No songs from the Eurovision Song Contest this year :-( To our great disappointment, none of them had any staying power. Think that's the first time since I started making these playlists. But as usual my list is heavily inspired by Simon and Lars :-D My list is slightly longer than usual, but it was hard enough to boil down as it was - no way I could get it down further!
Link, in case the embedding stops working.
1. Ex-Wives / Get Down - Six
I tried SO hard to chose between these too, but I just couldn't. They're both brilliant and SO different. I went to see the musical together with Isabella and while I loved most of the songs, these two were by far my favourites. "Ex-Wives" is an excellent introduction to the story, and the entire atmosphere of "Get Down" is just fantastic. Love the music, love the lyrics. I mean, getting "tricked ya" to rhyme with "profile picture" - genius!
2. Surface Pressure - Encanto
Encanto had the best songs of any Disney movie I've seen in a LONG time. I love the energy of "The Family Madrigal", but it really works best when you know the movie. This song works on so many different levels, and having "being strong" (whether physically or mentally) as your entire self image is something I think many people can relate to.
3. Crazy People - Casting Crowns
Back in February Lars and I were going on our first post-COVID vacation, and my anxiety was acting up BIG time. Nina sent me this song, and I listened to it on repeat all the way from our house to the airport. It worked wonders, and I grew to love it!
Crazy people trust in Jesus
Following Him wherever He leads us
Kingdom seekers, walk by faith believers
Here's the church, here's the steeple, here's to all God's crazy people
4. W.I.T.C.H - Devon Cole
To the best of my knowledge, this song originated on TikTok as a "sing along to this" challenge, and just exploded from there. I followed its process with interest, partly because I think it's an interesting story, partly because I loved the vibe of the song. Fortunately the final product delivered :-D
5. See Me Through It - Brandon Heath
A random discovery via Spotify. "I know You're gonna see me through it - If anybody can, You can do it"
6. Provider - Cade Thompson
Just as always, Simon has heavily influenced my listening this year - this time with a new-to-me artist. This is another one of those songs that I keep considering removing from the yearly playlist, but then when I go to listen to it "just to be sure", I change my mind all over again X-D
7. Maybe You're the Problem - Ava Max
Ava Max is hit-or-miss for me, but when she's good, she's really good. This isn't actually my usual fare, but I love the progression of "And I think you should take a second just to look at your reflection", so even though I considered removing it from this playlist several times, I just couldn't...
8. Refuge - Skillet
Simon's sent me several Skillet songs this year, and while I've liked them all, this would have to be my favourite.
I can face my darkest night
'Cause I trust You with my life
I'm not afraid, for You are my refuge
9. We Own Tonight - New Kids on the Block
I'm delighted to be able to add a new NKOTB song again! But somehow I'd completely missed that they'd released a new album! (Back in 2013! Embarrassing!). As always there are a ton of good songs on it, but right now this is my favourite, although I had a hard time choosing between this and "The Whisper".
10. 3 O'Clock Things - AJR
One of Brenda's entries last year, and it immediately spoke to me. First of all, it's got that unusual style that just immediately appeals to me (there are a few of these every year, where I can't explain why I love it, but I just do), and secondly ANY overthinker will recognize the fact that 3 o'clock is the worst time for random thoughts...
11. Bible Verses - Blake Shelton
I have NOT been able to get the chorus out of my head since I first heard it.
That I can open up that good book
And Heaven don't look like it's out of reach
When it feels like those apostles are giving me the gospel
And not the third degree
I just want it to read
Like Bible verses and not the Bible versus me
Fortunately I don't really feel that way myself, but even so, it still struck a chord deep within, and I love it.
12. Limousine - Little Sis Nora
Lars first introduced me to AronChupa / Little Sis Nora (a brother/sister pair) with "I'm An Albatraoz" back in 2017 or so. They're the kind of duo I love to hate - or hate to love. I pretty much always have to get used to their songs before I really like them, but since Lars absolutely loves them and plays their music over and over and over... Well - I tend to end up having to add their songs to my playlist after all.
13. Not Finished Yet - Building 429
I discovered Building 429 a few years ago - perhaps from the War Room soundtrack? Anyway, they're definitely a group to keep track of, as their songs tend to speak to me on several levels. The music here is catchy as, and I love the lyrics.
Child, lay down your sorrows,
'Cause I'm not finished yet!
14. A Little Faith - Riley Clemmons
I'm getting total 90s Amy Grant vibes here! But since that when I fell in love with her music, I'm all for it :-D I discovered Riley Clemmons last year, and she's definitely become a singer to look out for.
15. Hot mess - Zoe Clark
I actually think this was a TikTok discovery as well... Telling on myself here ;) But it makes me sit and dance in my chair, so it clearly works for me.
