The Songs That Changed My Life

[Benji]

The rules, 8 songs that influenced your life in some way or another (not necesarilly musically), 1 guilty pleasure, 6 of your current favourite songs (not necesarilly recently released).

The Songs That Changed My Life

"Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode

The first time I heard something outside of my dads favourites and the pop charts was Depeche Mode, I heard it on TV and just thought 'this is amazing', it wasn't until years later I found out who the song was by and the rest of their amazing songs.

"Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen

The earliest memories I have of music is me and my dad listening to Queen, and this was the stand out track, it's got better over time, especially because I laugh at the thought of a gay man singing about how he loves fat women.

"Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" by Limp Bizkit

The song that took me from "I like this 'rock music' thing" to "I want to fucking hear anything that comes my way". No matter what you say, I won't believe you if you say you never liked this song, it was a phenomenon upon release and to me, it's never faded.

"Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus

This reminds me of my first real girlfriend, we used to sing it together whenever it came on, it just makes me happy to hear it to be honest.

"Hurt" by Johnny Cash

Any time I'm down, since the first time I heard this song, I put it on. I think there's something very theraputic about depression, and this enhances that feeling in a very good way. The amazing lyrics of Reznor combined with the potent and fading voice of one of the last true legends of music.

"Brad Logan" by Rancid

I got the South Park album aged 11, my mother was pissed off something mighty, she tried to take it back, but she couldn't, namely because I stuck another CD in the case before she could take it back. To this day, Brad Logan has been the song that reminds me of my initiation into genuine punk rock and I wonder now why it took me a few more years until "Rollin'" forced me into rock music (having said that, the internet had a large influence).

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day

At this point, I'd like to make it clear, this song could be dead to me as far as I'm concerned now, but when I first heard it, it blew me away, at the time I really was feeling quite lonely and, as I mentioned before, depression is theraputic for me far too often, and this song helped a shitload.

"Feeling This" by blink-182

One of my two best friends I met when he put this song on. Simple.

Guilty Pleasure

"Doctor Jones" by Aqua

Europop at its finest, I bought their cassette before a flight to Spain when "Barbie Girl" was huge, I've got an all out hidden closet in my mind of europop songs I love, but none beats Aqua.

Current Favourites

"The Man Without Fear" by Drowning Pool (Ft. Rob Zombie)

"My Last Breath" by Evanescence

"For You" by The Calling

"We Are" by Ana Johnsson

"Mr Jones" by Counting Crows

"You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell

[GoGo Yubari]

The Songs That Changed My Life

"Bawitdaba" by Kid Rock

Yyyeahh. It's not a song I would want to listen to much these days, but it still remains surprisingly anthemic and it's one of the songs that got me into rock in 1999 after listening to, like, smooth jazz for two years. Seriously, smooth jazz. Yikes (though admittedly I still like "Feels So Good" by Chuck Mangione for the nostalgia factor).

"Rock the House" by Gorillaz

This was the first hip-hop song not made by the Beastie Boys I ever loved once my taste in music started to become fully defined. I heard "Clint Eastwood" first and I thought it was okay, but "Rock the House" just blows it out of the water. My journey into becoming a hip-hop fan was a slow one; first Del, then Digable Planets, then De La Soul, then N.W.A. and then I started listening to a wide variety. But still, this was what made me realize that perhaps hip-hop wasn't a terrible genre after all.

And no, I'm not sure why I didn't count the Beastie Boys as hip-hop back in the day. I just... didn't. Go figure.

"In Bloom" by Nirvana

Nirvana, I think, was the first band that I outright followed and explored. I liked other groups, sure; the Beastie Boys, Gorillaz, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and so on, but I just had albums of theirs. With Nirvana, I learned about the band, their songs, what their songs meant, their history, everything. And "In Bloom" was the song that got me hooked on them. I've never been a big "Smells Like Teen Spirit" person, actually. "In Bloom" was much catchier and much cleverer, if not as anthemic and not as impactful.

"Ride on Shooting Star" by The Pillows

The Pillows got me into Japanese rock. Plain and simple. I may not listen to that genre incredibly often now but I did for quite a while and I still know quite a bit and enjoy quite a bit from it. Since "Ride on Shooting Star" is the song that made me want to download a lot of The Pillows' music, I think it's definitely fair to put them on this list.

"Come Together" by The Beatles

My friend had a lot of Beatles records. So I borrowed A Hard Day's Night and it was great, but it also sounded like pretty much my image of The Beatles always was. And then I borrowed Abbey Road and was dumbstruck and amazed that this was the exact same band. Abbey Road is the album that slapped me in the face and made me start really listening to music, and I will love it forever for it. "Come Together," of course, was the opening track, and that's why it's here.

"Blue in Green" by Miles Davis

This is to jazz what "Ride on Shooting Star" is to J-Rock for me. One of the most beautiful songs ever made, bar none.

"Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A.

For the longest time I completely spat on gangsta rap like a genre elitist prick. Then I listened to N.W.A. I still hate most of the subgenre but I think this is what finally obliterated my belief that certain genres are inherently better than others. To me there's just good music and bad music, and N.W.A. had a lot to do with that realization.

"Love Blind" by Jamiroquai

Because I fucking love good pop music. I think this song cemented that fact in my mind, because it's one of the most amazingly catchy, hook-filled songs ever written and is so underrated in that regard. I cannot hear this song and not feel like dancing, and good pop music will make me feel like dancing more often than not.

