I am happy that young people have their music - I hope they remember it as fondly as I do the music I listened to as a teenager and young adult.
Without further ado, here are some links and embeds of my favorites:
1. American Pie, by Don McLean. This is the song that will make me stop whatever I am doing, and sing along. And yes, I know all of the lyrics.
2. Vincent (Starry, Starry Night), by Don McLean. This song used to leave me sobbing when I heard it in the car.
3. Seasons in the Sun, by Terry Jacks. I remember when this song came out in 1974 (I was 11 years old). I have a vivid memory of my friend Ann and I singing this song together out in the playground at Breckinridge Elementary School and drawing a crowd as we did. In high school, Ann and I ended up in a Top 40 band together. We did not play this song at that time, though.
4. Wildfire, by Michael Martin Murphy. My mother liked this song, too.
5. Time in a Bottle, by Jim Croce. Such a lovely love song.
6. You've Got a Friend, by James Taylor. This song used to make me cry everytime I heard it.
7. Make It With You, by Bread. Another lovely love song.
8. You needed Me, by Anne Murray. This one still makes me cry.
9. You Light Up My Life, by Debbie Gibson. This song was a #1 hit, but it received a lot of bad press at the time, I recall, or maybe just a lot of ribbing from people my age. However, this is the very first song I ever sang in public. My father had a band and they played a dance at Breckinridge Elementary School. I had learned this song on the guitar and was singing it at home, and my father invited me onto the stage to sing it. I nearly passed out from fright but did get through the song.
10. Sugar, Sugar, by the Archies. A fun song, and a great reminder of Saturday mornings and my childhood.
11. You're So Vain, by Carly Simon. One of the first "adult" songs that I understood and related to.
12. We've Only Just Begun, by the Carpenters. I love anything by The Carpenters, but this song is especially lovely.
13. Mandy, by Barry Manilow. This is another song I learned on the guitar and played in public. And I thought Manilow was cute.
To be sure, I know all of these songs to sing and play on the guitar. The Carpenters song and the James Taylor song are the hardest; lots of chords.
Feeling a little nostaligic this morning!
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 248th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
love all of these
ReplyDeleteSome good songs, though I prefer the Carole King version of number six.
ReplyDeleteI share your enthusiastic appreciation of about half these tunes. The other half, however, usually sends me screaming from the room. Music's funny that way, eh?
ReplyDeleteI liked Don McClean but never like Barry Manilow. Was too busy listning to Led Zepplin!
ReplyDeleteYou've got me wondering where my 45 collection is right now.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Thursday!
A few of these are familiar :)
ReplyDeleteI love them all, but some of them are real tearjerkers!
ReplyDeleteI remember all of these songs. I was listening to some oldies last night. Being older than you, I can remember songs from the late 50's up to present day - that's a lot of good music.
ReplyDeleteI know all the lyrics to American Pie, too! It's won me a couple bucks in bar bets over the years. And You've Got a Friend still tugs at my heart strings every time I hear it.
ReplyDeletehuh. how rare. whenever people do song lists I don't recognize artist or song but I could hear most of these in my head.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a time warp this is! I remember every one of them : )
ReplyDelete