American Pie

I rode BART this weekend (pictures to follow), so this means that I had a great deal of time to think. I meditated on some things in life, and I started thinking about how things enter into my consciousness and change my worldview forever. I consider a dynamic worldview to be a good thing, and music is always part of my changing scenery.

So, I put together a list of the 15 songs that have changed my musical life, for the better. I could talk about them for pages, but I'm going to try to keep it to a few sentences explanation. You don't have to read, but, if you're curious, here we go!

1. "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin-- I didn't know music could sound like this before I heard this song. I'll repeat this frequently, but, it is true. I'd heard "Stairway to Heaven" and hated it (still do), but I heard this and it threw open a door to a whole new level of music.

2. "Beat It" by Michael Jackson -- I jacked my parent's copy of "Thriller" on cassette and used to play it over and over with my friends. This song, which was my favorite, was my first memory of popular music.

3. "Waterfalls" by TLC -- I thought I had stolen the Hope Diamond when I managed to talk my mom into buying me the "Crazy, Sexy, Cool" album by TLC...it had swear words, and words that were spoken rapidly over beats that sounded nothing like the "old" music my parents had me listen to....and they talked about AIDS. And condoms. Enter popular music circa 1996 and beyond.

4. "American Pie" by Don McLean -- My Mom told me that this is the song DJs put on when they have to go to the toilet. I think they should chose "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", but I can see it. This song introduced me to the idea of a musical story. We used to sing this in the middle school locker room, not knowing any of the words other than the chorus. "Do you believe in rock and roll? Can music save your mortal soul?" Yes, yes it can.

5. "God Bless The Child" by Billie Holiday -- I have never, and I repeat NEVER heard anyone like Billie Holiday. I don't remember why I first heard this song, somewhere in early high school, but, once again, I didn't know music could sound like this. Rich, soulful, heartbreaking, and OLD. She, and this song, opened the door in my world to Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis, Jr, Lena Horne, etc etc.

6. "Keep Ya Head Up" by Tupac Shakur -- My cousin Miranda is solely responsible for introducing me to Tupac, for better or for worse. (She also introduced me to the Steve Miller Band...thanks, girl.) I remember hearing the first few lines of this song not for their lyrical content, but for Tupac's voice. Still to this day I find it completely intoxicating. I am close to the whitest white person you'll meet, but those of you that have ever touched my iPod know I LOVE rap music. This song was likely the beginning of it all. Enter Kanye West, Notorious BIG, The Fugees, Jurassic 5, Jay Z, and a host of others that I found as a result of my first run in with Tupac.

7. "Buddy Holly" by Weezer -- The first time I put the blue album of Weezer's into my discman (yea, I'm cool) I listened to Buddy Holly thoroughly and promptly dismissed the rest of the album as "too hard". I was, 12, maybe? (I'd spent all of my Christmas money at FYE to buy the blue album and No Doubt's "Tragic Kingdom") Then I listened to it again and again. I started to turn my radio dial to the alternative/modern rock station more frequently. I was never really into alternative as my primary mainstay, but I would have it ignored it for much longer. Regrettably, I gave away my copy of the Blue Album. Whoever I gave it to, I'd like it back now.

8. "Sympathique" by Pink Martini -- I never knew music could be this fun. In so many different languages. I've since seen Pink Martini live...they outdo themselves, really. Changed my life...for the better!

9. "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor -- My room mate in college was into James Taylor, I had never really been...turns out my mother doesn't like him. But the first time I heard "Fire and Rain" and to this day, I'm comforted by it. Whenever I have a bad day, it is quite likely that that song will play. "Won't you look down upon me Jesus, you gotta help me make a stand. You've just got to see me through another day. My body's aching and my time is at hand, I won't make it any other day." PS-- I love James Taylor. Sorry, Cath.

10. "Jupiter" from The Planets by Gustav Holst -- I'm a violinist and I wish I had learned to play the trumpet. There are many, many orchestral pieces that I love...but none as much as this one. It fills me with optimism and promise.

11. "Baby Love" by Diana Ross and the Supremes -- I remember laying in the back of my parents car on the way to Missouri to visit our relatives playing the only disk I had, "Motown's Greatest Hits". Well guess that, that same CD is still in my car. Motown is its own entity to me. It was all I knew of music for some time, and I was happy for it. I made a Motown station on our Pandora at work...I think I surprised the people who were around at that time that I even knew the music. Know and love!

12. "Black Water" by The Doobie Brothers -- I stole my parents record of this song (and more!). It is eternally summer for me. It doesn't get much better for me. "Well, I built me a raft and she's ready for floatin'..."

13. "La Vie Boheme A" by the Original Cast of RENT -- RENT is probably the most changing set of musical works that I ever encountered. Enter...musical theatre. Enter concepts I'd never heard of....people I'd never have "met" otherwise...another CD still in my car. :-)

14. "Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder, remade by the Red Hot Chili Peppers -- If you've never heard these songs back to back, I recommend that you do so, Stevie first. I had the mistaken impression that all covers of songs were crap. I retain that most are, but, not this one! This song always succeeds in making me want to jump into a spontaneous dance party...either version.

15. "The Seeker" by The Who -- my love of this song is ENTIRELY because of a scene in film "American Beauty". Kevin Spacey is buff as hell and rocking it and the opening bars of The Seeker come on. Amazing. Whenever I'm trying to be buff as hell and rocking it, I crank this one. Works like a charm.

1-15. Boring for all of you, I'm sure. I love music and wouldn't survive without it. I hope you feel the same way. What are your favorites? What changed your life, musically or otherwise?

Cheers
Catrina

For the record, songs recorded before I was born: 10/15. Good Job Cath & Kev!