Guilty Pleasure

"I Know What Boys Like" by The Waitresses

... and yes, I've sung along before. I love one-hit wonders, they are my guilty pleasure, and this is one of the best.

Songs I Currently Like/Are So Hot Right Now

"Life & Debt" by Blue Scholars

"Bouken Desho Desho" by Hirano Aya

"Landed" by Ben Folds

"Overtura" from Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

"A Viewing" by Visqueen

"Love You Madly" by Cake

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

The Songs That Changed My Life Musical Preferences

"This Is The Story of a Girl" - 3 Doors Down - I didn't really get into music (at ALL) until I was about 12, and this was the first song that I can remember myself actually 'liking'.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen - The song that got me into classic rock.

"Take Five" (instrumental) - I'd always been a half-decent rock drummer, but I joined my high school's jazz band one year, and this song is what got me into jazz/swing/blues drumming.

"It's The End Of The World As We Know It" - Great Big Sea - I've always loved cover songs, and this is the furthest back I can remember liking one, so I'm mentioning it here.

"The Electric Version" - The New Pornographers - The band I've most recently gotten into (September was the first I heard them), and the song that got me into them.

"Tonight is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love" - April Wine - 'the song' of me and an ex-girlfriend.

"I Can See For Miles" - The Who - It's the most-played song on my iPod, that's got to mean something.

Guilty Pleasure

I have no shame in my music. I think almost everything I've listed could be described as a guilty pleasure.

Songs I Currently Like/Are Hot Right Now

"Fool in the Rain" - Led Zeppelin

"Captain Kidd" - Great Big Sea

"Go West" - Pet Shop Boys

"All For Swinging You Around" - The New Pornographers

"Have a Cigar" - Pink Floyd

"Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys

Edited November 30, 2006 by Mr. Potato Head

[GoGo Yubari]

MPH; anyone who would describe the New Pornographers as a guilty pleasure should be ashamed of themselves. Just saying.

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

All right, but Pet Shop Boys? Beach Boys (to an extent)? Great Big Sea? Take Five? My point stands. Just saying.

[R.W.]

The Songs That Changed My Life:

"Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House

It's the first song I can clearly remember hearing and thinking "I like it". Twenty odd years later, and it's still my favourite, though with much more personal feeling attached now - the songs theme of kidding yourself that it's going to be OK when you know it's over was prevalent when I broke up with my then-fiance

"I Shall Believe" by Sheryl Crow

Always makes me think of my last girlfriend. It meant a lot to her, and when I took her to see Sheryl Crow at Wembley Arena, she played this live, which was unusual for her. I still remember my ex grabbing my hand and just holding it close to her whilst the song played, and everytime I hear this song I can feel the exact same sensation I did then.

"Somebody" by Bryan Adams

Reckless was the first album I ever owned, and Somebody was my favourite track on it. I can't help but feel happy whenever I hear this song, and I don't know why!

"Dreaming While You Sleep" by Genesis

When I was younger, I lost a friend to a hit and run driver, so this song (from the point of view of a driver involved) always acted as a kind of therapy for me, and in a certain way still does.

"The Frog Princess" by The Divine Comedy

Another song that makes me smile when I hear it - reminds me of my late teens / early twenties when I was just looking to shag anything in sight and not looking for a serious relationship, and the sort of things I would say to girls to acheive that goal!

"Getting Away With It" by Electronic

Of course, the inevitable happened and I grew up, fell in love, then went through the experience of slowly working out she was just going through the motions and didn't care much for the relationship anymore. The combination of Marr's guitar, and the harmonies of Sumner & Tennant singing "However I look it's clear to see, I love you more than you love me" still chokes me a little.

"Anytime" by Neil Finn

My greatest fear in life has always been my own mortality. Being the scientific aethist that I am leaves me with little hope of an afterlife, and many panic inducing moments of what happens when I die - then I heard this song. My favourite artist, singing an upbeat, quirky song about how quickly life can be taken from you due to the smallest circumstance. After a few listens, I wasn't so worried, and the panicked moments are few and far between now

"Stockholm Syndrome" by Muse

About a year ago, work was very stressful, I was moving house and had just split up with my last girlfriend, and I was very angry. The pulstating guitar work during the verses, combined with the rise & fall of the piano in the chorus made the perfect song for me to work out to in the gym, helping vent my anger and also restoring a sense of calm to me.

My Guilty Pleasure

"These Words" by Natasha Bedingfield

Again, I can't explain it, but it's like the perfect piece of pop - upbeat tune, catchy chorus, and just a generally good feel to it!

Songs Of The Moment

Crowded House - Better Be Home Soon

KT Tunstall - Through The Dark

Muse - Take A Bow

Oasis - The Masterplan

David Gray - Ain't No Love

Coldplay - What If

Neil Finn - She Will Have Her Way

Natalie Imbruglia - Satisfied

[GoGo Yubari]

All right, but Pet Shop Boys? Beach Boys (to an extent)? Great Big Sea? Take Five? My point stands. Just saying.

Yeah, fair on the Beach Boys because it's a Beach Boys song that wasn't on Pet Sounds and also isn't "Sail on Sailor."

