Songs

I was just reading Betsy's post about our favorite music appealing to our sense of identidy rather than specific memories. I think this is certainly true for me.

Certain songs do bring up memories of certain people, certain times and places. Mostly though, something appeals to me if I like the singer's worldview, the observations they make, the "feeling" of their sound: the choice of styles, instruments, tambre. I can't listen to people I don't respect.

I noticed the other day that I'd been listening to the same playlist over and over without changing it much. I note how I listen to it and think every song is great, is powerful, and they go together well. My psyche must then be herein:

The Pogues: The Boys from the County Hell
Unchained Melody, ever since the one Righteous Brother died
Johnny Cash: I Walk the Line
The Kingston Trio: Tom Dooley
Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and George Harrison: My Back Pages
Kenny Rogers' cover of Mel Tillis' Ruby (when Kenny was post-folk boom acid-country instead of countrypolitan)
Bob Seger's cover of Chuck Berry's: C'est Le Vie
Waylon Jennings: If I Were a Carpenter (sublime)
Van Morrison: St. Dominic's Preview (equally)
Walyon Jennings: Good Ol' Boys (the Dukes of Hazzard theme)
The Pogues: The Sick Bed of Cuchulain
The Traveling Wilburys: Poor House
The Waterboys: Fisherman's Blues
Neil Diamond: Solitary Man (yes, Neil Diamond. Beyond the schlock, he's a good songwriter)
Chet Atkins & Mark Knopfler: They'll Be Some Changes Made
Mark Knopfler: What It Is
The Hollies: Long Cool Woman
Johnny Cash: I've Been Everywhere
Kris Kristofferson: Me and Bobby McGee
The Allman Bros: Midnight Rider
Steve Earle: Copperhead Row (that's a redneck anthem)
The Beatles: I Am the Walrus
Big Head Todd: Wishing Well
Joan Osborne: St. Teresa
Johnny Cash gets a turn at Solitary Man
Aretha tears up The House That Jack Built

That's a romp. Many of those I listen to once and immediately have to listen to again.