30 Days of Music in 1 Post

Over on the venerable Book of Faces I participated in the 30 Day Song Challenge. Every day for a full month you post a song following a certain rule for the day. It's fun to do and it has spurred a little discussion if not as much as I'd hoped for initially.

The only thing I'd improve is it seems aimed at a younger set of followers. Some of the rules are a little focused on teenage angst and less on showing your appreciation for music. So, as a brain exercise, I'm going to redo the 30 Day Song Challenge as tho I were writing it and aiming it at my peer group.

Day 1 - Your favorite song - "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procul Harum

This one is the same as the actual challenge and it doesn't change.

Day 2 - Your favorite song from the last year - "Runaway" by Kanye West

In my opinion, the 3 best songs from the last 12 mos. were "Bed Intruder", "Fuck You" and this song. Out of those 3, this is the one I still listen to frequently.

Day 3 - Your favorite song which is 50 years old this year - "My Favorite Things" by John Coltrane

This takes us back to 1961 which was a weird year in music. Rock had struck it big in the middle of the previous decade but had cooled for various reasons. So we're still 3 years away from The Beatles coming to America and jazz is making its last run on the top. As such, I pick Coltrane at or near his peak.

Day 4 - Your favorite song which is 25 years old this year - "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" by Paul Simon

This jump takes us back to 1986 which was the first year I really started to listen to music and have my own opinions on it, simple tho they may be. One of the albums I remember my dad (and, by proxy, me) listening to a lot was "Graceland" and I've held a special affinity for the album even until today. In fact, if you pulled up my fandom of Vampire Weekend you'd find "Graceland" at its roots.

Day 5 - Your favorite song which is 10 years old this year - "Jo Jo's Jacket" by Stephen Malkmus

Now we're up to 2001 and in that year I would've told you my favorite album that year was Weezer's green album. But now it's been 10 years and there are two albums I'd go to the shelf and pull out to listen to on a whim: The (international) Noise Conspiracy "New Morning, Changing Weather" and Steve Malkmus' first solo album. Since I like the latter better than the former, I'll put that one out front.

Day 6 - A Song Which Was Played At The 1st Concert You Ever Attended - "Hanging Tough" by New Kids On The Block

Fuck yeah I went to a New Kids concert and I was excited as shit to go. It was 1989, the concert was at the Met Center and my young ears and heart were won by whatever was on WLOL. My whole family went, we sat right were the speakers were pointed and I still have vivid memories of it. Some might find it embarrassing to admit their first concert was the New Kids. I think it's kind of perfect.

Day 7 - A Song Played At The Most Recent Concert You Attended - "I'll Buy" by The Replacements

It's been the slow season for concerts here in Minnesota and I've been kind of skint here at the end of it all as bands start touring thru here again. Consulting my calendar tells me the last concert I went to was the Replacements tribute at First Ave over the Thanksgiving weekend. Yes, it's been that long. Either way, here's the original version of a song from "Tim".

Day 8 - A Song Played At The Best Concert You Ever Attended - "Warning" by Green Day

Another shocker perhaps. The best concert I ever went to was in January 2001 when Green Day played The Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee. My friends Adam, Bryan and I drove down from school in Green Bay and it was an amazing show. The band was in the in-between space after their "Dookie" success but before their "American Idiot" success. This meant they were actually trying and tuned in and it made for a great show.

Day 9 - 4 Days of Songs About Classical Elements: Air - "Blowing In The Wind" by Bob Dylan

I could go with Bob Dylan for each of these. But I'll limit myself to this one as the quintessential song about wind. And since YouTube only has covers, it should be one by someone who at least knows Dylan.

Day 10 - 4 Days of Songs About Classical Elements: Earth - "Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground" by The White Stripes

Again, you could probably go with Jack White on each of these. But again I'll limit myself.

Day 11 - 4 Days of Songs About Classical Elements: Fire - "Fire" by Jimi Hendrix

When you think of fire you should think of Prometheus and Jimi Hendrix.