[Evil Chase K]

"This Is The Story of a Girl" - 3 Doors Down

[YI]

SONGS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE;

"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by The Beatles

I remember my dad playing Beatles records as a child, it seemed to be the only 'popular' music he enjoyed (Well that and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band). Now however I've made him partial to a little Ben Folds and Jose Gonzalez...and he also recognises some DCFC songs (Who he took an 'interest' in purely for them naming themselves after a Bonzo Dog song). Whilst I was young, the easily recognisable introduction became etched into my brain, and when I got older, it all came shooting back to me. This song is definately one that reminds me of my younger years.

"Don't Look Back In Anger" by Oasis

1996, the year that everyone becomes sheep. I was far too young to even comprehend what 'good music' was, but all I knew was this song was cool, and at the time, Oasis themselves were the epitomy of the word. I was basically riding my brothers coattails, which also leads me onto my next choice.

"Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai

In my eyes, one of the most underapreciated songs in the world. A song that makes you want to dance, sing...basically, the song is just a bundle of fun. 1996 again, I can vaguely remember hearing it around that time, as before, my brother was a big fan. But as I got older, I started to love Jamiroquai of my own accord, and this song purely epitomises them. And to this day Jamiroquai remain one of those bands where you can find bands like them, but not a band exactly the same. They beg, steal and borrow from so many places, merging it all together in the form of a musical orgasm.

"Nancy Boy" by Placebo

There's a point in everyone's life where they 'stand-up for something they believe in', and this song was a rather pathetic 'example' of that. It was also probably my first brush with 'alternative music'. Basically, this was the first song which I liked that my friends and my brother didn't (When I was younger I basically worshipped the ground he walked on, as you probably gathered), and still to this day, the couple of friends I have from when I was like 9, still remember this, and whenever we hear Nancy Boy, they're like "It's your song". This might also go to explain my love fo Placebo, even though for the most part they've released the same album for the past 10 years. Speaking of releasing the same album for the past 10 years......

"Fuck Authority" by Pennywise

Not my first trip into the world of punk-rock, the first coming with the whole summer of pop-punk thing (see below). Basically one of my buddies followed 'trends' and became a skater boy, pretty much overnight. He basically tried to convince me to do the same. So, I did. I sucked. I broke my arm. It was shitty. But one thing did come out of this experience. My love for the punk-rock. This is the band that started me on my road to the punk-rock obsessed man I am today. And I remember Fuck Authority inparticular being one of the songs that got me going in the 'early' days. Personally I'm not totally into the song anymore, but Pennywise still remain the godfathers of modern punk-rock, and without them, I wouldn't be into the bands I am today.

"Fat Lip" by Sum 41

Summer 2001. The year of pop-punk. And that "Do you really like it, is it is it wicked?" song. Yet this summer is also the home to one of my fondest memories. Just finished year 9, and you're at the age where you think you're older than you are. Your eyes are opened up to what you envisage the real world to be like, and you want some of that. 'Binges' on 'alcohol', which you wouldn't touch with a bargepole these days. And these 'binges' were generally not enough to even get you staggering these days. A school trip to France, which was sheer awesomeness. From chilling on the beach to basically nearly destroying a hotel, it was awesome. And to top off the summer, my first shag. Basically...it was a great year, it was a great summer. And little did we know we'd have to stomach four more years of pretty much the same shit. And after that, life wasn't exactly what we'd hoped. But for that summer, my friends and I were on top of the world, and the "All Killer No Filler" album to me sums it all up perfectly, and listening to it still makes me smile, reminisce and rock on out.

"Gear Box" by Strung Out

Okay...this might go on for a while. Basically, for a long while I was fairly embarrassed to be into punk-rock. For lots of my musical friends, the genre often seemed to be on the butt of a lot of jokes. Then suddenly I stumbled across this group of motherfuckers. An enigmatic, charismatic vocalist, whose words often speak to me like poetry. Two guitarists who can both handle their fair share of shredding. And a top notch drummer, who's speed and precision still shocks me to this day. This was the band that made me realise, there's no shame at all to be a punk-rock fan. And it's this band that are still possibly my favourite band to this day. They constantly reinvent themselves, no two albums sound the same, over their near 15 year run. And this song is possibly my favourite by them. It's got quite possibly some of the greatest drumming I've ever heard. It really adds to the character of the song. It's got some of the sweetest riffs I've ever heard. Basically, it's the all-round package. Strung Out are one of those bands that seem to speak to people, and for a non 'mainstream' band seem to have a fair more obsessors than other artists, and I'm quite possibly one of those obsessors.

"Expo 86" by Death Cab For Cutie

I don't tend to often get into this whole bullshit of songs getting to me, or lyrically really meaning something to me, but for me, this song does that. A year, year and a half ago I got 'engaged'. By 'engaged', I basically mean we told her parents we were engaged, purely to show that I was committed to the relationship. I'd dated her for a good number of months and her parents HATED me, I'm not entirely sure why. They were a pretty rich family, and I'm far from poor, but still I often got the feeling they were turning their nose up at me. Basically they wanted her to break up with me. I fell hard for her though, and I presumed she was that same. So if push came to shove, then I honestly couldn't say I wouldn't have married her (at the time). Things go well for a few weeks, then she dumps me. And fuck did it hurt hard. Since then, I've had a totally different/better view on relationship, and this song has helped me. "Sometimes i think this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again, and it seems by the time that i have figured what it's worth, the squeaking of our skin against the steel has gotten worse." Basically to me at least, relationships are like the slide. You start off at the top, and soon you're at the bottom, and it's all over. You can either go fast, and have a good time. Or you can go slow, make it last, but ultimately find yourself 'burned' when it finishes. "But if i move my place in line i'll lose. And I have waited, the anticipation's got me glued." And at the end of the day, it's important to pick yourself back up, because next time might be different, and if it's not, have fun, and go right back to the start. If only they'd done this live, it may have possibly been the best gig experience of my life.

