What songs do you always, always leave playing (whether they're on .mp3, CD, or the radio)? What songs always sound good?

There aren't that many, if you're honest about it and really give it some thought. I have favorite songs, sure--but I'm not always in the mood for a particular favorite song. I like what Rob said:

Even on my own mix CDs that only contain songs I like, I come across songs that I don’t care to hear at that moment.

Exactly. Call it attention-deficit disorder or (please!) just revert to that old word, fickle, but that's how I am. I'm not always in the mood for whatever I recorded, even if at the time I recorded it I thought, "Oh, this is gonna be perfect." I've made the perfect mix a thousand times; unfortunately, it's always been the perfect mix for the me I was at that particular moment.

Songs that never get skipped for me no matter what (those I can recall right now, anyway) . . . yeah, most of them are cliches and/or embarrassing:

"Sweet Home Alabama:" I have no idea. I was born in New Jersey? I just like it, a lot. It picks me up when I'm feeling blue. If you think that's dumb, I suggest you don't get between me and a jukebox containing that song. I'll show you dumb.

"Train in Vain:" Yeah, who saw that coming?

"Back in Black:" Another 80s thing. And now I think of it, basically any AC/DC. I can wake up convinced that the day is not a classic metal kind of day, only to be seduced by a random AC/DC track in spite of myself. In fact, I could easily substitute "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" for "Back in Black." There was only one Bon Scott, and alas, he is dead, his scorched larynx buried with him.

(Did you know there is a Finnish AC/DC tribute band that plays only the Bon Scott tracks? Seriously:

The singer Timo Heinonen, however, would probably score quite high in a "Finnish Bon Scott Competition", if there was going to be one

It takes a Finn to write a blurb like that--proud, but modest. One of these days I need to write about my first visit to Finland's homepage--Finland's PINK homepage complete with bad MIDI and animated .GIF of a flying pig. This was Finland's official government page and no, I'm not making that up. I'm sometimes not convinced Finland is a real country, and that homepage didn't dissuade me from the notion that they're just faking countryhood, while counting on the rest of us not to notice. Someone should alert the U.N.)

The Van Halen cover of "Pretty Woman:" I know I'm supposed to get all eloquent about what a magical talent Roy Orbison was, but as far as I'm concerned, the guy lived mainly so that Van Halen could cover "Pretty Woman." SO SUE ME.

"Let's Go," The Cars. I like the nightlife, baby.

"Have You Seen Your Mother Baby, Standing in the Shadow?" Or "Let's Spend the Night Together." I don't like the slow Stones songs. They need to be double-time, greedy-speedy, or I'm not much into them.

"Anyhow, Anyway, Anywhere." They never play this on the radio. You know why? Because the Radio Gods have decreed that, should the country need Who tunes, it must content itself with one more tired-ass round of "Won't Get Fooled Again." That's why.

"Sweet Jane." I owe my brother for introducing me to that song. I owe him double for playing me both the original release and the oh-look-here-comes-Lou-to-add-back-in-the-arty-instrumental-bit-they-initially-left-out version. Me, I like the original; you lose momentum with the arty bit. Oh, and they never play this on the radio either, least not where I live, and while I'm on that sore subject may I just say fuck you, Clear Channel.

Posted by Ilyka at May 22, 2005 11:06 AM in trivia