Music

For those who don't know, I love my music. I really do. I couldn't live without it. Most of the time, I would rather boot up iTunes and pick some favourites than turn on the television. Come to think of it... I watch very little TV nowadays. The only 'series' I watch is 24... but I didn't even watch the last season as I downloaded it 4 months prior from the US and watched it on my computer!

But anyway, back to music... it's funny - I was actually 'late' on the music scene in comparision to my friends. In High School, most of my mates were into Korn, Marilyn Manson, The Living End and stupid shit like that. To be honest, I really didn't 'get' most of that genre. Hearing Marilyn Manson sing (yell??) about his penis sure wasn't an emotional turn-on for me. Hence, most of my free time during school was spent playing video games.... I became quite an expert at Need for Speed, let me tell you!!

In year 12 my sister gave me a bunch of CDs to try to influence my musical taste. This bunch included the likes of The Whitlams, Powderfinger, Shihad, Polyanna and Travis. This "alternative, medium-rock with an Aussie twang" genre slowly began to grow on me. Listing to Triple J everyday while driving to and from Uni further influenced my evolving musical tastes.

But now, for me, the best type of music is the stuff that hits you here (Joe points to general area of heart). Have you ever cried listening to a song.... not for any other reason other than it is just simply beautiful? It's not sadness. Or happiness. It's just..... a type of perfection. A powerful perfection. That, for some reason, strikes an emotional chord.

There have been a couple of songs that have done this for me lately. The first is Washed out to Sea by Something for Kate (Desert Lights album). Another is Tightrope Walker by Epicure. Last week, I had Tightrope Walker playing on repeat in my car all week... no, not the album... the one single song!! I know this is the one sure way to ruin a good song, but I really couldn't help it.... it was just sooooo good.

Don't get me wrong, I still like poppy/rocky sort of stuff. I (and I'm sure I'm not alone here) will always enjoy belting out some Shannon Knoll - What About Me in my car while stopped at the traffic lights. 'Cause that's fun too. But it's not meaningful, and it won't stand the test of time. It's like a cheap thrill. A musical one-night-stand, if you will.

While in Morven, I actually spent about 3.5 hours one very lonely Saturday night coming up with a list of my top 10 favourite songs (c'mon... there wasn't anything else to do!!). This was actually very tough... but I managd to cut it down to 10 (from a list of about 60). These are songs that, for me, DO stand the test of time... that I know I can always listen to and never get tired of, and will always enjoy. I decided the songs in my list also had to be more than a year old... to ensure their place in my list was warranted.

So, here's the result of my toil. Presenting Joe's Top 10 Favourite Song of All Time...!

1. Brick - Ben Folds (simply amazing song, it's sad, even sadder if you know the story behind it)
2. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls (probably on most people's top 10, belty and powerful)
3. The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice (subtle, but passionate)
4. They Weren't There - Missy Higgins (I'll never get tired of this song.... go Aussie!)
5. Indefinitely - Travis (so light, so delicate... you know those moments in your life that look back on.... those EXACT moments.... this is the soundtrack)
6. My Kind of Scene - Powderfinger (awesome harmony... so powerful)
7. Stuff and Nonsense - Missy Higgins (Missy, with a guitar... awesome, baby)
8. Breathing you in - The Whitlams (Ok, here's the picture: Sunday morning, a white bedroom, you're lying on a bed, with white sheets, with someone you love, while looking out the window at lush green trees in the backyard and a perfect day... wow, amazing)
9. Walk away - Ben Harper (lyrics, lyrics, lyrics... oh, and Ben Harper!)
10. Float On - Modest Mouse (whenever I hear this song I feel like getting up and dancing... great beat... everybody now!)

Close Calls:
Let it be - The Beatles (absolute classic.... maybe I was born 10 years too late?)
I Make Hamburgers - The Whitlams (this song is sooooo much fun, I sometimes wish I worked at Maccas flipping burgers just so I can sing this song and it would be true!)

Future Possibilities (have been released in the last year or so):
Fill you in – Josh Pyke
Keep the Light On – The Whitlams
The Curse Stops Here – The Whitlams
The Shake – Kisschasy
Washed out to sea - Something for Kate

I love music. It's great. Now all I need is an iPod..... hmmmmm....

Cheers.