GUILTY PLEASURE :

I dunno

SONGS OF THE MOMENT;

"Downtown" by Strung Out

"Hunting For Witches" by Bloc Party

"If I Had A Pound For Every......." by Get Cape Wear Cape Fly

"Fidget & Fudge" by White Whale

"Been Here Before" by Jeremy Enigk

"Good Morning Night" by Bad Astronaut

[RPS]

The Songs That Changed My Life

1. What's My Age Again by blink-182

Propelled me to love punk music. Without them I wouldn't like any of the music I like today. Heck, I probably wouldn't be the same person without blink-182. Probably the most important song I've ever heard.

2. Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue by the Ramones

Probably helped define me. I wanted so desperately to be a punker back in the 70's, kicking it at the CBGB's with the Ramones.

3. At Your Funeral by Saves the Day

Probably the song that represents every sad moment in my life.

4. Life On Mars? by David Bowie

Bowie has gotten me through some hard times before. Life On Mars is probably my favorite song.

5. Cry Me A River by Justin Timberlake

What once became a guilty pleasure became the story of every break-up that I've ever had. Helped me diversify as a person and open up.

6. Rockstar by N.E.R.D

Got me into hip-hop.

7. Song Song Song by Final Fantasy

Probably the most beautiful song I've ever heard and I've probably listened to it thousands of times.

Songs Of the Moment

8. Loveblind by Jamiroquai

9. many lives -> 49 mp by Final Fantasy

10. Nausea by Beck

11. Black Hand by Cadence Weapon

12. Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough by My Chemical Romance

13. Coffee & TV by Blur

14. Quality Control by Jurassic 5

[Gene Kiniski]

I hate Benji for being just like me.

Songs That Changed My Life

"A Lifetime" - Better Than Ezra

There is something about that song that just opened my eyes when I first heard it. Now it reminds me of a friend who I lost my senior year, but the song still makes me appriciate everything a little more.

"All The Small Things" - Blink182

Easily my favorite band, period. Opened me up to Blink and eventually the likes of Rancid, Sex Pistols, and Rancid, just by genre association. While I was more into harder rock at the time when I heard them, the song just attracted me.

"Iron Man" - Black Sabbath

I still look at Ozzy as a rolemodel in the music aspect of my life. I've been a huge fan since I was younger. "Iron Man" just brought rock music to a whole for me when I was first getting into it.

"King Nothing" - Metallica

The first song I can remember hearing of it's style. Pulled me away from the country/pop era that was going around at the time I heard it and into everything I listen to today. I could listen to the song over and over without getting tired of it.

"Champagne Supernova" - Oasis

A song I listen to almost everyday. It represents a time in my life that was purely fantastic. When I hear it it takes me back to some of the greatest friends and late nights I've ever had in my life. Highschool's over, but this song will always remind of the times I've had during and just after. Sadly, it's not always a good thing for me to listen to it as it will make me think about how much everything has changed.

[Clawson]

The Songs That Changed My Life

Stop Crying Your Heart Out by Oasis

-Prior to The Butterfly Effect I had never heard of Oasis believe it or not and when SCYHO kicks in at the end of that movie it just clicked on something inside of me. I ended up acquiring 6 of their songs afterwards (Wonderwall, Don't Look Back In Anger, Champagne Supernova, Live Forever, Morning Glory and The Masterplan) but I didn't really see anything major about them until...

Supersonic by Oasis

-When I was bored one day I had a little song acquiring-fest and this just happened to be included in it. After the first 5 listens I never found anything special about it until one day it just exploded. It may not connect to me as a person as much as Live Forever or DLBIA but there is just something about Supersonic and the opening guitar that adds a bounce to my step whenever it's on. Multiple times my friends have had to slap me and tell me to stop walking like a retard whenever it plays but it's just one of those things that can't helped.

Can't Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers

-I'll admit that up to grade 8 I had no interest in music except for a small period of time in my earlier years which I'll discuss after this. When my friend sent me Can't Stop it started what would eventually become my permanent interest in music even though it wasn't nearly as strong as it is today. However I have moved off of the Peppers in general but it was still the first band that I could call my favourite band.

All-Star by Smash Mouth

-Yeah it was the first song I ever liked which resulted in that album being the first album I ever bought...let's just move along.

Good Times by Finger Eleven

-I think it was either the year before I went to high school or the year after grade 9 when this became the theme song for that summer. It was on alot whenever I was around my friends and ironically enough it reminds me of the Good Times that we had together then. My friend played it on his computer last weekend and we had a good laugh remembering some of our previous antics prior to jobs and university.

Weak and Powerless by A Perfect Circle

-I've always been the one with the voice that means the least in a group so it worked out pretty well for me whenever I got frustrated with everybody ignoring what I was saying. It's not that I was depressed with being ignored alot it just got on my tits and this song was a good way of knowing pretty much everybody else gets ignored in the world so I may as well suck it up.

