The music that soothes my soul
A certain whore and I were talking about music. She was explaining how lyrics and songs resonate and speak for her, and how it's awesome and how she doesn't think I understand it, because every song I mentioned that resonated with me was stupid. I have decided to bring it to the internet to see what the people in my computer think.
These are a few songs that really reach deep within me and strike a chord. These are some of the songs that touch me:
1. Nine Inch Nails: "Something I Can Never Have"
2. Billy Joel: "Good Night Saigon"
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers: "Under the Bridge"
4. U2: "One"
5. Chris Isaak: "Wicked Game"
6. Ani DiFranco: "As Is"
7. Lisa Loeb: "Stay"
8. Cyndi Lauper: "True Colors"
9. Greatest American Hero theme song
10. Denis Leary: "Asshole"
11. Bon Jovi: "I'll Be There For you"
12. Timmy T: "One More Try"
13. Sinead O'Connor: "Nothing Compares 2 U"
14. Righteous Brothers: "Unchained Melody"
15. Bangles: "Eternal Flame"
16. Bonnie Tyler: "Total Eclipse of the Heart"
According to Britt, these songs are shallow and show that I have no depth and no soul. What do you think? Do any of these songs speak to you? What other songs do? What other songs resonate with you? Touch your soul?
Posted in 
Woah. I did NOT say that all of these songs are shallow. Wow.
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@Miss Britt, no, you didn't say that all of them were. You're right!
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OMG !! Denis Leary !! ***swoon*** You're an ashoooool—iooo-iioioioio !
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@kim, THAT's the one that catches your eye? Heh.
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Since none of them are by Depeche Mode or Debbie Gibson, I'd have to say no.
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@Dave2, I do like Deborah Gibson. She prefers Deborah now.
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I LOVE "Something I Can Never Have."
It's always struck something in me, but maybe more-so right now than ever before.
ANNND….now I'm even more maudlin than before.
Thanks.
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@adena, that song has always struck a chord with me very deeply.
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Well we'd have to begin with the premise that you have a soul to be soothed;-)
There are some songs of considerable depth in this list.
But a list this long for you that does not include Avril???? I go back to my first statement
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@Turnbaby, well, that premise is still being argued, true. And I like Avril, but it doesn't touch me. If she wants to, though, I'm game.
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I'm not one to argue, but personally The Dan Band's version of Total Eclipse of the Heart is more my style. But that's just me. To each their own.
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@Undomestic Diva, hahaha, that's a great version.
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…so, what you're saying is: you're a lesbian in a man's body? Cool. I don't know how you'd explain the "Asshole" though.
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@harmzie, lesbians can be assholes too.
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Me too on Greatest American Hero theme song, but ONLY if sung by Hep Alien.
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@Jen, I don't think I've heard that version.
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@Avitable, You, sir, are no Gilmore Girls fan.
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@Jen, I'm ashamed.
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I think Dennis Leary's tune was deep and meaningful, the wife was sniggering away while it played. I have his CD at work that features that song.
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@Mik, it really is, if you look at it carefully.
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I love Dennis Leary. I love most of these songs, actually.
Nothing Compares 2 U and Stay speak to my soul. There's a ton of songs that do, I don't think I can list them all.
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@Ashleigh, I think I could have listed another 10 or so easily.
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I saw U2 live once. I'm not the biggest fan and was going mainly to keep my wife company, so it really surprised me when i found tears in my eyes halfway through their rendition of One. That's a powerful song.
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@Dan, yeah it is. I can listen to One over and over again.
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@Dan, fabulous. I had tears in my eyes mostly because of the cost of concert tickets. U2 live was such a disappointment. (Excellent song.)
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I have a feeling we're about the same age, as some of those songs coincide with major hormone-addled times in my life, which mans they tend to have "meaning" and stick around in my psyche way past their expiration date.
But I listen to Nothing Compares 2 U over and over on a regular basis, and sing it at the top of my lungs. It would totally be my American Idol audition song, were I not too old and too un-bored to audition for American Idol.
But that Timmy T. song is pure-d shit. Sorry.
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@Amy B., it is shit, but it's good shit. And I'm 32.
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Love the Chilli's Under the Bridge. Proper collection of mind when that plays.
