Day One – Favorite Songs

Music to me is about mood and feelings and memories. I don’t really have a favorite genre, but there are a few songs that stick out to me. They all have their different purpose, but one thing I know about all of them is that I love to sing them out loud.

O.A.R. – Toy Store

This is by far my most favorite band. I’ve seen them seven times in concert, and while this is not one of their more popular songs, I just love it. When I lived in Michigan on the first day of nice weather after a long winter, I would roll down the windows in the car and crank this song. This is probably one of the only O.A.R. songs that I have not had the pleasure of hearing live. I’ll just keep going to shows until I do.

Warren G – Regulate featuring Nate Dogg

This song just cracks me up. I like to listen to the 90s on 9 on my Sirius radio in the car because that’s the music that I really grew up with. You know when you are in your formidable middle and high school years. This song just takes me back. It takes me back to riding in a van on the way to marine science camp (yep, I totally was a dork), and I wore out the single cassette tape listening to this song over and over. I can still sing/rap all the words. “It was a clear black night…”

Pearl Jam – Just Breathe

I know there are countless Pearl Jam songs that I could pick from, but as soon as I heard this one on their new album, I knew it would stick with me. When things start getting stressful at work, I close my office door and play this song. It makes me literally just breathe. Wow, that was corny, but really it helps me calm down. I think it’s the combination of lyrics and just plain ol’ Eddie. He has a most amazing voice, and I think I could just sit and stare and listen to him hum and be completely happy. Seeing him do a solo concert at the Ryman changed my life…seriously.

There are so many other songs out there, but I currently am listening to about three albums in random order while plugging away at work. I add them to my windows media player and press random play.

The National – High Violet

The Avett Brothers – I and Love and You

Beach House – Beach House

I do have to thank my friends Mandy and Brent for introducing me to some of this music. I will say that O.A.R. is still my all-time favorite, even though Mandy thinks they are a “poor man’s Goo Goo Dolls.” I don’t buy into that review by the sell-out Rolling Stone magazine. Hear that Marc and Benji, I won’t listen!

Have I mentioned that I’ve seen them seven times and actually got to meet them?

I’ll end this post with another one of my favorite songs of theirs…

O.A.R. – Rhythm of Your Shoes.