What's My Age Again by blink-182

-Along the same lines of Good Times, What's My Age Again serves as a reminder of grade 6 when it was cool to play mini-sticks (fuck it, it's still cool to play mini-sticks) and Pokemon Snap (which isn't so much anymore). Much like the rest of these songs it hasn't exactly changed my life but it enables me to look back at the fun times I had with guys I barely see nowadays.

Don't Look Back In Anger by Oasis

-Perhaps the most life-changing song in a way that it's a perfect reminder that alot of shit will happen but you can't let it bother you. DLBIA is the perfect song to put on whenever somebody is pissing you off as it's just fast enough to stop you from falling deeper into a hole with the best lyrics to help pick yourself up. Whenever something doesn't go my way this tends to be put on the iPod and by the second chorus everything seems to be all better.

Guility Pleasure

Don't Speak by No Doubt

-I'm not sure if this deserves to be a guility pleasure but since it seems everybody I know rips on this song I'm gonna go with it being one. I may not have experienced what the lyrics are talking about myself but it's still a brillant song.

Current Favourites

Beach Chair by Jay-Z and Chris Martin

Live Forever by Oasis

Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

Revolution by The Beatles

Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones

Never Went To Church by The Streets

[Only In Dreams]

Songs that Changed My Life

1. Sargent Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band - The Beatles

Come on, everyone has to have a Beatles song that impacted your life somehow? I remember when I was young, and listening to Paul McCartney start off by saying "Well, it was twenty years ago today//Sargent Pepper taught a band to play." Ah, the life, such a good song by one of the if not THE greatest bands of all time.

2. Brain Stew - Green Day

One of the easiest songs to teach yourself how to play the guitar and or the bass. I taught myself this song, and every time I put in Insomniac, which was Green Days finest album in my own personal mind from start to finish, I always mark out to this song.

3. No Control - Bad Religion

Silly enough, the title track of the record entitled No Control, wasn't my first choice as a Bad Religion song I liked off that album, "Sometimes I Feel Like" would have gotten the nod, but after awhile this song has grown to me. And is till by far Bad Religions best punk record from their first shot at Epitaph. I do love Suffer though.

4. Dammit - Blink 182

Such a good song to just rock out too.

5. Smooth - Santana (w. Rob Thomas)

This song is the reason I was like to my parents one day "I want a guitar." This was also the reason I got NHL 2000, for Playstation after betting my father that, Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty sang this song with Santana. Such a win win for me.

6. No More Lonely Nights - Paul McCartney

I like Paul McCartney since his days with the Beatles, I love his style his demeanor (minus him getting busted in Japan for weed in '80), and just because he sang with Michael Jackson. But this song, for some reason I cannot get out of my head from time to time, and that's a good thing. And if I really wanted to make a stir, I could have put "Say Say Say" his duet with Michael Jackson.

7. Everlong - Foo Fighters

Grew over me after time. I just find this song very well written, and very impactful.

8. Everything's Too Cold... But You're So Hot - The Early November

Made me love this band, and Ace Enders.

Guilty Pleasure

Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake

Yes. I'm the one bringing sexy back too.

Current Favorites

1. No It Isn't - (+44)

2. Kingdom Come - Jay-Z

3. Greg's Estate - Bad Astronaut

4. Spider Song - Say Anything

5. 1,000 Times A Day - The Early November

6. Hangman - Motion City Soundtrack

7. Man Overboard - Blink 182

8. The Longest Line - NOFX

[The Z-Man]

"This Is The Story of a Girl" - 3 Doors Down - I didn't really get into music (at ALL) until I was about 12, and this was the first song that I can remember myself.

Edited December 3, 2006 by The G-Man

[uwosashley]

Songs that Changed My Life

1. The Scorpions - Winds of Change

Honestly, this is the first song I can remember liking as a child, maybe it is that whistling part a the beginning, but always stuck in my head. Don't really care for any other Scorpions songs, but this one... dunno why, something about it. Just resonates with me.

2. Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire

This one, my dad is a huge Cash fan, and I remember repeatedly hearing this play through out the day, along with several other, any time he was home. Just one of those things that sticks in your head, at least for me it did. Course I don't care for country all that much, but Cash's music, to me, it isnt really about the singing, it is more about what he is singing about.

3. Mad at Gravity - Stay

When I first hear this one, even though it isnt available anywhere on any cd of theirs, not a single, nothing, the last thing they recorded before they broke up, I was in a deep ass depression, and it helped a good deal, not sure why, just it is a fantastic song, compared to the rest of their stuff.

4. Incubus - Drive

This song, along with Stellar, off the Make Yourself album, it is what really pushed me into listening to music, though it could have probably been something better, to me, at the time they were released, they were fantastic, course Drive still is rather good, but Stellar don't find all that appealing anymore.

5. Fear Factory - Timelessness

Probably the oddest song, Ive heard, there are relatively no lyrics, but this is the song that got me into heavy metal, granted it also help cheer me up when I got sad, guess I'm a little messed up in the head, cause everyone would yell at me, when I would listen to it, never could understand why. Actually... I still don't understand.

