I don't think there's a better way to introduce myself (a music blogger) than to list some of the songs that are special to me and have stuck with me over the years. Honestly, this list can easily change depending on the mood I'm in. But this is a pretty good sample of songs that somehow always pop back up at different moments.
Michael Jackson "Beat It"
"Beat It" was one of the first videos I really got into. I remember rolling up my jeans and showing off my white socks, running around my Amsterdam neighborhood pretending to be Michael, who was cooler than cool at the time. He has never looked so thug again.
Madonna "Papa Don't Preach"
When I first saw the video for "Papa Don't Preach" I was immediately captivated by Madonna's new shorter do. So sleek. So sexy. And for the first time, she wasn't pictured as a sex toy, but as a mature woman with an important story to tell. From that moment on, I've considered myself a Madona fan. Another stand out track for me is "Open Your Heart," which is also from the "True Blue" album. I saved up my weekly allowance to buy the 12" inch vinyl with remixes and played it over and over again.
Pet Shop Boys "Home & Dry"
This song is very dear to me for a number of reasons. Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys was the first artist I ever interviewed. Due to a scheduling conflict I was in Bejing, China where I had to speak with him over the phone. On the way to China from New York, I made a stop in Singapore. I was jetlagged, dehydrated and zoning out while listening to the Pet Shop Boys' "Release" album to prepare for my interview. "Home & Dry" struck me in particular because it is a song about flying and being far from home. It was so appropriate. (And the interview went great.)
Kylie Minogue "Love At First Sight"
Kylie was everywhere when I went to Sydney to celebrate Gay Mardi Gras in 2002. It was totally fun to live it up with those Aussie gay boys who went nuts over their much-beloved Kylie. She's is a national treasure.
Fischerspooner "Emerge"
When I first heard this song, I literally thought it was a revolution. So different, so new. It broke me down and it built me back up. There's nothing like it.
The Killers "When You Were Young"
It was a toss up between "Mr. Brightside" and this track. I think "When You Were Young" has bit more lyrical depth, but it was the synth swirl of "Mr. Brightside" that initially captivated me. Since that song came out, I've become a true Killers fan who has seen the band play in Berlin, Los Angeles etc. There was a time that I could call Brandon Flowers' mobile phone and ask him for show tickets. But now he no longer answers my calls. He's a big star now. And he deserves it. (The Abbey Road version of "When You Were Young" is chilling. Watch it here. It's classic.)
Seal "Crazy"
This is a bit of a motto song for me. One of the reasons I left Europe to live in the U.S. was because I felt boxed in. The Dutch really have a tendency to label people and expect you to behave in certain ways ("doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg," is what they call it). When I first moved to America, I felt I could be an individual and truly go after my passions. To me that's what being "crazy" is all about. To step out of the box. You should try it.
Darren Hayes "Casey"
Darren Hayes is an extraordinary artist and I often feel his journey is somewhat similar to mine. I pick "Casey" as one of my stand out tracks because there is a sentiment of escape but also of coming home. The melodic sense of the song is incredibly strong and the Balearic sonics of it are truly uplifting. Another track related to this one is "Affirmation" by Savage Garden. Hayes talks so much truth in that.
Nelly Furtado "Like a Bird"
I feel I'm a bird sometimes, traveling, communicating, writing, living. Great song from "Whoa! Nelly," one of the decade's best albums. I like what she did with Timbaland, but Nelly's debut album is her best. I interviewed Nelly twice and there was about two years between our chats. She is extremely genuine and smart, and she even remembered very specific things that we discussed in the first interview during our second meeting. Very impressive.
Annie Lennox "Pavement Cracks"
For me this is a song about hope even though it seems dark and lonely. It is one of those evergreen gems to treasure always
Alanis Morissette "Out Is Through"
Brilliant lyrics. So true. So meaningful. Sometimes you have to go through the fire to transform and improve.
So many of those songs make my top-list too!
A huge percentage actually. Thanks for sharing those!
Good luck in the blog battle.
I Think I'm In Love with Arjan :)
arjan is a treasure. he needs to be commended for all the hard work he does exposing us to music on an international scale. he keeps things fun and fresh and is always willing to support and give exposure to new artists who need it. love him and will support him til the end.