Only Seven? How Can I Choose?

I love music so it's a true pleasure to be tagged by DJ Black Adam! The rules for this one:

what they’re listening to.

Easy enough, but how can I choose only seven songs?

1) "Buckets" by Alland Byallo.
I've always been a sucker for a great tech-house tune and "Buckets" is what I'm rocking right now. Click on the link and you'll get taken to Alland Byallo's MySpace page where you too listen in on what I'm bobbing my head to in the car, in the gym and while I'm writing this right now. Yeah, this track is HOT!

There's no vocal, just some bass and futuristic elements that all add up to making me feel like it's 1995 and I'm dancing I'm in the VIP room of Chicago's best nightclub ever, Shelter. Sadly enough, Shelter's closed and turned into condos, but ain't that how everything is nowadays? Alland is originally from LA but now lives in San Francisco so I'm sure he knows a thing or two about ridiculous gentrification and housing prices. All I can say is if he keeps churning out burners like this, he could be paying for a house by remixing Madonna or Depeche Mode one day.

2) The Interview by AFI.
"For a change, I'll refrain from hiding all of me from you. Pray for rain. Lose your name. And watch all your dreams fall through."

Aww...lead singer Davey Havok's (he's second from the left with the tattoo sleeves) voice on this A Fire Inside track just causes me get a little teary-eyed every single time I take a listen. If you know AFI, you may be thinking this song's going to be some crazy fast punk tune. It's not. It's a ballad and I'll be the first to admit it, this ain't a particularly happy song. Still, I fell in serious love with "The Interview" last October and our affair has lasted six months. It's my second most played song on my iTunes. 622 plays. This is a sitting on the couch and contemplating all sorts of heartbreak kind of song. If you click on the link, just know that that's not an official AFI video. It's the song superimposed over imagery from other AFI videos, but you'll at least be able to hear what it sounds like.

3) Sunday Morning by K-OS.
"Cause everyday is Saturday night...but I can't wait for Sunday morning."

I was just writing about this song on my other blog so I won't repeat all that I said there over here in this space but man oh man, I'm feeling this song! I only heard it for the first time on Sunday night and it's in heavy rotation. It makes me think about how I really do love my Sunday mornings. I never work on Sunday mornings. I spend time by myself. I'm up before anyone else in my family and off to the gym or walking the hills around my house. Then I go to Coffee Bean to get my Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearl tea...and then to Trader Joe's. Yeah, this song is so happy and upbeat and it totally reflects my Sunday morning mood.

4) Maniac by Michael Sembello
"She's a maniac, maniac, I sure know. And she's dancing like she's never danced before."

I think my husband is probably a little sick of me dancing around at seven in the morning with "Maniac" on full blast. I can't help it! This song really gets me going. It's from the Flashdance soundtrack. I finally saw Flashdance for the first time a few weeks ago when it came on tv. The film was absolutely nothing to write home about (and who knew strippers really are repressed professional dancers) but I was reminded of how much I liked this song. I remember my mom liked this song too and bought the 45 for it back in the day. A teenage me that used to dance around the house to "Maniac" all those years ago only dreamed of living in Los Angeles. Who says dreams don't come true?

5) Lithium by Evanescence.
"Lithium, don't want to lock me up inside. Lithium, don't want to forget how it feels without...Lithium, stay in love with my sorrow. I'm gonna let it go."

A rock song about bi-polar disorder? It would seem to be so. All I knew about lithium before this song was that batteries made out of it last a really long time. My mom was actually the one who told me that lithium is used to treat bi-polar disorder because it helps folks balance both the manic episodes and the depression. I give major props to Evanescence for singing about real issues in their music...and I love Amy Lee a whole lot. It's nice to see a fly female singer that's fully dressed.

6) Give Me Tonight by Shannon.
"Give me tonight, then if you don't wanna stay, girl I'll just forget you. You'll see I'm right. You won't get to go away. Love ain't gonna let you."

You probably remember "Let the Music Play" by Shannon. I always liked "Give Me Tonight" better. I was really into freestyle dance music back in high school. This song totally reminds me of being fifteen and wearing really bright red lipstick every single day. My hair was also moussed and curled so that it stood four inches off my head and it was a red-orange color due to my regularly pouring hydrogen peroxide over it. Yes, I loved the '80s. If you want to dance in your seat, click on the link and watch Shannon's video for this song. Girl was rockin' her ish! ;0

7) Freelove by Depeche Mode
"No hidden catch. No strings attached...just freelove."

What seven-song list of mine would be complete without the musical artists that hold my heart in the palms of their hands? Last but not least, "Freelove" was Depeche Mode's 38th single, released in 2001 off the Exciter album. Although Exciter isn't my favorite Depeche Mode album, I adore this song.

I've listened to this song more than any other song in the past week, past six months, maybe more than any song in the past year. I like to write while listening to it. I like to drive to it. When I can't sleep, it helps me relax. The lyrics combined with the romantic, hopeful, stripped down emotion...I suppose it just takes me someplace else.

