Question for you

[oakenguy]

I've been trying to broaden my musical horizons and make my iPod more interesting. My first idea was to go to the '500 Greatest Albums of All Time' list that Rolling Stone magazine put out, which wasn't a bad idea except that, well, it was put out by Rolling Stone magazine.

And then it hit me: you're smart, creative people. And you friended me, so we must have *something* in common. And your combined musical knowledge is a force to be reckoned with! So, dear friend list:

What 1 song do you recommend I load into my iPod, and why?

P.S. Stand-up comedy routines are also acceptable.

Comments

[beetiger.livejournal.com]

Happy Doesn't Have to have an Ending by TMBG never fails to make me smile.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Just one?! Aagh! Um.

"Why I Write Such Good Songs" by Kleenex Girl Wonder.

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

The Revolutionary Girl Utena opening theme, "Rinbu (Revolution)".

[spookyhandle.livejournal.com]

Good sweet gods! Just one?

The Mariner's Revenge Song by The Decemberists.

That hurts me. I really wanted to recommend something by Voltaire or Creature Feature, but I'm having problems thinking of one song that would really grab you. The Mariner's Revenge Song is the first song I heard by The Decemberists, and I then ran out and bought an album, so... yeah.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Oooo...I've thought of doing this for a Pastimes audition piece, actually!

It would just involve me learning to play the accordion first.

And, um, learning to sing.

[bluestocking.livejournal.com]

Boston and St. John's, by Great Big Sea

[eclecticavatar.livejournal.com]

From comments here and comments on muffyjo's LJ, I have concluded that yuo are good people. =) I don't know if we actually know each other or not, though!

[prettyh.livejournal.com]

Oh,god. ONE? Seriously??

I have a nearly-full 20G iPod. I don't know if I can choose one.

Um. Well...who are your five favourite bands? That'll help me think up something that you'll like but that will also be enough outside the box that it'll be a new discovery...

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Narrowing it down to 4 or 5 is fine. :)

Five favourite? Only 5? Oh dear...the Decemberists, the Pogues, Jill Sobule, Imogen Heap, the Magnetic Fields?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Silk Pyjamas by Thomas Dolby. I think Astronauts and Heretics was his best album, and that's my favorite song off of it.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Ooo, agreed. Though 'I Love You Goodbye' sounds *amazing* with headphones. (And there's a 7:22 live version out now, off his 'Forty: Live Limited Edition' album!)

[eclecticavatar.livejournal.com]

I've been grooving on Warp 11, "She Make It So."

[lediva.livejournal.com]

I'm currently semi-obsessed with The Cliks' "Cry Me A River". Queer rock cover of the Justin Timberlake song.

[modpixie.livejournal.com]

in case you didn't know, i've been infatuated with a maddeningly eclectic los angeles band called sparks of late. if you had to pick one song, you could do worse than "this town isn't big enough for the both of us", or "when do i get to sing 'my way'?" (bonus points if you can get that one as a music video, which will show you why i've gone ape over these guys. here it is...)



if this isn't your thing, clare and the reasons' "pluto" -- a string-drenched ode to the much-maligned planet -- is also quite wonderful.



along those lines, i give you "paris 1919" by john cale. this has been in the top ten of my itunes playlist for a few months now. mere words cannot describe the goosebump-inducing beauty of this song. srsly.



failing that, there's always "mahna mahna"...

[stanharding.livejournal.com]

"Proud", Heather Small.

Just one number on a "Kick yourself in the butt" playlist I have.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

(icon squee!)

[hazeleyedfae.livejournal.com]

40 Acres by Caedmon's Call but if 'Religious' isn't your thing (why do we have ridiculous labels?) then I'd recommend ZOX's version of Canon. Rockin' out to Pachebel should be on everyone's list. *grin*

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Just an update: ZOX is D's favorite. :)

[bunnyroo.livejournal.com]

i spent my last $10 (on birth control and beer) by two nice girls

[runners up: the connells '74-'75; kristen hersh your ghost; r.e.m. country feedback/find the river/(and/or)i believe].

