Fall, Glimmer, Sparkle and Fade

:: Saturday, November 22, 2003 ::

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might

Just when I thought D couldn't get any better with her lists:
As a lover of music, what are the Top 5 songs you wish you wrote.

This was most definitely the best list suggestion to date. I'm certainly not saying it's my best work by any means, but I gave it the old college try as I always do. These songs should not be mistaken for my favorite songs of all time. Because -- for example -- "Piano Man" by Billy Joel is one of my favorite songs, but I would have zero business writing such a classic. I had the same reaction for each of the following tracks the first time I heard them: "Holy shit, this is so damn good why didn't I think of it first?" I would be honored to have written any of the following songs. Because this is a 'special' list, I've included all the lyrics to each selection.


1. Third Eye Blind "God of Wine"
- This, more than any of the others on the list, is here equally because of the music and the lyrics. It is one of the most beautifully crafted songs on the guitar I have ever heard. Kevin Cadogen -- the now ex-3eb guitarist -- put together the perfect landscape for Stephan Jenkins' lyrics. There isn't a time I hear this song -- live or from CD -- that the hair doesn't stand up on the back of my neck. I can only dream of one day writing a song that is as perfectly put together as this one.

Every thought that I repent
There's another chip you haven't spent
And you're cashing them all in
Where do we begin to get clean again
Can we get clean again

I walk home alone with you
And the mood you're born into
Sometimes you let me in
And I take it on the chin
I can't get clean again
I want to know can we get clean again

The God of Wine comes crashing through
The headlights of a car that took you farther
Than you thought you'd ever want to go
We can't get back again

She takes a drink and then she waits
The alcohol it permeates
And soon the cells give way, and cancels out the day
I can't keep it all together
I know I know I know...
I can't keep it all together

And the siren's song that is your madness
Holds a truth I can't erase
All alone on your face
Every glamorous sunrise
Throws the planets out of line
A star sign out of whack, a fraudulent zodiac

And the God of Wine is crouched down in my room
You let me down, I said it, now I'm going down
And you're not even around
And I said no no no...
I can't keep it all together
I know I know I know...
I can't keep it all together

And there's a memory of a window
Looking through I see you
Searching for something I could never give you
And there's someone who understands
You more than I do
A sadness I can't erase
All alone on your face

2. Josh Joplin Group "Camera One"
- The line 'Its funny how life turns out/The odds of faith in the face of doubt' will always resonate in my mind when I think about this song. Such a simple line, but obviously not simple enough for me to come up with! Josh Joplin hit an absolute home run with this one. The inspiration of the song is obvious and while I don't envy what he must have had to go through to write this, I think we can all relate to this song. Isn't that the best part of being a songwriter, when someone can relate to something you've written? Josh, take a bow.

The sandy haired son of Hollywood
Lost his faith in all that's good
Closed the curtain, unplugged the clock
Hung his clothes on the shower rod
But he never got undressed
And no, he never made a mess

It's funny how life turns out
The odds of faith in the face of doubt
Camera One closes in
The soundtrack starts
The scene begins

You're playing you now
Take a bow

The trophy wife from Palisades
Whose yearbook beauty never fades
Sits and watches the sea fold in
And wonders what might have been
If she could ever have the chance
Would she do it all again?

It's funny how life turns out
The odds of faith in the face of doubt
Camera One closes in
The soundtrack starts
The scene begins

You're playing you now
Take a bow

On the corner, by his streets
He sits in his lawn chair in the heat
Sightseers see what they want
They're selling star-maps to the sun

The sunny-haired son of Hollywood
Lost his faith in all that's good
Closed the curtain, unplugged the clock
Hung his clothes on the shower rod
But he didn't get undressed
And no, he didn't seem depressed

It's funny how life turns out
The odds of faith in the face of doubt
Camera One closes in
The soundtrack starts
The scene begins

You're playing you now
Take a bow

3. Flickerstick "Coke"
- No, it's not that coke. You might know the band or at least recognize the name -- they won VH1's Bands on the Run -- but you most likely don't know the song. And that's a shame because this is a band that was never really given a fair shake by their label (and my former employer) Epic Records. Not only is this a perfectly written song, but it rocks. If you watched them on VH1, then you already know they can most definitely rock with the best of them. And now you will hopefully find out their song writing isn't too shabby either.

Says she's got another life
That I am living in my friend
Through and through she says
It's nothing I can change
I always was the one

The celebration ends without a sound
And the friends they're not around
And you find you're all alone
Talking to yourself again
You promised it's the end
Just one night you'll be fine
Cause in the end the dreams you dream
Are all you ever were

She's got another life
That I am living in my friend
Through and through she says
It's nothing I can change
I always was the one and I'll say
Come on I'd like to buy the world a Coke and lie here naked with my girl

The lights dim once again someday I'll sleep
Cause it's all the same to me
This tiny voice inside my head keeps me awake
Come on lets find the cure
Come on lets die until we live
In the end you'll find how high you climbed
There's no design to ever bring you down

And she knows..


