Soundtracks for Life

I spend far too much time commuting. The focuses (focii?) of my drives is often anything but what I'm supposed to be thinking about (you know, supposed to think about lesson plans, grocery lists, paying bills, and to-do lists). Instead, I'm pondering obscure lines of Old French literature, crafting imaginary dialogues (thankfully, I do know they're imaginary), composing articles that I will never actually type up and submit, and creating or re-creating characters or personae, complete with mannerisms and odd voices (another good defense of the handsfree cell unit-- people don't realize I'm actually not on the phone). It passes the hour or so, and I keep myself amused-- I especially like my impression of Elmo singing Limp Bizkit. Anyway... Another time wast--errrr, way of spending my time is to think about "Soundtracks for Life." We've all played this game on some level, whether it was going along with that gawdawful prom theme or the mix tape we made for 'that special someone.' It's the music that, if your life were a movie, would be beginning, ending, or filling up the scenes. So here are my choices (feel free to play along).

Birth

• “Instant Karma”—John Lennon

Crush

• “Jackie Wilson Said”—Van Morrison
• “She”—Mighty Purple

Falling In Love

• “Let My Love Open the Door” – Pete Townsend
• “Burn for You”—INXS
• “I’ll Fly for You”—Spandau Ballet

Realizing It’s Love

• “On Your Shore”—Enya

Thinking It’s Love, But …

• “Piece of My Heart”—Janis Joplin
• “This Love”—Maroon 5
• “All I Want Is You”—U2
• “Tempted”—Squeeze

Dumped

• “Something I Can Never Have” – NIN
• “Gone Daddy Gone” – Violent Femmes
• “Victims”—Culture Club
• “Midnight”—Yaz
• “Behind the Wall of Sleep”—The Smithereens

Waiting for “The One”

• “Somebody” – Depeche Mode

In Love—and Still Liking Each Other

• “Dream a Little Dream of Me”—Mamas and the Papas
• “Avalon”—Roxy Music
• “Say a Little Prayer”—Aretha Franklin
• “Into the Mystic”—Van Morrison

Self-Realization

• “Brilliant Trees” – David Sylvian
• “Break on Through”—The Doors
• “Galileo”—Indigo Girls
• “All Along the Watchtower”—Jimi Hendryx

‘Bad’ Things that You’ll Probably Regret the Next Morning

• “Whole Lotta Love”—Led Zeppelin
• “The Only Time”—NIN
• “You Can Leave Your Hat On”—Joe Cocker
• “Father Figure”—George Michael

“Feelgood” (Would these be for the driving scenes??? :-) )

• “Heart and Soul” – T’Pau
• “Three Little Birds”—Bob Marley
• “Don’t Leave This Way”—Thelma Houston (should be a dumped song, but the riff is just too catchy. Guess that’s why it’s disco)
• “Dark Clouds Dance”—The Gravel Pit
• “Clint Eastwood”—Gorillaz
• “Cruel to Be Kind”—Nick Lowe
• “Life is A Highway”—Tom Cochran

The End.

• “I Can See Clearly Now”—Jimmy Cliff
• “Who Wants to Live Forever”—Queen