Beat & Lyric

When hitting a milestone like 40-years-old it can either consume you with thoughts of getting old or it is just another day in your life. I am Team ’73 and this is our year. I won’t say that I’m consumed with the fact that I’m turning the big 4-0, but I’m also not letting it be just.another.day. I want to recognize the years I’ve lived through and what better way to do it than with music!
These are songs that shaped me, songs that had impact on my 40 years of life. They are certainly not my favourite songs and some I even despise *cough*manilow*cough*, but when researching songs released in each year I chose the one that jumped out at me. I went through the songs from each year when I was younger and selected songs that I may not remember in that year, but perhaps later discovered. They were songs my parents were listening to on 8-track in the big gold Thunderbird, they were on the turntable in the basement rec room, they were songs my mother would play on the piano and sing horribly out of tune too.

So here they are in chronological order. Enjoy my 40 songs in all shades

1973 – Elton John “Crocodile Rock” – this song was on a children’s LP that I had later in years and I adored this and would constant play this over and over again.

1974 – Barbara Striesand “The Way We Were” – one of few songs I learned on the piano, because my mother made me!
1975 – Glen Campbell “Rhinestone Cowboy” – I blame all country songs that I know on my grandfather! He was not a glittery cowboy but I think he influenced my mother who then in turn influenced me.

1976 – Barry Manilow “I Write The Songs” – pure torture. I hate this song, but I had to hear it when all I wanted to listen to was Sesame Street Fever. My mother was evil
1977 – Rod Stewart “Tonight’s the Night” – Rod was a staple growing up. I still like his raspy voice.
1978 – The Bee Gees “How Deep is Your Love” – the be all end all of music according to my father. Ask me anything Bee Gees related. Barry Gibb to my father is Ryan Star to me. Nuff said.
1979 – Billy Joel “My Life” – lip sync duo with Kevin, my older brother from a K-Tel album that had this song …it was the first song on the second side of the LP…..the album cover was green. I’m such a visual person!
1980 - Queen “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – I wanted to put ‘Another Bites the Dust’ but that would be the Queen song for my brother’s list. This isn’t my favourite Queen song but I do like it’s groove.

1981 – Rick Springfield “Jessie’s Girl” – Yep. I was born at the perfect time to be one of those Rick Springfield lovers. I thought he was soooo cute, but I was more drawn to Bull Terrier on the cover of the ‘Working Class Dog’ LP.
1982 – Olivia Newton-John “Physical” – so many to choose from this year, but I had the headband, my mother refused to buy me the leotard. Smart woman.

1983 – Musical Youth “Pass the Dutchie” – don’t judge me….81, 82 and 83 were me discovering music on my own with no parental or brotherly influence. Honestly though, I think this was the beginnings of my diversity in music. Such a rap/reggae influence right?

1984 – Van Halen “Jump” – the beginning of the metal years, thanks to my bro. We were just like every other kid jumping from the couch to couch playing this song, swinging out arms playing air guitar.
1985 – Metallica “Fade to Black” – I’m still not over Cliff Burton and still angry that Jason Newstead left the band. Love the bass players, no longer care about the rest of the band!
1986 – Run DMC “Walk this Way” – I was deep in Metallica at this point but intrigued and fascinated by rap, and when Aerosmith did this song with Run DMC it took my breath away.

1987 - Beastie Boys “Fight for your Right to Party” – nuff’ said.
1988 – Leonard Cohen “First we Take Manhattan” – I remember watching the video for this song on Much Music. I wasn’t sure I like the song at that age, wasn’t sure what is was, who he was, but I remember it vividly and came back to it years later.

1989 – The Cure “Pictures of You” – The Cure hold a special place in my heart. My first concert – CNE Grandstand – 8th row center – I could see Robert Smith’s sweat drip from his brow.
1990 – Jane’s Addiction “Three Days” – The 90’s were a great era for Team ‘73ers. A time of self-discovery. Perry Farrell had much much influence over me. Ritual De Lo Habitual is still part of me.

