Top 50 meme (I assume this is the top 50 scrobbled artists overall when I found this)
1. How did you get into 29? (Tie at 28:
Stevie Wonder and
The Divine Comedy)
Stevie Wonder I've been familiar with as a teenage listening to oldies radio. With the Divine Comedy, I can't quite pinpoint the instance I've started listening, but I first heard of them by listening to their music online. Probably in 2006.
2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22? (
Snow Patrol)
Run, or maybe
Spitting Games. No, I'm pretty sure it's Run.
3. What's your favorite lyric by 33? (Three-way tie at 31:
Aberfeldy,
The Moody Blues, and
The Velvelettes)
Of all the songs of all these artists:
The spoken words at the end of
Nights In White Satin:
"Cold-hearted orb that rules the night
Removes the colors from our sight
Red is grey and yellow white
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusion"
4. How did you get into 49? (sigh... another three way tie, at 47:
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles,
Mates of State, and
Harvey Danger)
Oldies Radio, a mix tape from a friend of mine, and the internet.
5. How many albums by 13 do you own? (
Dusty Springfield)
Surprisingly none, but I do want to get
Dusty In Memphis sometime. Preferably the extended edition.
6. What is your favorite song by 50? (
The Essex Green)
My stats say New Orleans, but the one I've enjoyed more is the very catchy and lyrically interesting
Our Lady in Havana.
7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad? (yet another three way tie, at 37:
The Spinners,
Phish, and
Rufus Wainwright, three artists probably never uttered in the same sentence before!)
Surprisingly, no. There's probably a Rufus Wainwright song out there that I haven't listened to yet that will, though.
8. What is your favorite song by 15? (
Taylor Hicks)
Hmm, would that include his Idol performances, or just his originals. Actually, never mind, even if the former are included, his best ever will have to be his rendition of Georgia on My Mind.
9. What is your favorite song by 5? (
Super Furry Animals)
Tough one, but it'd probably be
Slow Life.
10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy? (
The Beatles)
Oh, certainly. I think just about any song on Abbey Road will do just that.
11. What is the worst song by 40? (
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas)
Speaking of Abbey Road, the song Something was covered by Martha and the Vandellas, and it was a very trite, almost emotionless version of an amazing song, so this would have to be their worst.
12. What is your favorite song by 10? (
Yes)
And You And I. This may actually be one of the best pieces of music ever written.
13. What is a good memory you have involving 30? (
Summer Hymns)
Seeing them live at a bar in Madison and hearing their live performance of
Pity and Envy.
14. What is your favorite song by 38? (back to the combo of The Spinners, Phish, and Rufus Wainwright)
Spinners: Probably
It's A Shame.
Phish: Divided Sky
Rufus Wainwright: Either
Release The Stars, or
Rules and Regulations.
15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy? (
Pearl Jam)
I'm having trouble thinking of one; almost all of the Pearl Jam songs I like are rather darker, like Jeremy and Black. So I'll have to say no right now.
16. Is there a song by 25 that makes you sad? (tie between
Emerson, Lake & Palmer and
Paul Revere & the Raiders)
Nope.
17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23? (
Otis Redding)
Hmm... I remember listening to Try a Little Tenderness at a somewhat young age, so I'll count that one.
18. What's your favorite lyric by 11? (
The Ladybug Transistor)
from Splendor in the Grass:
The first time I was ever kissed, the very first person I did miss
the first time I said goodbye, the first time I felt I’d die
the first time I felt shame, the first time I was to blame
If I had one wish I’d ask to relieve splendor in the grass
(technically this is a Jackie DeShannon song, but I've listened to the Ladybug Transistor version so much more that it seems like the most natural version to me.)
19. Who is a favorite member of 1? (
Belle and Sebastian)
Actually I don't have a favorite. I confess, Stuart Murdoch is the only one I know the name of automatically (I know, I'm a bad fan )
20. Is there a song by 14 that makes you happy? (
The Ditty Bops)
Really, everything they've done. Waking Up in the City especially has this effect (it also happens to be my most scrobbled track as well)
21. What is a good memory involving 27? (
The Byrds)
I've mentioned oldies radio a lot; apparently one of the stations I listened to often would only play the track Eight Miles High late at night; the dark, psychedelic effect was very eerie and interesting whenever I was half awake and about to fall asleep.
22. What is your favorite song by 16? (
Edwin Starr)
War, of course. Edwin's done a lot of great songs, actually, but he will be most remembered for this early 70s classic.
23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47? (back to the Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Mates of State, and Harvey Danger tie)
SR&TM: I'm not certain, but I think it's either You Really Got a Hold on Me, or Track of My Tears.
MoS:No idea.
Harvey Danger: Little Round Mirrors.
24. What is your favorite album by 18? (
The Marvelettes)
I'm not really sure; their greatest hits albums generally are more or less the same, and all their original albums were pretty much poorly arranged (not unlike most pop albums of the time, this being before it was normal that the LP was seen as an art form rather than a collection of songs).
25. What is your favorite song by 21? (
Neil Young)
Very tough question. I'll go with Out on the Weekend.
26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26? (tie at 25 between Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Paul Revere & the Raiders)
ELP: Lucky Man.
PR&TR: Good Thing.
27. What is your favorite album by 3? (
of Montreal)
Satanic Panic in the Attic.
28. What is you favorite song by 2? (
U2)
Very tough question. With or Without you, One Tree Hill, and Ultraviolet(Light My Way) are all ones that could possibly be the best.
