Writing a blog is a funny thing because it involves so many things that I really love–reading, writing, food, and photography, which is something that I’ve really grown to love. But it’s also kind of a funny thing because as much as I love it, all those things have kind of become a job. That’s great because I’m actually using my English degree (when I was in college and people asked me what I was planning on doing, I didn’t have too many ideas beyond the vague possibility of teaching), but it also means that my hobbies have since become work and, like any job, there are times when things feel tedious or overwhelming.
So my one respite, the one thing I love that has gone untouched, is music. Music has always been a huge part of my life and is a big part of my family’s life now (I’m dead serious when I say that in 13 years of marriage, some of my husband’s and my biggest fights have been about music. It sounds silly, but things get personal awfully quickly. Let’s just say we don’t ever talk about the latest Maroon 5 album. Ever.)
I thought it would be fun to not only share some of the songs that get the most playtime on my iPod, but also the songs that take me straight back to high school (which I keep forgetting wasn’t, like, 3 years ago.) I tried to scan through the videos to make sure there wasn’t anything offensive and I’ll try and give you fair warning about any questionable content, but I can’t 100% guarantee that there won’t be anything in any of the videos that people might have problems with.
Top 5 Songs That Take Me Straight Back to High School
“Crash” by Dave Matthews Band
“Adia” by Sarah McLachlan
“With or Without You” by U2
“Forever Young” by Alphaville (no, I did not go to high school in the 1980s, but it was still alive and kicking as a sentimental favorite in the late ’90s.)
“My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion (from Titanic, just in case you forgot. It was either that or “Kissing You” from Romeo and Juliet. Leonardo DiCaprio was quite popular with my 16-year-old self.
Top 7 Songs Right Now
“Stay” by Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams
“Another Story” by The Head and the Heart (Some people have mentioned some homosexual vibes going on in the video, so if that possibility is problematic, maybe just listen to it in the background. I think it’s open to interpretation, but it’s a beautiful video and one of my favorite songs.)
“Girls Chase Boys” by Ingrid Michaelson
“Counting Stars” by One Republic
“Us Against the World” by Coldplay
“Gale Song” by The Lumineers (from Catching Fire); for the record, I’m firmly planted in Team Peeta territory, but I love this song and I love The Lumineers.
“All I Want” by Kodaline (there’s a swear word right at the beginning of the video before the song starts…just warning y’all. It’s a surprising and surprisingly touching video, definitely not what I was expecting to go with this song.)
Top 5 Songs of All Time
“Ghosts That We Knew” by Mumford and Sons. It makes me feel stuff.
“Walk on the Ocean” by Toad the Wet Sprocket
“I’m Yours” (from the Casa Nova Sessions) by Jason Mraz
“Fix You” by Coldplay
“Human” by The Killers
I’m probably missing something I love and I’m going to be mad, but there you have it–a little cross-section of who I am deep down. Now it’s your turn–what are your favorites?
P.S. If you haven’t snagged a few bottles of olive oil yet, they’re on sale right now in the OBB shop!
Questions & Reviews
Love this! I’m always curious to see what you’re listening to because we have similar tastes in music. Oh and music videos, I’ve missed those! I remember watching MTV when it was actually mostly music videos; those were the golden days. Ha!
I also love Iron & Wine when it’s not too country (Boy With a Coin, Flightless Bird American Mouth, Resurrection Fern), The Swell Season (Drown Out, Back Broke), Glen Hansard, and The Civil Wars, again, minus the super country stuff (Girl With the Red Balloon, Poison & Wine).
I am firmly a Team Peeta as well, but I think “Gale’s Song” is such a hidden gem on that soundtrack. It was one of my favorites from the start. So great.
Thank you for sharing this list. It was great to hear some new stuff. Loved “Another Story” and “Girls Chase Boys” – ones I hadn’t heard before.
We can be friends – love your selections! 🙂
Hello, high-school-music-kindred-spirit! Love it!
We must be about the same age! I have most of those songs on my ipod and graduated when some of those songs were popular. Walk On the Ocean is definitely a staple of mine too. I saw Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Reunion tour my senior year of college (2003)-it was awesome.
Haaa! Totally the same age–I graduated from high school in 1999.
Loving the variety. And the throwbacks. Love some of those classics!
Fix You- yes!
Alphaville- I didn’t know you were that old. LOL You know what I mean, right? I mean, I’m that old. 🙂
There are a few I don’t know yet that I’m excited to try!
