The 30-Day Song Challenge

I first heard about the 30 Day Song Challenge through tumblr and since I couldn't quite trace it back to its source (the one frustrating thing about tumblr), I did some research and found this blog post, which states all of the days and the song topics for the days.

Feel free to play along at home!

I'm a bit behind, but I'll catch up. Apparently we are on day 11. So, here are my song picks thus far:

Day 1 - your favorite song.

Thinking about this, over the years I have probably proclaimed over 100 songs to be "my favorite song". And I still have no idea which song is really, truly my favorite. According to iTunes, my most played song is "The Dress Looks Nice On You" by Sufjan Stevens, but I don't think that's my favorite song. "The Wind" by Cat Stevens has, over the period of 17 years of my life (that's right, I distinctly remember listening to it when I was 4 or 5 years old) helped me to meditate and relax for the one minute and forty-three seconds that it lasts. This one is tough and will require further thought processing.

Day 2 - your least favorite song.

Hah, I was just talking to one of the people I work with about this yesterday. You know Fall Out Boy, and that one song that goes, "we're going down, down, blah blah blah blah blah"? It literally makes me ill. When I hear that song on the radio when I'm driving, I feel nauseous. And while my sister and I rarely agree on music, she feels the same way! So, that song by Fall Out Boy is my pick. I think it's called "Sugar We're Going Down" or something...

Day 3 - a song that makes you happy.

"Elephant Gun", by Beirut. Hands down. My mood is instantly improved and I lose myself in the music for a few moments.

Day 4 - a song that makes you sad.

I love this song - "The Way I Feel Inside", by the Zombies - but it's used in the most heartbreaking way in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou so it kind of makes me sad when I hear it.

Day 5 - a song that reminds you of someone.

I first introduced my friend Mary to The Format senior year of high school, when we were editing a senior class video. She really loved "Give it Up", which is all about graduating from high school and leaving home and coming back and seeing the people that stuck around. I am one of those people that stuck around - and so is she. Every time I hear it I think of her and our senior year.

Day 6 - a song that reminds you of somewhere.

"Introduction" by Chicago - a band that my parents listened to in college, and then listened to as I grew up. I love Chicago (the band) and any time I hear it, I think of Chicago (the city) because dad would think he was so clever. We would drive up to Chicago and he would say, "hey! let's listen to Chicago, since that's where we're going!"

Day 7 - a song that reminds you of a certain event.

"Do You Realize??" - by the Flaming Lips. I've seen them live twice, and it is literally impossible for me to hear that song and not think about the live shows - once with my friend Rob at the Pageant in St. Louis, and once at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago with Pete. I was literally moved to tears both times - the confetti and the lighting and the big vocals and the words...oh it just gets me.

Day 8 - a song that you know all the words to.

If only I remember things on tests as well as I remember song lyrics. Right now, and it's surprising, I'll say "Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill. My friend Tim burned me a mix CD and that was one of the songs. When it came on my CD player, Pete and I were in the car together and I sang/rapped all the lyrics and Pete was really, really surprised. My dad used to listen to The Fugees so he bought me the Lauryn Hill cd that she won five Grammys for when I was in grade school. It's. So. Good.

Day 9 - a song that you can dance to.

Another hands down - "Queen Bitch" by David Bowie. I don't know what kind of "dancing" we're talking about here, but whenever I hear it I get moving.

Day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep.

"Winning a Battle, Losing the War" by Kings of Convenience. I listened to that album (Quiet is the New Loud) EVERY NIGHT to fall asleep as a junior and senior in high school. This is the first song on the album, and I usually fell asleep by the seventh or eighth, but I know this song the best, since I was always completely awake for it. But it was the wind-down song - I knew to chill out and go to sleep once I pressed play on the stereo. [NOTE: I turned this song on as I am writing this blog post, and it's 12:29 AM and it is making me sleeeeepy.]

Day 11 - a song from your favorite band.

I don't know who my favorite band is. Let's say The Decemberists (an answer I've been giving since senior year of high school-ish). A song I pick from them is "Red Right Ankle". I love it. It was one of the first songs I heard by them that really, really caught my attention and listening to it with Pete (when we met, I found out that he really liked the Decemberists, too...) has just made it better.

Phew! Now I HAVE to update everyday so you can not be on the edge of your seats to find out what my other choices are.