I may have mentioned before, but at work  some of us formed a Music Club.  Mainly it involves us sending out songs we like and every month or so, someone makes a mixed cd for the group.  I stepped up and just made my cd for the crew.

Theme:  Bess’s Life in Song

Bess’s Autobiographical Mix:

1)  I’ll Be Your Lover, Too- Van Morrison:

Van and I go way back.  It is the sounds that filled my house growing up.  I choose this song because it was my brother’s first dance song at his wedding.  For me it signifies both my childhood and the second phase of my family

2)  The Needle and the Damage Done – Neil Yong:

Like Van, Neil was a staple in the Browning house.  Needle is a personal favorite because my cousin, Mike, learned to play it on the guitar and we would sit around and sing it all the time.  It was the first non-Disney non-Rafi song I knew all the words too.

3) So Far Away – Carole King:

My dad had all the musical taste in the family, but my mom did love her Tapestry album.  This song makes me think of being snowed in and doing puzzles (we also listened to Bette Midler – but Jenn would be the only one to appreciate that song)

4) Love is Stranger – Mickey and Sylvia:

There’s a home video that we made for my dad for Father’s Day when I was 4 where I dance around and sing this song to him and end it saying, “Happy Father’s Day.”  Who thought that was a good idea?

5) Burn One Down – Ben Harper:

There are only a few songs where I can remember the first time I heard it.  I was 12ish the first time I heard it.  My sister was working at the YMCA camp and her camp bf and friends were driving me home f and they were playing this song and making headrest bongos.  I have never felt cooler in my entire life.  The next day I made mom take me to Karma so I could buy the song – I told her it was about cigarettes.

6) Lullaby – Billy Joel

I loved camp.  I went from age 6-20.  Summers don’t seem the same without tons of bug spray and friendship bracelets.  Lullaby was always sung at closing campfire.  It still always makes me cry to think about it. Camp is the tits.

7)  Everyday – 5ive

I didn’t get into the NSync/Backstreet Boy thing but I was all about the British Boy Band 5ive.  They were hot and British.  What more could a middle school girl want?

8) Heaven’s Right Here – Jeb Loy Nickles

This was my summer-driving-through-the-country-of-Shelbyville-song.  When life had no problems and lightning bugs and high school boys were all I could think about.

9) Scotty Doesn’t Know – Lustra

From EuroTrip (a guilty pleasure).  A friend of mine and I would dedicate this to our clueless professor (Professor Schloterbeck), and sing “Schlotty Doesn’t Know.”  It was also my semester abroad mantra.  Whatever – You can’t judge me!

10) You Had Time – Ani Difranco

Nick Hornby wrote about it in 31 Songs.  It’s haunting and beautiful – exactly what a college girl looks for in her music.  If you haven’t read the book, DO IT.

11) What’s Going On – 4 Non Blondes

Prague is my favorite place in the entire world – HANDS DOWN.  One night there, my friends and I were getting on the tram to head to our favorite bar and there were 3 Czech hippies sitting in the back of the tram with their guitars playing/singing this song.  Cue sing-along.  It was a quintessential moment that fit that “we are all one in this big world” phase I was in.

12) I will Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie

I was OBSESSED in college. They made me feel mature and deep.

13) Shoop – Salt-N-Peppa

I’m sure you all know that Matt, my bff, and I met by singing this song.  Forever in my heart.

14) London Bridget – Fergie

Don’t Judge.  It was a great party song Senior year of college.

15) The Four Corners – Halloween, Alaska

I spent 2 years trying to figure out who sang this song.  It was on a random mix I burnt from my brother.  I fell in love with it, but I couldn’t figure out who sang it.  But now I know and I still love love this song.

16) World Spins Madly On – The Weepies

Soundtrack to my quarterlife crisis.

17) Twistin’ the Night Away – Sam Cooke

Lockerbie, Jukebox, twisting = Infinity

18) Hey Jude – The Beatles

I sing this to my nephew changing the words to “Hey Brode.”  He smiles and giggles every time.  Proof he loves me and will grow to have good taste in music despite my sister.

19) Stay – Lisa Lobe

This song is going to make me famous.  It’s my future.  I plan on singing this when I audition for American Idol.  I’ll try to remember the little people.