From here. I want to embed videos and WordPress doesn’t handle this well within numbered lists, so I’m going to format this one a little differently. It’s sloppy, but at least not as sloppy as trying to fit this all into one list the normal way.
1. What kiddie song do you still like as a grownup?
I love a lot of kiddie songs. “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is probably my favorite song ever, but while it certainly sings like a kiddie song, I don’t think it is. So give me (in this order, I think) “Jesus Loves Me,” “How Much is That Doggie in the Window?,” “Ulili E,” “It’s a Beautiful Day,” “In a Cabin,” and “Arky Arky.”
2. When did a new* song most recently* get you excited?
In recent years I’ve really put in some effort to keep up with new music. You should see my spreadsheets. This one’s pretty easy to answer. Taylor Swift’s “No Body, No Crime” is a murder ballad from last year’s Evermore album. First, it’s really well done. Second, it’s a murder ballad. On a Taylor Swift album. Did not see that coming!
3. What song were you introduced to via television ad or as background in a movie or TV show?
Two commercials made me run out and buy the albums the songs are from. More recently, The Heavy’s “How You Like Me Now?” in a 2010 Kia Sorento commercial.
In 2002, the Wiseguys and their Mitsubishi Eclipse commercial. This one took some work. It was pre-YouTube and (of course) pre-Shazam. Had to scour a few message boards to find it and go to Tower hoping it had the CD. It did, and now so do I.
4. Which song’s opening lyric do you especially love?
I know I’ve said this in this space before, but the opening line of “Jumper” by Third Eye Blind may be my favorite opening line ever. “I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend.” Holy freaking moly.
It may be a cliché of an answer, but we shouldn’t leave out Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.” “How many roads must a man walk down?”
Oh, and what about “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot? “I can see her lying back in her satin dress / In a room where you do what you don’t confess.” Wowowowowowowow.
5. With which five songs would you begin a weekend-themed playlist?
- “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure (1992)
- “Groovin'” by the Young Rascals (1967)
- “Lifetime Party” by Cecilio and Kapono (1974)
- “Good Times Roll” by the Cars (1978)
- “Take a Little Rhythm” by Ali Thomson (1980)
Wooo that’s an old man’s list!
I never thought of “Ulili E” as being a children’s song mainly because so many serious Hawaiian music performers have done this song over the years.
Now I want to look for a copy of. Roy Rogers & Dale Evans (with their kids) song of “Jesus Loves Me”… hmm. Gotta check YouTube and Spotify.
“No Body No Crime” is a good murder song, but there are others I like better… “El Paso” by Marty. Robbins comes to mind.
I probably misinterpreted Q3 on my list. Ugh… “Star Wars,” “Hawaii Five-0”, etc. I did buy all of those records in time.
Great songs–many are new to me!