My 10 Favorite Gary Numan Songs

I grew up in a household that always rang with the sound of music (everything from Wayne Newton to Jerry Lee Lewis, and all of it completely unbearable to me). Then one day, during lunch break at school, that all changed. I heard a song on the radio that opened my ears to the joy of music.

1. Cars - Without a doubt, Gary Numan's most recognizable song and the one that played on the radio that day. This is the song that turned me on to the style of music I listen to today. It literally shaped my listening future with it's analog synths raising gooseflesh on my arms. Still has that effect to this very day.

2. Are Friends Electric? - This song was actually released a couple of years prior to "Cars", and was one that I didn't really care for until I heard it in the full context of the album it appeared on. Cold, futuristic, and at times frightening. A robotic classic.

3. I Die, You Die - A perfect little 2 minute pop song that signaled Numan's intent to retire from the biz early in his career. The song is about the popular press who seemed to take great joy in dragging his name through the dirt inspiring the chilling line, "see my scars, they call me such things, tear me, tear me, tear me".

4. We Take Mystery To Bed - A strange title to be sure, but a brilliant synthesized riff that never fails to get the toes tapping. I remember this one hitting the British pop charts at number 9, a huge success for an artist on the downslide as Gary Numan was at this point.

5. Dark - The period between my number 4 song and this one encompassed many years and numerous horrible albums, but the album "Exile" marked a brilliant return. Lot's of dark, angry anti-religious anthems abound. "Dark" was also featured in the soundtrack of the Kiefer Sutherland movie, "Dark City".

6. Prayer For The Unborn - On first listen, this song reduced me to tears. Mourning the loss of an unborn child, Numan starts of this song in restrained mood before ripping into a scorching chorus condemning a God that would allow this to happen. Beautiful and angry all at the same time.

7. On Broadway "Live" - This was actually a limited edition single that was packaged along with one of Numan's early albums. A live rendering of the Motown classic that features a brilliant synth solo by Billy Currie, member of 80's band Ultravox. I fully expected this to be really cheesy, but it ended up as one of my favorites.

8. Asylum - Another obscure one, familiar to only the most die-hard of Gary Numan fans. It was originally the b-side of an early single and is an uber creepy instrumental that would fit perfectly in the soundtrack of an 80's slasher flick. As a kid I'd switch off all the lights in my room and see how far into the song I could get before completely freaking.

9. Haunted - My final 2 songs are from Numan's latest album. He has now adopted a very industrial, hard-edged Nine Inch nails type style and "Haunted" is a chilling example of how well he has mastered that sound. The opening sounds like a distorted riff from Led Zepellin's "Kashmir", and is followed by a chorus that you can't help but sing along to. A classic rock anthem.

10. Jagged - The title track from the latest album and a song that, if pressed, I would proclaim as my current favorite Gary Numan song. Most of the song is sung in a hushed, sibilant whisper before launching into another amazing chorus and finished with synths swelling in the forefront, guitars roaring in the background. I get chills just talking about it.

So there you have it, my own personal top 10. The order and songs included change on a regular basis. It's hard to narrow down a list when I have almost 30 years of Numan material to choose from.