April and Randy dot com » Music http://aprilandrandy.com The website of April and Randy. Blah, blah, blah. . . Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:01:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 Let’s Sing a Song! http://aprilandrandy.com/2005/08/31/lets-sing-a-song/ http://aprilandrandy.com/2005/08/31/lets-sing-a-song/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2005 01:46:54 +0000 April http://aprilandrandy.com/2005/08/31/lets-sing-a-song/


Let’s Sing a Song!

Originally uploaded by lil aNNa.

I ran across an old compilation CD that I made of songs that I would sing along with in my car (the songs are from the ’80s and early ’90s). These aren’t the songs that I’d use as music to drive to (I had a whole collection of them in my twenties, songs that were played while driving around Seattle with no purpose but to drive around) — these are songs that I liked to sing. There may be some crossover between the “driving” songs and the “sing-a-long” songs” but somehow the two categories are differentiated in my mind. I thought I’d share the list of tracks. Perhaps it’ll bring back some good memories for you too.

  • “Things Can Only Get Better” – Howard Jones
    I’m told that I’m optimistic. This song appeals to me for obvious reasons I think.
  • “True Faith” – New Order
    I saw them in concert in Seattle when I was about 19. Horrible concert (lead singer never looked at the audience — he sang into the floor) but great music.
  • “Wouldn’t it be Good” – Nik Kershaw
    A very overlooked song from the 80s. A song of wishful thinking.
  • “Major Tom (Coming Home)” – Peter Schilling
    It’s amazing how a fictional character could inspire so many songs. Schilling’s rendition of this story has a wonderful haunting chorus.
  • “We Close Our Eyes” – Go West
    A great ’80s pop song with lots of synthesizers and preachy lyrics.
  • “Mutual Surrender” – Bourgeois Tagg
    A catchy, peace-promoting song of the 80s. It got a lot of airplay in Seattle and Bourgeois Tagg was the first concert I ever went to (okay, I saw the Osmonds in concert when I was 11 but that’s different). They played the Moore Theater. Randy had never heard this song before he married me — actually he hadn’t heard most of these songs as the radio stations out of Pittsburgh played rock and not New Wave kind of pop.
  • “The Reflex” – Duran Duran
    One of the best songs of the 80s. This song takes me back to junior high where my biggest concern was getting notes written and passed to my friends. I saw Duran Duran in concert earlier this year in Louisville. They’re still a great live act.
  • “Chains of Love” – Erasure
    A pop song which I believe is about AIDS. Although it’s a pop anthem of sorts and with a catchy melody, it’s a bittersweet song.
  • “What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy)” – Information Society
    Just the fact that they sampled lines from “Star Trek” made this a favorite. We used this song when we were first married when we were driven to play “stereo wars” with the rowdy neighbors in the townhouse next door who didn’t quiet down even after the police came; we cranked up the bass, used our full 200 watts (never before fully tapped) and played the whole song. We won — we never heard a peep from the neighbors again. The whole album is good though, even the cover of ABBA’s “Lay All Your Love on Me.”
  • “Something About You” – Level 42
    This was their big hit in the U.S. but it’s too bad that they didn’t catch on. Their other albums are also very good. I think I have a thing for groups whose lead singer also plays bass.
  • “I Drove All Night” – Cyndi Lauper
    This is the original version, not the cover recently done by Celine Dion. Lauper’s interpretation has a desperate, pleading quality. This also counts as song a for my “driving” category of tunes.
  • “In Your Soul” – Corey Hart
    Yes, he did other songs besides “Sunglasses as Night.” This song has a great message about believing in who you are and that no one can take your essence away from you.
  • “Hole Hearted” – Extreme
    Another song from the “driving” category that’s also a “sing-a-long” for me. It has a driving beat, layered harmonies and features a 12-string guitar. Besides, it has the classic line: “There’s a hole in my heart than can only be filled by you.” Okay, it’s cheesy but sweet.
  • “Closer to Fine” – Indigo Girls
    I like singing this song so much, I sang it once at a karaoke place in Lexington. It was tough though because I liked to sing the harmony part and had to really concentrate on singing the melody. I don’t relate to the lyrics much anymore but it’s still a great song.
  • “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
    I remember hearing this on the radio in Seattle before Nirvana hit it big and it clicked with me immediately. I didn’t really know all of the lyrics until I heard a cover done by Tori Amos which is very haunting. The scariest cover of this song is by Paul Anka of all people (I may have to buy this album). You gotta admit, a song has to be pretty good to cross so many genres.
  • “Orinoco Flow” – Enya
    I actually know every word to this song, not just the chorus, “Sail away, sail away, sail away.” I don’t know why, I just do.


    • ]]>     http://aprilandrandy.com/2005/08/31/lets-sing-a-song/feed/ 2