6. 30 Seconds to Mars - The Mission

Saw this song, in a anime music video years ago, when I was into anime, and quite frankly, the song blew me away, I quickly found the album it was from, and the entire self titled album, was awesome. Then finally got to see them live, and it was the best live show Ive ever seen. All their music just speaks volumes to me, even though their lead singer is an actor, but I find his music to be way better then his acting. Just made things in my life seem way easier, then they were at the time I first heard the song.

7. Blue Oyster Cult - Veteran of the Psychic Wars

Ah BOC, the first time I heard it, it was in the movie Heavy Metal, saw it when I was like 14, one of those times you just stay up way to late, cause you don't feel like sleeping in the summer. But just the beats of the song, just stick in my head, and if anyone mentions BOC, I always throw that out there, not sure why, cause everyone else thinks of Don't Fear the Reaper, but I always think of VotPW.

8. Led Zeppelin - The Battle of Evermore

Never really cared much for Zeppelin, until probably a few years ago, when I was working in a music store, and the guy I was working with put it on, and he played this song, and definitely helped break down the annoying factor of Zeppelin, at least that i had against them. Enjoyed many good nights of work blasting Zeppelin throughout the mall.

Guilty Pleasure

Sigur Rós - Starálfur

Current Favorites

1. 30 Seconds to Mars - The Story

2. Sonata Arctica - My Land

3. E.S. Posthumus - Antissa

4. Matthew Good - Weapon

5. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - My Guardian Angel

6. Imogen Heap - Speeding Cars

7. Ours - Here is the Light

8. Frou Frou - Must Be Dreaming

[Fanku Kaibutsu]

Life Changing

Welcome To The Jungle by Guns and Roses

My parents either had really good judgement, or really bad judgement when I was little. Everyone I knew until the 5th grade was pretty much oblivious to legitimate music, and listend to whatever mindless, boring drivel passes for 'children's music'. I, on the other hand, was headbanging to the likes of Iron Maiden, Steppen Wolf, Black Sabbath, and my favorite of all Guns and Roses. Welcome to the Jungle was my motherfucking jam in my pre-school and early elementary school days, and forged in me my love of rock music.

Good Time Boys by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Like I said, I listend to real music as a little kid. My parents bought this on cassette when I was little, and they hated it. I listened to it, and the first track blew my 6 year old mind. "Wait. Wait. Hold on, this guy isn't singing, what the hell? He's just, like, talking rhythmically. I didn't know you were allowed to do that. It's really fucking awesome, though." And so started my enjoyment of rap music. It wasn't until years later, when I'd get a TV in my room, and got access to MTV and the likes of Cypress Hil, Dr. Dre, and Onyx(featuring Biohazard), that my interest in rap/hip-hop solidified, but Good Time Boys was where it started.

Basket Case by Green Day

"Sometimes I give myself the creeps. Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me. It all keeps adding up, I think I'm cracking up." What can I say, this song spoke to me like no other song I'd heard before it, and also introduced me to one of my overall favorite bands.

Poetry and Prose by Primus

The year was 1995, and as an adolesent male with cable television, I was a huge Beavis and Butt-Head fan. Then came an album called The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience, featuring Anthrax, Nirvana, Megadeth, Sir Mix-A-Lot(an underrated rapper if ever there was one), Red Hot Chilli Peppers, White Zombie, Run DMC, and a band I had previously only known as 'That band that had that song about screwing chimpanzees', Primus. I had never really heard a Primus song, you really couldn't hear the music on the videos Beavis and Butt-Head showed. So I listen to the song, and my expectations are low. The opening featured a nasally, southern-twanged voice saying "Ain't one for poetry. I ain't one for prose. I ain't one for the scent of a springtime rose. But there is one fact that I do know, I sure get a kick out of that Beavis and Butt-Head show." And then the bass kicked in, and it blew my goddamn mind. I'd never heard anything so bizzarre and eratic. It was like pure lunacy rendered into sound, and it was awesome.

Rolling by Soul Coughing

I'd seen a video on this song on Cartoon Network. And it was a great song, so I got into the band that made it, and they were a great band. It was my first foray into truely obscure music that almost nobody has ever heard. Primus are mainstream icons compared to these guys, and it's a shame they hated each other and broke up after 3 albums.

Shiroi Yami No Naka by Shakkazombie

I stumbled upon a birlliant Anime Music Video called 'Tainted Donuts', which used this song as music. The beat was catchy and infectious, and the rapping wasn't too bad, so via the magic of the internet, I looked further into this 'Shakkazombie', which in turn led me to Bump of Chicken, Rappagariya, X Japan, Glay, Kemuri, and my current most favoritest band ever, Dragon Ash.

Grateful Days by Dragon Ash

I'm kind of stretching with this one, but I don't have anything better to add. This song didn't so much change my life, as it changed a friends life. My friends are alarmingly closeminded when it comes to Japanese music, especially considering how much weird indy shit, like Primus and Soul Coughing, that they like. They wouldn't even give it a chance, they assumed all japanese music was obnoxious, overtly cute pop, like, well, almost all japanese music. But they refused to listen when I extolled the just-like-american-music-ness of Bump of Chicken and Kemuri, or the heavy metal beauty of X Japan, or the sheer unbridled greatness of Dragon Ash. Until one day, I caught one of my friends in an unusually good mood, a illegal-chemically-induced good mood, and I finally got him to give Dragon Ash a chance. I put a CD-R in the stereo and Grateful Days is the first song. It's a hip-hop song that uses a sample of Smashing Pumkin's 'Today' as the main riff. About two minutes of silence he says "Man, this may be the drugs talking, but this is the illest shit I ever heard, goddamn!" A few days later, he listened to the songs again,and while he his opinions weren't quite so positive, he still liked them a good deal, and another american Dragon Ash fan was born.