Quite a few others touch my soul, and a lot of Michael Jackson touch my asoul.
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@SingleParentDad, very clever. I see what you did there.
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Wow. I can tell a lot about you now. These songs REALLY DATE YOU. Shit.
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@Amo, date me how? I'm only 32!
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@Avitable, Really?! Man, I had you pegged for a much younger man. Hmmm.
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@Amo, and now I feel ancient.
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@Avitable, I'm 29, so I grew up with the same songs. You need to be held?
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This is a good list and would hold up in a court of law. Except, clearly, if Britt were judge.
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@BOSSY, which we know, she is.
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I L-O-V-E the "Greatest American Hero" song "Believe It Or Not". Back in the day, I used to scour the radio stations for it. My parents were too cheap to get a tape player so that was the only way I was gonna hear it. In the break part, where he sings, "Look at meeeeeeeee, Falling for youuuuuuuuu."….. I still hear that in my head sometimes when I look at HHH!
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@Blondefabulous, back in the day when you had to wait for the radios to play songs you wanted to hear. I remember that!
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If you are not moved by the song "One", then you are truly a being without a soul. Bono is God in leather, alright? And, what is with you men and that stupid song "Unchained Melody"? Did you ever really LISTEN to the lyrics? It's about some loser ass who got locked up in jail and is hoping that some stupid bitch is still pining over him back home. At least, that's my cynical version.
(Or maybe it's the fact that it was my wedding song with one of my husbands. Pick one. I've had three.)
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@CP, I think that might be your cynical version!
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Ahhhh… Wicked Game… featuring my only true man crush, Chris Isaak, and my one-time future wife, Helena Christensen. Yes, that one does a lot for me. And the song stirs me to my core.
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@kapgar, that video was always an inspiration for many moments in my private life.
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You can like what you want dollface.
And BTW…. the Dennis Leary song, strikes a chord in my vagina. Hot hot hot.
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@ADW, how many chords does your vagina have, hm?
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I love Asshole!
That reminds me of this chick that came into my husband's store (years ago when he ran the Sony Store here) and looking through the movie catalog with her father, yelled out "I LOVE SNATCH!"
Heh.
Many of the songs you listed have good memories attached to them, so I'm with you on some. But if I never ever TEOTH again, I'll be happy. I don't know why but I hate that song.
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@Karen Sugarpants, I love TEOTH and Eternal Flame – they meld into one song for me.
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You can get as deep into "Asshole" as anyone, Adam.
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@always home and uncool, it's hard to just jump right in, though. I have to ease myself into it.
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Actually, Under The Bridge is my sure-fire guaranteed get my kids to sleep song that I sing them (poorly, mind you). No, that is not sarcasm nor a joke.
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@SciFi Dad, I could see that.
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These songs are fairly prosaic. None of them speak to me.
Me either.
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@Kiefer and Emo, that's because you're a very old man.
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@Avitable, I may be but he isn't. We're both Mogwai fans…
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some are not my style (the more pop-y stuff) but i love, absolutely LOVE that nine inch nails song. having said that, music is art and art touches different people differently. just because someone else doesn't get it doesn't make it any less significant. you could just as easily say what Britt said to you, to her, you know?
but Bonnie Tyler…for real?
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@Peau, for realsies.
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If not for the Denis Leary song, I would say your a morron, you losser. Okay, Wicked Game also rules. It always makes me think of the scene in Wild at Heart when Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern are driving at night down a lonely highway and they come across the scene of an accident.
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@Grant, very clever – I see what you did there.
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I'm not going to go down the list, as I like a lot of those songs in different ways but in particular NIN. NIN reaches me in a way a lot of other music can't, it's dark, it's deep and it's so very real.
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@Robin, yeah. Trent Reznor's old stuff was outstanding.
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They're not shallow. Cheesy, maybe, but not shallow
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@Amanda, a few of them might be a little cheesy, I'll give you that.
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Wow, Timmy T. That must have hurt pulling that one out.
Every song has depth and soul, some are just more popular than others. Some also have really bad stylists looking back at them.
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@Hockeyman, that did hurt pulling that one out.
