scraMbled - Music

If you haven't figured out by now, music is an incredibly important part of my life. Yes, I know, some people cannot stand country, but one of the reasons it's my favorite genre is that it's main emphasis is on the lyrics. I'm of the belief that lyrics are what make the song. Yes, I listen to classical too and enjoy the occasional instrumental, but most country songs are actual stories. And with being a music lover, I've also been known to be a very emotional person. So I figured I'd make a page to list some of my favorite songs and what they mean to me. I may or may not actually put the lyrics up on here... once I figure out the legality of doing so.

• Favorites
• Barbershop
• Emotional Songs

Mutable Favorites

Maybe I have an all-time favorite song, but usually I hear one or two on the radio that end up getting stuck in my head for the next couple of months (thanks, Clear Channel programming). Here, I'll list my last couple of current favorites of the month/week/day.^* Maybe I'll put the old ones on a separate page... or else probably just file them around this page.
^{*Or per year, since I haven't updated this since 2008...}

• 80's Music - I was working out the other day when VH1 was playing a special on the top 100 songs of the 80's when I realized I really like many 80's songs. Probably (as a keyboardist) due to the awesome synths that dominated the era.
  • Jump - Van Halen - Case in point: guitarist-turned-keyboardist turns out the number one song. Might get me to listen to more Van Halen.
  • Anything by Huey Lewis. What got me was that they were featured in Back to the Future (trivia point: they were the band on-deck when Marty's band tried out), and then did the song 'Back in Time' which is about Back to the Future. Excellent!
  • Michael Jackson - I don't know whether it's Amanda's liking him, his appearance on the list, or a Simpsons episode I saw featuring him (probably the last one), but I just can't get his songs out of my head.
• You Never Even Called Me By My Name, David Allen Coe (Oct. 13, 2008)
  Mainly for the 'perfect country song' verse quoted (and mildly edited) below. It's also great that Amanda loves this song and belts it out with me whenever I play it.
  Well I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison
  And I went to pick her up in the rain
  But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
  She got runned over by a danged old train
• Anything by Weird Al Yankovic (Feb, 2008)
  Thanks to US Cellular's unlimited Napster subscription, I finally culturalized myself in the genius that is Weird Al. Prior to this, I had only really known of 3 songs, and those were only second-hand. Now I have a better understanding of which ones I really like and don't like. Among the top contenders:
  • Amish Paradise - Learned this when Russ and Amanda were talking over my head about some kid blaring this over their speakers one day in college
  • All About the Pentiums - My first ever Weird Al song... I liked it awhile ago... now it's just annoying
  • Hardware Store - I feel if I could memorize "the list" and sing it at the same speed as the song, I would feel complete in my masculinity.
  • White and Nerdy - The song that kicked me into investigating Weird Al. Me to a T (except for the bubblewrap... that stuff's a little too bizarre. I like popping it though... :-) )
    • Plus, it gave me the tip-off to the Star Wars Holiday Special, which I downloaded with delight.
  • Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota - I've actually started a Google-map of weird places I want to visit some day. This is now top of the list
  • Canadian Idiot - Actually, because I wouldn't mind being one... with their national healthcare, cheaper meds, low crime rates and clean air. (Had to go to a lyrics site at one point to figure out what he was saying there....)
  • Here's Johnny - Because I loved both the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson AND the Short Circuit moves
  • The Saga Begins - Sang this one with Anna Weber at a wedding. Fun times.
  • Word Crimes - I like most of the songs on Al's newest album (at least when I wrote this), but this one definitely scratches my grammar itch!
• Dixie Rose Deluxe's, Trent Willmon (Nov. 1, 2004)
  I try to memorize songs, and this one posed a slight challenge... So I finally bought it on iTunes and listened to it about 10 times in a row on my last Wisconsin trip. I think I have it down now... including the extended chorus!
• Hey, Good Lookin', Jimmy Buffet & Friends (Nov. 1, 2004)
  Saw this one on CMT and thought it was neat that a whole bunch of big names came together for this old classic. Sure, I like the old Hank Williams version, but this one was more readily available for me to purchase online.

Barbershop - fka S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.

I am a proud member of the group formerly known as the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America. Although I haven't actually sung in a quartet or chorus for many years, I still enjoy listening to barbershop music, and here are some good names to get started.

Did I miss any good ones? Let me know!

