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Stealing this for April! Come join me as I plumb the breath of music I like! (Spoiler: it's mostly classic rock and folk.)
Day 1: Color
Chromium Picolinate by Edgar Meyer, Bella Fleck, and Mike Marshall, off of Uncommon Ritual. This is my favorite album, and this amazing duet between banjo and mandolin shows why. It's impossible to listen to this song and not grin.
Chromium Picolinate by Edgar Meyer, Bella Fleck, and Mike Marshall, off of Uncommon Ritual. This is my favorite album, and this amazing duet between banjo and mandolin shows why. It's impossible to listen to this song and not grin.
Day 2: Number
Take Five, by Paul Desmond. You've probably heard this jazz piece, at least in the background. The name alludes to it's 5/4 time signature.
Take Five, by Paul Desmond. You've probably heard this jazz piece, at least in the background. The name alludes to it's 5/4 time signature.
Day 3: Summer
Fresh Aire III is Mannheim Steamroller's summer album, and most of the sun's are evocative of the season. But give Morning, which starts with birdsong, a listen.
Fresh Aire III is Mannheim Steamroller's summer album, and most of the sun's are evocative of the season. But give Morning, which starts with birdsong, a listen.
Day 4:
I'm skipping this one. But because it's April 4th, I'll direct you to Pride by U2.
I'm skipping this one. But because it's April 4th, I'll direct you to Pride by U2.
Day 5: loud
Take the Long Way Home by Supertramp, half because it's got a quiet intro and half for it's catchy, shuffling groove.
Take the Long Way Home by Supertramp, half because it's got a quiet intro and half for it's catchy, shuffling groove.
Day 6: Dance
This one didn't come up easily in a search, so use this link:
Avi Avital is an Israeli mandolinist who performed once in my hometown.
This one didn't come up easily in a search, so use this link:
Avi Avital is an Israeli mandolinist who performed once in my hometown.
Day 7: Drive
Long songs are the best to drive to! For example, at 17:05 is In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (In the Garden of Eden) by Iron Butterfly, with it's drum and organ duet.
Long songs are the best to drive to! For example, at 17:05 is In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (In the Garden of Eden) by Iron Butterfly, with it's drum and organ duet.
Day 8: Drugs
This is a tricky one, despite almost everything from the 60s qualifying. I've never related with drug culture. Anyway, listen to "Sing This Ask Together" by the Rolling Stones because it's the opening to their highest, most bizarre album.
This is a tricky one, despite almost everything from the 60s qualifying. I've never related with drug culture. Anyway, listen to "Sing This Ask Together" by the Rolling Stones because it's the opening to their highest, most bizarre album.
Day 9: Happy
Lovely to See You by the Moody Blues, from On the Threshold of a Dream.
Lovely to See You by the Moody Blues, from On the Threshold of a Dream.
I want to add that, as an aromantic, it's nice to have a song that celebrates friendship.
Day 10: Sad
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916004452/http://fiddlinforesters.gov/music/inthelongrun/lyrics/vacantchair/
The Fiddlin' Foresters was a string group of Wyoming forest rangers who played in my hometown one summer, and I bought their cd. This is a song about losing a son.
https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916004452/http://fiddlinforesters.gov/music/inthelongrun/lyrics/vacantchair/
The Fiddlin' Foresters was a string group of Wyoming forest rangers who played in my hometown one summer, and I bought their cd. This is a song about losing a son.
Day 11: Never get tired of
Colors/Dance, by George Winston, off his album Autumn. It's quiet, reflective, and serene.
Colors/Dance, by George Winston, off his album Autumn. It's quiet, reflective, and serene.
Day 12: Preteen
This is tricky, because I didn't start listening to music mostly of my own choice until college. But I'll say Linus and Lucy, by Vince Guaraldi.
This is tricky, because I didn't start listening to music mostly of my own choice until college. But I'll say Linus and Lucy, by Vince Guaraldi.
Day 13: 1970s
Quadrophenia, by the Who from their album of the same name, 1973. It's a 6:13 instrumental that plays all the main themes in the rock opera. It's a wonderful song to add to your studying playlist.
Quadrophenia, by the Who from their album of the same name, 1973. It's a 6:13 instrumental that plays all the main themes in the rock opera. It's a wonderful song to add to your studying playlist.
Side note: Quadrophenia is an album about a young man, stuck between graduation and finding a job during a recession, who joins a counter culture in search for meaning in his life. Do check it out!
Day 14: Wedding
The Diary of Horace Wimp by Electric Light Orchestra, off their album Discovery. I snuck this song into my sister's wedding. It's totally a wedding song because Horace gets married at the end!
The Diary of Horace Wimp by Electric Light Orchestra, off their album Discovery. I snuck this song into my sister's wedding. It's totally a wedding song because Horace gets married at the end!
