Song

The 30 day song challenge has been going around lately – it involves posting a song in a different category on your Facebook page for 30 days. I decided to do it all in one go, so here are my songs:

Your favourite song:
Wonderwall by Oasis
I first fell in love with this when I was in about grade three and I love it all over again every time I hear it. It’s so sweet and simple and just plain good.

Your least favourite song:
From Paris to Berlin by Infernal
When I was in high school I had a few friends who found out how much this song drove me up the wall and played it all the time just to annoy me. One guy had it on a mix CD in his car for that very reason!

A song that makes you happy:
It’s Electric by Metallica
Any song that starts with a riff that punchy and “Gonna be a rock and roll star” has to be good, and this one definitely puts a smile on my face. It only lets up from being cool as a pair of dark sunnies for the hilarious lyric, “I stop on red but I leave on amber; danger paves my way”. The idea of James Hetfield rebelliously cruising through a yellow light because he’s so ‘dangerous’ is pure gold.

A song that makes you sad:
One More Step Along the World I Go
At Mont Albert primary school, this is the traditional song the grade six class sing as a farewell on their last assembly. I’ve never liked change, and leaving so many friends and memories behind was a very sad goodbye for me.

A song that reminds you of someone:
Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues
This song will always remind me of my dad. It’s been his favourite for longer than I’ve been alive, and it’s a testament to the beauty of both the joy and the sorrow you can find in love.

A song that reminds you of somewhere:
Le Chemin by Kyo
On my school trip to France when I was 16, this band was all the rage. The group of exchange students introduced us Australians to them and it takes me right back to the freezing, strict, stylish school in Arras.

A song that reminds you of a certain event:
Sway by Lostprophets
This 10 minute journey of a song has an instrumental second half, and it was this part that I did my black belt karate demonstration to, at the annual dinner dance a few years go. That album, Start Something, makes me think of karate still.

A song that you know all the words to:
The Way I Am by Eminem
Forget song, I know all the words to the entire album Marshall Mathers LP. The first profane album my older sister had when we were at the end of primary school, we played this to death and loved it.

A song that you can dance to:
Crush by Anthrax
This is the one that pumps me up before a big night out – LOUD is the only volume it deserves. Dancing around in my bedroom playing air guitar to this will rev me up every time.

A song that makes you fall asleep:
Circles by Birds of Tokyo
I’m not usually a fan of Birds of Tokyo; I heartily prefer singer Ian Kenny in his Karnivool outfit. But he has such a gorgeous voice, and this song makes for a really sweet lullaby.

A song from your favourite band:
One by Metallica
Metallica introduced me to heavy metal, and they’ll always hold a special place in my heart. I love the energy, strength and versatility of the band – from blues to thrash metal to country to pop to punk, there’s nothing they can’t pull off with flair.

A song from a band you hate:
Grenade by Bruno Mars
This kid shits me right off. I’ll admit that he has a lovely singing voice, but everything that he actually says sounds so fake. What’s here meant to be an angst-filled, passionate love song just comes off sounding whiny and insincere. Awful.

A song that is a guilty pleasure
Pussy by Rammstein
Yes, it’s rude, and crass, and misogynistic. But it’s so damn catchy!

A song that no one would expect you to love:
ABC theme by Pendulum
I’m not into dance music, and clubbing is certainly not my scene – but Pendulum’s remix of the classic news theme song gets me every time. It’s masterful in its simplicity, and makes something serious outrageously fun.

A song that describes you:
Marlene on the Wall by Suzanne Vega
I had a lot of trouble with this one, because I think other people are probably best at describing me. But this song leapt to mind because it effortlessly taps into a lot of my insecurities: being alone, skirting around the ‘danger zone’ instead of confronting problems, struggling with power games between women and men. That and I have a painting of myself on my wall; the girl in it is very different to who I am today.

A song that you used to love but now hate:
Because I Want You Too by Placebo
It’s a great song, but now just holds too many memories. It reminds me of the danger that passion brings – wanting someone isn’t always a good idea.

A song that you hear often on the radio:
Tonight I’m Lovin’ You by Enrique Iglesias
Whenever I’m driving I prefer having the radio on to sitting in silence, and this comes on at least once a trip. This guy did super-sappy ‘Hero’ untold years ago and seems to have run out of easy money or something, because he’s back with this song, which will never be as popular. Nice try though.

A song that you wish you heard on the radio:
Edge by A Million Dead Birds Laughing
Australian heavy metal is fantastic and deserves more props, especially this band. They’re a delight live, with their eccentric, eye-rolling lead singer and air of concentration that borders on the insane. More heavy metal lovers should get a piece of this.

A song from your favourite album:
Heartwork by Carcass
From the album Heartwork, which is death metal at its pinnacle of sophistication – every track is solid.

A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Hammer Smashed Face by Cannibal Corpse
Picture this: you’re angry. What’s going to make you feel better than raging along with smashing someone in the face with a hammer? I don’t know either.

A song that you listen to when you’re happy
R**K the Vote by Carcass
This just bounces along – from the intro to the guitar solo and beyond, it’s full of  happy vibes. Rock on!

A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Bonheur Amputé by Amesoeurs
I can’t tell you how much I love this song. It screams into my very soul, it’s so beautiful and strong and complex. I love the light and the dark in it, it’s perfect for capturing a sad mood of mine.

A song that you want to play at your wedding:
Baby Can I Hold You Tonight by Tracy Chapman
This one depends far too much on who I marry to be of any accuracy today, so this one’s really just a romantic song that doesn’t make me want to vomit. You can’t say no to Tracy Chapman.

A song that you want to play at your funeral:
Breathe Me by Sia
I’m aware that it’s awfully clichéd to echo a television show for memorable events, but I can’t think of a better song to play me out. This featured on the final episode of Six Feet Under, and it’s beautiful. “Be my friend, hold me, wrap me up” strikes me as a lovely way to be farewelled.

A song that makes you laugh:
Dungeons and Dragons by Tripod
I love a good comedy rock band, and Tripod are up there with the best of them. “It was a long sword, plus one, with a plus two damage bonus against the undead”. Dungeons and dragons is a questing forum that players take very seriously, so of course it’s hilarious to make fun of it.

A song that you can play on an instrument:
Push by Matchbox 20
Although I still don’t have the courage to play my guitar and sing in front of anyone, I have recorded myself having a go at this. I love singing, I know that I sound dreadful, and that’s fine with me. I enjoy it anyway.

A song that you wish you could play:
Crystal Mountain by Death
The guitar work. The brutality. The awesomeness.

A song that makes you feel guilty:
Wicked Game by Chris Isaac
“What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way ; what a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you”. Falling for the wrong one – oh, how I have been there!

A song from your childhood:
Be Prepared from The Lion King
This was my favourite movie as a child, and heralded the beginning of my empathy for villains. I’ve always had a soft spot for the antiheroes and evil characters in popular culture, because I find them to be the most truthful.

Your favourite song at this time last year
One Step by Dead Letter Circus
I saw this Australian band live about five or six times last year, my best friend and I got a bit obsessed with them! We had good reason to, they always put on an incredible show. This video clip is shot in a gorgeous rewound sequence and is definitely worth a watch.