The Great my99 Challenge: Selecting the top songs of your lifeIN A BLOGSHELL:Who: You! Finally, a countdown that matters to you
What: Challenge to post your lifelong top 99-song playlist, with accompanying anecdotes that tell the story behind some of your selections
When: Postings should be on July 3 and 4, before 9 p.m.
Where: Post on your blog and leave a link to your posts in the comments section of this post
Why: Lots of reasons, like having your lifestory compiled in song, telling stories about those memories, and WINNING A FREE iPOD!
How: It’s all below!I started to play around with the 10,000-plus songs on my iPod and realized that, if I had to choose my top 99 favorite songs, there would be very strong reasons why they would make the cut. There are stories behind these songs that make them my favorites, the ones I go back to time and time again when I am sad, when I feel the need for energy, when I feel on top of the world.Here’s what I’m doing: I’m building a playlist on iTunes of all the songs that rightfully qualify to be deemed important in my life. Then, I’m moving the top songs from that playlist into my final my99 playlist to create the most significant soundtrack of my life.Ranking them will be a challenge, but this is where the stories come in, I think. Did this song elicit a stronger emotion than this other tune? Does it signify something that is more important in my life right now? These are the stories that will be begging to be told. What part of you is being bottled up in those three minutes and 41 seconds of music?To put it simply, my 99 songs are the stories of my life. I bet yours are, too.So I introduce to you: The First Annual my99 ChallengeOn the mornings of July 3 and 4, I will post my countdown in two batches of 49 and 50, respectively, along with a few stories about those songs that made it into my final 99. I’m challenging you to do the same. If you break it in two batches like me, then on July 3, you’ll post your songs counting down from 99 to 51; on July 4, you’ll post the final top 50. For both days, choose at least one song to share a story of how that song fits into your life, your history. Bring your my99 to life for you and for the rest of us.Don’t want to break it into two posts? No problem. If you want to list your my99 in one blog entry, go for it. Just make sure your entry is posted by the time the fireworks are lighting up our skies, and don’t forget to leave a comment on this post telling us that your my99 are up.These songs can come from anywhere—whether you find them on your iPod or in your stack of old 45’s in the basement, any song is fair game. Don’t own the song? No matter. Throw it in the mix anyway.Feel free to give as much info about the song (in addition to the title) as you want—group, year released, year memory made—it’s up to you entirely. Any stories you wish to tell—long or short—about the songs can be embedded right into the countdown.
Also, feel free to offer an intro about how you narrowed it down to the top 99 and how you ranked them. Did you base your decisions on emotions? experiences? lyrics? melody?
Oh yeah…The Prize: Free iPod?
Yep! When I moved up to my 150-gb iPod a few months ago, I had to retire my older iPod. So…The best storyteller online gets my 15-gb iPod, complete with docking station and charger! All you have to do is leave a link in the comments section of this post to your my99, and as long as you complete your countdown and tell a few stories along the way, you are entered to win the iPod!
Stories will be read by the acclaimed editor of Maryland Voices, the lovely Carla (a blogger-to-be), who will judge your stories on originality, believability, and sheer likeability! The winner will be posted on Monday, July 7 at rusvw.net.
Finally, there’s this: Invite your friends to join along. Spread the word far and wide about the my99 Challenge. I guarantee we’ll learn more about each other—and ourselves—in sharing our playlists and our stories.
Good luck…and have fun! If you have any questions at all, feel free to email me off-blog: theoldmanse (at) gmail (dot) com.
The Baltimore Writer 
This is such a genius idea! Man this is going to be hard . . .
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Thanks for playing along!
I know what you mean… I can’t believe how many songs OVER my 99 are in my “without a doubt” playlist….I feel like I’m interviewing the songs to see if they are worthy to make the cut! Ha!
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So, when we break the song list into two parts, we’re only supposed to choose one song to write our life story on? Do we need to make short annotations for each song about why it’s important to us, or are we allowed to just list and leave them as they are?
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That’s a great question, Lucy. You can choose as many songs as you wish to write about, and the length can vary as well. Some of my songs have very short annotations, such as “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Dylan: “I stood on the steps of the church, the first to arrive to bury my second Mom, when a pick-up truck pulled up to the stop light and blared this song. The light stayed red long enough to let Dylan get in me, and I somehow felt like Mom was with me the rest of the day we buried her.”
Then I might not write anything for the next 12 songs or so, and then go into another little (or longer) story to bring greater meaning to that song in my lifelong playlist. It’s really your choice….the more you annotate, the more we understand the deeper story… 🙂
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I love the logo you designed for the contest and I have to say it is a brilliant idea. BUT….not being a music person I am not sure I can come up with anywhere near a 100 songs…so I am disqualifying myself and will look forawrd to learning many new songs from everyone else.
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I think we’re all going to learn so much from the lists people post. What I’m learning most about myself are the events that have shaped who I am today–and maybe a little of who I am not.
If the 99 number is too intimidating, feel free to post your top 9! It’s all good…. 🙂
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Hey everyone–can’t wait to read all of your stories!
Emmvilliciously yours,
Carla!
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So . . . in one long burst of energy fueled by copious amounts of AC/DC and Metallica . . . my playlist is ready! Should I post today or wait until the 4th?