• Fred - In Pop/Rock there's Weird Al, in Country there's Cledus T. Judd, and in Christian there's Mark Lowry, Tim Hawkins, etc. For barbershop, the premier parody group is Fred^*. I've never actually been to an international convention (would love to someday), but thanks to recordings of songs done by Fred, I know how every convent-shun operates, especially in regards to the judging.
  ^* - Actually, Fred was just the first comedy group to win the AIC championship. It's several years since I first created this page, and I now have many other favorite "funny" barbershop groups including Storm Front, Lunch Break, Dad Wagon, Hot Air Buffoons, and The Newfangled Four. I'm creating some "Barbershop Humor" videos from available YouTube feeds and sharing the joy with family members now!
  • Sweet Adeline - The old staple of Barbershop. Unfortunately, Fred has a hard time with this one.
  • Top Ten / Judges / Nincompoopie / Who'll Take 4th Place / We'd Like to Trade Our Silver / Connelly's Back in Town - Everything I've learned about conventions came from songs like these.
    (Originals - There's Something About the Old Songs, Side by Side, Who'll Take My Place, I Wouldn't Trade the Silver, Lulu's Back in Town)
  • Name the Champs / AIC - When I needed inspiration for more quartet names to look up, I only needed to look here.
    (Original - They Wrote 'Em In the Good Old Days)
  • Church Bell / The Song Is Ended / I'll Never Marry - Have great surprise endings
  • Please, Kind Sir - I totally sang this in a High School variety show!
  • Fred has many more great songs. I wish they offered their full collection on their site either as a download or as a package deal, but I'm very tempted to pay full price for everything!
• Acoustix - "...who won the very first time they ever competed..." - Fred
  • Auld Lang Syne - Best version of this (after Kenny G's saxophone version, of course)
  • Irish Blessing - We ended every Proud Image rehearsal with this one
  • Stars and Stripes Forever - Source of Fred's Acoutix portion of AIC. Also see This is the Moment and I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover
  • Tennessee Waltz - Just a good ol' song. I like most versions of this one
  • Unchained Melody - Ever think this song could be upbeat? Here it is.
• Boston Common - "...they won in '74 and '75 and '77 and '78 and '79 and finally in '80..." - Fred, exasperatedly.
  • Dear Hearts and Gentle People - A favorite from my Proud Image days.
  • It's a Good Day - Just a fun song
  • Sittin' On Top of the World - Another favorite from my Proud Image days. Though when I only know the bass part, it's a little boring to sing by myself.
  • Sweet Adeline - Probably every barbershop group ever has done this one. But this is the first one in my collection I came across.
  • There'll Be No New Tunes (On This Old Piano) - Sometimes I feel this way when I miss old songs...like most barbershop
  • We Kinda Miss The Old Songs - Not sure if this is the right title or "There's Something About the Old Songs" - which is the first line. But it's the original for Fred's Top Ten/Judges parodies.
• Dealer's Choice - "Wasn't that the baritone that looks like Yoda?" - Fred (No... read on)
  • Hello Mary Lou - A memorable song from my days in Proud Image. I still don't know the melody. Only the bass line.
  • I'm My Own Grandpa - Not original to barbershop by any means. Fun song, though he becomes his own grandpa in the first step. The rest is fluff. (If you marry an older woman and your father marries her grown up daughter, boom. You're your own grandpa.)
  • Mr. Piano Man - Just classic barbershop.
  • S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. - Bummer. It's now out of date!
  • This Old House - You're always partial to your first version of a song. For me, this one was The Cathedrals'.
  • Who'll Take My Place When I'm Gone - Original to Fred's Who'll Take 4th Place
• Gas House Gang - I once heard a story of a quartet who blew a note on their pitch pipe, didn't like it, and then crushed the pitch pipe until the pitch was more appropriate. Sounds like myth, but also appropriate for this group.
  • The Chemical Elements - I think my college roommate Tom would like this one.
  • Eine Kleine NOT Musik - Every time I hear Mozart's version, I think of this.
  • My Old Man - Is a hospital administrator, now whaddaya think about that?
  • Sixteen Tons - Classic
  • This Little Light of Mine - Fun upbeat version
  • Wedding Bells are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine - Classic barbershop
  • William Tell Overture - The only version I know
• Joker's Wild - Haven't listened to much yet, but they sound pretty good!
  • Gospel Medley - Mainly for "Great Gettin' Up Mornin'"
  • It Is Well With My Soul - I love old hymns.
  • 'Taint No Sin (To Dance Around in Your Bones) - Er, um. I don't know
• Marquis
  • Lulu's Back in Town - I never actually listened to this until writing this. I just keep hearing "Connelly"
  • The Sweetheart Tree - Now I'm going to be thinking all day about where I heard this before: "Come along with me, to the sweetheart tree..."
  • When I Fall in Love - Wow. All 3 of these songs have the exact same length in monospaced font!
• Michigan Jake - "...they sing like girls for goodness' sake!" - Fred
  • I Can't Give You Anything But Love - More contest commentary
  • The Old Piano Roll Blues - Another Proud Image memory
• Platinum
  • Be Our Guest - Because a friend of mine and I also parodied this in elementary school. Ours was a bit more violent, though... Maybe I'll share it sometime.
  • Bring Him Home - Good song
  • Bye Bye Blues - Hey, these songs don't always reflect my feelings. They're just fun. And so far, all these start with B!
• Powerplay - "...how many guys in that family anyway?" - Fred
  • The Moment I Saw Your Eyes - Another Proud Image memory
  • Side by Side - Original to Fred's Nincompoopie. At least part of it.
• Rural Route 4 - "Why was every song about a cow?" - Fred
  • Heavenly Love - An old hymn I haven't heard in ages
  • I Wonder Who's Milking Her Cow - Hey - it's a song about a cow!
  • Old MacDonald - Full of jokes... bad jokes
  • Richest Man in the World - No humpback mule for me
• Side Street Ramblers - "That's the group that has the guy that looks like Yoda." - Fred
  • I Love You Truly - Truly, I do
  • Let Me Call You Sweetheart - A tag I know (If you don't know what a tag is, what are you doing here?)
  • Proud to be an American - Who doesn't like this song? (Er, if you're an American, that is)
  • Smile - Darn 'ya!

