Songs of My Life

I hit shuffle on my iPod every morning. I'm going to discuss a song a day.

[songsofmylife]

2/25/24: Alan Menken - "The Library"

As a child of the '90s, the Disney Renaissance and the contributions of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman are important touchstones for me. I'll go into more about them when we hit those soundtracks, but I'll focus on this movie for now.

Beauty and the Beast (1991) is my favorite Disney movie. Ever. I've always loved the story as well. And I don't hate the live-action remake! I love how they expanded on certain elements and I thought the cast was pretty good (I'm obsessed with Luke Evans' Gaston, oh will we discuss this at a later date).

Something I've enjoyed about these remakes is that they've given Menken a chance to revisit some of his scores and make them sound bigger. His score for the original Beauty and the Beast isn't my favorite of his, but I love what he did for the remake.

[songsofmylife]

2/24/24: Garbage - "The World Is Not Enough"

First, I love Garbage. Shirley Manson is incredible. Second, this is pretty high on my Bond song list! I always love how bombastic the Bond songs sound and this is no exception.

(I can't find any evidence to back this up, but I'm convinced that they used The Carpenters' "Superstar" as a sample here. There are so many similarities between the two, but Wikipedia isn't helping me out!)

And this video! I remember it so vividly. Extremely well-done. I just had to look it up again because I thought it was part of Making the Video and it was! I would LOVE to see that show again, Paramount+ come on!

People like us know how to survive / There's no point in living if you can't feel alive

[songsofmylife]

2/23/24: Andy Karl & Samanta Barks - "You and I (Edit)"

I wouldn't say Pretty Woman: The Musical is good. It's pretty much a paint by numbers adaptation of the 1990 Garry Marshall classic. All of the beats, costumes, and jokes were hit. It was set in the late '80s, just like the movie. Which was unfortunate because I think it could have been interesting to see an actual update to the material.

However, I'm not mad that I saw it. I had a good time. The songs were written by Bryan Adams (oh, we're going to talk about him soon!). It starred one of my all-time Broadway faves, Andy Karl! And the divine Samantha Barks!

One of the things that has stuck with me the longest from the show is how Karl looks at Barks in the opera scene. I know it's acting (both are happily married; Karl's wife, Orfeh, was also in the show!), but it is imprinted in my brain because there was so much LONGING in the look. Like, he understood the character of Edward THAT much. And I feel like that look is around when this song is performed (the full version though, not sure why there's an edit on the OBC).

I wasn't waiting for a miracle / I just wanted somewhere to belong

[songsofmylife]

2/22/24: Regina Spektor - "Eet"

Regina Spektor was a HUGE part of my college life. She has such a beautiful voice and her melodies were great. I also really enjoyed her lyrics. I am way more familiar with "Begin To Hope" than the follow-up but this song!

It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song / You can't believe it; you were always singing along

Like, my worst nightmare? Hearing this again seriously stopped me in my tracks. And because of this we're getting TWO different lyric sections! Because Regina, how dare you! (I've just found out she's a Zionist so I will be separating art from the artist right now)

You spend half of your life trying to fall behind / You're using your headphones to drown out your mind

[songsofmylife]

2/21/24: Terrence Mann & Ensemble - "Join the Parade"

There is a few different popular tracks to Broadway lately, and I particularly enjoyed the book to movie to musical pipeline. I enjoyed Tuck Everlasting, until the end to be honest. But I'll touch on that if I get to the specific song.

This is more of an interlude and I got to see Terrence Mann on stage! A legend truly.

Come to the fair, the best day of the year / They say it won't last, and sonny, they're right!

[songsofmylife]

2/20/24: Muse - "Save Me"

I wish my first Muse song was from their earlier stuff, but this is the last album of theirs I was interested in so I guess it's okay. I found Muse through one of those playlists I mentioned. It was before Twilight! I was actually mad when the movie made them more popular!

But whatever. Again, I'll have more to say about other songs. What I like about Muse is Matt Bellamy's voice. They're kind of like an elevated Coldplay. It's not a perfect analysis, but that's what you'll get from me.

Hold me 'cause I'm sure I'm hated / Promises, they are overrated / Wait just a while, while I'm / Drowning in denial

[songsofmylife]

2/19/24: Christina Aguilera - "Circles"

I have been a fan of Xtina since her debut. She has such an amazing voice, but I feel like the music industry didn't always know what to do with all that talent. (It's similar to my feelings on Lady Gaga except Gaga has I guess more of a personality to work with?)

Anyway, I'll go through her other albums when I hit them as once again, we've hit a later album in a long career. "Lotus" isn't a bad album. There are some pretty good songs here whether lyrically or more dance pop.

However, I have always loved this song. Maybe it's because it came out around the time I started working after college and in some toxic environments, that this song would play on a loop in my head. It's so cheeky and relatable!

Spin around in circles on my middle, middle finger / Won't you spin around in circles on my middle, middle finger?

[songsofmylife]

2/18/24: Ava Max - "Cold As Ice"

I've got nothing more to say about Ava Max right now, except that I think part of the reason I'm drawn to her music is the production value of her songs. The arrangements and everything are incredible.

'Cause I'm cold as ice / I'm not the type to keep you warm at night / Better believe it that I'm cold as ice / I never stay for too long, too long, I'm gone

[songsofmylife]

2/17/24: Matt Costa - "Ark Song"

This is another one of the iTunes Song of the Week downloads. He's more in line with what I usually listen to, but I must confess I never sought out his other stuff.

I'll repeat myself again / But this time I'll get it right

[songsofmylife]

2/16/24: Stevie Wonder - "I Wish"

*cracks knuckles* Alright, buckle up here.