Also . . . realized once I was done annotating that mine counts up . . . not down. I think I had a massive brain fart and missed the point of a countDOWN. Is that cool with everyone? It just goes 1 . . .2 . . .3 . . .99.
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Oh, please feel free to post yours now! No better time than the present!!! Cannot wait to see your list, and no worries about the order–up or down, it’s all good!
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Ok! Here’s T-Light’s first batch! How many of these do YOU remember?
99. Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin
98. Petalakia. Rockin’ Greek tune
A big block of Vera Lynn songs:
97. We’ll meet again
96. White Cliffs of Dover
95. When the Lights Go On again
And big block of Frank Sinatra Songs:
94. The Way you Look Tonight
93. Summer Wind
92. The Last Dance
With the Rat Pack:
91. Luck Be a Lady
90. Begin the Beguine
89. You Can’t Love ‘Em All
88. The Main theme from Exodus
87. Over the Rainbow Judy Garland version only.
And now begins my favorite music decade: the 70s!!!!
Bring on Da Funk!
George Clinton (Parliament)
86. Flashlight
85. We Want the Funk
84. One Nation Under a Groove
More Funk:
83. Love Roller Coaster
82. Strawberry Letter 23
81. Pick up the Pieces (uh huh!)
80. Fire (Ohio Players)
79. Shining Star (Earth Wind and Fire)
78. (Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again
77. Tell Me Something Good (Rufus & Shaka Khan)
76. Jungle Jazz (Kool and the Gang)
75. Mercy, Mercy Me
74. Papa Was a Rolling Stone
73. I’ll Be Good To You
72. Signed Sealed Delivered
71. Outa-Space
70. Dazz
69. Serpentine Fire
68. Fantastic Voyage
67. Hollywood Swingin’
66. Just Don’t Want to Be Loney
65. Grazing in the Grass I don’t know why it’s called this but I absolutely love this song! Such a happy tune!!!!
64. That Lady (Isley Brothers)
63. T.S.O.P (The Sound of Philadelphia) Soul train theme….I guess I’m a closet disco freak too.
62. Sing a Song (EW&F)
61. Boogie Nights
Let us not forget those awesome AWESOME rock bands of the 60s-70s
60. You Really Got me (The Kinks)
59. A Whiter Shade of Pale This song embodies the decade!
58. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In Seems like everyone was singing this when I was in elementary school. I remember seeing the 5th dimension on TV with their cool jive outfits. The act was so different for its time and they had a great message.
57. Crystal blue Persuasion
56. Wild Thing (The Troggs) Who DOESN’T sing to this when it comes on????
55. Summer in the City A long gone friend loved this song. Always think of them when I hear it.
54. So you want to be a rock n roll star
53. Strange Brew
52. Born Under a Bad Sign
51. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
50. Empty Pages
49. Glad
48. Mr. Fantasy
47. Medicated Goo The lyrics say it’s “good for you”. 🙂
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Here’s Catherine B’s list on her web site! Enjoy!
Here’s the crazy link from Buddyprofile, a website made circa 2003. What can I say? I don’t have a fancy blogging website! Lol
http://www.buddyprofile.com/viewprofile.php?pagetype=1&page=1&u=n&username=greenodonata1
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I finished my99 Playlist! My website: http://www.xanga.com/kagome_vixen/
It’ll be the first, most recent blog on there.
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T-Light’s final 47! Thanks for playing, T!
These songs are not numbered or ordered because I love each song so much, I can’t put one above another!!!
Mad world (Gary Jules)
Stupid Girl (Garbage)
It’s My Life (the Gwen Stefani ripoff version)
Karma Police Radio head
Porcelain Moby
commercial songs (like commercials on TV: Some really great songs get introduced to me via commercials:
W.A.N.D Flaming Lips
Starry Eyed Surprise Paul Oakenfold
Pink Moon Nick Drake
Today’s the Day Forever Thursday JC Penney commercial….hey, if the song’s good, who cares where ya heard it first??)
beastie boys
Sure Shot (I knew the reference “It’s like the taking of Pelham 123…great ’70s movie)
Intergalactic No, I do not know why I like the Beastie Boys. This song would make my 2 year old drop what he was doing and rock to the beat…haha!
Clocks coldplay
Brand New Day Sting This song was played over and over during the turn of the century. At the time, a considerable number of people were worried about millenium carnage….every computer turning to 00 and the devastation it could cause. People were stockpiling food and water. I must admit, having a small child I was a little worried. But this song was played and it really did feel like a brand new day, everyone behaved, nothing crazy happened and the world seemed very beautiful.
Beautiful day U2
Led Zep:
over the hills and far away
gallows pole
the ocean
Kashmir: Helping to push a friend’s mother’s car down her driveway with a dead engine so we wouldn’t wake anyone up. Once we got the car far enough away from the house, we started it up and drove away to drink beer and drive around. then we had the nerve to come back and crash in her club basement. We had a fire going in the fireplace and had some more beer and some smokes. What nerve!
Misty mountain hop
The National Anthem
God Bless America
Silent Night
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Gene Autrey version only
Let it Snow Dean Martin version only
The B52s
Follow Your Bliss great instrumental danced to it at my wedding then listened to the whole album on the way to Hilton Head SC.
June Bug
Sunrise Sunset From Fiddler on the Roof. Always made my mom mist up. Now it makes me mist up. Played it at my wedding for my parents. I think my mom didn’t want me to because it was already a very emotional day.
