Ten Song Challenge

 Recently, there has been a Facebook "challenge" to name ten books that changed your life or had an impact on you.  I posted mine- twice!- but it got me to thinking about music and the songs that changed my life or that I carry with me.  So here, in no particular order, are mine or at least the ones I am thinking about today.


1. God Only Knows.  Growing up in Southern California in the 60's the Beach Boys always seemed to be on the radio in the summer.  The music still tastes like summer to me and listening to their glorious harmonies, I can be transported back to those summer days.  I love God Only Knows best I suppose.  I love to sing along.

2. Horse with No Name DUH. America.  My favorite band, their first radio hit.  It's not my favorite song of theirs, it's just their first one; the one that introduced me to the band.  My "favorite" of theirs changes daily and I probably have a whole list of my ten favorite America songs, which is a topic for another day.

3. She Love you  Beatlemania! I was in elementary school when John, Paul, George and Ringo burst onto the American scene.  I had a Beatle poster on my wall ( which I remember as being kind of creepy , I thought their eyes were following me)  The Beatles were the first brush with "our" music, not what my parents listened to, but music that spoke to our generation.  Again, not my favorite Beatles song, but one that can still make me feel sweet and giddy.

4.  Please.  Evita Freaks.  Most people reading this will never have heard of the song OR the band, BUT it led me to my husband, who was playing bass with the band at the time I met him.  Changed my life?  Made it better?  Oh yes!  It was Evita's sweet voice that led me to him.

5. YYZ- I'm a girl, therefore was NOT a Rush fan ( if you're a fan you get the joke)   My husband is a huge fan and I bought tickets to see them early in our marriage.  In preparation, I had him load "Moving Pictures" onto myMP3 player, as they were doing that album as part of this show. WOW.  I really got into how three guys could make such a full sound, complex and amazing.  I became a Rush fan- I'm one of the thirteen ;)

6. Solsbury Hill. This Peter Gabriel song emboldens me.  It's about gathering the courage to leave something and to find a better place for yourself.  I was unhappy at a job and I heard this song.  It "spoke" to me and I thought "yes I should look for something better."  I did and twenty-eight years ago, made the change to the job I have now.

7. Fighter Christina Aguilera   A song my "kids" dedicated to me, about how a bad relationship makes you stronger.  My "borrowed daughter" told me I was an inspiration to her.  NOTHING and I mean NOTHING is sweeter to hear than that!

8. Little Tin Soldier  A Donovan song that is a telling of the fairy tale about the Steadfast Tin Soldier.  I used to sing it to Kate and she told me recently she remembers it as a favorite song.  I will be brushing off this and other rock and  roll lullabies for my grandson.

9. Fallen. I read liner notes ( I know my friend Reggie who writes them will be pleased to see this)  I make a note of who wrote what song, if I like it, so that I can seek out more music by that writer.  This song led me to work for Lauren Wood in the 80's .  It was fun and Lauren was and is a wonderful musician.  I still love her work and hope to be able to see her new group, the Peculiars, very soon!

10. Storm This song, by Lifehouse is my go-to when I need to find my own strength. I sing it in the car.  It is a song about faith, vague in it's direction, it could be faith in God or faith in another person.  By the time I get to the last chorus, I am feeling the power of my own faith. I don't feel like I am facing whatever it is alone.

So that's MY ten.  What's yours?