[ | mood |
| | tired | ] |
[ | music |
| | Bob Seger - Old Time Rock And Roll | ] | I finally saw a post in a journal (Ike's) that made me wanna post as well. These are the top 25 songs that have influenced my life, art, music, style, and whatnot. I'll try to put them in some sort of chronological order ... This was actually not that easy to do.
1. U2 - Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me: Music didn't really enter my life till I was in about 5th grade I wanna say. One of the first CDs I owned (maybe the first) was the Batman Forever soundtrack. When I listen to this song now I realize what probably drew me to it. It had this surrealistic quasi-techno ambience to it. I didn't know who U2 was, I didn't even realize I was listening to computer generated sounds. It was just there. The song hasn't stayed with me sadly. Now that I've heard U2 I can happily claim to enjoy some of their other songs more than this one.
2. Survivor - Eye of the Tiger: Big jump from U2 eh? Well it's explainable. See I played trumpet in the band in elementary school (and highschool... I was am a dork). In either 5th or 6th grade I remember we played Eye of the Tiger for the concert, and even though I haven't picked up a trumped in the past 3 years, I'll bet I can still play that fucking song.
3. Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark (live at the Ishallen): This is a big one, a real big one, a real LIVE one. The first Maiden album I ever bought was A Real Live One. At the time I didn't even realize I was buying a live album, I didn't even know they existed, but I had heard of Maiden through my cousin and when I next visited the record store I picked out the ablum I thought had the most badass cover-art I had ever seen. To say the least, it blew me away. I still know this version of Fear of the Dark, down to every laugh and comment Bruce makes during the song. It's everything a song should be, heavy, epic, and fun. I knew then that I wanted to make this kind of music, it was just made to be. To this day Maiden is my favorite band and despite the countless versions I have heard (live and not) of this song, this is my favorite.
4. Jimi Hendrix - Highway Chile: Arg! This song stirs that emotion for one reason. In middle school I let a friend, Lets call him Chris Brundage, borrow a CD that I have yet to get back. It was my Jimi Hendrix: The Ultimate Experience CD which was a collection that I have yet to find in stores again. I've considered buying it online somewhere just because thats what kind of connection I made with it. I was already into Maiden at this point, but I wasn't into the guitar untill I heard this song. I remember buying it while I was on my yearly trip to Maine. I think I must have kept this song on repeat about half of the way home (an 8 hour drive mind you). I slept to this song. I memorized every sound. Thats how fucking good it was. It rocked me in ways I didn't know were possible till the advent of sex.
5. Rage Against the Machine - Know Your Enemy: Talk about powerful music. Screaming... Anger... these were things I was aware of, but when I heard this song it middle school it was like I had never known anything but happy rock and roll. This song had aggression, and it was an outlet for my then budding teenage angst. I still listen to Rage's self titled and Evil Empire, but this is still my favorite Rage song, and I still get all riled up when I hear it.
6. REM - It's the End Of The World As We Know It: Heh. What can you say about REM that hasn't already been said. It's not my favorite REM song by a longshot now, but back then... I had the damn thing memorized. I think that was the first music video I ever saw and recognized.
7. Beastie Boys - Sabotage: To this day I don't own a Beastie Boys album... and I'm ashamed of that fact. My buddy John let me borrow one of their albums for a week (ended up being about a month before he threatened me to get it back). This song was on it. It rocks. The whole album rocks. They rock in general. Oh and to this day, it's still my favorite fucking music video. I love that shit.
8. Metallica - Enter Sandman: My real gateway into the real metal scene. Sure I had my Maiden, but this was different. This was heavier, way heavier. I headbanged to Metallica. I air guitared to Metallica. But the one tribute that shows my respect to this song is that it was the first complete song I ever played on guitar. Sure it's overplayed now, and many Metallica fans snuff their noses at people who only know this song, but it's still one of their best, and you fucking know it.
9. Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell: I won't lie. I fucking like Meatloaf, and not just the meaty goodness that sometimes graces my dinner table. When I heard this song, I went nuts. It's pianos, it's guitar, its... opera... Its great. The whole album is wonderful actually, but I just remember being taken with this song first. It's a great rock song, and if I could sing like that, I'd cover it.
10. Tchaikovsky - Marche Slave: Playing trumpet in concert band introduced me to the classical greats. This and the 1812 Overture stand out in particular though. I love it. I'm a sucker for classical music, play some for me. Chances are I might not even know who the fuck it is, but I'll listen for hours and hours. I think this cultured me a bit. Did it? I doubt it.
11. Iron Maiden - Die With Your Boots On: Somewhere around this time I heard this song. It's been my favorite Maiden song since... and that’s about it.
12. AC/DC: I didn't list a song for a reason. They were the first band I ever saw in a respectable venue (MSG). At the time, I only had one album (Let There Be Rock), but after that show I went out and bought about 4 more. I have to say it was something I'll never forget. Ever. Not to mention that it was my first time on my own in Manhattan which was cool, and it was the first time I was hit on by like a 30 year old lady in leopard print spandex pants. This show is still #3 on my all time favorite live shows list.
13. Yngwie Malmsteen (with Alcatrazz) - Evil Eye (Live): I saw this on video before I had heard the song before (or any Malmsteen song) and my eyes fixated on the fretboard and my brain melted. His hands moved in ways that the devil himself couldn't follow. It was amazing. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. I immediately tried to replicate him and failed miserably. It gave me something to work toward musically even it it wasn't the style of music I was aiming for. To this day I can only play one or 2 of his songs in any kind of entirety, and not even up to speed.
14. Anthrax - I Am The Law: Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm! That’s what I was looking for and Anthrax had it by metric shitloads. Scott Ian was a rhythm guitar machine. Their songs drove on it. It's the kind of music that makes the gas pedal sink to the floor. This song gets props for being about a comic book, now we're crossing interests!
15. Stevie Ray Vaughn - Crossfire: Holy hot shit it's Texas R&B.; The blues man. Rocking blues. This shit drilled me hard. I love Stevie's music more than I love glazed donuts, and thats a whole lotta lovin. I wish I coulda seen him live. I have videos of him playing live, but I have a feeling it just doesn't do him justice. I've never seen more passion for playing the guitar. Ever. To say he's my favorite guitar player of all time may be an understatement. I love what the guy did, and I honestly can't say enough convey how strongly he's influenced me.
16. Queen - Another One Bites The Dust: Eh, we're getting a little bit outta order here, bit I really don't care. Queen is awesome. This is one of the best songs to drive to ever (cept for maybe Motely Crue's Dr. Feelgood Album). Yeah, thumping bass, and Freddy Mercury singing away. Great song. Influenced me somehow I'm sure.
17. Led Zeppelin - Over the Hills and Far Away: Another song I love to play on guitar and just noodle with. One of the first Zeppelin songs I ever heard and the one that will probably always be in my head. I've always loved to just mellow out to this song. Such a stress reliever.
18. Bob Seger - Turn The Page: Always a classic, always gets me singing. Just a song that I don't know if life would be worth living without.
19. Bloodhound Gang - Legend In My Spare Time: ...dude, it's a Bloodhound Gang song... like I actually have something meaningful to say about it. It has inspired many a sing-a-long though, I will say that.
20. Me! - Rocksalt Dreams: The future is now baby, and the best is yet to come :) |