Pump it Black Eyed Peas
All songs/hymns at my church This may be a slight breach in etiquette but I have to include all the music in my church and will count it as one.
A horse with no name
Black Water
What a fool believes
The Wind Beneath My Wings I love Bette!!!
American Pie
One Week Bare naked ladies
Always have a training song that is long and enjoyable. These 2 songs were a triathlon song and the other an endurance adventure race song. Some how, after singing them over many miles, I am still not sick of them.
Beyond the Sea (Bobby Darrin version only)
Crosby still nash and young
Carry On
Teach your Children Always liked this song but I have a distinct memory of watching an old British Movie that was playing this song and while this song was playing, a rampaging group of school children where beating up their teachers and ripping their clothes off. I think they may have even tipped over and set fire to a car. Don’t really remember anything else about the movie!
Helpless
Suite: Judy Blue eyes
Love the one you’re with
Wooden Ships
Most or all of these CSNY songs will always remind me of my favorite road warrior who helped me experience and/or cause 5 foot tall bullfrogs, a big gaping hole in the top part of the upholstered roof of the car, the jump off the boardwalk on two wheels of said car in front of a cop car, the trip to the North Pole and a molested reindeer and a lesbian in denial (CP-remember her?). Also beer, beer, and more beer. Well of course also the giant spider guarding the duck sign.
Mack the Knife Sitting at a piano bar drinking, requesting Mack the Knife, or was it Pennsylvania 65000? And the guy played it. Wowwwwww.
Everybody wants to rule the world
Head over heals
These two Tears for Fears songs remind me always of my favorite road warrior while totally ripping off the Door Store at White Marsh Mall (before Rt. 43 was even built). Running up a down escalator with a stuffed Daffy Duck. I believe there was a hopeful search for a stuffed Mac Tonight (Macdonald’s crescent moon smooth singing guy.)
Whew! (that’s not a song, I’m done!)
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The Oldies which shaped my life…
99. Kokomo by the Beach Boys
My mom and I shared some great memories in the basement as she played this song over and over through her jukebox. Unfortunately though every time the song would skip or repeat a lyric since the record inside was probably ancient and scratched. This song could also be one reason why we love cruises so much! Reminds me of this song every time!
98. The Way You Do the Things You Do by The Temptations
Another played in the basement
97. Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys
96. Up On the Roof by The Drifters
This is definitely a favorite of both my mom and I.
95. Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters
94. A Little Less Conversation by Elvis Presley
My mom absolutely loved Elvis, so there’s no way I could get away without having him on here, even though I wasn’t first introduced to this song by my mom, but actually another friend.
93. Please Mr. Postman by The Beatles
Of course my dad loved the Beatles so I had to include them also.
92. Twist and Shout by The Beatles
91. The Twist by Chubby Checker
My mom loves dancing, but the twist is absolutely her favorite. Where would I be without it, even though I hate dancing?
Those that were always on the radio at the right time…
90. I Get Knocked Down by Chumbawamba
This was always on when I’d be in the car with my dad. I could never actually figure out what they were saying in the song so I used to think they were saying something about “Tom” and that was my dad’s name. haha! He didn’t know what they were saying either, so it was okay.
89. Where Do You Go by No Mercy
This song used to always be on 106.5fm when I’d visit my godparents and we’d drive to the Baltimore Zoo. Believe me, we went to the zoo a lot and it was practically always on.
88. The Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning) by Vertical Horizon
87. One Week by Barenaked Ladies
86. If You Could Only See by Tonic
85. Never Let You Go by Third Eye Blind
84. Jumper by Third Eye Blind
83. Semi-charmed Life by Third Eye Blind
82. Black Balloon by the Goo Goo Dolls
81. Name by the Goo Goo Dolls
80. Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse
79. Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon
Absolutely love this song and it has related so well to my life!
78. Roll to Me by Del Amitri
77. Closing Time by Semisonic
76. Absolutely (Story of a Girl) by Nine Days
75. You’re A God by Vertical Horizon
This song was in Bruce Almighty! Absolutely B-E-A-utiful!
74. Drops of Jupiter by Train
Those that remind me of my dramatic side…
73. The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
The best Broadway play I’ve ever seen!
72. Masquerade by Andrew Lloyd Webber
71. You Can’t Stop the Beat by Company from Hairspray
This song always makes me happy and reminds me of chorus at Dunloggin Middle where we sang it.
70. Season of Love from Rent
Another song sang at Dunloggin for a talent show.
69. La Vie Boheme from Rent
This is a very funny song that also reminds me of times during orchestra when my friend and I would listen to it.
68. Prince Ali from Aladdin motion picture
Not only was this a great Disney movie, but also a great childhood memory from when my friend Rachel and I used to dance to it.
67. Friend Like Me from Aladdin the motion picture
Oh how I love this song and Robin Williams as the part of Genie.
Childhood Days…
66. The Medallion Calls by Klaus Badelt from The Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack
Not only do I absolutely love these movies, but I’ve loved playing this theme song in orchestra during middle school and at a music camp one summer. It sure brings back memories of middle school and how much easier life was back then.
65. Wannabe by the Spice Girls
Truly a childhood song from when all my friends and I would listen to them for hours when we were about 8 years old.
