Life Songs

Dave Letterman

Whenever I can't think of something to write about, I make lists. I didn't get the idea from Facebook, where there are lists all the time, or even from Dave Letterman, who singlehandedly made the Top Ten list famous.

No, wait ... I used to listen to the Top Ten Songs of the Week on WLS every week. I can't remember the day, time, or even the DJ--Ron Riley, maybe?--but I never missed it.

When I tried to figure out where the concept of Top Tens came from, I couldn't, but it does appear everyone has used it at one time or another. Musical Top Tens, like WLS in the 1960s (yes, I am that old) evidently started up with Billboard in the 1940s (not, I'm not that old) but there have been lists of ten around for a really long time.

Today, the first Saturday in August, I'm going to make a Top Ten List on the Window. Chances are I won't do it every month, but I will welcome other people's Top Tens. I hope to get some.

Now that I've made that decision, I'm not sure what Top Ten to start with. Google really led me down the garden path of Try this! Since I don't want to put too much time or thought into this--remember the old part--I'm going to go with my Top Ten songs. This list is subject to change by the time the day is over, but for now ... here we go.

Judy Garland

1. Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver

2. Desperado - The Eagles

3. Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen wrote it; I think K. D. Lang owned it when she sang it.

4. Amazing Grace

5. American Pie - Don McLean

6. Over the Rainbow - Most anybody, but especially Judy Garland

7. The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel

8. It Is Well With My Soul

9. Sweet Baby James - James Taylor

10. Good Vibrations - the Beach Boys

K. D. Lang

I was surprised at how long it took me to come up with 10, or I should say, with only 10. My husband said his Top Ten would have 50 songs in it. Three minutes after I finally typed the last title, I'm having second thoughts. But then I remember that summer of "Good Vibrations" and ... yeah ... it'll have to stay.

I've said before that some of the best and some of the worst times in my life have been connected to music. I remember hearing "Leaving on A Jet Plane" the day Duane and I said goodbye before he left for Vietnam. I remember Andy Williams singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" at Bobby Kennedy's funeral. I remember that "In the Garden" was my mom's favorite hymn.

Peter, Paul, & Mary

The Beatles and the British Invasion made a couple of not-good years more fun. More exciting. I still remember seeing Woodstock at Peru's downtown Roxy. I listened to Peter, Paul, and Mary and other folk artists who brought to life a feeling of social responsibility stirring that never quite went away. I'm glad it didn't.

I'm a terrible dancer, but have danced what seems like 100 times to "Old Time Rock and Roll," yelled a few obscenities with Tommy James and the Shondells on "Mony, Mony," and still join in on "Sweet Caroline" even though I don't sing any better than I dance.

I have loved writing this, remembering the times and places and feelings that connect to my Top-Ten-and-then-some songs. I hope you share yours, and more importantly, I hope you remember those times, places, and feelings, too.

Have a great week. Be nice to somebody.