A 30-Day Song Challenge in One Day
Posted on April 20, 2020 Posted by John Scalzi 20 Comments
Because I’m not patient enough to do this over 30 days. It’s a list that features a different mood/idea/whatever for each of 30 days, and then I added an extra one, because some months have 31 days. Let’s go through the whole thing at once, shall we?
1. A song you like with a color in the title:
2. A song you like with a number in the title:
3. A song the reminds you of summertime:
4. A song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget — I don’t have someone like that, but if I did, I suspect this song would do:
5. A song that needs to be played loud:
6. A song that makes you want to dance:
7. A song to drive to:
8. A song about drugs or alcohol:
9. A song that makes you happy:
10. A song that makes you sad:
11. A song you never get tired of:
12. A song from your pre-teen years:
13. A song you like from the 70s:
14. A song you’d love to be played at your wedding — this was played at our wedding:
15. A song you like that’s a cover by another artist:
16. A song that’s a classic favorite:
17. A song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke:
18. A song from the year you were born:
19. A song that makes you think about life:
20. A song that has many meanings for you:
21. A song you like with a person’s name in the title:
22. A song that moves you forward:
23. A song you think everyone should listen to — I mean, I don’t think such a thing exists, but here’s a song I would play for just about anyone:
24. A song by a band you wish were still together — a technically correct answer:
25. A song you like by an artist no longer living:
26. A song that makes you want to fall in love — I did fall in love to this song, actually:
27. A song that breaks your heart:
Day 28: A song by an artist whose voice you love:
Day 29: A song you remember from your childhood:
Day 30: A song that reminds you of yourself:
EXTRA: Day 31: A song you wanted to put into the list but didn’t otherwise get to:
The Rock Sugar mashup is awesome!
I feel so validated that another grown ass man (especially one I respect and admire) thinks that Josie and the Pussycats had some delightfully good and fun music. Hell, even the boyband bits were primo satire.
Whose voice you love? Well, we differ there, because I think Kate Bush is a great artist with only one flaw: her voice. I think it’s awful. (Same thing with Bob Dylan: deep respect for his songs, can’t stand his voice.)
So are you really going to make me dig through my boxes of CDs to remember song titles? That’s some rabbit hole.
What can I say? Are you too young or am I too old? The latter, I guess.
Funny, because a friend and I were just discussing a song that would definitely go at #3: Billy Stewart’s great version of “Summertime.”
OK, I did it – I did NOT look at your list first. Bear in mind, I’m 66 so my tastes are ‘older’ ;-)
1. Painted Blue – Sarah Jarosz
2. One – Three Dog Night
3. Summertime – Janis Joplin
4. For You – Bruce Springsteen
5. I Do – J Geils
6. Get Ready – Rare Earth
7. Radar Love – Golden Earring
8. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere – Alan Jackson
9. We Love Us – The Association
10. Tangled Up In Blue – Bob Dylan
11. Wondering Where The Lions Are – Bruce Cockburn
12. Help – The Beatles
13. Thunder Road – Springsteen
14. Wrapped Around Your Finger – The Police
15. Get Together – The Youngbloods
16. Layla – Derek and the Dominoes
17. Taking Care Of Business – Bachman Turner Overdrive
18. Pretend – Nat King Cole
19. Los Desaparecidos – Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul
20. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes – Crosby, Stills & Nash
21. Pretty Little Adrianne – Vince Gill
22. On Every Street – Dire Straits
23. Ain’t No Doubt – Jimmy Nail
24. Revival – Allman Brothers
25. A Dying Cubs Fan’s Last Request – Steve Goodman
26. Do You Believe In Magic – Lovin’ Spoonful
27. Runaway – Del Shannon
28. Wishful Sinful – The Doors
29. El Paso – Marty Robbins
30. Down In The Boondocks – Billy Joe Royal
31 – Bonus track –
I know you’re a helluva writer and that’s where you probably get a lot of respect there, but by putting Rock Sugar in your list, you rose to the top like a rocket. Jess Harnell’s vocals are such a fun thing.
Your DJ’ness skills are premo this morning. Thank you for introducing me to Petra Haden.
Definitely some of my faves on there. Especially Kate Bush’s The Big Sky. Just a fun song and a fun music video (which you missed for some reason). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV7w5TaYjRA
I was fine until I hit “a song from the year you were born.” Scalzi, you are so young!
