With the year drawing to a close, I can’t help but ask: Has this year gone by faster than previous years?
From my gaming chair, the answer seems to be a resounding “Yes!”
So I thought I might end this year a bit differently. So this month, I’m going to commit my Tuesday posts—all five of them—to some Top Ten lists.
Sundays will continue to be the Quote of the Week. Fridays will continue to be the typical blog post entries.
So, in no particular order, is today’s Top Ten list of (some of) my favorite songs:
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Save Ferris, Come on Eileen
This ska band came to the public’s attention with this song (originally performed by Dexys Midnight Runners in 1982). I don’t recall how I first stumbled across this tune, but its powerful horn section always boosts my mood and gets me moving. I love waking up to this song!
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Home Free, The Butts Remix
This year, I discovered the a acapella group Home Free. The group started out focused on country music, but their latest endeavor are sea shanties. But this song is a hilarious mash-up of songs, combining into a toe-tapping, feel-good tune. My only complaint is that it isn’t available through Apple Music.
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Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire
I’ve always said this is THE song that I would learn to play the piano for. Such high energy and amazing artistry of his instrument. At one point, I heard someone say that Jerry Lee was the only person to transform the piano into a percussion instrument. LOL
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Garth Brooks, Much Too Young To Feel This Damn Old
When I was younger, this song didn’t hit quite as hard as it does now. But when I wake up with a kink in my back or have to pause before getting out of bed, this one hits home. Mentally, I still see myself as that college student pulling an all-nighter in the darkroom with the stereo blaring. But, my body reminds me those days are long gone.
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Queen, Don’t Stop me Now
As 2025 comes to a close, the spirit (and attitude) of this song has struck a nerve within. It is becoming my theme song for the new year. (For a fun take on the song, check out this performance by Flakefleet Primary School from BGT 2019.)
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Paul Simon, Kodachrome
Yeah…this is a gimme for my list. ‘Nuff said. #FilmPhotographer
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George Michael and Queen, Somebody to Love
In 1992, Wembley Stadium was once again filled with the music of Queen (following the band’s iconic Live Aid show in 1985) as the band paid tribute to their lead vocalist during The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, who died the previous year. Growing up in the era of Wham!, I have appreciated George Michael’s voice. And he—hands down— was the perfect vocalist to perform this song at the tribute show.
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Jonathan Coulton, Code Monkey
Being in tech for several years, I’ve heard the term “code monkey” used in both positive and negative ways. When I spent my days coding in HTML and XML, I definitely felt like a code monkey, transforming text files into marked-up code full of angle brackets.
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Aqua, Barbie Girl
Long before Margot Robbie brought the doll to life on the big screen, Aqua brought Barbie to life in a music video. As evidenced by the Mattel, Inc. v. MCA Records, Inc. legal actions, Mattel didn’t care for the song. But I love the humor in the song.
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The Blues Brothers, Sweet Home Chicago
This one was probably the hardest selection to make. Why? There are too many great songs from the iconic 1980 movie. But I settled on this one. Growing up in northwest Indiana, there were many days when I could stand on the shore of Lake Michigan, look to the left, and see the Chicago skyline on the horizon.
Looking back, this list was harder to compile than I expected. Why? Because the songs I turn to depend on my mood, my top ten at any given moment can be a bit fluid.
I could have probably identified 25 songs on the list, but that seems a little too much. So I’m going to call this the “Top Ten du Jour.” I reserve the right to modify the list five minutes after this post is published.
What song(s) would you add to the list? Add them in the comments below!
PHOTO CREDIT: Cassette tapes. (by Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden via Wikimedia)
