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Need great songs about listening!

razzman — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:49:22 -0800

A friend is organising an event about protecting children from child abuse. Most cases where a child dies from abuse or is significantly harmed show a lack of professionals actually listening to the child - this event is to encourage agencies working with these children to listen more and listen better. She needs music (for background, as people are arriving and in between speakers) with a message of listening and hearing. There's lots of promising song titles out there but most are obviously about lost loves. Can anybody recommend some great songs which may fit the bill? Bonus points for songs likely to be familiar in the UK!

a change is gonna came

threeants — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:36:47 -0800

Hit me with some joyful, hopey songs that are less "everything is going to be all right" than "the bad shit is over -- everything is all right!" Could be triumph over adversity, or, less dramatically, just "things totally sucked, now they don't suck nearly as much, yay!" Looking for generally upbeat in tone. The "things sucked prior" part doesn't necessarily have to be explicit in the song, I just want something you'd listen to when you get that feeling. Just as a brain-nudge, songs that might come to mind for me in answer to this question would be Wintersleep -- Weighty Ghost; Erin McKeown -- Born to Hum; Sleater-Kinney -- Everything*. Thanks all!

*this song could seriously be about baby carrots for all I know. no freakin' clue. but it makes me feel like a superhero for three and a half minutes!

Hello darling!

turniphead — Sat, 04 May 2013 08:38:26 -0800

I’m looking for songs that contain the word “darling.” The word doesn’t have to be included in the title. Bonus points if “darling” is part of the chorus. Thanks!

"So long"/"Farewell"/"Goodbye" songs?

Lexica — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:53:45 -0800

Please recommend songs along the theme of "so long"/"farewell"/"goodbye"/"we'll miss you". My much-beloved rockstar-of-a-manager is parting ways with our employer and moving on to a new opportunity. (Insert wailing and gnashing of teeth here.) We're having a farewell party this Friday and I've been tasked with coming up with a playlist of songs along the themes of "so long", "farewell", "goodbye", "bon voyage", that kind of thing.

"Hit the road" songs are also welcome, although I think I'll put them in a separate playlist for playing after my manager's manager or other mucky-mucks (who should, by virtue of their position on the org chart, be assumed to have no sense of humor) have left the reception…

I'll be using Spotify for the playlist, but please don't feel constrained by what they have if there's a song you want to suggest. Putting together a hey-let's-wallow-in-sadness YouTube playlist might be another way of getting through these next three days. *grumble*

Poetry in Song

an opinicus — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:09:50 -0800

A song request: occasionally when listening to (new to me) music I notice that I recognise a song and not because it's a cover but a poem! For example Yeat's 'Song of Wandering Aengus' seems to have been set to music by various artists (Waterboys, Donovan) or more recently I heard King Charles' album and suddenly realised I was listening to 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol'. I rather like it when this happens but I've found it a hard thing to search for, so what else is there? Interested in pretty much any genre or age - and mainly curious about more 'literary' poetry, although good versions of traditional ballads are definitely welcome!

Ethereal yet poppy electronic music?

lunasol — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:52:01 -0800

Looking for more ethereal electronic (is that even what the kids call it these days?) music with a certain feeling to it - sort of happy, sort of sad, slightly otherworldly, all blending to create a dreamy, transcendant feeling. Sorry for the clunky description, but I'm not sure if there's a name for the kind of music/song I'm looking for. But I do have some examples!

I'm looking for more songs like this:

The Mother We Share by Chvrches
Anything Can Happen by Ellie Goulding
Oblivion by Grimes
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) by Arcade Fire

Things I can identify in these songs that I like are the female vocals (though that's not necessary), beats that don't overwhelm the production, a sort of bittersweet, wistful feel.

Bar Exam Playlist

allthingsconsidered — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:49:59 -0800

I am putting together a playlist for bar exam preparations. I am looking for songs that will help ease the pain of studying and have compiled a few from a range of genres. What else can I add to this to make it the ultimate inspirational list of songs? Here are some that I have already chosen: Isley Brothers - Work to Do Jay Z - 99 Problems LL Cool J - Mama said knock you out Beyonce - Run the World (girls) David Bowie - Under Pressure ODB - Got your money Fugees - Killing me softly

songs about kissing? catch: the word kiss is not in the title

thatgirld — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:47:35 -0800

Looking for songs about kissing, but without the obvious word 'kiss' in the title. Avoiding 'lips' would be good too.

Pop song about a girl who apologizes to nerdy high school boy?

RandlePatrickMcMurphy — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:29:50 -0800

Songfilter: I heard this pop song in a mall a couple of months ago and its memoryworming me in a particularly annoying way. The singer addresses a nerdy/geeky boy she knew in high school and essentially apologizes for the bad treatment he got from her and her popular friends. (At least in my memory its a girl singing. Could be wrong.) Seems like it should be Taylor Swift or something but googling lyrics is killing me and everyone I know is too old to ask.