1991 – REM “Losing My Religion” – Again, the age of video. I can visualize this entire video in my head. The song is still great. I am not a fan of REM post Out-Of-Time though. Automatic For the People did so well and people love it, but it bores me.

1992 – Pearl Jam “Jeremy” – Eddie Vedder what a man, what a man, what a mighty fine man. He booted me in the head once – he was crowd surfing and Steph (another Team ’73) and I bounced around the mosh pit.
1993 – The The “Love is Stronger than Death” – god I love this song. If you haven’t heard it go listen. Hell listen to the entire Dusk album.
1994 – Tori Amos “Cornflake Girl” – Girl Power.
1995 – Radiohead “Fake Plastic Trees” – oh Thom thanks for coming out. Thanks for being a staple in my life for 20 years.

1996 – The Wallflowers “One Headlight” – this is likely not the best song Jakob Dylan has ever recorded, but I still throw this one on my running playlist. It still has a hold on me.

1997 – Hanson “mmmmBop” – i put this in to see if you are still reading….actually it’s Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” but I didn’t want to repeat a band
1998 – Matthew Good Band “Apparitions” – this is my CRTC Canadian Content. No, I do love Matt Good and thankfully he continues to put out great music!
1999 – Moby “Natural Blues” – how can you not crank this tune and drive fast?
2000 – Coldplay “Yellow” – I’ve always had a thing for Brit Pop. Coldplay are like U2, they are consistent and well loved by the masses. This song reminds me of the favourite yellow t-shirt I once had.
2001- Nickelback “This is how you remind me” – this is only here for the pure fact that it showed that 2001 and was a terrible year in the history of music. Ick.
2002 – Damien Rice “Cannonball” – and we recover with Mr. Rice. “O” is a fantastic album, and it needs to be listened to from beginning to end.
2003 – The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” – this is where I begin my love affair with a weirdo.
2004 – The Killers “Mr. Brightside” – I don’t care what you say this is the best running song ever.

2005 – Imogen Heap “Hide & Seek” – Oh the song from The OC (as show I never watched). I love Imogen and her weird hats. Especially love her collaborations with Jeff Beck.
2006 – Ryan Star “Back of Your Car” – and so it begins. Rockstar Supernova airs and I fell hard. I know that BOYC isn’t a 2006 song, but it is for me. I don’t think it was Ryan’s first original I had heard, I looked him up previously to him rockin’ it out on the show – but I chose it here because I love every form of this song I have heard. I adore Ryan acoustic, on the piano and being all mellow – but I love love love when he gets all nasty and rocks it out.
2007 – Radiohead “Reckoner” – Radiohead swooped in and stole my soul in 2007 with this song, this album.
2008 - Portishead “Magic Doors” – brilliance comes around again! I chose this song because the beeping at the beginning. Every time it came on in my car I thought my car was alerting me to something wrong. Every.Time.
2009 - Florence + The Machine “Rabbit Heart” – Lungs is a great album and this song is my favourite. The lyrics are fabulous.
2010 – Ryan Star “Breathe” – A worthy repeat of an artist wouldn’t you say? 11:59 was released in this year and I may have listened to it a wee bit.

2011 – Bon Iver “Flume” – I know Bon Iver puts people to sleep. I was being put to sleep from early on in the release of this album. I also adore Peter Gabriel’s cover.
2012 – Jack White “Love Interruption” – This song makes me appreciate a different sound out of Jack, also makes me want to have love bite me, and slam my fingers in a doorway. Kinky.

2013 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Sacrilege” – can’t get enough of this song so far this year and anticipate the album release later this month!!! Woohoo new music!

There were so many songs I could have chosen, so many that had impact in certain years and then there were years where pickings were slim! So odd. There are artists that didn’t even make the list, like Peter Gabriel, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Love and Rockets, Iron Maiden to name few. I wouldn’t call this my Top 40 songs, as there are many songs that were made pre-1973 that I adore, and there are likely many songs released in one year that would fill spots.

So as I prepare to turn 40 in 2 days….I do hope to remain young at heart in my music tastes. Is that possible or am I delusional?

Cheers,
Lila