Monday, November 12, 2007

I want to sing . . .

We recently purchased a raffle ticket to help support the renovation of a playground near our house. The fundraising goal is $250,000 which strikes me as very high (it is not a large playground), but I guess I have no idea how to price industrial playground equipment and whatnot. I hope they raise the money because this little park is nice and close. I also hope that in renovating it, they maintain its current status as "the park that requires the least vigilance because there is next to nothing a toddler could do there to injure himself." Many of the other parks, though much grander and more full of play structures, have various drop-offs and climbing things that make a trip to the park like spotting a high school cheerleader near the top of an illegal pyramid (no, I wasn't a cheerleader).

Back to my point though. The prize I won in the raffle was a gift card for, get this, 5 song downloads on itunes! You heard me: 5 songs, an absolute embarrassment of riches. I also won a Chicago Park District pencil. NTB.

So here's your task. Suggest a song or two for me to download. It doesn't need to be recent or trendy (though it certainly can be), it just has to be the kind of song that will make me want to sing. Thanks in advance.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've never claimed to be a music buff, but all I can tell you is what I like to sing. I enjoy hearing Big & Rich's Lost in this Moment. Also, Rascall Flatts Bless the Broken Road. I am not an American Idol watcher, yet I enjoy Daughtry's Over You & Home. Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars puts me in a happy mood as it makes me think about a time when Grey's Anatomy was a great show, not just a good one as it is now. Also, I remember my old swim coach playing Let's Hear it for the Boy during morning practices and yet somehow I still seem to smile every time I hear that song(I know you like it too per your 9/9/07 blog.) To add to my train of random thoughts, I like the song For Good from the Wicked soundtrack.

I've got to be honest here though. Currently playing in my car's CD player is the soundtrack for Barbie as the Island Princess. It was purchased partially because J&N were always singing along to the movie, and partially because I found myself singing along as well and wanted to actually learn the words. It's got a couple good tracks on there but don't waste your precious downloads on that. If you like what you hear when you are home for Thanksgiving, I'll see if I can get a copy in your hands.

In asking my husband for feedback, he provided two songs that, while I don't dislike them, inspire me to bounce a little more than they actually inspire me to burst out in song: Kanye's Stronger and Apologize by Timbaland.

Anonymous said...

It's a fine balance. You want to think seriously about this decision and pick 5 good songs. Don't be tempted to choose a Color Me Badd song just because you got some freebies. On the other hand, there is the safety net of knowing that do-overs are available, for the low price of 99 cents a piece.

Without knowing what songs you already own, I'd recommend the following:
1. The Killers - Mr. Brightside
2. Joey Scarbury - Theme from "The Greatest American Hero"
3. Kermit the Frog - Rainbow Connection (Actually, this isn't available on itunes, but you can get other, lesser versions by different artists.)
4. Over the Rainbow, by either Eva Cassidy or Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Actually, both are phenomenal, but using 40% of your windfall on one song seems like overkill.
5. Fountains of Wayne - Stacy's Mom

If you feel that I gave you a fake high-five/"Psyche" with the unavailable Kermit the Frog song, go with "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys. Or "Solitaire" by Laura Branigan. Or "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton-John. Or "Kung Fu Fighting" by London Bus Stop.

Anonymous said...

If you want me to sing along too, go for Whitney's Houston's, Greatest Love of All.

Anonymous said...

I only request three songs. The first two take me to a happy place. Don't judge me but that happy place involves cold beer and dancing.

1.) Holiday by Madonna
2.) Brandy by Looking Glass

The third song generally provides me a feel good. I enjoy listening and day dreaming about the good things in life.

3.) Stay by Jackson Browne (long version: "we've got Richard Pryor on the video")

Can't beat these three

Actchy said...

Oh, man. What a fantastic blog topic!! I'm embarrassed to answer, given my horrid taste in music (as indicated on BP recently), but I'll tell you that I recently downloaded "Sherry" and "Who Loves You Pretty Baby" by Frankie Valli. I know you're a country fan, and I find that Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats", while terrible in sentiment, is fun to sing along with, as is "You Don't Have to Call Me Darlin'" by David Allen Coe. On my short list of "guaranteed to make me feel happy" songs are "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield, "Jump in the Line" by Harry Belafonte, and "Crazy" by Pat Green.

E... said...

The songs I always play on a jukebox, and so, perhaps good choices here?
Heart of Glass -- Blondie
Ring of Fire -- Johnny Cash
Laid -- James

Also guaranteed to get me to roll down the windows in my car:
American Music -- Violent Femmes
Feed the Trees -- Belly
Running Down a Dream -- Tom Petty
Babylon -- David Gray

I have no idea if these are available to download, for as you can see from my selections, I am hopelessly behind the times with my music...

Steph said...

Hi! I hope you're not getting double comments on this one from me. My first one seems not to have gone through.

I love happy surprises - both big and small. Congratulations on your windfall! ;-)

I am loving the Wailin Jenny's these days. http://www.thewailinjennys.com

Their song "One Voice" moves me to tears. (You can hear it here: http://www.thewailinjennys.com/01%20One%20Voice.wma)

They are a Canadian girl band. Write their own stuff, play their own instruments, etc. I'm in love!

PS - I still haven't sent the tea, but will soon. At least it will be a surprise when it arrives!

 
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