Frankly, I think this needs 30 days, but I’ll skip some and do the rest off the top of my head:
1. A song you like with a color in the title:
White House: Cream (and if you want to say “white” is not a color I’ll be forced to say Hendrix’ Purple Haze, but not really close)
3. A song the reminds you of summertime:
Easy: Lighthouse, One Fine Morning was the soundtrack of teenage summer camp.
4. A song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget
I think there’s only one person who’d qualify, so Bowie: Let’s Dance. I never really liked the song, but she pointedly did NOT want to see Bowie with me when that song was huge
7. A song to drive to:
Surprisingly easy to remember the 8-track, difficult to remember which tune it was, and unlikely: Henry Mancini. I used to stick that tape in the player and put my foot to the floor
8. A song about drugs or alcohol:
Sunday Morning Coming Down: either Cash or Kristofferson works
11. A song you never get tired of:
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen
12. A song from your pre-teen years:
There weren’t a lot (that is, I don’t remember listening to a lot of music). New York Mining Disaster: Bee Gees
13. A song you like from the 70s:
Elton John: Crocodile rock
14. A song you’d love to be played at your wedding
way too late, and we didn’t have a formal wedding
15. A song you like that’s a cover by another artist:
This Wheel’s on Fire: Serena Ryder
17. A song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke:
well pretty much anything — it’s hard to get me to solo, but if you want a partner, as Leonard would say, “I’m your man”
18. A song from the year you were born:
Great Balls of Fire: Jerry Lee Lewis — no contest
21. A song you like with a person’s name in the title:
Leila: Derek and the Dominoes. ’nuff said
25. A song you like by an artist no longer living:
Ain’t No Sunshine: Bill Withers
27. A song that breaks your heart:
Atlantic Blue: Ron Hines — we’ve just had a massive tragedy in Nova scotia, and when CBC played this I said “Nobody has ever captured senseless loss like Ron Hines did with this song” (It was written after the Ocean Ranger oil platform capsized)
Day 28: A song by an artist whose voice you love:
My Bonny: Laura Smith
Day 29: A song you remember from your childhood:
Tom Dooley: Kingston Trio (which I was not surprised to find also qualifies as a song from the year of my birth)
Day 30: A song that reminds you of yourself:
Your Song: Elton John
Hmm, I have difficulties with a list that includes Josie and the Pussycats and Jim Croce alongside The Beatles and Danny Elfman but there’s no accounting for tastes. :)
Big yes on #6! but a solid and eclectic list that made de discovered a few songs.
Filled in a few.
1. It’s Not Easy Being Green: Kermit the Frog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRZ-IxZ46ng
2. Eight Days a Week: The Beatles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kle2xHhRHg4
5. We’re Not Gonna Take It: Twisted Sister
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9AbeALNVkk
6. Rock Lobster: The B52’s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4QSYx4wVQg
7. Klingon Battle Theme: Jerry Goldsmith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58wJRrvVgZI
Not exactly a song, but a friend in college used this as his driving music, and he was not wrong..
8. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere: Alan Jackson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPCjC543llU
I don’t really drink but that doesn’t mean I can’t get behind the sentiments.
12. Milton the Monster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JD9it6SmB8
13. Time in a Bottle: Jim Croce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO1rMeYnOmM
15. The Impossible Dream: Jim Nabors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJlgio-UOng
Just found this but it’s fabulous
17. None
I pass on the karaoke, thanks.
18. Wild Thing: The Troggs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSWInYFVksg
19. Wanting Memories: Sweet Honey in the Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW2TpW4gCt8
28. Simple Gifts: Alison Krauss and Yo-Yo Ma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYi9Vr8bHJY
29. Exchange Orangeade commercial jingle
Not to be found on the web, apparently. But if you grew up in the right time and place, you heard this. Would also qualify for “song that gets stuck in your head”; apologies if that happens to you.
Tangentially related because it’s about music: John, I know you’re enjoying your drumming. My high school classmate is currently offering a free online drumming class (he also has regular online students) – you might want to check it out at https://danielglass.com
Adding my voice to the chorus of Rock Sugar love. (And I was SO stoked to find out that they’ve been working on a new album!)
…wow, it’s been almost three years since I did this last. I’ve developed two – no, three! – entire new musical obsessions since then! Highlights from the last time:
5. Loud
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0E0ynyIUsg&w=560&h=315%5D
9. Happy
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPf0YbXqDm0&w=560&h=315%5D
11. Not only do I not get tired of it, I once listened to it on repeat for two solid hours…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul4NbBaiBIo&w=560&h=315%5D
17. Karaoke (and yes, I have the pipes for it)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bLOjmY–TA&w=560&h=315%5D
Great selection, thanks! For some reason, Regina at the end there really hit me in the crazy-world-lockdown-post-Last-Emperox feelings.
