Earworm

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #7 “In My Remains” by Linkin Park

Ah, Linkin Park‘s fifth studio album, Living Things, was a gem in my opinion. My favorite of all of their albums. I said the same exact thing when A Thousand Suns released, but that’s besides the point. I thought Living Things was just THAT much better.

Not to say that any of their albums are bad. LP is still and will forever be my favorite band.

In My Remains really utilizes Joe Hahn‘s incredible DJ abilities and Chester‘s singing is so soothing. Mike‘s background singing accentuates Chester so well, too.

One of LP’s greatest songs, in my opinion. Have a listen.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czGUf_heaXU]

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #8 “Young Blood” by The Naked and Famous

Arguably this New Zealand indie electronic ensemble’s best known song, it lands at #8 on my list which is, as a reminder for you all, in no particular order besides me just telling you how it is.

This was the first song I listened to when I downloaded the Spotify app months ago. This song turned me onto testing my musical tastes, yknow?

The beat is mellow and it really relaxes me. Call me a hipster, I dare you.

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #9 “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners

How old school can you get?

I remember on long roadtrips in my dad’s blue Ford Focus wagon listening to this song every hour on the hour. We had,  like, 3 CD’s, all mixed by The Big Cheese.

I blame him for all the old music that’s been doused down my throat.

This is one of my favorites, though. Really reminds me of my childish childhood.

And, what’s goofier than a bunch of English peeps in overalls performing some pop-rock/celtic-rock?

THERE’S A BANJO, TOO.

 

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #10 “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” by Cake

Damn, being young and too good to know that pop songs were about sex, sex, and more sex… I miss those days.

But now, listening to this song, I can just feel the all too obvious sexual tension from this 2001 hit off of Cake’s album, Comfort Eagle.

That doesn’t change how I feel about the song, though. I love it. I think it’s hilarious and extremely catchy.

Go back 12 years and have a listen, why don’t you? Watching the video will just show us how much our society has grown. Seriously.

Earworm: Sexy Back – Justin Timberlake

I wasn’t much of a JT fan back in the day, but slowly and surely, his music remained popular enough to be replayed on the radio and satellite radio.  Not only does he get airtime, but he was getting screen presence, with a few movies here and there, and his frequent guest spots on SNL.  Hearing his music throughout the years just kinda sank in my consciousnesses, and I slowly transformed from being a hater to being a fan.  He is simply an amazing performer, not just singing, but, his on screen presence is great.  He is this era’s Frank Sinatra (ok, not quite there yet, but, he is becoming a legend in his own right).  Even his new song, ‘Suit and Tie‘, when I first heard it, I was like,  “WTF?!”, then it grew on me, and I hum it a lot, maybe because it does get a lot of play on commercials also, but, it’s not like Bruno, or the Lady Gaga’s.  It does not get over killed, and his song’s are just that much better.

Sexy Back remains my favorite track of his.  Can’t quite figure out why, but it is.

[youtube http://youtu.be/Fz1BXF7bVpM]

Here’s a barbershop quartet version he did with Jimmy Fallon

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD8tGWIqA-c]

and the SNL Digital Short Trilogy that is just hilarious.

(more…)

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #11 “Crush” by Pendulum

I remember vividly the day The Big Cheese and I saw Linkin Park at Madison Square Garden a couple of days before my birthday two years ago, February 4, 2011. The concert was nationally televised on Fuse.

What wasn’t televised, however, were the opening bands. Does It Offend You, Yeah? and Pendulum.

People I know have heard of DIOYY, but seldom do I know of anyone that has heard Pendulum before.

The guy sitting behind The Big Cheese and I didn’t stop pestering us about Pendulum. Telling us about how his sister had introduced him to the band and about how they’d be the best part of the concert. He was wrong, but nevertheless, Pendulum did turn out to be a fantastic band. Too bad they couldn’t get a good crowd reaction, the only crowd there to enjoy it was the pit.

Here’s a song from them for you to listen to.

Oh, and Pendulum has gone on hiatus.

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #12 “Good Life” by Kanye West feat. T-Pain

Ah, ‘Ye’s second appearance on this list. I remember my ‘cousin’ Ira always saying “summertime Chi” whenever he could, and I never fully understood where he was getting that until I heard this autotuned monstrosity.

I’m not saying I don’t like this song by calling it a monstrosity. In fact, I mean that in the most complimentary way possible, if any. Seriously. T-Pain’s autotuned voice just makes the song for me.

The video makes the song that much better. I don’t know if you know, but I do want to go to an art school to pursue graphic design and illustration, and the graphics in the video just blew my mind. The kind of stuff done in it is intense, man. Also, I’ve really been trying to up my wardrobe, clothing and fashion design/style has become a rather intriguing area for me lately. Kanye is usually seen wearing outrageous outfits, but his clothes in the video are so clean and subtle. I’m a fan of subtle.

 

Earworm: Istanbul (Not Constantinople) – Milan & Phoenix

I recently heard this on SiriusXM recently, I can’t believe this was covered.  I am so glad that Milan & Phoenix just did their own spin on it, and not ruin the song. (Unlike Pitbull and Christina Aguilera’s “Feel This Moment” which sample’s what could arguably be one of the 80’s best songs, A-Ha‘s Take On Me, but that’s another topic for another time).  I enjoy this remake, and it’s a nice break from the daily drudgery of today’s pop music.  I first heard this song back in the 90’s from Loony Tunes.  I later found out it was a song by They Might Be Giants.  (they also did a bit for another TMBG song, Triangle Man).  It’s such a fun song, and i’ve been humming it on and off.  The video is fun too, playing on the old silent films.  Enjoy the video, as well as the Loony Tunes version.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBTxjYeRPB8]

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQrKZcYtqg]

 

 

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #13 “Northern Downpour” by Panic! At the Disco

Off their acclaimed album Pretty. Odd., Panic!’s Northern Downpour is probably my favorite song from them. This is pre-break up Panic! at it’s mellowest, and I love it.

Acoustic songs have a nice warm spot next to my aorta, you see.

I often talk about how music that confuses me or makes me think or sends a good message out are more likely to appeal to me, and this song definitely is one of the songs that confuses me. I get it, that the song shows that material objects matter the least, but the entirety of Pretty. Odd. is highly abstract, living up to the name.

“I missed your skin when you were east…” What does this mean, Brendan Urie!?

This Pretty. Odd. album was highly influenced by the Beatles, just watch this music video to see why. There’ll be another song off this album in this list to further prove my point.

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #14 “We All Try” by Frank Ocean

Another one of my favorite artists, as you may know, is Frank Ocean.

Also, as you may know, I love songs with meaning. Songs that make you question your values and the wiring of your brain.

This fantastic acoustic is off Frank’s free EP, nostalgia,ULTRA. I really do recommend this album if you need a change of pace from your typical music.

As usual, have a listen. This is a music video, however I don’t think it is official. Maybe another fan made. But it’s well done.

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/36423502″>Frank Ocean – We All Try</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/high5collective”>High5Collective</a&gt; on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>