Guilty Pleasure

Don't think I have a 'guilty pleasure'. I've yet to like a song that I've been ashamed to like. My stance is, If I like a song, I like it, and I don't care how socially acceptable it is.

Current Favorites

Stop - Jane' Addiction

The Dirty Glass - Dropkick Murphys

The Rocky Road To Dublin - Dropkick Murphys

If I Only Had A Brain - MC 900 Foot Jesus

White Trash(Second Generation) - Bad Religion

King Without a Crown - Matisyahou

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Songs that changed my life:

"Born Slippy" by Underworld

It's mid-90s and I'm at secondary school. Apaprantly there's this film called Trainspotting, not that I've seen it at that age. This song is everywhere. It's magnificent. It turns the charts on their heads. It introduces me to Underworld and 'dance' music.

"Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind

Not their best but it was enough for me to buy the album. One of my first CD albums (after searching for about 6 months for it) and brought me into a world of melodic, enjoyable and sing-alongable alternative rock stuff.

"Chicken On A Bone" by Feeder

I don't particularly like this song now, but remember Gran Turismo? I got it during my exams (not allowed to play it until my exams were over) but I just loaded it every day and went into the jukebox section, playing the music there. Ash, Garbage and FEEDER. I was won over. This woulda been 1998 if I remember rightly. Grant's voice is magnificent, it gave Feeder the edge over a lot of identikit groups. I have Swim (the six track EP), the updated Swim, Polythene, Yesterday Went Too Soon, Another Yesterday (ordered from Japan, it was never released here) and Echo Park. I kinda grew out of their new stuff....

"Muscle Museum" by Muse

I saw Muse supporting Ash in London Astoria in the winter of 1999. Immediately I cast down all other musical gods and followed them. Within just four tracks I was theirs. I got a t-shirt that night, Showbiz the next day and preached the gospel of Muse from then on. Glad to have you guys aboard. (Y)

"Firestarter" by The Prodigy

I didn't particularly like it right as soon as it was released, but by the time they released Breathe I realised something incredible had happened. Since Firestarter the English pop music charts have been counted differently to prevent such songs getting to number 1 again. So blame Prodigy. This was the start of my more 'adult' music tastes.

"Ain't Talking Bout Dub" by Apollo 440

People always have this 'embarrassing' record as their first ever CD purchase. I don't. My first CD single was this magnificent slice of drum n bass. I don't like too much of their other stuff (too housey for me) but from here on in I was hooked in loops, synths, drum machines and exploring electronic musical means.

"Five Years" by Bjork

And the rest, they say, is history. I love a great female vocalist and I love weirder, ecclectic and electro stylings. Bjork combined them both in an amazing tiny package.

"Come To Daddy" by Aphex Twin

Dirty foul mental techno. Brought me musical enlightenment. Refuse to do "music by numbers", it's lazy. Try something new, be EXPERIMENTAL.

Guilty Pleasure

"Hanging Around" by The Cardigans

I love the Cardigans. I love the way they called their album "Gran Turismo" cos that was the game they were playing when they recorded the album. I love Nina Persson's voice. I love the way the drums kick in on 42 seconds, The album stands up extremely well to time. But The Cardigans ain't cool are they? I guess this isn't a guilty pleasure as I'm happy to say I like The Cardigans...

Hot "Now" Songs

"Wrapped Up In Books" by Belle and Sebastian

This never fails to chill me out, make me feel happy and loved up. It's a beautiful song, his vocals are smooth, hers are adorable, beautiful, stunning. In fact as I'm listening to each song as I type up the description I don't wanna move on. This is a song of hope, excitement and Springtime joy.

"Happy As Larry" by Larrikin Love

So, the singer looks like he's about 16 years old, and he's a ginger, and the song starts all country-like and folky but his accent is great and it's a classic kinky English rock song by a new up-and-coming group. The kind of music that makes me swagger just by BEING English.

"TGV feat. Solex" by Electrique

Beyond brilliant minimal experimental Euro-electro that you'd all hate. Two ugly Dutch guys make classy music: http://www.myspace.com/groupeelectrique

"Map Of The Problematique" by Muse

The best track on the new album. It's all epic, intelligent, smart, massive to listen to, a true listening experience.

"Turn It Up" by Robots In Disguise

It's the background music for my myspace page and it's all tres cool. Two electro chicks singing over classically cool euro-electropop musique:

"Glosoli" by Sigur Ros

This is still the track that'd get played at my funeral if I snuffed it tomorrow. It's received a new lease of life after I sat and watched the music video on YouTube with the little drummer kid. Weird but strangely enchanting. Like the group. There's no more, and I mean NO MORE beautiful track than this that has EVER been written or performed. Simple as. The build into the explosion of energy and emotion is heart wrenching and exhilerating.

[YI]

CSAMH gets extra props for the inclusion of "Happy As Larry". Fucking class song.

[DFF]

Songs That Changed My Life:

"My Sacrifice" by Creed

The first metal song, of any kind, that I liked. I remember going around to my friend's house and she had it on, on te music channels. Now she, herself, isn't a metal fan but liked this one song. I liked it so much that I bought "Weathered" (my first ever album purchase) and, to this day, I still love it.