4. John Mayer "Something's Missing"
- So many bands can put together great songs, but John is one of the lucky few in this world that can write every aspect of a great song himself. Not only are these -- again -- lyrics many people can relate to, but he's an amazing guitarist. Unlike many guitar phenoms, however, you won't here any of the unneeded clutter that some add just for the sake of showing off their skills. If you simply sit back and listen you will hear the beauty of his craft.

I'm not alone, I wish I was
Cause then I'd know, I was down because I couldn't find
A friend around to love me like they do right now
They do right now

I'm dizzy from the shopping malls
I searched for joy, but I bought it all
It doesn't help the hunger pains
and a thirst I'd have to drown first to ever satiate

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is at all

When autumn comes, it doesn't ask
It just walks in, where it left you last
And you never know, when it starts
Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is at all

I can't be sure that this state of mind, is not of my own design
I wish there was an over the counter test, for loneliness
For loneliness like this

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is
Something's different
And I don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is

Friends -check- Money -check- Well slept -check- Opposite sex -check- Guitar -check- Microphone -check- Messages waiting for me, when I come home -check-

How come everything I think I need, always comes with batteries
What do you think it means

5. Coldplay "The Scientist"
- I can hear Jack Black's character from High Fidelity with this one: "Ooh, kind of a new record. A sly declaration of new classic-status slipped into a list of old classics. Nice, very pussy." Obviously none of the other four are exactly 'old classics', but none the less the other four have all been in my music collection one way or another longer than this one. I'm also admittedly not as crazy about Coldplay as the rest of the world, but out of all of Chris Martin's songs, this is the one I most wish my name was attached to.

Come up to meet you, tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are

I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Tell me your secrets
And ask me your questions
Oh let's go back to the start

Running in circles
Coming up tails
Heads on a silence apart

Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard

Oh take me back to the start

I was just guessing
At numbers and figures
Pulling your puzzles apart

Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

Tell me you love me
Come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start

Running in circles
Chasing our tails
Coming back as we are

Nobody said it was easy
Oh it's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard

I'm going back to the start

:: Ryan 5:52 AM [+] ::
...

Not So Quiet In The Back

Phoe and D are alternating. Meaning Phoe is up:
Top 5 songs according to background vocals ;)

Hey, this was one of the hardest one to finish so far. How many times do you listen to a song and say "wow, those background vocals really kick ass man!" Oh. Really? Okay, well you might say that, but I certainly don't. That's why this was a great list suggestion, because I had to listen to songs in a way I never had before. I'm sure I missed plenty of very obvious songs, so leave your choices in the comments. More list suggestions are also welcomed. Enjoy.

1. Ben Folds "Not the Same (Live)"
- The audience is a major part of this one. Now it's not like a lot of live songs where people sing along because they know the words. Not at all. Ben goes through the different harmonies with the entire crowd before the song and gestures when they should come in throughout the song. That earns him the number one spot on this list. How can you beat 1,500 people singing backup every single night?

2. Pearl Jam "Jeremy"
- I was never a huge PJ fan. I know, I know. I'm a horrible human being. Save it, I've heard it allll before. But this had to make the list. The best part of this song is the last chorus when there are three or four different vocal tracks going on. You can tell just how important those vocals are when you hear them play this live, because Vedder does them all himself so you miss out on the different layers. He's forced to do one, then the next, then the next. Even though it's a great song, the backing vocals really hold this up throughout.

3. Billy Joel "Still Rock and Roll to Me"
- Just like Vedder handles the majority of the backing vocals with "Jeremy", Billy takes care of everything here. It's great to hear him answer his own questions: "What's the matter with the clothes I'm wearing"... "Can't you tell that your tie is too wide?" Who needs back up singers? Not Billy.

4. The Police "Every Breath You Take"
- This should have been the first song that popped into my head when I started this list. Not because it's the best song with background vocals (it's number 4, duh!), but because it's an obvious choice. Even if for some God forsaken reason you're only familiar with the version that P. Sean Daddy, it has to be fairly obvious to you as well. This is another track that is held up from start to finish with the strong vocals in the back. I'd like to congratulate Gordy on his first list appearance. I'm sure he's flattered.

5. USA for the Africa "We Are The World"
- I was baited into this one. After Phoe posted the list, I had several people mention to me that this song had to be at the top of the list. I'm pretty sure most of them were just joking, but I couldn't resist. Harry Belafonte started the whole USA for Africa project and brought in the likes of Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Willie Nelson. C'mon, look at that lineup! It's the Yankees of the music industry. Plus, anything produced by Quincy Jones will always have a home on one of my lists.

:: Ryan 5:30 AM [+] ::
...

