My Favorite Songs: The Music that Moves Me

I had some free time the other evening and decided to sign into my You Tube account While going through my list of favorites, a thought occurred to me. What songs come to mind more so than others? What songs do I at times catch myself humming or singing?

So, I made a list of those favorite songs. Some might have made a Top 10 along the way; some might be a favorite of me and me alone. But that is the beauty of music.

Run Around Sue: Dion and the Belmonts.

I remember those school dances back in the early '60s. Boys on one side of the room and girls at a distance on the other side. The boys would finally gather the courage to ask a young lady to dance and it was usually a slow dance to the tune of "Summer Place" or a similar low beat song. Nothing fast. Until the one night I asked Margie P. to dance with me to this song. She reminded me that it starts out slow, but develops into a fast dance. I shrugged my shoulders and we started to dance. Soon I found myself gyrating to the beat and everyone had formed a circle, clapping and encouraging us on. I think that was the last time she ever danced with me.

Jefferson Airplane aka Jefferson Starship, Starship

The Beatles and the rest of the British Invasion washed ashore in the early '60s, but I never felt anything that moved me. Then there was the psychedelic movement of music of which I wanted no part. Except, I heard the powerful and appealing voice of a young lady in one band named Jefferson Airplane. I think I developed a crush on her. My favorites of the group are "White Rabbit", "Somebody to Love." and 'Nothing's Going To Stop Us Now".

Moody Blues

I didn't particularly like the group back in their early days. They were much too British. Well, they are still British, but they produced two songs in 1986 that I enjoy to this day. "In Your Wildest Dreams" and "I Know You're Out There Somewhere."

Meatloaf

What a voice. What an artistic genius. I remember when my daughter was about six months old and I was building a deck on to the house. I sat her in her pumpkin seat as I worked and turned up the tape player so we could listen to "Bat Out of Hell." Even at that age, she rocked. Naturally, my favorite is "Paradise By the Dashboard Lights" ( the daughter is now 26 and we do a fairly good rendition of the song). Another favorite is "Life is a Lemon," although I can get lost in any of his songs.

REO Speedwagon/Styx

I place them together, since they frequently tour together and perform together. I simply like the sound of some of their recordings. Styx: "Come Sail Away" and "Too Much Time On My Hands." REO: "Roll With the Changes."

Rush

My son and I once went to a Rush concert. Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart were the only three on stage, yet they made it sound as if there were hundreds playing. True artistic talent. Favorites: "Tom Sawyer", "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill".

AC/DC

I told my daughter that at her wedding, I would lead her down the aisle to the tune of "Thunderstruck". Just about anything AC/DC is my favorite.

Just Because Category

Nazareth: "The Flight Tonight". Skid Row: "I Remember You". Triumph: "Magic Power". Head East: "Never Been Any Reason" Twisted Sister: "Come All Ye Faithful" (I send out the video to lucky people each Christmas)

Then there is the song that you can never remember the title. You have no trouble humming the melody, because memories associated with the song are permanently fixed in your mind. "Their Hearts Were Dancing" is one of those songs. When the melody comes to mind, I think of my favorite person dancing with me to what has to be my favorite song.