A Musical Discussion...

I love music. I love it! Not a day goes by when I don't listen to some type. It makes me happy and puts me in a good mood. Plus it allows me an excuse to randomly spazz out during a moment when I just need to dance.

I remember the first song that wasn't in the Primary Songbook that I started listening to. It was 'For the Longest Time' by Billy Joel. There were nights when I would sit in the bathtub and thinking that no one could hear me, belt out what I thought were the words, "Oh, ohhh, ohhhhhhh, ohhhhh Father Longess Time. OOh, ohhh, ohhhhhhh, ohhhhh Father Longess Time. When your in the bathtub in the night, you'll be happy all your life..." I remember these words because even when I was older, I had to retrain myself to stop singing the wrong ones.

Then, when Madonna personally offended my mother with the song, "Like a Virgin", I thought I would never get to listen to the radio again. I had no idea what the lady with the crazy hair and really cool skirts was singing about. I just knew that if I was caught listening or singing along, I would probably get my mouth washed out with soap.

Time went by. My older brother eventually got a radio with a tape cassette player and we thought he was the coolest person on the planet. With the advent of our discovery of "The Weekly Top 40" our Saturday play list grew from solely Kenny rogers and John Williams soundtrack records to Weird Al, Michael Jackson, Def Leppard and about 2 seconds of any given Madonna song (however long it took my mom to leap over the couch to turn off the radio).

Eventually, we all got our own music players and my brothers and I discovered that our tastes in music were completely different. My older, more studious brother listened to a lot of classical music(...with a random bout when he listened to 'Faith No More').

My younger brother developed a taste for Oldies. (For a long time I thought my parents must have brainwashed him by tying him up, gagging him with a dirty sock and making him listen to 48 hours of "Daydream Believer" in 38 different languages).

I, on the other hand, decided I liked anything pop and after finally disposing of my 'Barbie and the Rockers' tape (I won't even admit how old I was) started listening to Tiffany, "New Kids on The Block' and Milli Vanilli (I also figured out how to peg my jeans...two years after it was cool). (Meanwhile, my mom's blacklist grew exponentially including (but not limited to): 'Pump-Up the Volume', 'Material Girl', 'I Want to Sex You Up', 'Wild, Wild West', and even more Madonna.)

Somehow, we all managed to grow up and like each other in spite of our very differing tastes. I'm happy to say that my older brother married the most fabulous and beautiful (shout out to Rachelle) opera singer and still listens to amazing music created by some of the most gifted composers known to humanity. His preferences have spanned out though. He now possesses a more diverse collection including 'The Wheels on the Bus' and 'Five Little Ducks'.

My younger brother has stayed with his roots and still loves his Moldy Oldies. He's a pro with pop-culture and could probably name any oldies song within two or three notes.

Eventually, I grew to appreciate their tastes. The first opera I went to was "The Magic Flute" by Mozart. I was stunned and delighted. Eventually I also fell in love with 'The Mamas and the Papas" and go to a happy place whenever I hear Bob Dylan.

But, with that said, I also absolutely love a collection of songs from just about every genre.

So, just for fun, I thought I would begin a discussion on what songs everyone thinks are the greatest and the worst:

Here's my incomplete list:

GREATEST:

Hampton the Hampster (don't laugh. I love it! It makes me so happy I cry)

Suddenly (truly one of the most romantic songs EVER!)

The Call

Best Days (not the naked one...the Shrek version. Imagine my surprise when I downloaded it after watching the movie to let my kids listen to it and realizing some of the words were a little different...the kids totally freaked out!)

Over My Head

Forever Young (Bob Dylan rocks!)

Hey Jude

Push

Have a Little Faith in Me

We Didn't Start the Fire (I've got to admit, I admire anyone who can blurt out as many historical facts and figures as possible in an three and a half minute time frame)

WORST:

The Pina Colada Song (I know people LOVE this song but for some reason it sends me into eyebrow spasms and dry heaves.)

Follow Me (UG! I loathe this song...it almost makes me mad!)

Mmm Mmm Mmm (AUGHHHHHHHH!!! I just want to SCREAM when I hear this song!)

I know I forgot some...but I'm curious what YOU think.