Sexual Healing

Wow, D has out done herself this time:
*say this in a Barry White voice. It's sexier*
What are the Ryno's Top 5 songs to make out to? (I think that's what the kids are calling it these days)

Even before D posted this one, she told me I would have fun with it. She was dead on, putting this together was a good time. Now if you ever need to throw on a few tunes to 'set the mood', just burn these five songs and let the magic begin! Don't mistake this for a love song list, because I think we all know that the best love songs certainly don't always make good mood music. As always, these should be played in order.

1. Jack Black "Let's Get It On"
- This is a perfect start. It's amusing -- simply because it's Jack Black -- so it helps to break the ice, but at the same time it's a super sexy song. What girl -- or guy if that's your thing -- wouldn't get in the mood with this one? If you feel the need, then you can replace it with Mavin Gaye's version, but I see no need. It is the greatest and best love making song in the world.

I've been really tryin, baby
Tryin to hold back these feelings for so long
And if you feel, like I feel baby
Come on, oh come on
Let's get it on

2. Goo Goo Dolls "Slide"
- Now you can't just jump right into the super slow love making (that is what the kids are calling it, right?) songs just yet. So this helps to transition from Jack Black to the much slower songs. Not only do girls dig John Rzeznik, but he has said in interviews this song is a teenage sex anthem (or something along those lines). Why don't you slide into my room.

3. John Mayer "Comfortable"
- Girls might dig John Rzeznik, but they loooooove John Mayer. Especially when he's singing this one. I've seen him live a handful of times and whenever he pulls this one out, every girl in the place nearly faints. Now the more obvious choice here would be "Your Body is a Wonderland", but "Let's Get It On" took home the one and only blatantly obvious spot on this list. If you're this far into the list and still haven't gotten anywhere, then I'm sorry to say that things aren't looking very good. Luckily you have a couple more songs to rely on.

4. Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers "Green and Dumb"
- Okay, so this is where you can officially go in for the 'kill'. The first three were recognizable tracks to set the mood and get the ball rolling. Now you can use this beautiful epic of a song as background music as you take care of business (seriously, is that what the kids are calling it now a days?). This really is an amazing cut from Roger Clyne (formally of the Refreshments) and Co. Trust me with this one. You can thank me later.

5. Guster "Either Way"
- I'll be the first to admit that this song makes no sense from a lyrical standpoint. It's not a love song and it isn't a love making song. There's just something about this song when it's played in a room that is lit only by the sunset or moon. Plus, by song five if you're worrying about the lyrics of a song then you probably aren't doing very well. C'mon, pay attention to what you're doing!

:: Ryan 4:53 AM [+] ::
...

Here Comes the Music

It's Phoe's turn:
Okay... I asked top 5 for your funeral last time. How about top 5 for your wedding?

The "didn't I just do this list?" jokes are there for the taking, but I'll let them be. At 22 I am years away from the wedding chapel (God willing), but it certainly never hurts to plan ahead. This list will most definitely change over time, so I put it together as if I were going to need it sometime in the near future.

1. Ben Folds "The Luckiest"
- I have said that Jude's "I Do" is the greatest love song ever written -- which I stand by -- but that is a song about love lost and this is a song about love found. If "I Do" is love song 1, this is 1a. It's one thing to write amazing music or lyrics, but Ben has a way of doing both like no other. In this case he put together an absolutely beautiful song that I promise will make any bride cry on the dance floor.

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns
The stumbles and falls brought me here
And where was I before the day that I first saw your lovely face
Now I see it everyday and I know
That I am the luckiest

2. Better Than Ezra "At the Stars"
- This certainly isn't a song you'll hear while dancing -- slow or otherwise -- but it has to be played. It deals with those moments when nothing else in the world matters. I hear those times are a big reason why people want to get married in the first place. So if you can't relate to this song then what the hell are you getting married for?

It's three o'clock and we're driving in your car
You're screaming out the window at the stars
Please don't drive me home

3. Everclear "Good Witch of the North"
- C'mon, it's been three or four lists since I've used one of their songs so you had to know they were around the corner. Plus, this is a song that promises marriage. If you believe Jerry Maguire then you have to find someone that can 'complete' you. Well, this song is a round about way of saying 'you complete me'.

My good lover is my one good thing these days
You help me keep it all from slipping away
I swear I'm going to marry you someday

4. U2 "Unchained Melody"
- This is a song that's going to be played anyways, so it might as well be the best version out there. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing song no matter who performs it, but there's something about Bono's vocals that just isn't there with the Righteous Brothers (I mean no disrespect, so please keep the hate mail to yourself). If you've ever heard U2's version you know what I mean.

I need your love
God speed your love to me

5. Travis "Flowers in the Window"
- Lead singer Fran Healy said in concert that he wrote this song after one of the band members almost died. Oddly enough though, the song has nothing to do with death. He says after he thought the worst for his friend/bandmate he went to his room and this is what came out. A great song about finding that one person and growing old together. Go figure.

It's such a lovely day and I'm glad you feel the same
Cause to stand up, out in the crowd
You are one in a million
And I love you so
Lets watch the flowers grow

:: Ryan 1:25 AM [+] ::
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