64. Larger Than Life by the Backstreet Boys
My best friend and I made dance moves for this song that I still remember.
63. All Star by Smash Mouth
Once again makes me think of good old Dunloggin Middle School when my good friend made a skit to this song that I still remember to this day.
62. Barbie Girl by Aqua
A true classic from my childhood that I’m sure many people dislike. Many of my friends and I also made our own dance to this song too. Plus it reminds me of those good old days when I did in fact have Barbie dolls.
61. Doctor Jones by Aqua
Another one that my friends and I made a dance for. It definitely is a perfect song for summer with the sound of crickets in the beginning.
60. This is Your Life by Switchfoot
Not only is it a wonderful song, but it also makes you think. Plus it reminds me of a church retreat that I attended last year and my friend, who was thinking about suicide, mentioned this song in his sermon.
59. Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega
A great reggae beat that always reminds me of the many cruises that I’ve been on with my mom.
58. Get Down by Audio Adrenaline
Reminds me of the workcamp/ mission trip from last summer in Ohio. Everyday they’d play this song and by the end of the week, everyone knew how to dance to it. It was amazing to see every one off of the bleachers!
57. I Want it That Way by the Backstreet Boys
Every time I hear it, it reminds me of when I went to Disney World with my mom when I was about 9 years old. At the time this was probably my favorite song and all throughout the amusement park I was singing it. Eventually my mom even began to sing the chorus from hearing it so much!
56. We Go Together by John Travolta
Always remind me of the movie, my mom, and my best friend, Rachel. The first time I saw it with my mom I though it was going to be a scary movie, but it definitely wasn’t. Rachel and I ended up watching it everyday for about a year.
55. Greased Lightin’ by John Travolta
54. Build Me Up Buttercup by the Foundations
Once again reminds me of Dunloggin when we sang this in chorus and it was definitely a favorite.
53. First Date by Blink 182
Reminds me of 10th grade English with Mr. O’Brien when we listened to and analyzed this song. Also, reminds me of my friend Kathy because it’s also one of her favorites.
52. Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down
Reminds me of my cousin Bobby who when we visited him last summer always played this song in his car.
51. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day
A great song that was also used for our 8th grade graduation.
50. Minority by Green Day
49. American Idiot by Green Day
Reminds me of their concert at Merriweather a few years ago when I met my friend Keri there.
48. Whoomp There it is by Tag Team
Ms. Shipp had a button on her desk that would play this song so it reminds me of her and our crazy class.
47. Macarena by Los del Mar
46. Spinnin’ Around by Jump 5
Another childhood memory that I’m sure Rachel and I made up a dance for.
45. Oh Gravity! By Switchfoot
My friend Mara first had me listen to this song before I knew that their new album was out. Plus we went to their concert together so it reminds me of her.
44. Awakening by Switchfoot
43. Life and Love and Why by Switchfoot
42. One Way or Another by Melissa Joan Hart
Reminds me of one of my old favorite tv shows, Sabrina the teenage witch
41. Jump on It by Sir Mix A Lot
Another one that reminds me of my childhood and Dunloggin
40. Do You Believe In Magic? By the Lovin’ Spoons from the Parent Trap
39. I Want a New Drug by Huey Lewis and the News
Reminds me of the concert that I went to with my parents and my friend, Rachel.
38. Where Are You Tonight? By Tom Johnston
37. She’s Like the Wind by Patrick Swayze
From the movie Dirty Dancing, a true favorite of both my and I.
36. August’s Rhapsody by Mark Moncina from August Rush
Those more recent…
35. Clocks by Coldplay
34. Caught in the Rain by October Fall
Rachel introduced this to me about a year ago and I absolutely fell in love with it.
33. Here it Goes Again by OK GO
Every time I hear this song it puts a smile on my face and reminds me of the music video with them on tread mills.
32. Shut Up and Drive by Rihanna
Reminds me of my cousin Shyam. We listened to this song every day when I visited him in New Hampshire last summer.
31. Don’t Stop the Music by Rihanna
30. Here in Your Arms by Hellogoodbye
29. Hands Held High by Linkin Park
28. I Wanna Love You by Akon
27. Drive by Incubus
26. Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
25. Believe by the Bravery
24. Stop and stare by One Republic
23. Apologize by One Republic
22. Straight Lines by Silverchair
21. Days Go By by Keith Urban
20. Master of the House by Andrew Lloyd Webber
19. Work Songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber
18. Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber
17. Memory by Andrew Lloyd Webber
16. Because You loved Me by Celine Dion
Reminds me of my godparents when I’d listen to this at their house
15. My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
14. 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago
13. Does Anybody Really Know what time it Is? By Chicago
12. Saturday in the Park by Chicago
11. The Christmas Song by Chicago
10. The Way I Are by Timbaland
9. Realize by Colbie Caillat
Reminds me of my friend Erin since she first introduced this song to me every time I hear it reminds me of her.
8. All Good Things Come to An End by Nelly Furtado
7. Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy
6. Disarray by Lifehouse
5. Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
I had always heard this song when I was younger and wanted to know who sang it. It wasn’t until this year when my hairdresser told me, so ti reminds of him an when he played it.