Day 15: Cover
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by Elton John. There's so many wonderful covers, and I love listening to them because it really highlights artist's choices and styles. But it's rare for such an iconic song to have such a powerful cover, like here.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by Elton John. There's so many wonderful covers, and I love listening to them because it really highlights artist's choices and styles. But it's rare for such an iconic song to have such a powerful cover, like here.
Day 16: A classic
Shambala by Three Dog Night
It's simple, upbeat, and well executed, just like everything else by Three Dog Night.
Shambala by Three Dog Night
It's simple, upbeat, and well executed, just like everything else by Three Dog Night.
Day 17: Duet
Under Pressure by David Bowie and Queen.
Mind, I couldn't sing Freddie Mercury's part very well. This was a hard one, I gravitate towards instrumentals and solos.
Under Pressure by David Bowie and Queen.
Mind, I couldn't sing Freddie Mercury's part very well. This was a hard one, I gravitate towards instrumentals and solos.
Day 18: Birth year
I'm skipping this one. Instead, you get Scheherazade (op. 35) by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, because I want you all to think I'm 133 years old.
I'm skipping this one. Instead, you get Scheherazade (op. 35) by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, because I want you all to think I'm 133 years old.
Day 19: Think about Life:
Shangri-La by the Kinks.
The song, with is reaching, yearning chords, describes the daily doldrums of life and calls it earthly paradise. I've had good conversations sparked by it's lyrics.
Shangri-La by the Kinks.
The song, with is reaching, yearning chords, describes the daily doldrums of life and calls it earthly paradise. I've had good conversations sparked by it's lyrics.
Day 20: Multiple Meanings:
Lakehouse by Of Monsters and Men, off My Head is an Animal.
It's more I have multiple memories attached to this one, of places I used to live and miss.
Lakehouse by Of Monsters and Men, off My Head is an Animal.
It's more I have multiple memories attached to this one, of places I used to live and miss.
Day 21: Name
Marias River Breakdown, by Philip Aaberg.
It's an atmospheric piano solo by someone who is much better at piano than I'll ever be, and great study or relaxing music.
Marias River Breakdown, by Philip Aaberg.
It's an atmospheric piano solo by someone who is much better at piano than I'll ever be, and great study or relaxing music.
Day 22: Moves me forward
End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys.
I'm honestly surprised I haven't mentioned the Wilburys yet! They're the best supergroup ever.
End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys.
I'm honestly surprised I haven't mentioned the Wilburys yet! They're the best supergroup ever.
Day 23: A song everyone should listen to
Well, everything in the thread! But especially On the Turning Away by Pink Floyd. It has fantastic lyrics, melody, and powerful guitar solo by David Gilmore.
Well, everything in the thread! But especially On the Turning Away by Pink Floyd. It has fantastic lyrics, melody, and powerful guitar solo by David Gilmore.
Day 24: Band that I wish was together
The Hardest Button to Button by the White Stripes.
It's an interesting story. Jack and Meg White married, divorced, and retired the band eleven years later.
The Hardest Button to Button by the White Stripes.
It's an interesting story. Jack and Meg White married, divorced, and retired the band eleven years later.
Day 25: Dead guy
Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 by Franz Liszt
Make sure you find the piano solo version. It's an excellent piece that often graces cartoons, especially the second half. It's also one of the most difficult piano pieces out there, and I love watching it being performed.
Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 by Franz Liszt
Make sure you find the piano solo version. It's an excellent piece that often graces cartoons, especially the second half. It's also one of the most difficult piano pieces out there, and I love watching it being performed.
Day 26: Want to fall in love
Cecilia, by Simon and Garfunkel
Cecilia, by Simon and Garfunkel
Day 27: heartbreak
Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
I understand it's a song about losing your father. It's also one of the songs I have memorized on piano, and once someone filmed me playing it at the Minneapolis - Saint Paul airport.
Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
I understand it's a song about losing your father. It's also one of the songs I have memorized on piano, and once someone filmed me playing it at the Minneapolis - Saint Paul airport.
Day 28: Voice
I'm On My Way by Rhiannon Giddens (with Francesco Turrisi)
I'm looking forward to hearing more from Rhiannon in the future! Her album is the newest music in my collection.
I'm On My Way by Rhiannon Giddens (with Francesco Turrisi)
I'm looking forward to hearing more from Rhiannon in the future! Her album is the newest music in my collection.
Day 29: childhood
Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin
Because Disney's Fantasia 2000 was the best movie of the 20th century don't @ me.
Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin
Because Disney's Fantasia 2000 was the best movie of the 20th century don't @ me.
Day 30: myself
Railroad, by Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn
It's my favorite kids' song, reharmonized in minor, and arranged for two banjos.
Railroad, by Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn
It's my favorite kids' song, reharmonized in minor, and arranged for two banjos.
Whew, done! Thanks to everyone who followed this thread to the bottom, and hopefully you found some familiar tunes and some new ones you enjoyed!
