Ten Musical

[packbat]

From dslartoo; formerly from kevinjdog, rain_luong, byackley, gwenners, and possibly many more people.

List ten musical artists that you like:

1. Suzanne Vega
   
2. Joni Mitchell
   
3. Paul Simon
   
4. Shawn Colvin
   
5. The Who
   
6. Harry Nilsson
   
7. Eurythmics
   
8. Cyndi Lauper
   
9. The Proclaimers
   
10. The Beatles
    

Note: I have labeled the questions with letters to make it easier not to miss any.

a) What was the first song you remember hearing by #6?
Hah! I'm going to be completely hopeless at these "first song remember" questions. First I heard, period, was probably "Coconut" or some other song that shows up in movies a lot. First I remember remembering? Probably "You're Breakin' My Heart", because although I'm sure it's not the first I heard, it's ... distinctive. (Hint: It's not "But I love you" that he says in the refrain.)

b) What is your favorite album of #9?
Only ever heard their "Best Of" – can't really judge.

c) What is your favorite lyric that #5 has sung?
Oh, this isn't going to be easy. I don't like "The Who" for their lyrics, I like them for their rock. Possibly the chorus from "Won't Get Fooled Again":

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

d) How many times have you seen #4 live?
Never. Only ever seen #3 live, and only once. I'm not a concert-goer.

e) What's your favorite song of #7?
Either "Love is a Stranger" or "Would I Lie to You" – likely the former. That "Sweet Dreams are Made of This" album buy was a good choice.

f) What is a good memory you have considering the music of #10?
Any time during my childhood when "Yesterday" came on the radio. I loved that song.

Specific incident? When I learned that Lennon and McCartney wrote the song "A Hard Day's Night" overnight, during the making of the movie, just because the director realized that they were about to make a Beatles movie with no title song. (Unfortunately, Wikipedia disputes that telling of the events. Curse you, history, for your wretched lack of unambiguity! Curse you!)

g) Is there a song of #3 that makes you sad?
Simon and Garfunkel's "America" is a nice downer. "The Boxer" too. I don't know of any of his 'solo' (i.e. after splitting with Garfunkel) songs that make me feel that way, though.

h) What is your favorite lyric that #2 has sung?
Oh, now this is good. Joni Mitchell is one of the finest lyricists of all time, in my humble opinion. I'm very fond of her wordplay in "Chelsea Morning", "That Song About the Midway", "The Gallery", "The Fiddle and the Drum", and "Blue Boy", but I don't think whole songs can count for single favorite lyrics. Perhaps from the last verse of "Woodstock":

And I dreamed I saw the bombers
Ridin' shotgun in the sky
And they were turnin' into butterflies
Above our nation

i) What is your favorite song by #9?
Oh, easy. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", the one they played in "Benny and Joon". If you'd prefer I not take the easy answer, "Throw the 'R' Away" is fun, too, as is "Lady Luck".

j) How did you get into #3?
Parents. They had "Graceland" on C.D., and I really liked "You Can Call Me Al". I liked the other tracks too.

k) What was the first song you heard by #1?
"Luka". Mom had a VHS of a bunch of music videos, some old MTV "Top 100" countdown, and "Luka" was among them. And I'm really glad it was, because Suzanne Vega is truly one of my favorites now.

l) What is your favorite song by #4?
Probably "Never Saw Blue Like That", from the "Runaway Bride" soundtrack. It got me to look for her CDs, too – "A Few Small Repairs" is a great album, and "Whole New You" is pretty good as well.

m) How many times have you seen #9 live?
Never. See (d), above.

n) What is a good memory you have concerning #2?
Mmm. Tangentially concerning her, my mom used to sing to my siblings and I at bedtime, and "Both Sides Now" and "Big Yellow Taxi" were two favorites. Leading off of that, I really enjoyed listening to her "Clouds" album for the first time – she sings "Both Sides, Now" way differently from anyone I'd heard before, and I liked it.

o) Is there a song of #8 that makes you sad?
Cyndi Lauper? Sad?

Well, I suppose "Time After Time", maybe, or "True Colors". Those are pretty decent downers.

p) What is your favorite lyric that #3 has sung?
Mm mm mm! Paul Simon, another great lyricist! And another difficult choice! I think I'll go with this, from "Graceland":

There is a girl in New York City
Who calls herself the human trampoline
And sometimes when I'm falling, flying
Or tumbling in turmoil I say
Woah, so this is what she means
She means we're bouncing into Graceland
And I see losing love
Is like a window in your heart
And everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody feels the wind blow

q) What is your favorite song of #1?
It's probably "Luka". Subtle and pretty. "No Cheap Thrill" is a lot of fun, but I think the other one still wins.