4. Shout by Tears for Fears
3. Shake It by Metro Station
2. Our Time Now by Plain White T’s
1. Say by John Mayer
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I posted this on my site (www.xanga.com/Kagome_Vixen), but I’m putting it here too just in case…
I actually don’t own an mp3 player, so I couldn’t just scroll through my favorite songs and pick them. That being said, I realized this project was going to be hard for me, but I didn’t know it was going to be this hard. Considering how I listen to a wide range of music from classical to heavy metal depending on my mood, it was hard to choose my favorite songs objectively. From day one when this contest started, I wrote and rewrote my list many times. Nevertheless, I had a blast going through most of my songs and choosing which ones would make it to the list. Most are chosen due to the emotional appeal, like love and humor. Others were chosen simply because of the addicting rhythm the song has, making my day so much more enjoyable when I listen to them. My two life stories are at the very end of the list. Enjoy, and thanks for the fun summer project!
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99. “The Sore Feet Song”- by Ally Kerr
98. “Jesus of Suburbia”- by Green Day
97. “Purple Haze”- by Jimi Hendrix
96. “Never Never Land”- from Peter Pan
95. “Bad Day”- by Daniel Powter
94. “My Pace Daiou”- by Manzo
93. “Minority”- by Green Day
92. “Wait”- from Sweeney Todd
Simply put, sometimes the best things come to those who wait. Because of that simple philosophy, I’ve been able to control my impatience over certain things.
91. “All in All”- by Point of Grace
90. “Heresy”- by Nine Inch Nails
89. “Nobody Knows”- by Suga Shikao
88. “Another Brick in the Wall”- by Pink Floyd
87. “I Want to be Bad”- from Good News
86. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”- by Green Day
85. “London Beckoned Songs About Money Written By Machines”- by Panic! At the Disco
84. “Bop to the Top”- from High School Musical
This choice surprised even me. I highly dislike High School Musical, so why put one of their songs in my “Top 99 Playlist”? Honestly, whether I like it or not, this song has an addicting beat that cannot find its way out of my head. The lyrics aren’t half-bad, appealing to my side of wanting to do the best in whatever I do.
83. “The World”- by Nightmare
82. “Every Heart”- by BoA
81. “Time is Running Out”- by Muse
80. “Hare Hare Yukai”- by Aya Hirano
I didn’t choose this song for the actual song in itself, but rather the dance that goes along to it. My friends and I spent this entire summer rehearsing through the dance choreography so that we can perform it at Otakon, a Japanese anime convention center this August. I had a blast learning the dance movements with my friends!
79. “Siberian Railroad”- by Polysic
78. “Seasons of Love”- from Rent
77. “Sandstorm”- by DJ Darude
This song first became memorable to me because it was the first song I beat in Dance Dance Revolution, but it became more memorable to me due to my friends. My friends and I love techno, and after hearing it at every single school dance we’ve attended to so far, Sandstorm gave us the idea of bringing glow sticks to dances. Spanning from that idea, we started to hold raves in our basements filled with strictly techno songs and learned how to spin glow sticks in our hands along with many other tricks.
76. “Tori no Uta”- by Lia
75. “Play With Your Food”- from Honk!
74. “Good”- by Polysic
73. “Treason”- by Kutless
This song reflects what I believe is happening in today’s society. I see people everywhere calling themselves Christians, but not do a single Christian act. This song talks about how a person would praise God, but then go off and curse or do other un-Christian acts. Although my religion isn’t Christianity, I still feel infuriated when people claim a religion, but never actually pray nor worship unless they’re in trouble and suddenly “need” God.
72. “Für Elise”- Ludwig van Beethoven
71. “Helena”- by My Chemical Romance
70. “Jessica”- by Dir En Grey
69. “19 O’Clock News”- by Tokio
68. “I Wanna Be a Producer”- from The Producers
Other than the hilarious opening with all the accountants being in synch with their typing to the beat, this song was pretty inspiring to me. An accountant who is forced to have no self-confidence is able to dream big of becoming a huge Broadway producer. While I’m not exactly in the same boat, this song helped me gain confidence in pursuing my dream, no matter how absurd it might be.
67. “Reflection”- from Mulan
This song conquered my pre-teen days when I struggled a lot with my identity. I was in the stage where I wanted to break free of what my parents wanted from me and going into what I wanted from myself. We had a lot of family conflicts, but I believe that this song helped me steer myself to my dream instead of my parents’ dream.
66. “The Domestic Fucker Family”- by Dir En Grey
*Sorry for the vulgar language in the title, but it’s a really good song! *Bows apologetically*
65. “Hello Goodbye”- by The Beatles
64. “My Heart Will Go On”- by Celine Dion
After attending Lily’s, my close friend’s, funeral, I watched a series of movies during my span of depression. Both this song from Titanic and the one below from Phantom of the Opera brought tears to my eyes at the time. The songs spoke strongly about the death of someone close to their hearts. Even though this song is about a lover and the song below is about a father, I developed a strong connection to these two songs as they helped me through my depression. This song especially showed me the importance of getting back on the track of life because I’ll still have the memories of Lily in my heart.
63. “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again”- from Phantom of the Opera
62. “Seasons”- by Vincent Cheng
61. “Rock On”- by KJ25
60. “Sonatina 3”- by Muzio Clementi
59. “Mistakes”- by Blue October (the British band)
58. “The Saint”- by Dr. Seok Kwee Chew
57. “Different”- from Honk!
