My sister-in-law suggested I choose my Top Ten songs, and I thought it was a great idea. One caveat is that this list will change. I have been compiling it in my head and on paper for the past month, listening to satellite radio and ‘remembering’ songs I hadn’t thought of for years. Some of those made the list, and some didn’t. But I also heard a reference to the movie The Princess Bride this week and realized that it could have easily replace Ferris Bueller on my decade movie list, so I know the following Top Ten is a perpetual list in progress.

Songs (in no particular order):

One Day More (Original Broadway Cast Recording of Les Miserables)

This song is completely brilliant. I love the layered voices of most of the main characters, the power, how it builds to the end, and the meaning of the words too. Everything is coming to a head.

Goonies R Good Enough (Cyndi Lauper)

This song is happy and energetic. I loved the song even more than the movie. I still remember the video, with all the WWF wrestlers, and I recently downloaded it from iTunes. Another great message: it’s good enough for me.

You’re in my Soul (Rod Stewart)

I actually have never owned a copy of this song and this might not be the name. But it’s an upbeat love song that I have always loved. You’re in my heart, you’re in my soul. You’ll be my breath when I grow old. You are my lover, you’re my best friend. You’re in my soul.

Everybody Hurts (R.E.M.)

Sad song that makes me think of a few people I’ve lost to darkness along the way. From the completely awesome album Automatic for the People, which features multiple times on this list.

The Flame (Cheap Trick)

When this song came out, back in the late 1980s, this was my favourite song. I declared to my family, while driving in Collingwood, that this was my favourite song of all time. My mother may have made a sarcastic comment about ‘how long that would last’ and voila! It stays on the list forever. As fictional character Barney Stinson would say, Challenge Accepted.

Honey (Bobby Goldsboro)

Saddest song ever. Makes me cry, every single time. In fact, I can’t listen to this song unless I’m able to stop what I’m doing and cry. “I came home unexpectedly, and found her crying needlessly, in the middle of the day. And it was in the early spring, when flowers bloom and robins sing, she went away… One day when I was not at home, while she was there and all alone, the angels came.” Cue tears. Seriously, I just listened to it while typing, to get the lyrics right, and I’m crying. What a sap.

Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Gordon Lightfoot)

Love this song. Also a sad one. I think we sang it in music class in elementary school. Now I always check the 70s channel on satellite radio to see if it’s playing. I will download it soon.

Lose Yourself (Eminen)

Feels a bit cliché but the lyrics of this song are very inspirational. Fictional characters are also pumped-up by this tune.

Head over Heals (The Go-Go’s)

I’ve never noticed the unnecessary apostrophe in The Go-Go’s name before. After their biggest hits, Vacation and Our Lips are Sealed, they released Head over Heals in 1984. I loved it. Fun song, good lyrics. “One half’s just breezin’ past, and one’s just hangin’ on… just keep goin’ strong.” Lots of piano too, and back in 1984 I took piano lessons.

Ha – I just looked up the lyrics to that song and it seems it was a bit darker than I always thought. One hand’s reachin’ out, not breezin’ past. And instead of spurring us to keep goin’ strong, she says her weaknesses keep goin’ strong. Boo. I think I’ll keep my more positive lyrics.

Nightswimming/Find the River (R.E.M.)

The last two songs on Automatic for the People. I always loved the nostalgic feel of Nightswimming but now I love Find the River just as much. I refuse to choose between them, so it’s a tie!