Music Meme

I never do these memes, and I often feel bad about that. So here is one, from Utah, via Randal, from early September, wherein I am supposed to list my favorite 25 tunes on my IPod. I don't know that I've ever thought "these are my favorites" but they are apparently my most-listened-to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MhGcyXETlQ Italia, Gabriel Yared (Don't watch the video, just close your eyes and listen. You will find yourself in Italy living La Dolce Vita)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R1dtIf8LQM Dixie, Gettysburg Soundtrack (I wrote my senior thesis in college during all-nighters to this soundtrack; it sounds spare and tragic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcCouVxagNw Change Your Mind, The Killers (This was my little conversation with God before and during my transplant, about whether I was going to live. "If the answer is no, can I change your mind?")

You You Zha, Beijing Angelic Choir (Bambina slept to this music during her first weeks at home, and it makes me ache in a good way to remember her as a wee baby). Okay, can't find that. Here is Lullaby, which will give you an idea of how truly angelic these kids sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRE5oE00guY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_KY_d9MQv8 Sloop John B, Beach Boys (My Dad and I used to sing this at the top of our lungs on car rides, he being the huge Beach Boys fan)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7e80rBSzC0 Typewriter, Tip Tip Tip, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bosle (from the Darjeeling Limited; an awesome collection of retro Indian movie music)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGdMLux4FvE Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand (Scottish boys who know how to write a hit with awesome guitars)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t7xE8yovw4 Ants Marching, Dave Mathews Band (Yes, I am in love with Dave Matthews. And not just because he writes chaotic and awesome stuff like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4T4I9DRGok Loch Lomond, Runrig (Again, makes me think of my Dad; and I love how they've "rockified" it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxVyaYuGYE For Once in My Life, Stevie Wonder (The song that always makes me think of my damn good luck to have the BBDD and Bambina. Jeremy Piven's Ari stole it from me in Entourage.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGjC0wbUXzk Canned Heat, Jamiroquai (Because nothing says it's a party like some Jamiroquai)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cALzoZh9PaM Flower of Scotland, The Clancy Brothers (Do I even need to tell you why? Scotland is Free!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R08q2wzGpzk Life is Wonderful, Jason Mraz (I love Jason Mraz; he's so quirky. I love this song because it sums up my worldview these days)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqBJFDbE2ZI Ave Maria, Andrea Bocelli (I have mentioned previously that Andrea Bocelli sings only to me, right? Especially, and ironically, all the sacred arias, which he sings more beautifully than anyone...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx9br5ISRpo Nightswimming, REM (Reminds me of college)

Kangding Qinggde, Old-Timey Music Party, Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet (Mixes traditional Chinese music with bluegrass. Awesome.) I can't find the YouTube for this, but here is Journey Home, another fantastic song in Chinese to American bluegrass music that makes me think of our time in China with Bambina [it gets really started around 1:54]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6PotFtbUaQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKQCwSzNE40 I Want Your Love, Chic (This is my childhood with my uber-cool uncle and aunt in England circa 1978, not to mention that this band knew that the bass is the sexiest instrument in the whole band)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHc6J5ZAy6M Fly Me to the Moon, Sinatra at the Sands (Francis Albert is my man...and this is a fun song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGdwQf2a0W0 Mack the Knife, Sinatra (with Dino, this is one of the best)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj5GPOPXeJc Sit Down, James (Those who feel the breath of sadness, sit down next to me, those who find they're touched by madness, sit down next to me, those who find themselves ridiculous, sit down next to me).

Purple Rain, Prince and the Revolution (The anthem of my early adolescence)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g6kI0POZ5c High Lonesome Sound, Vince Gill (Nobody does it like Vince)

The Four Seasons, Summer; Vivaldi (This is what my parents played when I was a kid hanging around the living room)

Haneros Hallalu, Le'eyla (Adapted from a Hebrew blessing for Chanukah; it's usually sung quickly, but this song is slow and spare, evocative of a winter night)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5quPqeFvWAY Funkin' Around, OutKast (The first and only of their kind. I miss OutKast, even though I love Andre's solo stuff. It's time to bounce, rock, rollerskate!)