Music Amour: Part I

I am a self-professed music lover. My musical taste is eclectic, ranging from classic 50s pop (hence my ardor for the 50s...or one of them anyway) to hard, hard rock to glamazon techno to soft indie surf music. In lieu of spending the entire winter in a cold winter land, I have the privilege of spending two months in sunny Sarasota, Florida. Rather than meter-high snow banks, I see pools, palm trees, and an imminent tan. Like every other travel endeavour, every road trip has a soundtrack. Which just happens to be a compilation of my all-time songs...and the reasons why...and me being me, there just has to be a reason behind everything, even if it just includes cover art.

1. Stuck on Repeat--Little Boots. If you're looking for a hyper, upbeat workout song, this is it. It's actually composed by instruments and listening to it, this fact astounds me. A work of pure genius.

2. Barbie Girl, Dr. Jones, Happy Boys and Girls, and Lollipop (Candyman)--Aqua. Nostalgic of the 90s, I actually bought the Aquarium album from the band hailing from Denmark. This euro-pop band just has to be the coolest band of all time.

3. Salt Air--Chew Lips. If, like me, you think pop music is way too over done (sorry Katy Perry), this band features a unique take on pop and indie culture as we know it.

4. You Got Me--Colbie Caillat. Super, super cute song! This song epitomizes the cute, romantic feelings every teenager wants to have. The simplistic melody, the catchy beat, and lovable lyrics, this tune deserves a place for Valentines Day lovers everywhere.

5. A Teenager in Love--Dion and the Belmonts.  It's from the 50s. It's about teenagers in love. It has a man with a melodic voice. Best. Love. Song. Ever. And it didn't have to end in a comprisable position. Probably the sweetest song I've heard to date.

6. Dear X, You Don't Own Me--Disciple. A rocking song about how toxic emotions (anger, pain, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc.) doesn't own us; we own them. Jesus overcame these emotions at the Cross and we therefore don't have to live with it. A powerful anthem of incontrovertible truth.

7. The Day I Lost My Voice (The Suitcase Song)--Copeland. A song that I could listen to over and over on a dismal, rainy day. Perfect for lazying around.

8. How Many Kings--Downhere. Even though it's technically a Christmas song, the message is eternal: How else would offer his life for us other than Jesus? It is a beautiful song depicting the love God has for us that He willingly sent His Son to completely and fully redeem us. A worthy song.

9. Fire in My Eyes--Firelight. Lots of rock, ignition, and inertia. Great, great song if you seriously want to whip your hair back and forth.

10. Head First--Goldfrapp. An airy song that feels as though you are lifted in a dream. Plus, the whole album to which it belongs is like a warm hug from 1983.

11. Grease--Frankie Valli. I honestly can't tell if the beat of the song belongs to the 50s, 60s, or the 70s. Still, an awesome song from an equally awesome movie.

12. Lucky--Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. I was wrong; this is the best love song ever. It is so sweet, it's almost saccharine...but it's not because the realism in the lyrics transports you to a place where you are in love with your best friend.

13. Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop--Landon Pigg. This song wants you to daydream, to bring you to a place where, like a mystical music video, this boy walks in, makes intense eye contact with you, and falls in love with you. I feel as thought a million and one book ideas can come from a single song.

14. Hysteria, Starlight, Map of the Problematique, and Supermassive Black Hole--Muse. One of the best bands ever. Awesome songs, awesome beats, awesome, awesome, awesome!!!

15. Clipping, Armistice, Clockwork, Control, Progress, Break the Same, Stare at the Sun, Obselete, Photograph, Stall Out, and Peculiar People--MuteMath. Okay, so he may not have the best singing tenor in the world, but the sound of this band, hailing from the Jazz Capital in the United States--New Orleans--, is absolutely fantastic. You should definitely check them out; you won't regret it.

16. Gutter--Paper Route. It's hard to depict whether they are a pop or techno band; either way, they really have such a unique sound, that it makes you want to tap your feet or join in with them. So catchy.

17. Decode--Paramore. Yes, I realize this is going to sound trite, but the song really does sum up the mood and idea in Twilight. Hayley Williams' voice just screams the angst of Bella's unlikely entanglement to Edward.

18. Eye to Eye--Powerline. The song from my all-time favourite movie of all time: A Goofy Movie. Love, love, love!

19. Fight Inside--RED. A truthful song explaining how, as a Christian, we constantly struggle between God's Will and what we want. There is a incessant struggle between spirit and flesh. A realistic portrayal of how the battle within us will either corrupt us or succumb to our dominion.

20. Never Be Anyone Else But You--Ricky Nelson. I have an obvious love for classic songs. Ricky Nelson, crooner of the 50s, sings about that special person. A beautiful song.