Radio-friendly songs by the Butthole Surfers?

jbickers — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:34:46 -0800

What is the best song by the Butthole Surfers that is safe to play on the radio? I promised a friend that I would surprise him with some Butthole Surfers on my radio show tomorrow. This is a band that I never listened to and I know nothing about them, so I'm looking for their most awesome song. It has to be really great, and also meet some specific criteria: It has to be radio-friendly (no profanity or strong innuendo, I have kids that listen to my show), and it has to be available in the Amazon MP3 store.

The only song I know by them is that "Jesus Built My Hotrod" thing with Ministry, and I considered using that and fading out before the F-bomb at the end. But is there something else that's much better? Educate me on this band, please. Thanks!

(If you feel like throwing in any awesome overlooked 90s songs from other bands that are also radio-safe, I'll take those too.)

So what's in Veronica Falls' record collection?

Sonny Jim — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 07:47:41 -0800

So, lately I've been listening to the new Veronica Falls album. I'm drawn to songs like this [live version] and this: pure, jangly, motorik fuzz-pop. I need more, many more, songs along the same lines. So, who's mining this Black Tamourine-style vein of music at the moment aside from Veronica Falls? I guess why these songs struck me is because they're so like the neo-psychedelia I used to listen to on campus radio in New Zealand in the early '90s, by bands like the Pin Group, Look Blue Go Purple, and Dadamah (especially the bit from 1:08 onwards, and on this track), and some of Roy Montgomery's solo stuff. What these tracks have in common is: guitar work with an emphasis on circular, repetitive chord progressions; minor-major key resolutions; driving or motorik beats; and a kind of low-fi, fuzz-pop recording sensibility.

So, what sources are these bands drawing on? People mention '80s Sarah Records and C86 bands in connection with Veronica Falls, but the only Sarah Records band I really know is Secret Shine and they do more of an MBV/shoegaze thing. Where's the stuff VF is presumably drawing on from that scene? What else should I be listening to, both from those earlier scenes and on the band circuit now? Thanks!

Closing Songs for a Library?

robocop is bleeding — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 07:38:25 -0800

I was talking with one of my student employees the other day and it turns out he's a member of one of the college's acapella groups. We thought it would be pretty cool for his group to record a song to be played before the library closes for the night. I can make this happen. What song(s) should they sing? This is a medium sized academic library. We usually close at midnight. It is a hard close (that is, everyone out, doors locked at 12am on the dot) due to the fact that lingering students could mean my staff miss their trains/buses home. Library patrons have already been notified of closing over the PA (and usually in person) multiple times.

Playing a closing song has some added benefit - frees up a staff person from the PA, gives the library some outreach with student groups, sets up a bit of a fun tradition.

Lyrics can be altered (and would probably need to be in some cases - no cursing, etc) to make things library-relevant, so we can remove the references to whiskey and beer from Semisonic's 'Closing Time', plus they can do mashups/medleys of multiple songs. I'd like the track to be around 5 minutes or so, including announcement.

Given those constraints, what songs would you suggest? What lyrics would you alter?

Inspiring songs about Space and Space Travel

sandraregina — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:17:25 -0800

I am looking for inspiring songs about being in Space, or Space Travel, or even just Science! in general. I want to make a playlist. The only songs I can think of right now are Space Oddity and Rocketman, both of which are awesome songs but also completely depressing. I'm looking for songs that are more uplifting and inspirational. Please help.

Songs about (insert place here)

3491again — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:08:39 -0800

Looking for songs that express love for a particular place and capture the essence of it. I'd like to make a Spotify playlist with songs that express love for (or the essence of) a particular place:

Rocky Mountain High
Sitting at the Dock of the Bay
New York State of Mind

etc.

I'm partial to more recent (2000s and up) music and less famous songs, but would love anything catchy and beautiful, that really makes you feel like you're there in a place and love it as much as the singers do.

(I'd especially love songs about San Francisco, but any particular place is great).

Songs by a world-weary cowboy/girl required...

0 answers — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 05:47:26 -0800

I have recently discovered that I really love the kind of music that is heartfelt, lyrically strong, with a wistful and melancholic vibe. The type that conjures up images of a world-weary cowgirl/boy (cowperson?) passing on words of wisdom as the sun sets in the distance... and I am looking for more! This realisation was bought on by finding the album Post War by M. Ward (YouTube example) thanks to Mefite breccia's answer to this question on great albums. I like everything about it and the best way I can describe it (badly) is a mix of Elvis, Johnny Cash, country and western, blues, and a sprinkle of Fleetwood Mac. The challenge is that, as a dude from England, I have no understanding of this musical style or how I might go about finding more of the same. It is so far off my usual taste-radar. I had thought of Johnny Cash as a first route to explore, but I honestly don't have the first clue. Can any fans of this style recommend me male and female singers, groups, albums or songs that are the really great examples of this genre? Up-tempo numbers or slowies are equally great.

Many thanks in advance. As a thank you I will attempt to cobble together a Spotify playlist of any recommendations you guys throw out.

