The Soundtrack of Me

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I posted a couple of months ago about a “CD Swap” I was doing with some friends, the objective being that I make a mix CD of some songs I love and then send a copy off to each of the girls in the group… I get back each of their mix CDs… it's a fun way to learn about your friends and maybe discover some new music in the process.
I actually had 2 different albums, so here are the playlists and the reasons I chose each song.

1. Battle of the Somme / Shenandoah – Marley’s Ghost
This is the music I grew up with… we used to go camping at this music festival twice a year, Strawberry, and many of my fondest memories, from ages 5-13, are from those 2 weekends a year… Marley's Ghost was always a favorite, even with the bagpipes!
2. I Melt with You – Jason Mraz
I loved the original version of this song, I love Jason Mraz's voice… what could possibly be bad about this cover? I want to sit on a beach, sipping a drink with an umbrella in it when I listen to this song.
3. I Will – The Beatles
I'm walking down to the aisle with this as the soundtrack. Do I need to say more?
4. I’m Beginning to See the Light – Bobby Darin
I'm a huge fan of classic swing and “Rat Pack” music… goes back to when I was teaching Lindy Hop and East Coast swing… this is just a great, classic song. Timeless.
5. Daisy Dukes – 69 Boyz
Sometimes you just need to celebrate you inner ghetto diva!
6. My Sister – Juliana Hatfield 3 (PG-13)
Katie and I discovered Juliana Hatfield back in high school, and I think this might be the song that brought us to her… no, wait… I lie… she had a song called “Spin the Bottle” on the Reality Bites soundtrack… anyway, so much of the song perfectly fits the complex relationship that is my sis and I… up to and including the fact that we've seen the Violent Femmes in concert togerher!
7. Everyone Deserves Music – Michael Franti & Spearhead
I love the title, think it's totally true. I love the rhythym of this song.
8. Looking for the Holes – Ani Difranco
I'm a big Ani fan… I'll admit, I did choose this song partly because it didn't have any swearing in it, and I didn't want to offend anyone! LOL But it's a decent representation of her sound… anyone who can stand alone on a stage, with a mic and a guitar deserves respect!
9. She Talks to Angels – Black Crowes
Just a song I've always loved… specifially the line “She keeps a lock of hair in her pocket / She wears a cross around her neck / Yes, the hair is from a little boy / And the cross is someone she has not met, not yet
10. One Week – Barenaked Ladies
I know all the words to this song. Seriously! It was my “trademark” karaoke song, when I was singing karaoke 2 or 3 nights a week!
11. Mack the Knife Live in Berlin – Ella Fitzgerald
Even legends screw up from time to time! It's a great reminder that you don't need to be perfect all the time. (And funny!)
12. Watershed – Indigo Girls
sigh I love the Indigo Girls. Katie and I discovered, several several years ago, that our vocal ranges matched theirs, so we often taught ourselves parts and would sing along in the car, in harmony. Perfect harmonies give me the chills and can make the hairs on the back on my neck stand up… this song is wonderful.
13. Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson
I want Jack Johnson to make banana pancakes for me! LOL What girl wouldn't want that? Stay home on a rainy day, sleep in, eat breakfast in bed… it's such a great thought…
14. Dirty Dancing Megamix
Best. Soundtrack. Ever. Compressed into just 12 minutes! Dirty Dancing was the first movie I ever saw in the theater without parents (it was me and Tami Letford) so that might play a part in it's being one of my all0time favorites… but with music like this, who wouldn't love it?
15. Anniversary Song – Cowboy Junkies
Such a sweet, romantic song… “Well I've known all the things / And the joys that they can bring / And I'll share them all for a cup of coffee / And I'll wear your ring”
16. Please Do Not Go – Violent Femmes
Another classic… the VF concert I saw my junior year in high school was the best concert I'd ever been to (until I saw U2 in 2001) It was so much fun… 15 year olds next to 40 year olds, all rocking out to the same music. So fun!
17. Pride (in the Name of Love) – U2
U2 and the Beatles… my 2 favorite bands of all fraking time. This is a classic U2 song, and never fails to make me stop and reflect, even if for just a moment.

1. Dizzy Miss Lizzy – The Beatles
Um.I'm a Beatles fan. My name is Lizz. Duh.
2. Stuck in the 80s Megamix
I am stuck in the 1980s. I love the music of the era, and I, in general, love these kinds of remixes.
3. Not So Soft – Ani Difranco
Oooh… spoken word! I wish I could words together and then recite them like this… more chills.
4. Language or the Kiss – Indigo Girls
Much like on the other CD, this is just a gorgeous song that gives me chills.
5. Calling Baton Rouge – New Grass Revival
More of the music I grew up on… fun fact: the banjo player on this recording is none other than Bela Fleck, now of “Flecktones” fame!
6. Walk Like an Egyptian – The Bangles
Another karaoke favorite… and an 80s classic… that's all!
7. Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard – Paul Simon
I challenge anyone not to smile with this song playing in the background! How many times do you have to listen to it to get the “Whoa-oh” timing just right? LOL
8. Bouncing Round the Room – Phish
I was big into jam bands for a while… this song is just fun, and I like it…
9. Hallelujiah – Rufus Wainwright
A hauntingly beautiful version of this song… oddly enough, it came off the Shrek soundtrack!
10. Rock N Me – Steve Miller Band
This is the song that would be included in the movie of my life… at the end, when I'm driving off into the sunset with my Prince Charming (Jamie) in the convertible, top down, music blasting, a wide sweeping camera shot as we zoom across the plain towards our happily ever after. I'm serious! If I'm driving the Spyder and this song comes on, I totally feel like I'm in a movie! (Actuall,, this is true, for some reason, of most of the songs on this album…)
11. Puttin’ on the Ritz – Taco
So cheesy, how can you not love it?
12. Past the Mission – Tori Amos
I love Tori… I've seen her in concert 6 or 7 times, and got to meet her once, briefly, after one of her shows… this song is just so cool, and I've always loved that Trent Reznor (from Nine Inch Nails) sings backup.
13. The Sweetest Thing – U2
“A blue-eyed boy meets a brown-eyed girl” Yeah, I'm that cheesy.
14. Brown-Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
See above. I'm sure every girl in this world with brown eyes loves this song, but so what? LOL It's also currently the ring tone on my cell phone!
15. Baba O’Reilly – The Who
Again, big classic rock fan, and this is a decent represenation of the “The Who” and it's always funny (to me anyway!) when people swear it's called “Teenage Wasteland”
16. They Say – Three 5 Human
This band opened for the Indigo Girls in January when we saw them, and I fell in love! Just so cool! And this song is too catchy not to include.
17. A Hundred Years – Five for Fighting
sigh This song makes me tear up. Even when it's on the credit card commercial.
18. Regular Joe – Indigo Swing
From my swing dance instructor days… this is such a cool song to dance to!
19. What Makes You Happy – Liz Phair
So much of this reminds me of something my mom would say… if I'm happy, she's happy.