Being the conforming non-conformist I am, this song appealed to me how the Ugly Duckling insists that he’s just different, not strange, weird, etc. Especially to people who believe that there is only one way to live, this song speaks out that it’s ok to be different, because in the end, we’re all human (never mind the fact that the character who sings this is a duck).
56. “Hate Me”- by Blue October (the American band)
55. “Seize the Day”- from Newsies
*Life story for this song at the end of the list
54. “Give Me Novacaine”- by Green Day
53. “Jealous”- by Dir En Grey
52. “Mad as Rabbits”- by Panic! At the Disco
51. “Russian Dance, Trépak”- by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, from The Nutcracker
50. “Aoki Haru”- by MUCC
49. “Katamari on the Swing”- by Shigeru Matsuzaki
Come on, who doesn’t love any of the songs from the video game Katamari? I was tempted to put all the songs form Katamari in my “Top 99 Playlist,” but I felt as though that’d be cheating. (^-^) Without these simply amazing songs, Katamari wouldn’t be half as fun to play. Besides, I got a few of my friends addicted to the video game simply because of the soundtrack. Game on!
48. “Halloween”- by Aqua
47. “For Fruits Basket”- by Ritsuko Okazaki
46. “More Than Useless”- by Relient K
While all my friends pursue their talents and decide on their careers, I was still struggling to find mine. I began to feel left behind, useless, and unimportant as I blindly tried out many different things, not finding what I’m good at anywhere. My friend gave me a mix CD with this song being the first one on it, and it shook me back into reality that just because I don’t know what I want to do in the future right now does not mean I’m useless.
45. “Which!”- by Polysic
44. “Kinjirareta Asobi”- by Ali Project
43. “Open Wounds”- by Skillet
42. “Seishoujo Ryouiki”- by Ali Project
41. “Around the World”- by Aqua
40. “Think of Me”- from Phantom of the Opera
39. “Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi”- by On/Off
38. “Epic Symphony”
37. “Teenagers”- by My Chemical Romance
36. “Sakura Kiss”- by Chieko Kawabe
35. “A Little Pain”- by Olivia
34. “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two”- from Oliver!
The first time I watched Oliver! was three in the morning. No doubt I was dead tired and wanting to sleep. When this song came up though, I bolted up as though I just drank three cups of coffee. The song appealed to me about how poor boys have to pick pockets in order to survive. Again, I am reminded of the saddening fact about the measures some people take to simply survive while others practically sleep on money. I know this world could never become a socialist society, but it’s nice to dream…
33. “The Becoming”- Nine Inch Nails
32. “So I Thought”- by Flyleaf
31. “Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel)”- by Billy Joel
30. “Starless Night”- by Olivia
29. “Forever Yours”- from Once On This Island
28. “Back From Mars”- by Aqua
27. “Saishuu Ressha”- MUCC
26. “I’m So Sick”- Flyleaf
25. “Becoming Insane”- by Infected Mushrooms
24. “Build God, Then We’ll Talk”- by Panic! At the Disco
23. “Pika Pika no Taiyo”- by Ueda Kana
This upbeat song was a favorite from my childhood. I used to play this song every morning while getting ready for the day. It was a nice adrenaline boost and washed away all the remaining sleepiness I felt.
22. “Flight of the Bumblebee”-by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
At age fourteen, it took me three months to master this song on the piano. I look back and laugh at myself over how much I struggled through this song, but my determination back then to play this song the best I could give was what made my piano recital memorable.
21. “Roses Are Red”- by Aqua
20. “Pink Killer”- by Dir En Grey
19. “All I Ask of You”- from Phantom of the Opera
It may be just me, but I think this song is one of the sweetest love songs ever written. My boyfriend was such a good sport to go along with my obsession to this song. I played this song on the piano and sang Christine’s part while he sang Raoul’s part after school.
18. “Kesenai Tsumi”- by Nana Kitade
17. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”- by The Proclaimers
16. “Ready, Steady, Go!”- by L’Arc~en~Ciel
15. “Definitely Maybe”- by FM Static
14. “My Oh My”- by Aqua
13. “El Tango de Roxanne”- from Moulin Rouge
12. “Still Doll”- by Kanon Wakeshima
11. “Worst Pies in London”- from Sweeney Todd
I am amazed that you can sing about something being so horrible. People usually opt for singing about how great this is, or how wonderful that is, but this song is truly unique in the sense for singing about how horrible (in this case) these pies taste. In reality, many people would try to cover up blemishes about themselves, trying to make themselves as perfect as possible. I believe that a perfect person is someone who’s imperfect. One’s mistakes should be part of their character, not hidden in some dark corner of their life. Like this song, people should sing out about their flawed parts! Wouldn’t that be so much more fun than egotistically singing about how great you are?
10. “Paint it Black”- by Rolling Stones
9. “Gee, Officer Krupke”- from West Side Story
8. “American Idiot”- by Green Day
7. “Bohemian Rhapsody”- by Queen
6. “Your Song”- from Moulin Rouge
This sweet song dedication made me go “awww” while watching Moulin Rouge. Besides the fact that I am a sucker for love songs, Ewan McGregor’s voice still penetrates me every time I listen to this song, giving me that warm-and-fuzzy feeling deep inside. This song reminds me of how my younger sister would play sweet ballads on the piano and always tell me with a grin that she’s dedicating the song to me.
