I know, it’s totally self-serving and indulgent, but it just started coming together. I was taking a break at work after reading an email from Wendy where she said that she would make a sountrack of her life and send me a copy. And I got thinking about what might go on mine. I started writing down songs. Songs that I’ve cared for all my life, songs that came to represent major moments in my life, and maybe songs that could have served as a soundtrack to my life so far. I’ve written three pages of songs so far. 26 years is going to have to be a boxed set.
The challenge is criteria. There have been many songs that I have passionately adored for a week or two and then the magic has worn off almost as quickly as it came on. I guess this is part of what many people do when they look back on their lives. They try to find something meaningful, something worth remembering, and hopefully they see that they had moments of substance and not a string of flights of fancy.
Here is the first draft of my 26 soundtrack. It’s been a real John Cusack in High Feidelity experience trying to pick the right songs (“Listen, why don’t I just make you a tape.”). Like Rob Gordon, I’m trying to organize them autobiographically. These aren’t all my favourite songs, but they’re songs that have been there through good and bad, provided comfort or fodder for rage.
Eye in the sky – Alan Parsons Project
Xanadu – Oliva Newton John
Rich Girl – Hall & Oates
Material Girl – Madonna
Freedom – Wham
People are people – Depeche Mode
Every breath you take – The Police
Rhapsody in blue – George Gershwin
Allentown – Billy Joel
Covergirl – New Kids On The Block (the SHAME!)
Fight the power – Public Enemy
Wave of mutilation (UK surf) – The Pixies
Everybody knows – Concrete Blonde
Ultraviolet – U2
Express yourself – Madonna
Lies – EMF
World in my eyes – Depeche Mode
Audrey’s Dance (from Twin Peaks) – Angelo Badalamenti
Something good – Utah Saints
Symphony No. 1 – Johannes Brahms
Misty mountain hop – Led Zepplin
Across the universe – The Beatles
Closer, Reptile and I do not want this (from The Downward Spiral) – Nine Inch Nails
This woman’s work – Kate Bush
Good enough – Sarah McLaughlin
Girlfriend – Matthew Sweet
Queer – Garbage
Protection – Massive Attack
Symphony No. 5 – Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
Pride (in the name of love) – U2
Just – Radiohead
Down in a hole – Alice In Chains
When you gonna learn – Jamiroquai
Far away (so close) – U2
Finale from “The Empire Strikes Back” – John Williams
Don’t Speak – No Doubt
Milk – Garbage
Sheherazade – Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov
Exit music from a film – Radiohead
6 Underground – Sneaker Pimps
Leather – Tori Amos
Teardrop – Massive Attack
Gorecki – Lamb
Vltava (from Ma Vlast) – Bedrich Smentana
Canned Heat – Jamiroquai
Unintended – Muse
Promeny – Cechomor
HRH
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