The Top 10 Songs Of My Year - 2006

Someone once said “Music is the soundtrack of our life.” And although I am pretty sure it was me in 1999 while discovering listening to music as I did my grocery shopping made the tedious process more enjoyable, I have a sneaking suspicion I may have been scooped by a few years.

It is that time of year again where every other clodhopper in the world puts out a top ten list of their favorite things from the past 365 days. I’ve chosen my ten favorite songs, but with a twist. The songs I’ve selected are not necessarily ones released in 2006, but rather the tunes I have enjoyed the most this past year.
It has been a year of change and revelation for me – in fact, you could say out of all the years in my short life this is the one where I did the most growing up. I think my top ten list of songs for this year reflects this and I say this because artists like Korn, Marilyn Manson, Powerman 5000 and Slipknot are auspiciously missing from it.

The Top Ten Songs of My Year – 2006 (these are in no particular order because there is just no way I can pick between songs that have effected me on so many different levels on a daily basis)

10. Bat Out of Hell – Meatloaf: I don’t watch much of the American Idol shows, but any time I’ve caught an episode it’s always the one where the contestants get to choose any song they want to sing. I’ve yet to hear Simon Cowell approve with a song choice. He always says (and I fully agree) “With a catalogue of over 6000 songs to pick from, why on earth would you choose that one?” If I was a good singer (outside of the confines of my car) and made it onto that show I would pick this Meatloaf rock anthem. Why? Because it’s fucking cool, that’s why. It would whip the crowd into frenzy and by the time I reached the final lyrics – “Then like a sinner before the gates of heaven, I’ll come crawling on back to you.” I will have blown away any past or future competition forever.

9. Vicarious – TOOL: No top ten list of my favorite songs will ever be without a Tool song, even if it is in a year when they don’t put out an album. Thankfully, in 2006 Tool gave me a well crafted, solid effort titled 10,000 Days. The theme of this album is of tragedy and loss. This tragedy can be the death of a person, state of mind, a society or even the loss of ourselves as we forget empathy and give into temptations.
Vicarious is about our love for violence in the media but when it comes to reality we struggle to deal with it.

8. Not Ready To Make Nice – The Dixie Chicks: I am not a country music fan. In fact, I despise it – except, of course, for The Dixie Chicks. I’ve had a long love affair with their music and until now, it has always been unexplainable. I’ve always known The Dixie Chicks were more than just country artists. There has always been something just under the surface that has attracted me to their music. And thanks to lead singer Natalie Maines’ comments about George W. Bush and this new song, I now know what it is – guts.

7. Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset – Modest Mouse: Have you ever been in one of those moods where you want to mock and take apart something beautiful just because? For me, that is what this song represents. I only recently discovered this band and they have quickly become one of my all time favorites. I am always pissed off that good quality bands like Modest Mouse do not get the credit they deserve and yet idiots like Usher, The Pussycat Dolls and other manufactured garbage reap all the praise and attention. BAH!
I can say with certainty, that this song is, lyrically, my favorite of the year:

Oh noose tied myself in, tied myself too tight
Looking kind of anxious in your cross armed stance
Like a bad tempered prom queen at a homecoming dance
And I claim I'm not excited with my life any more
So I blame this town, this job, these friends
The truth is it's myself
And I'm trying to understand myself and pinpoint where I am
When I finally get it figured out I've change the whole damn plan
Oh noose tied myself in, tied myself too tight
Talking shit about a pretty sunset
Blanketing opinions that I'll probably regret soon
I've changed my mind so much I cant even trust it
My mind changed me so much I cant even trust myself

6. The Bitter Pill – Dashboard Confessional: The meaning of this song has been so dissected that people are missing out on a truly poignant performance by lead singer Chris Carrabba. I love this song, not for it’s meaning, but because it is a good tune to scream to. The emotion ejected can be cathartic and if you don’t feel less burdened after belting it out with everything you have…then I owe you a Coke.

5. Pretty Vacant – Sex Pistols: You don't want to listen to anyone. You don't bother thinking about your future. You don't feel like really doing anything constructive with yourself. And most of all, you don't care about what anyone thinks. This is my song for when I feel apathetic and ‘over’ everyone in my life. The other reason I’ve chosen this song is because I know it would royally piss off Johnny Rotten to know he was on a list of any kind.

4. Hall of Mirrors – The Distillers: If you enjoy the art of air guitar or air drumming, I challenge you to find a better tune to practice to. Lead singer Brody Dalle’s raspy vocals are totally sexy and make this song. When she leans in real close to the mike, lowers her voice and sings “Don’t waste my time, come on get what you come for” then repeats herself and trails off into one of her trademark caterwauls, I am 100% committed to the song. The Distillers are one of my greatest discoveries of the past few years and to this day I can’t remember how it was I found out about them. It just feels like I have always been a fan.

3. Wandering Eye – Fat Freddy’s Drop: Appearing on the New Zealand music scene and literally taking an entire country by storm was this little seven-piece roots/dub/reggae/jazz/soul band from Wellington. A day after releasing their first studio album, Based On A True Story - in May 2005, the record went gold and was number one on the New Zealand album charts despite having little advertising or marketing. Typical of home grown New Zealand music, this song is organic, fun and highly enjoyable – especially in your car, on a long drive on a balmy summer’s day. It reminds me of my New Zealand whanau and the day when I can see them again.

2. It Ain’t Me Babe – Walk The Line Soundtrack Version: I know, I know – it is pretty despicable that I pick this version over Johnny Cash’s and Bob Dylan’s but there is just something about the way Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon perform this song that speaks to me. The meaning is obvious and perhaps this is why I enjoy this song so much. It doesn’t require too much thinking as the message is pretty clear – I love you, but I am not the one for you.

1. Pictures Of You – The Cure: Does anyone else miss this band? Whenever I hear The Cure I am shot back to my high school days and the ridiculous notion I had that I knew everything. Fast forward a good 15 years and I am still, thankfully, learning. This is a sad song about regret, about not being able to find the right words, about missing opportunities and about asking too much. I am pretty ticked off they ‘lent’ it to HP for a commercial. Has Robert Smith really burnt through all his money?