29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32? (back to the three-way tie (at 31) of Aberfeldy, The Moody Blues, and The Velvelettes)
Aberfeldy: Not sure.
The Moody Blues: Go Now.
The Velvelettes: Needle in a Haystack. The surprising thing is, this very commercial-sounding song of theirs, which was a minor hit, never, ever gets played on oldies radio, nor is anything else by the Velvelettes for that matter. Granted, they weren't one of Motown's first-string bands, but they were still pretty darn good.
30. What is you favorite song by 8? (
Marvin Gaye)
He sang many excellent songs, but I Heard it Through the Grapevine is still probably the best. Yeah, I know, I'm going with the easy, familiar song again, but it really is that great of a song.
31. How many times have you seen 17 live? (
Queen)
Unfortunately I never got a chance (and would have been too young anyway). Oh yeah, I guess they still are touring again, but without Freddy it's probably not the same.
32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy? (wow, a 4-way tie at 43:
Radiohead,
The Raspberries,
The New Pornographers, and
Led Zeppelin )
Fake Plastic Trees, Tonight, The Laws Have Changed, and... I can't think of one for Led Zeppelin.
33. How did you get into 12? (
Pink Floyd)
I'm not really sure, although classic rock radio certainly played a role.
34. What is the worst song by 45? (back to the 4-way tie of Radiohead, The Raspberries, The New Pornographers, and Led Zeppelin )
I like everything I've heard from all these bands.
35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34? (
Brenda Holloway)
When I'm Gone. Another Motown artist who almost never gets radio play anymore; I actually first heard this track of hers on a Motown complation LP that we somehow had at our house. We lacked a record player at that time, but I was so fascinated by this and a couple other albums that I had to bring them on this one trip to visit relatives, and played it there. That was a neat experience, even though this particular track of Holloway's wasn't that great. Interestingly enough, this compilation was produced in the 60s by Motown, and meant to be of their then-current hits. It had lots of familiar songs, of course, but also ones that would now be considered obscure, despite being hits. This speaks volumes of how oldies radio needs to expand its horizons beyond their standard repertoire.
36. What is the first song you ever heard by 48? (back to the Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Mates of State, and Harvey Danger tie)
Already answered, on question 23.
37. How many times have you seen 42 live? (Another tie, at 41:
Architecture in Helsinki and
The Who)
None for either.
38. What is you favorite song by 36? (sigh...yet another tie (at 35):
The Supremes, and
Van Morrison)
The Supremes: Forever Came Today.
Van Morrison:
Tupelo Honey. Another song that may be one of the best musical creations ever.
39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28? (Stevie Wonder and The Divine Comedy)
Stevie Wonder's first song I heard was My Cherie Amour. The Divine Comedy's first for me was Something for the Weekend.
40. What is you favorite album by 7? (
The Four Tops)
Another group that's known less for their albums than for their songs. The one album of theirs I own, which is a compilation, is The Ultimate Collection, which is pretty good. Actually, they did have one original album in the 60s called Reach Out that is considered pretty good, although for some reason it contains two covers of songs by the Monkees, which I've steered clear from even listening to, despite my curiosity.
41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy? (Back to the three-way tie of Aberfeldy, The Moody Blues, and The Velvelettes)
Hypnotized by Aberfeldy. In Your Wildest Dreams by the Moody Blues. And for the Velvelettes, oddly enough Lonely Lonely Girl am I, despite it's dark-sounding title, is actually upbeat enough that it gets me in a good mood.
42. What is your favorite album by 41? (Architecture in Helsinki and The Who)
I have neither of the albums from either artist.
43. What is your favorite song by 24? (
The Flaming Lips)
I haven't yet decided on a favorite.
44. What is a good memory you have involving 46? (the 4-way tie at 43: Radiohead, The Raspberries, The New Pornographers, and Led Zeppelin)
Listening to any of these bands generally is a good experience, but I can't think of a specific memory.
45. What is your favorite song by 35? (tie: The Supremes, and Van Morrison)
I already answered, but I'll just mention Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison again because it's really that good. Also, Sweet Thing from him is also excellent.
46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy? (
Laura Nyro)
Her rendition of Up On the Roof can always make me happy.
47. What is your favorite album by 4? (
The Temptations)
I have their 5-cd Greatest Hits box set (entitled Emperors of Soul), but I can't give it an unqualified recommendation because the last cd in the set is very superfluous (at this point in their career, Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams were the only original members, and they rarely sang lead, so it's really not the same. So instead, I'd say my favorite album by the Temptations would be Wish it Would Rain, another original album that was actually good by Motown LP standards.)
48. Who is a favorite member of 37? (back to the combo of The Spinners, Phish, and Rufus Wainwright)
Of the two bands, I have no favorites.
49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43? (the last for the 4-way tie: Radiohead, The Raspberries, The New Pornographers, and Led Zeppelin)
Radiohead: Optimistic.
The Raspberries: Go All the Way
The New Pronographers: Jackie
Led Zeppelin: Yep, it's StairWay to Heaven.
50. What is your favorite song by 20? (
Cake)
What a coincidence, Italian Leather Sofa by them is playing right now. I'll go with that.
There a few lessons to be learned from this meme: Oldies radio stations need to expand their playlists, songs don't always convey the same mood as their titles suggest, popular bands should quit after most of their members are dead or left the band, sometimes the cover versions of songs are better than the originals, and I need to get more plays in so that I have fewer artist ties!
Aberfeldy