I made this into a playlist over on Google play music. They had everything except for the Rock Sugar Tune.
https://play.google.com/music/playlist/AMaBXyk4A6NO9FqmTYAsVe6lHlVO5pGzEbe3ByhSEYHQsRWs4IcXA-KZcUd5Bc-S6OrIXYaqyzBPbYMv-LCYppjOTheX_CX5Gw%3D%3D
I prefer the original Yellow over that cover
I’m a very non-musical person, but not actually amusical. I can’t carry a tune, can’t sing except in self-mockery, and I also have a very poor memory for tunes. I play no instruments and I can’t even whistle one note. I’ve lived since I went to college without any audio or visual devices (no phone, radio, TV, etc) until about two years ago, when I got my first computer (still no Internet).
So what follows is the result of my doing catch-up, mostly. I grew up with The Beatles and their contemporaries and a spattering of classics and oldies. Not much from past the mid-70s. Feel free to laugh at my tastes. I only learned last year that “Honey” is considered the most annoying song in the world. I honestly had no idea.
I find the divide between lyrics and instrumentals too great to ignore, so I have two lists (lyrics/instrumentals).
1. A song you like with a color in the title:
Greensleeves (original love song versions) / Love is Blue
2. A song you like with a number in the title:
25 or 6 to 4 / Hawaii Five-O theme
3. A song that reminds you of summertime:
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh / Baby Elephant Walk
4. A song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget:
Short People or Try to Remember
5. A song that needs to be played loud:
O Fortuna / 1812 Overture
6. A song that makes you want to dance:
I don’t dance but these get me head-bobbing and toe-tapping:
Sugar, Sugar / The Mexican Hat Dance
7. A song to drive to:
I don’t drive (for the same reasons as Miller “plate of shrimp” in Repo Man)
8. A song about drugs or alcohol:
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds / Tequila
9. A song that makes you happy:
Happy Together / Sirba aka The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe theme
10. A song that makes you sad:
Sukiyaki (extra sad because of the singer’s death, perhaps the Japanese day the music died) / Love Story theme
11. A song you never get tired of:
Beethoven’s 9th, 4th movement An die Freude / Beethoven Moonlight sonata, 1st movement
12. A song from your pre-teen years:
Eres Tu / Popcorn (Hot Butter)
13. A song you like from the 70s:
Hooked on a Feeling (Blue Swede version) / Love Unlimited theme
14. A song you’d love to be played at your wedding:
I am strongly opposed to any PDA. Standard classics only. And whatever makes her happy.
15. A song you like that’s a cover by another artist:
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) or Do You Love Me (The Hollies) / Silent Night (goat edition)
16. A song that’s a classic favorite:
Hava Nagilah / Rhapsody in Blue
17. A song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke:
In front of other people, I only do parody, because my singing voice is that bad. (I’m not embarrassed, it’s just not friendly)
From MAD magazine: “How many times must a man spray with Ban, before he doesn’t offend?”
18. A song from the year you were born:
Do-Re-Mi / Peter Gunn theme
19. A song that makes you think about life:
The Last Farewell / Also sprach Zarathustra (Sunrise)
20. A song that has many meanings for you:
Had Gadya / 4’33”
21. A song you like with a person’s name in the title:
Hey Jude / Lara’s Theme
22. A song that moves you forward:
The Impossible Dream / Solace (audiomachine) [well, the ending is too long]
23. A song you think everyone should listen to:
My Way / Amazing Grace (Royal Scots Dragoon Band)
24. A song by a band you wish were still together:
The Sound of Silence / Comanche
25. A song you like by an artist no longer living:
Time in a Bottle / The Typewriter
26. A song that makes you want to fall in love:
Something / Romeo and Juliet theme (Henry Mancini)
27. A song that breaks your heart:
Honey / The Young and the Restless theme aka Nadia’s theme
Day 28: A song by an artist whose voice you love:
Banana Boat Song aka Day-O
Day 29: A song you remember from your childhood:
They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! / The Fishin’ Hole (Andy Griffith Show theme)
Day 30: A song that reminds you of yourself:
The Major General’s song / Alex Foley theme, Crazy Frog remix
EXTRA: Day 31: A song you wanted to put into the list but didn’t otherwise get to
Pinball Wizard / Mountains (Hans Zimmer, from Interstellar)