25 songs that might surprise people that I have on my ipod and why I have them.

 

 

Green Light- John Legend: I’m a sucker for a good falsetto; John combines pop, RNB, rap and throws in a touch of falsetto to create a feel good song with a humorous rap portion in the middle.

 

Dead Skunk- Loudon Wainwright III: I remember the dj playing this song at the roller rink when I was a young teen; it just fit my quirky personality; me on wheels.

 

Remind Me-Royksopp: This is the full version of the Geico Caveman Commercial tune when the cave man is on the conveyor walking through the airport and sees a picture on the wall of a caveman; really cool tecno/electronica.

 

Il Diavolo E L’Angelo- Andrea Bocelli: I would’ve never imagined myself enjoying and Italian tenor singing operatic pop but Andrea’s passion leaps out of this song.

 

Crazy- Gnarls Barkley: Just the beat; I could probably dance to this even at my old age.

 

Hookers and Robbers- Charlie Hall: For all the Christian music that starts to sound the same when you listen to it on the radio there are a few artists that break out of the box and Charlie is one of them. The song is a real look at the fallen state of all people.

 

Us and Them- Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon was one of the first few albums (vinyl) I bought when I was sixteen; it was light years ahead of its time, but drugs will do that to you. The older I’ve gotten it’s the saxophone solo that makes the song for me.

 

Bittersweet Symphony- The Verve: Christian, but not! I just dig it.

 

End of October- David Crowder: Nobody talks about this tune. I’ve put this song in my CD player in my car, pressed the repeat button and have listened to it for a couple hours straight. It’s an instrumental that just kind of clears my head and lets me think spiritually.

 

The Man Comes Around- Johnny Cash: This was one of those songs that showed that Johnny had no boundaries or limits to what he could do; straight out of the book of Revelation.

 

Dignity- Bob Dylan: A totally honest song that explores both sides of the human condition, plus, one of the few Dylan songs you can understand the lyrics when he sings it.

 

One of Us- Joan Osborne: This was the theme song to the TV series Joan of Arcadia; asked the question “what if God walked among us—would we recognize him?”

 

Hallelujah- Jeff Buckley: The original, from which much has been borrowed!

 

One of These Days- Ten Years After: Ten Years After played at the original Woodstock; a great blues/rock song.

 

On My Own- Patti LaBelle/Michael McDonald: One of the best duets I’ve ever heard; reminds me of a swirl ice cream cone from Dairy Queen, half vanilla and half chocolate—Michael’s blue-eyed soul mixed with Patti’s tenderness, I think the flavors are mixed up though.

 

Unknown Legend- Neil Young: One of the few unplugged songs I’ve ever found that I liked.

 

Doe Eyes- Clint Eastwood: Not a lot of people know that Clint Eastwood is a composer and wrote this theme song to the movie The Bridges of Madison County. The movie was mediocre at best except the scene when Eastwood is standing in the rain watching Meryl Streep leave town with her husband as this song plays in the background; almost cried—almost, but nary a tear.

 

Roll Over Beethoven- Electric Light Orchestra: This song came off of ELO’s first LP, has classic orchestration and was an 8+ minute version of the song in symphonic rock.

 

Human Work of Art- Maxi Priest: Just a cool reggae song.

 

The Dutchman-Robert Waller: This is a song about a man with Alzheimer’s disease who is cared for by his wife; full of love, life and hope; kind of a folksy tune.

 

Bullet- Mat Kearney: There is no white boy who combines rap and pop in the way Mat does—period.

 

When Love Comes to Town-U2/B.B. King: Bono and B.B. King! What else can I say?

 

Missing Your Touch-Acoustic Alchemy: A convertible, driving down the pacific coast highway with the top down at night, moon kissing the ocean. Perfect.

 

Let Your First Thought Be Love-WhiteHeart: Granddaddies of Christian rock, they paved the way for what we have today; the song is for today as much as it was in 1983.

 

It’s Too Late, Brother-Darrell Mansfield: This is an amazing blues song written in 1956 heavy with harmonica; sung by 70’s Christian blues man Darrell Mansfield and at its zenith makes me want to scream, fall to the floor on my back, kick my feet as I spin in circles and shout “sweet mother of all that’s good and pure!”