A party anthem that won't buzzkill the party

firstbest — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:43:05 -0800

I'm trying to come up with a final song for my wedding playlist that will be a real showstopper (literally!) — something with a strong anthemic feel, something that evokes community and emotion and celebration and joy. I'm thinking everyone on the dance floor, singing along at the tops of their lungs and draping arms around each other and group-hugging and stuff like that. Think movie montage or closing scene. We Are Young by fun. is EXACTLY what I'm looking for, except that when you pay attention to the verses it's actually pretty depressing. Any suggestions for anthemic, bass-drum-y songs that are wedding-appropriate? I am aware of this thread, and it's helpful, but surely there have been more anthems that have come out in the last 3 years.

Mix Tape Filter: Seeking bouncy songs that make you want to dance!

heavenstobetsy — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 05:10:40 -0800

I'm looking for mostly pre-2000s stuff. Not dancy necessarily, but very happy, poppy, stuff that you could dance in your seat to. So far I have; Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams Come True Stevie Wonder - Signed Sealed Delivered George Michael - Freedom Cheesy is fine, if not encouraged. Thanks MeFi!

Songs of the Labor Movement

gauche — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:16:15 -0800

For Camp NaNoWriMo, I am planning a sci-fi book in which labor politics play a significant role in the plot. I'd like to listen to music associated with the historical labor movement while I'm planning and writing. I only speak English, but will listen in any language. What have you got for me?

Songs by the month

demesne — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:00:00 -0800

Recommendations for (love) songs that mention one of the months in its lyrics? Examples of what I mean (for the month of February) are Sophie B Hawkins' "As I Lay Me Down to Sleep" (February mentioned within the lyrics) and Josh Groban's "February Song" (direct title). Does anyone have examples for the months for the rest of the year? I'd sort of prefer them to be love songs (in its broader definition, not necessarily limited to romantic love).

If you could mention both the song and the month in your reply, that'd be terrific. Thanks for any help!

Give me songs that count

MsMolly — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 11:36:22 -0800

What other songs feature a series of numbers, either in or out of sequence? I'm thinking of songs like Kiss Off by the Violent Femmes or Monkey Gone to Heaven by the Pixies that have a one, two, three, etc. count, but also songs like Masterfade by Andrew Bird that assign numbers to different things.

"If the green grass is 6 and the soybeans are 7
The junebugs are 8 the weeds and thistles are 11
And if the 1s just hold their place the 0s make a smiley face
When they come floating down from the heavens"

I think a bunch of songs like this would make a fun mix. So what other songs feature a series of numbers?

Songs that say "Hey!"

stefnet — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:27:03 -0800

Please help me thrill my 4 year old daughter with suggestions of songs that have the singer saying "Hey!" more than once. She told us awhile back that she loves songs that have "Hey!" in them, so I want to make a playlist of "Hey!" songs. The "Hey!" should be punctuated and repeated at least once - preferably more than once. The songs don't have to be songs for children, but should be at least semi-appropriate for 4 year olds (i.e. profanity is out, but innuendo that they won't understand until they are much older is ok). Some examples of stuff that we already have: "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles, "She" by the Monkees, "Get Off Of My Cloud" by the Rolling Stones, a couple traditional Greek songs. Any genre or time period is fine! ULTIMATE FOUR YEAR OLD HEY! PLAYLIST - GO!

Songs that climax

goosechasing — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:59:48 -0800

I'm looking for songs that build to a climax or erupt into loudness and are also purely spectacular. These songs are epic. My best example is Dance Yrself Clean by LCD Soundsystem.

Is there a 70's rock song with the same sentiment as Lisa Loeb's 'Stay'?

Everydayville — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:20:40 -0800

Sorry if this seems like a stupid question, but I'm not TOO familiar with many songs of that era and genre. I'm looking for a song that conveys a sentiment similar to Lisa Loeb's 'Stay' (link to lyrics here if it helps). The song would ideally be by one of the following bands: The Doors, Queen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin or Talking Heads.

Its basic idea is captured in these few lines:

You said that I was naive,
And I thought that I was strong.
I thought, "hey, I can leave, I can leave."
Oh but now I know that I was wrong, 'cause I missed you.

You said, "I caught you 'cause I want you and one day I'll let you go."
You try to give away a keeper, or keep me 'cause you know you're just so scared to lose.
And you say, "Stay."

You say I only hear what I want to.
------------------------------

Thanks much, Mefites.

Sing, Sing a Song, Keep it Simple

mutt.cyberspace — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:58:56 -0800

Will we know the words? Tonight, we are helping to host a large (75+) mixed age (20-80) party. It often leads (with alcohol and a guitar) to singing songs but no one can think of good songs that they know more than the choruses (and then murmurs). What songs, besides Jingle Bells, do most Americans know the words to? In the past we have read lyrics off the internet, but it is not fun to be constantly looking at a screen to read words!

Song with a beat that samples "Young, Gifted, and Black."

liketitanic — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:05:57 -0800

Looking for a hip hop or rap song that samples Nina Simone's "Young, Gifted, and Black." Any ideas?