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I actually agree with some of your choices. Eternal Flame, True Colors, One…hell even Asshole! Some, not so much, but if they speak to you? Who am I to judge the connection you have to some of the lyrics of a song? We each have so many life experiences that if a couple of lines from one song mean that much, it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks.
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@Cissa Fireheart, well, Britt is kind of judgy.
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"One More Try" resonated with me because it came out after a guy I had been seeing cheated on me.
Love "Goodnight Saigon" and anything by U2 is usually good to at least make you think.
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@Finn, most of these songs I listened to during hormonal periods, too.
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I applaud your taste in music, sir. I consider "As Is," "Nothing Compares 2 U" (especially when Prince performs it), and "Goodnight, Saigon" to be among my favorite songs as well. If you pull meaning out of these songs, who cares what anyone else says. Right? Right.
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@Mighty Hunter, right.
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I don't like some of your songs, but it's basically all opinions, anyway. Whatever floats your boat.
My arm seriously hurts too much for me to write more!
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@Sybil Law, were you jacking off a hundred guys at once again?
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I've always thought Goodnight Saigon was a very sad, poignant piece. But I'm almost ashamed to say that because one of my best friends is always railing about what a hack Billy Joel is… but that song has always touched me.
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@cat, your friend doesn't get Billy Joel. Obviously.
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I totally didn't mean to publish my comment yet. Do over please! Most of those songs I like but are just kind of meh. Except for the ones in my prematurely ecommentulation up there. Especially Lisa Loeb and Cyndi Lauper. Now I have to go find those songs and add them to my iTunes. You owe me $4.95.
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@Jill, the Czech is in the mail. His name's Ishtvan.
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Oh my DOG, I cannot believe you have "One More Try" on here! I haven't heard this song forever and yes, yes I am jamming to it as I type this.
Anydoodle, you have some seriously old school stuff on here and while there are a few I don't like at all, most of them have a deeper meaning for me because they trigger a memory. Maybe that's your thing? Songs that trigger memories?
Like Britt, I tend to listen to artists (like Tori Amos) that actually make you stretch your mind and soul so I get what she is saying however, nothing can stop me dead in my tracks quite like SWV's "Weak" or Stevie B's "Spring Love".
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@Hilly, it must be about memories and times in my life.
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Wow, I have not thought of Goodnight Siagon in ages. It was one of our college drinking in the dorms song. It still reminds me of my friends and the craziness of those 4 years especially since the line "we'll all go down together" hits home when our friend died a few years later.
One by U2 gets me to my core!
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@Christina, Goodnight Saigon was a song that hit home for me in high school, even though I'm not really sure why.
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If you're going to embed the "Total Eclipse of the Heart" video it's only fair to post the Literal version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-x9ygQEGA (funniest literal version of a video ever)
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@VegasChris, I love the literal version. The "Take On Me" one is my favorite, though.
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@Avitable, the best literal version i saw was Meatloaf's "I would do anything for love…"
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When I listen to music, I listen to clear my mind, to not think about anything except a drum line or a trumpet solo. The songs that "speak" to me are the songs that have an incredible piano solo. It has to be the instruments themselves. Like "Mandolin Rain" – I could listen to Bruce Hornsby play the piano all day. Or Vivaldi's Four Seasons with violin solos out the wazoo. That's the music that speaks to me and takes me away.
And no, your selections aren't shallow. They are so very you.
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@Coal Miner's Granddaughter, because I'm an angsty teen girl?
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@Avitable, Well, you're constant tweeting about watching Gilmore Girls proved the angsty teen girl hypothesis.
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@Coal Miner's Granddaughter, CRAP! "your" not "you're". Shit.
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@Coal Miner's Granddaughter, hahahahaha!
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@Coal Miner's Granddaughter, "you're", eh?
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Absolutely. Several of these songs have erupted from my lungs at Mary's, the gay bar down the street, on karaoke night. In fact, "I'll Be There for You" did just that only last weekend (right before I left to throw up).
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@muskrat, sarcasm doesn't suit you, fucker.
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I have to say the only odd choice I see up there is Bonnie Tyler… For me it is Linda Ronstadt's Blue Bayou (I'm old).
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@maman, something about Total Eclipse that just gets me.