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Aren't they the ones who do that great 'Sweet Jane' cover/makeover? I've liked them since college. :)

[nmsunbear.livejournal.com]

MC Chris, "Fett's Vette"

http://www.bobafettfanclub.com/multimedia/audio/mcchris.shtml

[mdyesowitch.livejournal.com]

If you have a video type ipod, you want vintagetooncast.com

Not being totally sure what type of music you like, here's my surprising favorites:
The Eagles
Lennon (Murphy) (www.lennonmurphy.com)
The Pet Shop Boys
And I'm trying to pick a Rodney Carrington song you might like. My personal favorite right now is Rap Star.
but She'd Be a Millionaire is probably what you should try.
Hoppie's favorite Rodney Carrington is "A Dozen Roses" The lyrics are:
I got a 12 inch dick and a dozen roses.
And a pickup truck.
Hubba Hubba Hubba hey!
(That's all he wrote. That's all he thought needed.)

What is this "just one" you speak of???

[maeveenroute.livejournal.com]

Well, I was going to just tell you to load whatever was #1 on my most-played list, but #1 was embarrassing. So were 2 and 3.

So I present:

4. School Uniform - The Pipettes
5. The Last Night Of Not Knowing You - Darren Hanlon (see also "Punk's Not Dead," "Hiccup," and "Operator, Get Me Sweden")
14. The Milkman of Human Kindness - Billy Bragg (see also "The Saturday Boy")
26. Pony - Kasey Chambers


... and, um, stuff.

I also recently discovered a singer-songwriter called Amy Martin. So far, I'd suggest "Day of Reckoning," "Rose of Sharon," "Consequences," "Bind Me To Free," and "Away."

Re: What is this "just one" you speak of???

[maeveenroute.livejournal.com]

Erm, so, if I happened to have made a playlist of ~68 of my closest (unprotected) musical friends ... would you be interested in a .zip?



(No, this has nothing to do with finals week. Perish the thought.)

[scixual.livejournal.com]

The Ubiquitous Mister Lovegrove by Dead Can Dance
anything by Afro Celt Sound System

[eroika.livejournal.com]

The Promise by When in Rome
Natural Resources by Utah Phillips and Ani Difranco (if you do get this please tell me what you think, it's one of my favorite folky speechy things...not sure what else to call it, heh).

[gardenfey.livejournal.com]

Try the Hungry Ghost: http://www.twilightlady.com/blakechen/

Also, there are tons of amazing groups on this community: sepiachord.

[kittybrat.livejournal.com]

i don't really know what you like and i don't really know what to suggest off the top of my head, but the one song that came to mind over the past few minutes of reading your comments is "greeting card aisle" by sarah harmer. she plays guitar and is kind of soft.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, out of all the suggestions this has been my favorite one so far. Very Suzanne Vega-ish!

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

You might like Arcade Fire. Try Black Mirror, Intervention, or No Cars Go maybe.

I love Eternal Flame, by Joan as Policewoman (not the same Eternal Flame the Bangles did).

Also, I may get mocked for this, but I actually like the sort of dreamy, drone-y sound of the Scarlett Johannson album. It's a little same-y, you'd really only need one or two cuts from the thing, but I could say that about a lot of artists I like (god bless Loreena McKennitt and her one (maybe two) awesome song(s) she keeps making over and over).

[hermitgeecko.livejournal.com]

Oo, hard. VERY hard.

I recommend U2's "Beautiful Day". Aside from simply being... well... beautiful, it's a fantastic mood lift for me every time I hear it.

[callunav.livejournal.com]

"Put Down the Duckie," - Ernie, and a really good saxophonist. I'll send you the mp3 if you want.

[maeveenroute.livejournal.com]

Oh, my god ... that was *the* song of my childhood!

[magdellena.livejournal.com]

The Birthday Party by Peter Mayer

Why? It always makes me smile. Maybe it will make you smile too.

[bending-sickle.livejournal.com]

I might be physically incapable of picking only one song to recommend, so I'll pick one I've beenlistening to obsessively these past few days: Stars - "Calender Girl">

[diabological.livejournal.com]

I was so going to suggest Stars.