What Songs Have Meaning For You?

There are songs that stay with us over the years, over the decades and across the turn of the century for those us old enough to remember the nineties. Some stay with us because we like them, some because we hate them, and some because they hold a special meaning for us.

Some of these make us remember the good times, and some bring hurt and pain every time we listen to them. As I was listening “What Have You Done” by Within Temptation (featuring Keith Caputo), I started thinking about songs that make me remember smiles and pains. So I thought I would compile a list of songs that held a significant meaning in one way or another for me.

Football’s Coming Home – Five Lions
This was in the charts twice. Once in May 1996, and once in June 1998. Both at the time my children were born.

Not Afraid – Eminem
When I moved in with someone who turned out to be completely the opposite of who I fell for, I needed something to keep me going while I tried to find a way to get my kids and myself out of that situation.

Angels – Within Temptation
In the same situation as above, with the woman I moved in with, this song explains exactly how I felt, and how I felt she saw me.

Because of You – Kelly Clarkson
When I split from the mother of my children, I felt I would never find love again. I was too afraid to give myself to someone fully for fear of being shredded again. I did get over this fear long enough to fall for someone. Only to get shredded.

I Get Knocked Down – Chubbawumba
“I get knocked down, I get up again, Ain’t nothin’ gonna keep me down” Explains the meaning behind this one and why it holds a place for me.

Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
This was my wedding song. The first dance I had after getting married in 1995.

All I Need – Within Temptation
I went to see these in concert with my then wife, and we had what I felt was the best time until I found out she didn’t enjoy it that much at all.

Stand My Ground – Within Temptation
No matter what happens, there will always be someone to take up the mantle of something. Whether it be hope, love, life, or whatever. I will stand my ground.

Coward of the County – Kenny Rogers
I chose this one by Kenny Rogers although I could have chosen any by him. When I was a lad, I used to hide in my room and listen to the tapes and records (vinyl disks you put on a turntable and needle would go in the grooves and play the music out of speakers) of Kenny Rogers in the hopes of hiding from everything and everyone.

Everybody Hurts – R.E.M.
This reminded me that there are people worse off than me.

Streets Of London – Ralph McTell
The people who are forgotten. This always makes me think of the people sleeping in shop doorways. Those who have lost everything. I can only hope they get at least some of it back.

Cats In The Cradle – Ugly Kid Joe version
After hearing this song, I vowed I would never have my kids ending up like this and seeing me as someone never there for them.

These are a few that hold a special meaning to me for one reason or another. There are others which hold more private reasons for good or ill, from the highest point to the lowest of the low points where I felt there was no hope. (And there is always, always hope even if you don’t see it at the time).

So what songs hold a meaning for you?

Can You Keep A Secret?

I was talking to a very good friend last night, and we got onto the subject of secrets, and it reminded me of the song by the Pierces “Secret”. It is a catchy song and has been used as the title theme for the series Pretty Little Liars.

I’ve posted two versions of it, the official video and the one with the words.

A Day For Thinking Back

This morning I was trying something out on my laptop, and went on to YouTube for some reason. Oh yes, that was it. I was at C.E.Ayr’s Sunday Photo Fiction post and he had David Bowie’s Space Oddity on there. I mentioned that it was one of my favourites, as was Billy Don’t Be A Hero by Black Lace.

Since then, I have spent the day playing music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. I used to play them all the time, but I stopped for a while and so I went to song after song after song. Going through House of the Rising Sun, Lily The Pink, Matchstalk Men, Where Do You go To My Lovely, In The Year 2525, Seasons In The Sun and many others before going on to the girls – The Bangles Walk Like An Egyptian, Eternal Flame, Manic Monday and then Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven Is A Place On Earth and Leave A Light On For Me. Tiffany’s I Think We Are Alone Now, T’Pau – China In Our Hands. Then Kim Wilde – Kids In America.

The music of today pales in comparison to how it used to be. There was the melody, there was no swearing (or very little), no rap and the singers played instruments as well. They weren’t formed on shows. They were good from the outset. Well, I say that a couple were one-hit-wonders, but they were still very good.

Two from Chess I watched were I Know Him So Well and One Night In Bangkok.

Music is not as good as it used to be, and sometimes I wish I could wipe the memory of those songs from decades past so I can listen to them for the first time again and be impressed with them.

There are so many good songs from those decades past and so few hours in the day. And then I see links to so many more I want to watch. SO I am going to leave one video here.

Have a great week.

Stand My Ground

I was going through some blogs, trying to catch up, and I saw one from Penny on The Why About This. She has a video from one of my favourite groups, and when I was watching it, I thought of the song that goes with it. Or it goes with it in my opinion anyway. Head over to Penny’s to see the first song, then either watch the lyrics video or the official video of Stand My Ground by Within Temptation. I think I may have put this on a couple of years ago when I was doing my music posts.