"Run To The Hills" by Iron Maiden (Live at Rock in Rio)

Whereas Creed got me into metal, it was Maiden that got me into Heavy Metal. I, having grown up in a very chav-esque area, had only heard of the name of Iron Maiden and nothing more. (I also wasn't a massive music fan at the time, either - probably because I hadn't heard much 'good' music whilst socialising). Anyways, A couple of guys at this party put kerrang on and Maiden came on. I decided to stay in the room and check it out and wow... I was hooked and have been a huge Maiden fan ever since.

"Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello

This song will always be with me for a couple of reasons. Firstly, my dad used to have it on compilation cassettes in the car when driving places and, as such, itwas one of the earliest tracks I remember that I liked then and still do. Secondly, because of it's staunch anti-war message. Don't ask me why, but I really get into songs that have a 'bigger message'. It's almost like my respect for the artist standing up for what they believe in draws me to them.

And it's Elvis fucking Costello.

"Bliss" by Muse

My favourite Muse song. This showed me just how beautiful rock music can be.

"The Final Countdown" by Europe

Whilst it was a favourite of mine anyway, this song (in a weird way) has seemingly bonded me and a few of my mates (thanks, in part, to Bryan Danielson. lol). It's also a reminder of some fucking good times with my best mates Mike, Jep, Pete, Adam, Claire, Suzi - we all love the song. I dunno, it's hard to put into words why, it just seems to have this 'connection' to everyone, and bring everyone together.

"I Was Made For Loving You" by KISS

Was me and my first girlfriend's song.

"Juneau" by Funeral For A Friend

If I remember correctly, this was the first song of any kind that had growling in that I liked. As such, this goes here as it's allowed me to enjoy many other bands. Previous to this, I would avoid all growling in songs. Juneau balances everything nicely, and showed me that there was a place for growling in songs, if done correctly. I also find it quite touching. (Yes, I like emo - so shoot me).

... and my last song... hmmm...

not really life changing, but...

"You Know You're Right" by Nirvana

This (and the rest of the greatest hits) helped get me through hours and hours of college homework and coursework a few years back. Nirvana is surprisingly good to have as "background" music.

Guilty Pleasure

"Rasputin" by Boney M

So so catchy...

Current Favourites

Sonata Arctica - Full Moon

Manowar - Battle Hymn

Dimmu Borgir - Burn in Hell

Edguy - King of Fools

Avenged Sevenfold - Beast and the Harlot

Bob Dylan - When the Deal Goes Down

Hammerfall - The Dragon Lies Bleeding

Edited December 3, 2006 by Týr Are Better Than You

[Hutch2004]

You know, thinking about this has made me realise just how depressingly narrow my musical tastes have become recently. Bastard iPod. You throw 500 songs on there, and just listen to them over and over and over. That's what I'm doing tomorrow then. Refilling the damn thing.

No music has ever changed my life, but I guess some tracks (some of them awful) have had a big impact on me, or reminded me of various times in my life.

Rollin' by Limp Bizkit.

You know, I used to loath Limp Bizkit, till this came out. I remember sitting in the house with the radio on, and it came on, and thinking "What the fuck was THAT?!" So I loved it, told my friend, who laughed at my sudden turnaround. It wasn't until I went to South Africa that Chocolate Starfish became the first CD I ever bought. By the end of the holiday I must have listened to it about a hundred times. I decided I wanted a guitar then too. And when I got back home, my friend had told a few people about my sudden Bizkit fandom, including one girl who adored them, who I ended up going out with. So, she cheated on me then dumped me when she decided she was a lesbian, but so fuck. I got to say "I was so awesome, after me, she never wanted another man again."

Dealerman by OPM

Went on holiday, and took a mate. He bought this CD from Woolworths while we were there, and in amongst that and Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory (which should get a mention) it's all we listened to. The first week of my life when I got trashed every single day. It was AWESOME.

Outside by Staind

The aforementioned Limp Bizkit loving friend and the following girlfriend (though later she became a friend, which suited us both much better) had a HUGE fight, based mostly because he mentioned that she reminded him of the song, because he could see through her.... Emo crap, and I thought it was stupid back then, even though it tore me up. I still question the sanity of them getting that worked up over a song every time I hear it. This song probably did change my life, as it pretty much led to the three of us splitting as friends, as much as I tried to make it work.

Tribute by Tenacious D

I can't not laugh hearing this. We played this SO many times, and just knew all the words, each taking different parts (I always had the devil) and ALWAYS cracked us up. The days of being 16, wish I'd appreciated them for the awesome days they were at the time, instead of being such a mopey difficult bastard.

I believe in a thing called love by The Darkness

For standing on a table with three of my best friends, belting it out as loud as we could..... and actually sounding really really good. A night that lives on in infamy amongst my friends, for various "ugly-bird" reasons and jokes that 4 years later, I STILL can't shake off.

Everlong by the Foo Fighters

Stood at Leeds festival, during this song, with my girlfriend, singing it into her ear, it felt like there was only us in the world, and I can honestly say, I've never felt happier than at that moment, when she turned around crying, and I've never seen anyone smile that much. That remains the only time in my life I've ever displayed an emotion besides hunger, lust and anger, and if anyone I know ever finds about it, I'll have to kill them.