Sounds Good!

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs
And as silently steal away.
 
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Day Is Done


Music was my refuge.  I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness. 

~Maya Angelou, Gather Together in My Name




One of the things I've loved the most about growing up was when my Mom and my two aunts would come together at family gatherings and my grandmother would ask for them to sing.  There's been a recorded tape that's been passed around in my family of the three of them singing at a wedding and then at home.


My favorite song they would perform at weddings was the Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet.  I had no idea what it was at the time but every time I heard it, I would tell myself that I would hear them sing it at my wedding.  Since then, I've heard the actual song itself (and seen the older movie) and I'm not sure how they got the idea to "sing" it since I've only heard it as an instrumental version.


Anyhow, we've always been big into music on my Mom's side of the family.  All of my sisters and I took singing lessons--either through school or by taking extra-curricular lessons--and my two older sisters were into it a lot more than I was.  Personally, if I'd stuck to it and pushed myself, I wouldn't have minded becoming a soprano singer of some sort.  I'm not really one for stage fright, so that wouldn't have worried me.  My sisters and I also played instruments.  OldSis knows several, including piano, guitar and clarinet (or some sort).  MidSis, TwinSis and I all played the flute and I kinda half-ass figured out how to play the bass a bit.  TwinSis is also working on the guitar.  OldSis has even written quite a few songs.  MidSis made it to the finals of a thing called Ontario Pop, back when I was a kid.  It's a franco-Ontarian singing contest that's televised and it's quite a big deal in Ontario.


Anyway!  That sounds like bragging, but it's not.

My point is that we've all had a lot of interest in music and even today, I love listening to music.  My favorite songs are either heard on the radio or recommended from friends.  I was sort of in the mood to share a few (and to write a blog entry, but not sure about what), so I'll post a few varied lists here!

They're numbered but just for posterity's sake, not really for any order of preference.

Songs That Make Me Feel Totally Badass
1.  I'm Alive -- Disturbed
2.  You're Gonna Go Far, Kid -- The Offspring
3.  Love Me Dead -- Ludo
4.  Figured You Out -- Nickelback
5.  Map of the Problematique -- Muse

Songs That Make Me Happy No Matter What Mood I'm In
1.  Hey, Soul Sister -- Train
2.  Consequence Free -- Great Big Sea
3.  Kjærlighet Mellom Muslinger -- Bare Egil Band (Norwegian)
4.  Everlong -- Foo Fighters
5.  Badlands -- Bruce Springsteen

Songs That Put A Lump In My Throat (If Not Outright Make Me Cry) 
1.  It Ends Tonight -- The All-American Rejects
2.  Jar of Hearts -- Christina Perri
3.  Kingdom of Days -- Bruce Springsteen
4.  Ave Maria -- Celtic Woman
5.  Far Away -- Nickelback
 
Songs That Are Just Freakin' Pretty
1.  Deep Silent Complete -- Nightwish
2.  Broken -- Sonata Arctica
3.  Hey There Delilah -- Plain White T's
4.  Pieces -- Red
5.  Us Remains Impossible -- Matthew Good Band

Songs That Make Me Sigh and Go All Dreamy-Eyed and Sappy
1.  The Kill -- 30 Seconds to Mars
2.  Savior -- Lights
3.  When the Sun Hits-- Slowdive
4.  Such Great Heights -- Iron & Wine
5.  What If You -- Joshua Radin

Songs I'll Sing To No Matter Who's Listening
1.  Bad Romance -- Lady GaGa
2.  The Kill -- 30 Seconds to Mars 
3.  Panic Switch -- Silversun Pickups
4.  What's On Your Mind -- Madrugada
5.  40 Feet -- Franz Ferdinand


Songs I Really Love By Non-English Bands
1.  Je ferme les yeux -- Najoua Belyzel (French)
2.  Das Tier In Mir -- E Nomine (German with some Latin)
3.  Dom Andra -- Kent (Swedish)
4.  Il est seul -- Les B.B. (French-Canadian)
5.  Les jardins de St-Martin -- Roch Voisine (French-Canadian with a tiny bit of English)


I limited myself to five songs per category, though I would list a lot more if I could.  Some songs got switched around while I deleted some and replaced them with others.  It wasn't that easy...and most of these are all pretty "new."  The oldest song on here is probably a Bruce Springsteen one, but I love all kinds of music; Johnny Cash, Duran Duran, Elvis, Billy Idol and so many more.  This list was tougher than I thought!


Anyhow, if you're curious about any of these songs and can't find them (and if you have some way to contact me other than posting on here, be it Facebook, forum or MSN), toss me a note and I'll see if I can point you in the right direction (wink, wink)!


Hell, I almost put down my favorite Christmas albums too, but meh...'tis not the season.  Yet!

~Fel




p.s.  And yep, I once again managed to stuff in something from http://icanhascheezburger.com