When I went to New Orleans, I kept thinking about how the video for this song was shot there. (Click on the link above to watch it.) Oh how I wish people there were getting help with no hidden catches and no strings attached.

Now, to pass it along, I'm tagging the following folks:
And if you haven't been to their sites, you should go say hey! Special thanks to DJ Black Adam for tagging me. I had fun with this.


When I was little, and "Maniac" a current hit, I always thought the line "she's dancing like she's never danced before" meant she was dancing as though she had never before attempted to dance. Which would mean she probably wasn't a very good dancer.

Ah, youth.

I shall tackle this meme before I go to sleep tonight. I vow it.

BTW: Before achieving his one-hit wonder status, Michael Sembello was Stevie Wonder's guitarist on a lot of that really seminal 70s stuff. Weird, huh?
Liz Dwyer said…
I did not know that about Michael Sembello and Stevie Wonder, but I read in Wikipedia that the song was originally about a serial killer and they changed the lyrics to use it for Flashdance. Can I really trust Wikipedia though?

Can't wait to see your lucky seven!

All done. That took two hours!

Normally I dislike tags, but this one was really hard to do and kind of fun. Thanks.

Sorry Mr. Sembello didn't make the cut.

Anyway, here it is.
Liz Dwyer said…
So it wasn't just me! It took me a couple of hours as well to write about my seven tunes. And because I know you dislike memes, I'm honored you decided to take this one on...but I figured you'd like it. ;0
* said…
Hi, Liz!

I've been sooo busy lately, and I've only now seen that I've been tagged by you! Thanks! I'll have to work on that tonight...I'll leave a comment again when I'm done.

(p.s. loved your choices, I know it's hard to choose only 7!)
Liz Dwyer said…
I hear you on being busy (tearing my hair out as I type!). I've missed your updates over on your blog so I'm glad to see you pop by. I'll come check out your seven later.
Anonymous said…
'Give Me Tonight!'

Aw, Mama! Now you got me going. What a blast from the past!
Anonymous said…
Give me Tonight!! Now that's is one my my favorite jams. Back in the day when I used to do the hot mix dj thing in Chicago (ala 102.7 FM WBMX Style) I used to love to mix the dub version of that sonq (generally with "Pop goes my Love" by Freeze)...Man, you brought back some memories...
Liz Dwyer said…
Yeah, "Give Me Tonight" is in such heavy rotation that I heard my 6 year-old humming the melody.