Stevie Wonder was introduced to me by my dad. I know this. He was big into Motown so I recall hearing a lot of Stevie growing up. HOWEVER, I will say that I truly got into his music due to 98 Degrees (who haven't come up yet on here but will!).

They did a duet for the Mulan soundtrack ("True to Your Heart") and I heard them cover "Superstition" so I wanted MORE Stevie. My dad wound up buying a four-disc set called "At the Turn of the Century" which collected a bunch of his hits and that's where I began to pick my favorite songs.

But I'll also say that if this particular song sounds familiar to '90s kids, listen to Will Smith's "Wild Wild West" (but don't watch the movie!).

Stevie is truly one of the most influential artists to this day! The amount of songs that use his as samples, he's a genius. I'm so grateful that I had a dad who encouraged me to listen to him more even if I was pushed to do so because of a boy band! (I'm also like 90% sure 98 Degrees covered "I Wish" during their Revelation tour back in 2001!)

I wish those days could come back once more / Why did those days ever have to go / 'Cause I love them so

[songsofmylife]

2/15/24: Coldplay - "Cry Cry Cry"

My first Coldplay post! And another late album for me to discuss first? Why iPod? Anyway, I really got into them during "A Rush Of Blood to the Head" due to "Clocks" and most of their albums have been hit or miss. I'll talk about them as we move along.

I can't say I've listened to "Everyday Life" as much but I think it leans more hit for me than others. But I can't really say that with much certainty although when this song came on, I was like "THIS IS COLDPLAY?!" It's got a real old-time feel (as evidenced from the thumbnail of the video). I was fascinated and really liked being reintroduced to it.

When you cry, cry, cry, baby / I'll be by your side

[songsofmylife]

2/14/24: Christy Altomare & Mery Beth Peil - "Once Upon A December (Reprise)"

I hate that this is the first instance we get of Anastasia on this blog! I will have to keep my feelings on the two very separate, but please know Anastasia has been a long-time favorite princess movie of mine. And I was super excited to see its Broadway adaptation.

There are major differences between the animated film and the stage version, but I'll focus on the particular song I got which is the reprise to THE BEST song in the movie. It's a soft scene where Anya is reconnecting with the Dowager Empress. It's short and sweet, and I love Christy's voice.

Things my heart / Used to know / Once upon a December

[songsofmylife]

2/13/24: Mandy Moore - "Only Hope"

Funny how I was talking about Switchfoot the other day and A Walk to Remember and now we have both! If you didn't know, "Only Hope" is a Switchfoot song covered by Mandy Moore in the film A Walk to Remember.

It's a pretty pivotal scene in the movie as it takes place during the school musical that Landon (Shane West) is forced to participate in after getting into trouble. And he gets to know Jamie (Moore) and is overcome with emotion by the end of the performance that he kisses her! SCANDAL. That wasn't in the script Landon!!!

Anyway, my feelings about the movie have drastically changed as I've grown up (Nicholas Sparks is a menace!!!), but I will never say anything negative about Moore (or West) in the film. They're great. I love hearing her sing. And this song is good!

Sing to me the song of the stars / Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again / When it feels like my dreams are so far / Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again

[songsofmylife]

2/12/24: Incubus - "Blood on the Ground"

I can't remember exactly how I got into Incubus. I want to say that maybe "Pardon Me" or "Stellar" made their way to TRL which at least introduced me to them (and Brandon Boyd is hott!) I have those songs on my iPod so I'll talk about them if they come up.

"Morning View" was released after they received more mainstream success, and I think it's a pretty solid album. But I'll also admit that I haven't listened to it as much as other albums. I have no real attachment to it aside from like two songs. This is not one of them.

I don't want to talk to you anymore / I'm afraid of what I might say / I bite my tongue every time you come around / 'Cause blood in my mouth beats blood on the ground

[songsofmylife]

2/11/24: The Eagles - "Already Gone"

Another band that my dad introduced me to. And I genuinely enjoy them even though I know that apparently means I "don't understand good music". Whatever.

This isn't my favorite song of theirs, but it's fun and fast.

Well I know it wasn't you who held me down / Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free / So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains / And we never even know we have the key

[songsofmylife]

2/10/24: Semisonic - "F.N.T."

The instant this song comes on, my brain goes straight to the 1999 classic film 10 Things I Hate About You. It accompanies one of the most iconic scenes, where Kat (Julia Stiles) and Patrick (Heath Ledger, RIP) essentially skip out on school (detention...) to hang out and wind up at a paintball place. It's adorable. I love it. God I wish that were me. The chemistry between these two is divine.

That's pretty much all I got here. Although I will say right now that I believe every Semisonic song I have on my iPod is associated with a movie. I don't think that's a bad thing!

I'm surprised that you've never been told before / That you're lovely and you're perfect / And that somebody wants you

[songsofmylife]

2/9/24: Sherie Rene Scott - "I Can Do Better Than That"

I was not a cool enough theater kid to have known about this show when it first premiered. However, I did get to see an off-Broadway revival back in 2013 starring Betsy Wolfe (A FAVE) and Adam Kantor. Their versions will probably pop up at some point, so I won't go into detail yet.

While Jason Robert Brown is kind of a tool (this musical is a bit autobiographical!), I really do love this musical. It's a love story, it's a break-up story, but it's also told in two different timelines. For Jamie, it's from the start of their relationship to its end. For Cathy, it's the end of their relationship to its beginning. They meet briefly in the middle.

Anyway, this is one of Cathy's last songs so toward the beginning of her relationship with Jamie. And it explains how she felt trapped in her hometown and the life her friends lead and how she wants to do better. It's relatable! And while watching the show, it actually hurts to see how optimistic and happy she was about achieving her goals and falling in love. This musical is truly a gut punch. And I love it.

You don't have to like Duran Duran / Just love me