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@Avitable, I can see that… This is the list that is doing it for me today…
http://rhaplinks.real.com/rhaplink?rhapid=6132926&type=playlist&title=Sunday+afternoon&from=real
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Your music taste is quite girly, Avitable. I'm surprised at you.
Other than NIN of course. I was expecting to scroll down to Lady Gaga after a few of those.
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@Maria, you should know that I am a teen girl on the inside. I listen to Avril and Britney.
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True Colors is one of my favorite songs. So glad you like it too.
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@Shash, it's such a great song.
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I had forgotten how eerily beautiful Sinead and her voice were.
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@Tracy Lynn, she really was. That one album is amazing.
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I admit that a few of those songs hit me just the right way – the Righteous Brothers track from "Ghost" "Under The Bridge" by RHCP is another.
I could see how Britt would say that since she only listens to Prince.
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@martymankins, hahah. She listens to country, too.
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I'll be honest, none of those songs speaks to me. I wouldn't call any of them shallow, but they just aren't my particular brand of tequila, if ya know what I mean.
Songs that speak to me? Hmmm. Let's see…
"I Have Found Me a Home" by Jimmy Buffett
"Everlong" by Foo Fighters
"Duality" by Slipknot
"Turn It On" by Sleater-Kinney
"Tangled Up in Blue" by Bob Dylan
"I Believe" by Stevie Wonder
"Badfish" by Sublime
"After the Gold Rush" by Neil Young
stuff like that
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@B.E. Earl, I've only heard of one or two of those!
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Asshole is great but I don't think I could listen to it every day without being tempted.
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@rory, but that's what I'm actually like!
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Okay. I'm on board with NIN, Chris Izaak, Lisa Loeb & Sinead. The only Cyndi song I ever really felt was I Drove All Night – I could just listen to that over and over (and have).
Since I'm a little *eclectic* I'll listen to just about everything – except country! I really love Devil Inside from Utada, Chorus from Erasure, some VNV Nation and (wait for it….) Shakira!
But I suck like that.
:P
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@Mari, I hate country too.
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Under the Bridge is one of the deepest songs I know. It melancholies me to my core. I adore that song. It is about feeling the most painful sorrow that exists, and knowing you never want to feel that way again. How much less shallow can you get?
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@Poppy, she doesn't understand how it speaks for me or how it resonates with me when it's about a heroin overdose.
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I have memories of getting groped during Total Eclipse of the Heart — does that count? Bon Jovi is definitely pushing the fringe on shallow. (If only for the hair during that era.)
Definitely, some good solid songs on there. Under the Bridge is one of my faves. And well, no one can argue against NIN.
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@Nat, it's just the chorus of the Bon Jovi song that I like.
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I love so many of those songs, and most of them would be on the list for me:)
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@Stacy, good to know. I have awesome taste, clearly.
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For what's it'w worth if you added some neil diamond this would be close to my list. Crap maybe I really am lame.
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@mountainmomma18, I think there are one or two songs by Neil Diamond that I like.
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oh hey, 2001 called: "wants to know if you need help getting unstuck from the 80's & 90's, and if you are still sporting Chip N Pepa Jeans and Members Only jacket." if it were not for: true colors, GAH theme song, and asshole, you would be in danger of losing street cred. though i suppose street cred is not as important as having a "good song" to listen to as you comb out your mullet.
just sayin'.
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@Stone Fox, I totally have a party in the back.
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I love "Wicked Game", "True Colors", "Nothing Compares 2 U", and "I'll Be There For You".
Speaking to me currently are,"Outside" by Fred Durst and Aaron Lewis. "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7p06f0EWo
and "House of The Rising Sun" by The Animals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzcfTDD-tOo
and "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-0deHi0Hqk
and "Hurt" by Johnny Cash (Trent Reznor song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho
and as corny as it sounds, "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdYQX8J-FFo
I know. I can't help it. It's how I roll.
.
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@Stephanie, I love "Beautiful," and most of the other songs you listed. I am hooked on Metallica's black album, and Alice In Chains rocks.
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@Stephanie, Johnny Cash's version of Hurt is very good.