DJ Black Adam,
So were you on-air on 'BMX? That is very cool. I used to live for the Hot Mix 5 shows. Those are some great memories!
Anonymous said…
Questions i dare you or anybody else answer, live on their blog. Tell the truth, be open and honest!
1. Are you happy in your current relationship?
2. IF not why do you stay in it?
3. Are you sexually fulfilled?
4. If not why not?
5. Are you still in love?
6. Do you feel that your partner is faithful?
7. Do you communicate effectively with your partner? If not what/how could you improve things?
8. Are you happy?
9. What would make you happy? List five things.
10. Explain what qualities/virtues that you look for in a partner?
Dont know if this is the appropriate section but my spirit is moved to saying the following stuff right here in this section, so apologies if the sentiments are in the wrong place.
I am Black whatever that means, i am male and from the UK so i have a different perspective from you rulers of the world type of super novas, so please dont take offence, as there is none intended for the normal prolatariate!
I am a life coach, a scholar, Believer, pacifist, psychologist, anthropoligist, humanitarian, carer and i can read between the lines- I can read this f##ked up system we have in this great new 1st world.
This is my astrological reading for the day;
Racism is worse than ever, "black" folk are still playing into "their" hands, where is the collective progression, are we not regressing? Human rights? Black activists? Money, corruption, politics, genocide, distortion, oppression, greed, marginalisation, alienation, hopelessness, hidden agendas, what can we do? Bush, Blair, neo Conservatives, control, poverty, famine, wealth, depression, madness, media spin, denial, blame, house negro, the effects of plantation slavery, William Lynch et al.
God and Glory, Mercy and Faith-sanity, clarity, Hope, joy peace, bliss, heaven. We know the score we wont be defeated, denied, enslaved forever- Freedom, education, realisation. Pedogogy of the Oppressed. Understanding and knowledge of these low life blood sucking vampires, these elitist, egotistical dont give a f##k satanists.
I am chilled real chilled when i express these thoughts, i am also angry, very angry, as sane as sane can be and mad as mad can be about our mis education and mis direction. Gangs and murders and drugs and crime. We live in a very loving world where people are naturally tolerant and nice- the system trys to make us the opposite with wars and violence against other countries for no reason than to steal their resources and then it tells its own people about anti gang and crime reduction strategies yet at the very same time it kills hundreds of people in other countries and in its own country and states. People aren't stupid they read the hypocracy, especially young people, its ok for you Big Brother to sell drugs but we cant sell them, how much tax are you making on alcohol and cigarettes? No wonder our mental health services are overloaded! No wonder there is so much substance misuse, no wonder there is so much escapism. The freedom of speech act, the freedom of movement act. Constitutions that explain rules around freedom! Who's free? Whats the education? Homosexuality, racism, hedonism, consumerism, celebrityism, hip hopism.
All dissenters shall be shot or got rid of. All speakers of the truth shall be slain, all truth shall be distorted, all truth seekers defamed. Lock em up in jails and mad houses or if not kill their arses dead. Manipulate the media, better still control it, all of it. Give them nothing, especially the negroes and the poor, take their self image away from them. Their collective sense of self. Get them to destroy their monumental legacies, no identity or self worth, no belonging, better still, no self esteem. We will control that mother f##ker too!!!
Message to the System not the people, who i find to be lovely sweet people in the main!
Who am I? Where do I belong?
Even in the USA you have the neck to talk about belonging and identity yet you dont know who the f##k you are yourselves. This is what you taught your kids-
Go to a land far off, that is rich in minerals and resources, take it off the local inhabitants by force and violence- "by any means necessary!" Destroy their infrastructures and historical memory. Create a new way and a new life of selfish unadulterated self indulgence and wealth, call it WHITENESS or democracy because that sounds great, whitewash everything and live happily ever after. Education education education!
BUT and there is a big BUT, what about the laws of Karma and the SPIRIT of the human essence????
Those indiginous populace are not going to just lie down and die like in the movies. They are spirits and we all know spirits dont die, so your fu##d. Oh what! Spirits can't do you nothin. Well that consecrated ground that you renamed the United States of America belongs to some of the most spiritual peoples of all time. The very ground you live in is cursed, you are damned eternally. Why do you think that you have so much so called bad luck within your country and on hallowed ground? You are being paid back in full for your transgressions. Look at where a lot of theses disasters, mass murders and catastrophies occur? On the site of sacred blessed ground. Check out the history- Big Chief Raging Bull's spirit will never allow you to be at peace cos of what you did to his people, God forgive me for pointing it out but these are places where curses were cast against the enemy of our collective spirits- PAY BACK occurs time and time again and it will continue to do so, yet SATAN never backs down, he is too vain to do so, too full of ego. We talk about reparation for Africa, but it is also for the Americas, (USA), Australia, New Zealand,the Caribbean at al, etc etc. Where do i stop?
Anybody talking alternative stuff, like this, we all consider unhinged, insane or crazy. Yes i have got issues, issues with these damn purportrators of deceit and lies and more lies.
Collectively we have a responsibility to do something about it and thats partly why Blogs are so big now. It is new age planatation speak, daring to raise our heads above the parapet to cuss Massa. Massa must be furious! Those bloody house niggers dont know their place!
I cannot believe both here in the UK and in the USA that celebrations around emancipation and slavery are so inappropriate and for want of a better word CRAP. Is that all we can do, a black history month! Where is the education in the schools around the historical aspects of slavery, globalisation, imperialism and world wars and global unrest, e.g. Sudan, etc. I am really disappointed in all those rich American role models who earn vast fortunes yet dont say anything about our Global and historical problems. Does money silence people? For example why do rappers not rap about equal rights anymore, why has politics become about sex and consumerism. Why have they lost control of the agenda? Who is setting the agenda? The American hip hop artists have such a massive influence on our UK youth, you wouldnt believe it. So we are listening for a message and the message is fu##k the Hoes and bitches, what happened to fight the power or some of Tupacs Panther stuff? Accountability and responsiblity are two important words- the entertainment industry should recognise this and act accordingly otherwise you will continue to mis educate the millions of young people for Massa- you will essentially have blood on your hands and you know what they say about Karma!
Effectively what i am trying to say is that as much as they try they can not break us down we have it in our hearts and in our spirits to rebel against wrongness and tyranny. Goodness shall always win!
Peace and love to one and all
Liz Dwyer said…
That's quite a litany of questions for a Saturday afternoon. Did the seven songs inspire all that?

Goodness, those ten questions and the answers to them could fuel bloggers for the rest of eternity...but they're also not the kind of stuff I discuss on my blog. Some things should be private, even in a space as public as a blog. That's just me though. Perhaps on your own blog, you have been the first to take on your own dare and answer those questions.

But, I enjoyed reading your astrological forecast. It's interesting to think of curses and I wonder what, if anything can overcome such things. Moi, I believe racism is ultimately a spiritual disease so all of our sickness can only be healed with transformation of our hearts and drawing closer to spiritual truths.

I do think bloggers have a great responsibility to not just rehash the same territory over and over again but to illuminate something new in our pursuit of truth. I think you might enjoy some of the other blogs I'm reading lately (don't know if you've come across these already), but is one of my favorites these days.

And I agree, Massa is none too pleased, but that's okay with me.

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