Posted on 08/01/2006 12:20:52 PM PDT by pissant
For whatever the reasons, some songs have an innate ability to alter ones mood from the moment the first chords are strummed (or blasted as the case may be).
Likely, they are tied to distant memories or romances, but it is the song istelf that holds sway. No matter how many times I've heard and enjoyed the Beatles' I Wanna Hold your Hand or the Stones' Honky Tonk Women, they do not set off a chemical reaction in my head to alter the landscape in front of me.
But other songs, especially if driving by yourself, with no distractions, can take you to another time and place and completely subdue all current thoughts and temperments and change your mood for the rest of the day.
So here are the top 7, as detemined by meticulous scientific research:
7. Time - Pink Floyd: Yes, all Floyd music has an ethereal quality to it, but Time is downright depressing. Brings back memories of listening to it when you were stoned or depressed. Can literally ruin your day.
6. Maggie May - Rod Stewart: Brings back those memories of being in love with a girl who decided to treat you like poop, but you just could not get over her.
5. La Grange - ZZ Top. No matter what the stress of the day, hearing this classic Top blare out from the radio makes you need to find the nearest biker or cowboy bar and tip back a few cold Buds....even if it's 9:00 AM.
4. Dust and Diesel - Bruce Cockburn. If this does not make you feel like you should be driving on a dirt road in the Australian outback or in rural Texas, nothing will.
3. The End - Doors. Along with Pink Floyd, no one can cause you to listen to depressing suicidal music like Jim Morrison. As much as you try, you cannot turn the station and subject yourself and your day to this psychosis.
2. Tuesday Afternoon - Moody Blues. Not sure how they came up with their name, but boy did these guys live up to it. Lilting melodies with haunting lyrics. Another downer of course. Turns a sunny summer day into a hazy mess.
1. Tnagled Up in Blue - Bob Dylan. has the same effect as Maggie May, just multiplied by a factor of 10. Lost love and the yearning to get it back. The good news is that it is a great song as well.
Especially on a hot August Tuesday Afternoon......
Just about anything by Frank Sinatra. "The Best is Yet to Come" leaps to mind along with "Same Old Saturday Night" and "I've Got the World on a String".
PING
Tuesday afternoon
I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way
It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away
Something calls to me
The trees are drawing me near, I've got to find out why
Those gentle voices I hear, explain it all with a sigh
I'm looking at myself reflections of my mind
It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind
So gently swaying through the fairyland of love
If you'll just come with me you'll see the beauty of
Tuesday afternoon
Tuesday afternoon
I've Got You Under My Skin....
Makes you want to do a jig, but mood?
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - Ian Drury and the Blockheads
Don't ask why....
Night Moves is universal I think. Don't think it's personal. LOL
Come Monday and Margaritaville also have an effect.
OK. That is personal. LOL
Thought so. ;o)
Is that like Itchycoo Park?
"Bodies" by Drowning Pool
Let the bodies hit the floor let the bodies hit the floor...
Yep. The vibrance of the day will be shot. Don't listen too it.
LOL. I missed that. It was kinda funny though.
Well, in THAT case....."I Get Around" by the Beach Boys....."Dead Man's Curve" by Jan & Dean....or anything by Lynerd Skinner (Free Bird, Gimme 3 Steps and so on)........
:-)
"Sweet Jane"
Either the Lou Reed (original) or Mott the Hoople version
There you go. Classics. Louie Armstrong's on the Sunny Side of the Street always makes me smile.
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