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Yanno…I wasnt' gonna put these last two songs up, because I know SOMEONE is going to make fun of me, but I don't really give a shit. You said songs that touch the soul…well…my soul may be either a dude or some sort of demon, cause here you go:
"Enter Sandman" by Metallica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eJZBnzc3Q8
and
"Man In The Box" by Alice In Chains
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9FA9hRcsk0
And I'm done. XoXoXo
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"Forgiven Not Forgotten" by the Corrs. Three of the hottest chicks (sisters actually) you'll ever hear sing. They're pretty much over now, but their first few albums were gorgeous. I think the lead singer (Andrea) even had what looked like a "fling" w/ Bono at one point (they sang a duet "When the Stars Go Blue", and looked like they were having an affair right there in front of the camera).
It's on youtube.
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@Julie, I'm not familiar with that song.
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"Something I Can Never Have" has always been my #1
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@Julianne, I knew I liked you for a reason.
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I agree with most of your songs, except One because damn I hate U2.
"Basketcase" by Green Day is pretty much my anthem. If I listed all the songs that strike a chord within me I'd be a crying sobbing mess so that is all you get
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@Sheila (Charm School Reject), I do like that Green Day song. And how can you hate U2? They're the greatest band in the world.
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@Avitable, ew yuck shudder blech! U2 is nowhere near the greatest band in the world. Sure there is a lot of hype surrounding them but I can't even think of one single solitary song of theirs that would make my top one hundred.
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Some of those songs — like "Unchained Melody" (Ghost was my favorite movie when I was a kid, that and Homeward Bound), "Nothing Compares 2 U," and "Something I Can Never Have" (especially that last one) — have always resonated with me.
Britt, just 'cause he's sensitive doesn't make him shallow! (;
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@Elizabeth Kaylene, I'm such a sensitive soul.
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Really? I think those songs are great, they're some of my favorites. The songs that make me really teary, though, are in Hindi or Urdu. You know, because I'm *international* like that.
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@Faiqa, wow. You are such a dork.
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ANYTHING off of NIN Pretty Hate Machine gets me. Brings me back to high school. I pretty much hated everything about high school though. So. There's that. No wonder I loved Trent Reznor.
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@Jess, brings me back to high school, too. That album got me through a lot of hard shit.
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Oh God, I forgot how much I loved Goodnight Saigon. It just gave me chills.
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@Vanessa, yeah, me too.
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Blimey, you've got some awesome songs on that list. And some truly horrific suckfests. So it's a balance then.
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@Kevin Spencer, which are which?
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there are just some tunes that make me melt into a pool of emotions (and put it on repeat):
All My Life, by K-Ci and JoJo
Remember, by Phil Collins
Don't Worry Baby, by The Beach Boys
Forever Young, by Rod Stewart
Behind These Hazel Eyes, by Kelly Clarkson
Freshman, by The Verve Pipe
I Hate Everything, by Three Days Grace
So Far Away, by Staind
Karma Police, by Radiohead
Take Her to The Music Store, by From Autumn to Ashes
My Best Friend, by Depeche Mode
i know this was a huge mix of music i just through at you, but they all have a special memory tied to them.
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@melissa, I only know a few of those.
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@Avitable, ugh…please forgive me for my grammar and spelling errors. apparently i wasn't typing as fast as i was thinking. gah! i'm so ashamed.
"through" was intended to be "threw."
and no biggie to know my music. just wanted to share some of my faves.
i did forget quite a few, but i'll just add a couple more:
"What Do I Have To Do?" by Stabbing Westward and "Autumn's Monologue" by From Autumn to Ashes.
but if you have a chance, take a listen to them. i'm sure ANYBODY can relate to these two.
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Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" is one of the greatest vocal performances ever recorded. I mean, it's a Prince song, and she totally puts Prince's version to quivering shame. NOBODY can do that.
From your list, I also love "Wicked Game" (an a cappella group out of Denver called The Diners used to do a magnificent rendition of that song), "One," "Eternal Flame," and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (Jim Steinman can do no wrong… except when he attempts to sing, which he can't).
I used to love "Unchained Melody," but four decades of bad cover versions and Patrick Swayze ruined it for me.
And while I'm not all that crazy about Lisa Loeb's music, I do think she's the cutest thing since Martha Quinn in the early days of MTV.
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