5. “Hero (Red Pill Remix)”- by Superchic[k]
4. “Come What May”- from Moulin Rouge
3. “The World Will Know”- from Newsies
This song with its powerful beat speaks of sheer determination towards a certain goal. Many times when I feel like I can’t handle what’s going on in my life, I use this song as a energy boost to help convince myself that I can do anything I want to as long as put my mind into it.
2. “Elephant Love Medley”- from Moulin Rouge
*Life story at the end of the list
1. “Epiphany” from Sweeney Todd
My stories:
55. “Seize the Day”- from Newsies
I’ve known this song long before I’ve even seen the musical. I was in a summer camp called “Broadway Juniors,” where we perform various songs from a variety of Broadway productions. One of the songs was “Seize the Day.” I was offered to sing David’s part in the song, but since it would be my first time singing a solo part, I almost refused the offer immediately. I decided to think about it and give my director an answer the next day. That night I listened to “Seize the Day” over and over again while arguing with myself whether I should do it or not. While I was going around in circles, the lyrics to the song got stuck in my head. I heard the message, especially the line, “Don’t be afraid and don’t delay,” and it kept spinning ’round and ’round in my head. When I really focused on the song’s message, it gave me enough confidence to accept the offer.
Opening night came much sooner than I anticipated, and I was shaking from head to toe. Suddenly I didn’t feel so brave anymore and wanted to bail out of there as soon as possible. The responsibility seemed too great—I didn’t know how to lead a group of people into a song! Suddenly all those rehearsals seemed meaningless. No matter how smooth those rehearsals went, I knew something was going to go wrong the minute I stepped onto that stage. Silently, I chanted the lyrics to myself seconds before going onstage, hoping I’d get that burst of confidence, but no such luck. Shaking, I went onstage and started the opening lines weakly. As the music picked up and more people joined in to sing, my confidence and energy rose with them. I felt like I was bouncing off the walls with energy and couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear. We ended the song with a bang, striking our ending poses to a cheering audience. Never have I felt so exuberant than that moment.
To this day, this song became my motto- Carpe Diem; seize the day. You never know what’s going to happen unless you go for it, and more often than not, you have nothing to lose. I now love experimenting with things, so I always dive headfirst in new ideas with no worries about what’s going to happen.
2. “Elephant Love Medley”- from Moulin Rouge
“Some people wanna fill the world up with silly love songs.” “Well what’s wrong with that? I’d like to know.” Lyrics from this song filled the classroom used by our after school club. Blasting from an iPod, the song continues while we sing along to the duet. After having a Moulin Rouge fest, my friends and I couldn’t get enough of the songs, especially this one. Days spilled into weeks, and weeks dragged on to nearly three full months of nothing but singing songs from this musical from my friends and me. Also being the anime freaks we are, we searched up AMV’s (anime music videos) on YouTube where fans like us used this song and made a music video out of a certain anime series. Almost immediately we found our favorite (titled “Ouran Love Medley;” here’s the link in case you’re interested in watching it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGP-M__WGt8).
Time goes on and eventually my enthusiasm for Moulin Rouge died down. A few weeks ago, however, I encountered the song again. I believe there are no such things as consequences, only the inevitable, and this encounter made it clear that “Elephant Love Medley” was definitely a song that was dear to my heart. Especially for someone who cannot imagine this world without love, I cannot possibly imagine people turning their backs on love, especially something for so trivial as lack of money. Part of the reason why I love this song so much is because Satine finally “gives in” to Christian’s love for her and the sheer fact that it came from the movie Moulin Rouge. The other reason why I love this song is because of all the memories it invokes.
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I hope you enjoyed reviewing this as much as I had doing this project!
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Now that I’m back from (you think I’m going to say ‘watching fireworks’, right? nope.) watching V for Vendetta with the family, I’m all ready to begin reading your submissions. It’s so thrilling to see what a great time you all had with this project–even at first glance I can tell that a lot of introspection went into your decisions, and that you all have come away with some new insights. These are important steps to take toward authentic writing and toward the truth.
I will choose the winner by the end of the weekend.
Happy 4th, all.
–Carla
PS–I didn’t pick the movie for tonight.
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grrrr – stupid fireworks and sharing parents computers…. missed the deadline!
but i am linking it anyway!
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I posted mine on my site. Here’s the link:
http://thefountainpen.net/2008/07/04/my99-songs/
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Thanks to all for playing along! Great Fun! I have a lot of songs to check out after reading your life playlists. . . .Such diverse musical interests and fascinating stories!
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Mine’s up! Better late than never, right?
http://fondofsnape.com/?p=1766
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Too bad I found out about this so late! Oh well. Here goes nothing:
“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul.”
– Plato
Growing Up
1. “Pokemon Theme” (What can I say, I was young!)
2. “Lean To Crawl” – Black Lab
3. “Mama Who Bore Me” – Spring Awakening: A New Musical
4. “Right Before Your Eyes” – Hoobastank
5. “Shed My Skin” – Alter Bridge
Family Matters
6. “The Perfect Fan” – The Backstreet Boys (About a mother’s support)
7. “Just The Two of Us” – Will Smith (This version is about a father and his son)
8. “Everlasting Friend” – Blue October (Like how close I am with my brother)
9. “Home” – Daughtry
10. “Come On Home” – Franz Ferdinand
11. “Photograph” – Nickelback
12. “Birthday” – The Beatles (Many members of my family, including extended, all have birthdays in March, so we celebrate together.)