Since you love Counting Stars by One Republic, please check out this cover video by the amazing Meghan Linsey (formerly with Steel Magnolia). http://youtu.be/_4V6fo8FhE8
Love the songs! Fix You is one of my all time favs as well… have you ever heard the version by Javier Colon when he was on The Voice? Take a listen 🙂
Great list. I am also loving “All of Me” by John Legend right now. And the American Authors album. Also love the Of Monsters and Men album.
Oh my goodness, thanks for sharing Kodaline “All I Want”! I had to watch Part 2–what a sweet and emotional video!!
Loved this post! I feel like I listen to “kid” music so much that I don’t know what’s good anymore.
Great list–I enjoyed it a lot and it is making a day at work go by happily.
I’m really sad that in today’s world a song that MIGHT have a reference to homosexuality gets a stronger caution than an entire song devoted explicitly to a man describing wanting to have sex with a woman after watching her naked in front of a window. (DMB–Crash)
I wish you didn’t have to worry so much about being offensive or recommending things that might be offensive to others. You have some awesome music here that people can choose or choose not to listen to. Thanks!
Oh my gosh, you’re totally right about “Crash”–I haven’t listened to it in years and I vaguely remember seeing the video once. Funny how growing up changes your perspective on music you used to listen to! I agree with everything you said. 🙂
Thank. You. So. Much. I am a huge music fan and a couple of these I’d never heard. They’re about to be new favorites. (You have great taste :))
PS I’ll totally support a post like this every 6 months or so 😉
Absolutely, haha!
I saw Mumford and Sons in concert last year and it was [insert most magical word you know here]. Probably the best night of my life, that’s how splendimagnifiwonderistical it was! So thanks for immediately bringing me back to that place with Ghosts That We Knew. Great song.
I’m so jealous that I’m not sure we can be friends anymore.
😉
Um, Kate. We totally did just graduate from HS 3 yrs ago! Oh man, I can feel how it felt to be at a dance at LHS just listening to some of those songs!
Walk on the Ocean by Toad the Wet Sprocket is still one of my ALL TIME favorites, too! Great lists!
Adia and pretty much all things Sarah Maclachlan sums up the late 90’s for me. Throw in a little more boy bands and there you have it.
I love that your fights revolve around music. My husband doesn’t love that my kids (6 & 3) sing Moves Like Jagger but I would go crazy if I had to listen to Wheels on the Bus in the car. Great post!
I go back and forth with favorite Coldplay songs – it’s either Fix You or In My Place, depending on the day and how I’m feeling :). I also love Let Your Heart Hold Fast by Fort Atlantic, To Be With You by Mr Big, and It’s a Great Day to Be Alive by Travis Tritt (don’t judge me!).
Also, the music video to Wake Me Up by Avicii is odd and kind of cool at the same time…
I love your line about forgetting that high school “wasn’t, like, 3 years ago.” I feel the same way except for me it feels more like high school was about 8 years ago — so how in the world has it been 25 years?!? Fun post!
Your adorable, these are such great songs!
Wow, definitely kinda forgot music videos existed. Haha 🙂 Thanks for the list!
I know, right?! And the funny thing is that the production values are so much higher, but no one watches them anymore, lol!
Oy. I love the Romeo & Juliet soundtrack. The other one I still listen to over and over again is the Gross Pointe Blank soundtrack.
Love, love, love! 🙂 I still def have the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack, lol!
I suppose I watched the only 2 that would make me cry!!! Great songs!
I love Ingrid Michaelson so glad she made your list!
I do, too–I had a hard time narrowing it down to one, especially since “Turn to Stone” is one of my all-time faves.
You’ve got some of my faves there (Fix You) and some others I’d like to check out when I have a few minutes! I’ve been listening to mostly country lately. The song I can’t get out of my head right now is Kira Isabella’s “Quarterback,” even though it makes me cry and deals with some real issues.
I am pretty sure Forever Young is STILL alive and kicking. Or my sister and her friends are getting down with the 80s.
Good to hear, hahaha!
Oh no, homosexual vibes! Haha! What an awesome song. I’m adding it to my playlist!
I agree. It was a different time then and things like holding hands wasn’t a big deal with your BFF. They were kindred spirits for sure. (besides I loved me some “Pretty Little Liar” action – she’s the best!)
I totally agree!
I love eclectic music collections-never gets old that way!