod must love me.
1) “Face to Face On High Places” – School of Seven Bells
I tend to enjoy songs that make me smile, and “Face to Face
On High Places” does just that. My friend introduced me to this group about
halfway through the summer and I fell in love with their unique style. If you
haven’t checked out this band yet, I highly recommend you do so, especially if
you’re a fan of electronic-style music with an indie twist.
2) “Little Secrets” – Passion Pit
This song was basically my summer. I listened to it in the
car, used it as an alarm, danced to it while cleaning the bathroom… it was
quite literally everywhere. It’s a great pump-up song that I may have stolen
from my sister (shh – don’t tell), and even though it sometimes reminds me of
an eighties video game soundtrack, I love it to pieces and can listen to it
over and over.
3) “Renegade” – Styx
Ah, the classics. Thanks to my parents I have been listening
to music from the sixties and seventies, and eighties since the day I was born.
Elton John, Billy Joel, the Beatles, Blood, Sweat & Tears… you name it,
I’ve heard it. “Renegade” tops my list of favorite oldies for multiple reasons:
the a cappella harmonies in the beginning, the awesome guitar solo, the solid
beat and catchy refrain… all of which add up to one great oldie that makes me
feel pretty darn cool while I’m walking down University, shades on and iPod
blaring.
4) “You Make My Dreams” – Hall and Oates
Yes, another oldie made my list. I can’t hear this song without
smiling, singing along and walking with a new spring in my step. I love the
stuffing out of this song and, in my humble opinion, no summer or beach mix is
complete without it. Of course, that could just be because of all the times I
listened to it while I was on vacation in Florida, but still – awesome song,
not to be missed.
5) “Sonnet 29” – Rufus Wainwright
As a very nerdy English major I was thrilled to find out
that Rufus Wainwright had covered Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 in song form. I know,
I know, it’s super nerdy, but the song is still pretty great. It epitomizes a
“mellow” tune, featuring only a simple guitar and piano accompaniment to
Wainwright’s dulcet tones, and it’s the perfect song to listen to while curled
up with a cup of coffee and a book.
6) “Wavin’ Flag (Celebration Mix)” – K’naan
I will admit, I had World Cup fever this summer. I don’t
usually watch soccer but I caught a couple of games about midway through the
tournament and got inexorably hooked. I wanted a vuvuzela. I wanted the
Netherlands to demolish Spain. And I wanted this song to rule my summer. “Wavin’
Flag” is joyful, enjoyable, and just plain fun, and will always make me think
happily of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, even if my team didn’t win.
7) “Threads” – This Will Destroy You
As a long-time band geek I have a weak spot for classical
music, and also instrumental music in general. “Threads” is one of the most
emotionally charged songs I have heard in a long time and it manages it all
without a single lyric. The constant build of the music evokes the best kind of
tension and sometimes I find myself stopping whatever I’m doing just to listen
to and appreciate this awesome song.
8) “Wonderful” – Gary Go
This song will forever make me think of blue skies and sunny
days and driving way too fast down local roads with my radio blasting. The
music is glorious and the message just as great, and since I discovered this
song it has never been far from my playlists. The rest of Gary Go’s CD (which I
purchased after first falling in love with this song) tends toward the mellow
and sometimes downright sad, but “Wonderful” is a gem among them and I highly
recommend a download if you enjoy upbeat, inspirational songs that make you
want to drive with the top down.
9) “Sweet Disposition” – The Temper Trap
Seeing as summer just ended, this Not So Celebrity playlist
is apparently doomed to contain all of my eponymous summer songs and “Sweet
Disposition” just might be my all-time favorite. The pulsating beat and grand
scope of the Temper Trap’s sound are wonderfully combined for an almost
pitch-perfect song I will probably never tire of. It doesn’t hurt that it is an
absolutely fantastic song to drive to, either. What can I say? I love good
driving music, and the Temper Trap provides.
10) “Everyday” – Buddy Holly
My go-to feel- good song, “Everyday,” is one of the most
adorable songs I have ever heard. From the delicate notes of the celesta to the
constant slapping beat on Jerry Allison’s lap, this song transports me back to
the simpler years of the fifties and is the perfect cure for a case of the
blues.