Emotional Songs

Yes, I have been known to tear up at a good movie or song from time to time... my wife thinks it's cute. I don't ever cry like a baby, mind you (at least, not that I'll admit), but there are some songs that "tug on my heartstrings." Some, I agree may be on the cheesy and even unrealistic side. But I try to listen to the music as if it's a true story that's happening right in front of me.

• Does Anybody Hear Her, Casting Crowns
  I heard this the other day, tried singing with it, and couldn't make it through. It's another song where the video really puts it into perspective. It breaks my heart to think there are people out there just searching for acceptance and (sometimes) can't even find it in the place it should always be: God's house. At the end of the video, someone finally turns around and reaches out to the girl. If I haven't lost it by that point, I do there.
  I remember another video they played at church once of someone irritably going through his day until he receives a pair of glasses that lets him see the needs around him: someone's relative going through cancer, the skateboarding kid in the neighborhood who just wants a friend, someone whose heart has just been broken. I really wish I had a pair of those glasses.
• Thrive, Casting Crowns
  This was one of the theme songs of the week from Village Creek family camp. I love this one because it brings up so many of the good memories and friendships we made at camp.
• Drops in the Ocean, Hawk Nelson
  I've loved almost every Village Creek family camp theme song, and this one was no exception. At the start of the week, I wasn't too into the song like I had been in earlier years, but by the end of the week it made it onto my "tear up every time I hear it" list.
• Do You Wanna Build a Snomwan?, Frozen
  I'm not ashamed to admit that this one makes me tear up every time I hear it. Honestly, most scenes in movies that involve people crying really mess me up. But I really identify with Anna here; I can have lots of fun by myself, but I still crave friendship and feel very alone when it's not available.
• One Last Time, Dusty Drake
  I love books or movies or songs with twist endings. This one starts out like any other country song, making you think a dad is leaving his wife and kids. Until the last line. Holy. Crap. I know it's silly, but I get really empathetic when fictional characters go through pain, and I just can't imagine this situation.
• Roses For Mama, C.W. McCall
  I just got this CD from Amanda's mom for the purpose of listening to Convoy. As I listened through the CD, I hit this song. Even though I predicted the end before the song finished, it was still a sweet song with a good ending.
• She's Gonna Fly, Collin Raye
  Actually, Collin Raye has a bunch of them, including The Eleventh Commandment that are really powerful. But I remember hearing this song as my grandmother was in the last few months of her life. Grandpa had gone on and she, left all alone, was sometimes confused about where she was or even if her Earl was still around. I never knew any of my grandparents very well, but she was probably the one I most looked up to and miss the most.
• The Greatest Man I Never Knew, Reba McEntire
  Heard this in my car the other day, and it was just really sad. Fortunately, I know my father really well and know he loves me. But it breaks my heart to know there are people out there who just aren't sure of their father's love, especially little (or big) girls. Songs like this remind me to tell my kids how special they are to me and that I love them every single day.

Changed my mind on favorites last on January 24, 2009. Wait. That's not right. Frozen came out in 2013. Well, I'll probably update this again soon, and then I'm sure I'll update this date...
Nah. It's 2016, and I like that statement, so it'll remain.
In other news, added some link widgets in 2021... maybe they'll stay working; maybe they'll just break someday...

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