Love (Or Lack Thereof)
13. “Drops of Jupiter” – Train
14.” Hey There Delilah” – Plain White T’s
15. “Someone That You’re With” – Nickelback
16. “The B**** of Living” – Spring Awakening: A New Musical
17. “Simple and Clean” – Hikaru Utada
18. “Always Come Back To You” – Ryan Cabrera
19. “Valentine’s Day” – Linkin Park
20. “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love” – Good Charlotte
21. “See Her Smile” Jonathan Larson, “tick, tick… boom!”
All Work and No Play (A.K.A. High School)
22. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” – Green Day
23. “Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night” – Bon Jovi
24.”All That’s Known” – Spring Awakening: A New Musical
25. “Working Man” – Rush
26. “Rent” – Jonathan Larson, Cast of Rent
27. “Born to Lead” – Hoobastank
28. “30/90” – Jonathan Larson, “tick, tick… BOOM!”
29. “Fade Out/In” – Paloalto
That Video Game Hobby*
30. “Through The Fire And Flames” – DragonForce – “Guitar Hero III”
31. “Still Alive” – Jonathan Coulton – “Portal”
32. “Snake Eater” – Cynthia Harrell – “Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater”
33. “Blow Me Away” – Breaking Benjamin – “Halo 2”
34. “Super Mario Bros. Theme” – Super Mario Series
*This list was fun to make – composed solely of video game soundtracks.
Technological Revolution
35. “My Console” – Eiffel 65
36. “Hyperlink” – Eiffel 65
37. “Technologic” – Daft Punk
38. “Drive My Car” – the Beatles
39. “The Body Electric” – Rush
40. “Big Machine” – Velvet Revolver
The Issues I Think About
41. “Tell Me Why” – Will Smith Feat. Mary J. Blige (A laundry list of recent events)
42. “If Everyone Cared” – Nickelback
43, “Two Weeks From Twenty” – Yellowcard (Thoughts on Iraq war)
44. “Life Support” – Jonathan Larson, Cast of Rent
45. “Black and White People” – Matchbox Twenty
46. “View From Heaven” – Yellowcard
47. “No Jesus Christ” – Seether
48. “Hero” – Chad Kroeger featuring Josey Scott
Tourette’s and OCD
49, “There’s No Solution” – Sum 41
50. “Gifts and Curses” – Yellowcard
51. “Keep the Faith” – Bon Jovi
52. “Cochise” – Audioslave
53. “Won’t Back Down” – Fuel
54. “Streetcorner Symphony” – Rob Thomas
55. “Kirkirimai – Fantastic Four Remix” – ORANGE RANGE (This song is in Japanese, so I can’t understand what they say, and the rhythm is chaotic.)
56, “Everything Burns” – Ben Moody featuring Anastacia
57. “The Dark I Know Well” – Spring Awakening: A New Musical
58. “Papercut” – Linkin Park
59. “Never Will I Break” – 3 Doors Down
60. “Scared of Myself” – Simon Dawes
Life Lessons
61. “Louder Than Words” – Jonathan Larson, “tick, tick… boom!”
62. “Come To Your Senses” – Jonathan Larson, “tick, tick… boom!”
63 “Freewill” – Rush
64. “It’s My Life” – Bon Jovi
65. “Seasons of Love” – Jonathan Larson, Cast of Rent
66. “What You Own” – Jonathan Larson, Cast of Rent
67. Those You’ve Known” – Spring Awakening: A New Musical
68. “The Song of Purple Summer” – Spring Awakening: A New Musical
69. “Out Out Damn Spot” – Anthony Rapp
Questions To Think About
70. “Stellar” – Incubus
71. “Will I?” – Jonathan Larson, Cast of Rent
72. “Getting Thru?” – Fuel
73. “Whatever Happened To The Heroes” – Joss Stone
74. “Why” – Jonathan Larson, “tick, tick… BOOM!”
75. “What More Do You Want?” – Plain White T’s
On the List Because They’re Fun (Sometimes you can’t explain)
76. “Sandstorm” – Darude
77. “Ballroom Blitz” – Sweet
78. “Killer Queen” – Queen
79. “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)” – Cobra Starship
80. “Back in the USSR” – The Beatles
81. “One More Time” – Daft Punk
82. “Come On, Come In” – Velvet Revolver
83. “Miami” – Will Smith
84. “Rock Star” – Nickelback
85. “Sharp Dressed Man” – ZZ Top
86. “Dani California” – Red Hot chili Peppers
87. “Viva La Vida” – Coldplay
88. “Into The Night” – Santana featuring Chad Kroegers
An Uncertain Future
89. “Here it Goes Again” – OK Go
90. “Vindicated” – Dashboard Confessional
91. “Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind” – Spring Awakening: A New Musical
92. “Did You” – Hoobastank
93. “We Are” – Ana
94. “Live and Learn” – Crush 40
95. “Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield
96. “Life Of My Own” – 3 Doors Down
97. University of Maryland Fight Song
98. “This Is Your Life” – Switchfoot
99. “In The End” – Linkin Park
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Saw this at Janet’s and decided to give it a go. The list is on my blog.
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