Day 12 - 4 Days of Songs About Classical Elements: Water - "Take Me To The River" by The Talking Heads

There are a lot of great songs about rain, oceans, snow and tears. But this one is the best one about rivers.

Day 13 - A Song about Luck - "Lucky" by Radiohead

This is the first song I ever heard off "OK Computer". This performance actually since I was a Launch subscriber.

Day 14 - A Song About Love - "Lovesong" by The Cure

This song came out when I was about 9 or 10 and it was the first time I remembered a love song sounding sad. Not just "Baby, baby. Where did our love go?" but actually sad while still being about love.

Day 15 - A Song About Falling Out of Love - "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" by Amy Winehouse

The original is a little too upbeat. I like Winehouse's cover better.

Day 16 - A Song About Loneliness - "So Far Away" by Carole King

How did anyone survive the 1970s? Seriously, did everyone just zone out and let shit happen? Or did everyone break their hearts early on and what we have now is the broken version of those people?

Day 17 - A Song About Happiness - "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" by Stevie Wonder

Scratch that. Everyone in the 1970s must've been listening to Stevie Wonder. Boom! Happiness achieved.

Day 18 - A Song About The Past - "In My Life" by The Beatles

This song, in addition to being my father's favorite Beatles song, was the music which scored Kevin Arnold's first kiss with Winnie Cooper on "The Wonder Years" and you can't get any more about the past than that.

Day 19 - A Song About The Present - "Right Now" by Van Halen

CARPE DIEM, MOTHERFUCKER!!! (Drink Crystal Pepsi.)

Day 20 - A Song About The Future - "Ooh Child" by The 5 Stairstep

Yeah, I see myself as an optimist. But if my fault is believing better things are around the corner, it's a fault I'm okay having.

Day 21 - The Original Song Sampled in A Hip-Hop Song - "One Step Ahead" by Aretha Franklin

To be later used by Ayotollah on Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty". When you hear it, you'll shit bricks.

Day 22 - A Song Which Should Be Sampled By A Hip-Hop Song - "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson

It used to be "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama. Now I just wish someone would use "Billie Jean", especially the drum beat and bass lines which are both dope as hell.

Day 23 - Coolest Guitar Riff - "Seventeen Years" by Ratatat

I know it's kind of unfair to put Ratatat here because all they do is riff. But it's my rules and I choose how to enforce them.

Day 24 - Coolest Guitar Solo - "Dazed and Confused" by Led Zepplin

Listen, I could've put everything Jimi Hendrix or Eddie Van Halen ever did in this slot. But I chose Jimmy Page playing "Dazed & Confused" in "Song Remains The Same". Get it?

Day 25 - Coolest Vocal Solo - "Great Gig In the Sky" by Pink Floyd

One of the few times I can think of where the human voice was used as an instrument and yet also given it's own space. If this had been a guitar or a saxophone, it would've been cheesy. But the human voice...

Day 26 - Best Verse - "6 Foot 7 Foot" by Lil Wayne

Yeah, just pick your favorite between either of Wayne's verses on this song. Both are classics.

Day 27 - Best Chorus - "Enjoy The Silence" by Depeche Mode

Just read the words.

All I ever wanted/All I ever needed/Is here in my arms/Words are very unnecessary/They can only do harm

God, there's just so much there.

Day 28 - Best Cover - "Hurt" by Johnny Cash

This is the one time on this list I feel like if I'd forgotten about this song for this category I actually might've hated myself. Like actually been angry with myself.

Day 29 - Best Mashup - "I'm A Flirt 7/4 Shoreline" by The Hood Internet

I could've gone with a Girl Talk or Super Mash Bros mashup here. The Hood Internet is on to something here and it's sneaky good.

Day 30 - Last Song You Heard Before Starting This List - "Vanessa From Queens" by Stephen Malkmus

From the very good and under radar "Pig Lib" album, Malkmus woos a reluctant paramour.