2005-02-15 - 5:26 p.m. - song survey

I’ve seen this twice now in as many days. In slightly different modes from %%diary-pandionna%% and %%diary-girlsdontcry%%, I’m grabbing the stick and listing my songs…

I: Ten Random Songs

Instructions: Put your MP3 player on "shuffle" and list the first ten songs that play, no matter how embarrassing:

OK – I first had to figure out how to put my iPod on complete shuffle mode. I usually just listen to it in the album or artist mode. During my first attempt, it was just shuffling my top 25 songs I had been playing recently – mostly from Death Cab for Cutie (Transatlanticism) and Josh Ritter (Hello Starling). I finally figured out how to put it in full shuffle mode – all 2393 songs. Here’s what it came up with, and dare I say so myself – not embarrassing at all.

1. The Tear Drop Explodes - “And the Fighting Takes Over”
2. The Dandy Warhols - “Insincere”
3. U2 – “In God’s Country”
4. Elvis Presley – “Too Much”
5. The Doors – “Five to One”
6. Roxy Music – “Tara”
7. Siouxie and the Banshees – “Hong Kong Garden”
8. The Dandy Warhols – “Come Down”
9. XTC – “Senses Working Overtime”
10. Hole – “She Walks On Me”

I thought it quite interesting that out of 2393 songs, it would pick two by the Dandy Warhols. My poor iPod must miss its former hometown band who has a new album coming out soon….. In any case, here’s part II of the survey.

II: Question and Answer Section
Read question. Answer question.

1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?

A: 2393 songs (on my iPod, that is. None on my present computer…) There’s a total of 18.5 GB on iPoddy, and I have 6.4GB remaining. I love this thing….

2. What is the song you last listened to before beginning this message?

A: “Yahweh” by U2. I’ve been listening to their new CD a lot recently. They are the best band on the planet, and Bono is in the top five people on my list of whom to invite to a dinner party…

3. The last CD you bought is?

A: U2 – “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb”

4. 5 songs you often listen to or mean a lot to you?

A: Let’s see – I guess the songs that mean a lot to me would be the ones I want at my funeral – not that it’s happening anytime soon – at least not to my knowledge, but I really have little say in the matter….

1. “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes would be nice…. It sends chills up my spine every time.
2. “Journey Home” by Michael Allen Harrison – a beautiful piano piece by my favorite Portland pianist.
3. “Solace” by Scott Joplin – I first heard it in the movie, “The Sting”, and it has been a favorite
ever since. I then learned it on the piano and it’s one of the few songs I can still play completely by heart.
4. “40” by U2…”How long, to sing this song???” They used to end every concert with this, and it always brought a smile to my face when I heard people still singing it long after the band took their final bows. It’s based on Psalm 40 – my favorite. And given that U2 has just released another very appropriate song, I will have to add it to my ever growing list – “Yahweh” – “…take this soul and make it sing…”
5. “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” by Love and Rockets. “…do you want to see an angel?”
6. OK – I know it said only 5 but given that I changed the motif to what’s being played at my funeral, and given that if you come to it, there’s going to be a full fledged concert, I have to add a couple of more…
“And in the End, the love you take is equal to the love, you make…” That’s the very last thing played, but given that’s from the Beatles’ masterpiece of a second side of any album ever created – Abby Road, I think we’ll have to hear that whole medley of songs. Like I said, it’s going to be a concert – bring popcorn and some microbrews…
7. “Be Not Afraid” is in there too, but at the beginning of the service.
8. And how can I leave out this one? “Kathleen” by Josh Ritter. After all, he did tell me once that he wrote it for me….J You can drive me home any day, Josh.
9. Oh gosh….I really need a Bunnymen song…hmmmm…How about “Ocean Rain”?? I do often feel like I’m “screaming, from beneath the waves….” And Ian’s voice is like a smooth Bailey’s Irish Crème. (yeah – I know he’s from Liverpool). OK – make it a Caffrey’s beer.
10. I feel like I should end this list with 10. I included 2 songs under number 4, so I guess I do have 10. After the funeral, I want the Doors, “Break on Through to the Other Side”…seems appropriate. Also, the Chameleons’ “Second Skin” …”if this is the stuff dreams are made of, no wonder I feel like I’m floating on air…” Some Dandy Warhols tunes and Helio Sequence would add a nice local flair. Come on….I have over 2000 songs on my iPod – I can’t pick just five.

Oh – how can I forget??? We have to have “The Origin of Love” from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. And maybe Frank Black would do his version of “Sugar Daddy”. This party is getting better by the second….I think I’ll have to have it before I’m dead…

OK, OK, OK….one – maybe two more….I do have to have this song, and my spirit will be dancing because it’s the one song I CANNOT sit down to – “Just Like Heaven” by the Cure. And if we’re heading into the 80’s era, throw in Modern English’s “Melt With You”….

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons and why)?

A: To you and you and you… Why not?

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