16. Teeth - 5 Seconds of Summer
I've never watched "13 Reasons Why", so I have absolutely no clue how I came across this song. It could pretty much only have been TikTok or a random Spotify weekly discovery. I keep saying I should get better at writing these things down, and I keep absolutely forgetting to do so X-D Again, I can't explain why I like it so much, as it's really not the kind of music I usually listen to, but there always seem to be a few of those. The start has a DEFINITELY ESC vibe, so that might be part of it.
17. Fear No More - The Afters
Another recommendation from Simon. A beautiful reminder that
You're my courage when I worry in the dead of night
You're my strength 'cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight
You are greater than the battle raging in my mind
I will trust You Lord, I will fear no more
18. Build a Boat - Colton Dixon
Colton Dixon is a fairly new discovery, but right up my aisle. I think I'd heard this all of twice before I knew it had to go on this list.
19. Lose My Cool - Faustix w. Klara Hammarström
Lars introduced me to this song earlier in the fall. I love its vibe :-) And he's always so pleased when I add songs here because of him ;-)
20. Happy Day - Tim Hughes
I recently started talking music with another colleague of mine, and he immediately endeared himself to me by sending me links to some of his favourite songs. I already loved this song, as we've been singing it at Hillsong Church, but I'd forgotten to actually add it to my playlist, so I'm very grateful to Yun for reminding me of it :-D
21. End of Time (Taste of Heaven) - Keiino
Keiino was a contestant at Eurovision Song Contest a few years back, and both Lars and I loved their sound. Since then Lars keeps up with any new songs they put out, and with very few exceptions I've liked all of them. Since I won't have an actual ESC entry here this year, I figure this one will have to do ;)
22. How Can You Not - Leanna Crawford
Simon sent me this and it was love at first sight... eh, listen.
I see the sunset and I wonder
If he paints it just for me
Nobody else could make a world so beautiful
How could I question his love when
It's everywhere I go
Wherever I look I find another miracle
Seems like a good song to end this list on :-)
Showing posts with label playlist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label playlist. Show all posts
23 Dec 2022
23 Dec 2019
2019 Playlist
1. Sober Up - AJR, Rivers Cuomo
Inspiration from Brenda - I think I get most of my musical inspiration from her and Lars :-P There are always a few on her list that become instant favourites (so thank you, Brenda! :-D ) and this was it this year.
2. New Days - Delta Rae
This one's weird - the text's sad, but the song feels hopeful. It's a bit more 'croony' (yes, it's a word) than I usually go for, but it's up-beat enough that I don't mind it.
3. Woman - Kesha & The Dap-Kings Horns
Brenda called this her "girl-power anthem" and I TOTALLY agree! I love the laughter about one minute in :D
4. Wolves - Selena Gomez & Marshmello
This is one of those weird songs where I don't really think I like it - and then the chorus comes and I can't stop tapping along.
5. Future Me Hates Me - The Beths
An indie band from New Zealand? Sign me up! :-D
6. Warrior - Steven Curtis Chapman
So I fall on my knees and I fight like a warrior
I am a warrior on my knees
The movie "War Room" was one of my best new discoveries this year (Thank you, Nina!) and I thought it had an amazing soundtrack. This is one of my favourite songs from it - no surprise, as I've loved Steven Curtis Chapman ever since I first discovered him back in 1996.
7. So Am I - Ava Max
I have no idea why I like this as much as I do.
8. Baby - Clean Bandit feat. Marina & Luis Fonsi
It's almost a tradition by now that I have to add at least one song by Clean Bandit to my yearly playlist. Of course it also helps that I quite like Marina too.
9. Sweet but Psycho - Ava Max
Soo.... apparently I just really like Ava Max? Her music appeals to me in a way I hadn't expected.
10. Another in the Fire - Hillsong
There’s a grace when the heart is under fire
Another way when the walls are closing in
And when I look at the space between
Where I used to be and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone
No yearly playlist of mine would be complete without at least one Hillsong entry. I absolutely adore this one. "There was another in the fire, standing next to me."
11. Popular Song - Mika & Ariane Grande
Inspired by "Popular" from "Wicked". I actually had quite a few songs by Mika on my list, but in the end this is definitely my favourite.
12. Chameleon - Michaela
I can't make one of these playlists and not have at least one song from the ESC featured on it. This was Malta's entry.
13. Love is Forever - Leonara
The Danish entry to ESC. It's got an odd nostalgic feel which I just loved from the first time I heard it. Also, in this international world I'm quietly pleased that she included a few lines in Danish ;-)
14. Spirit in the Sky - Keiino
Norway's entry. A fun mix of genres with the stereotypical ESC pop interspersed with a Sami chorus. It didn't do too well with the public in general, but I loved it.
15. She Got Me - Luca Hänni
Switzerland's entry and my personal favourite. It's got SUCH a NKOTB vibe which is definitely a good thing in my books :-D
16. Completely - Ledger
From who I was, who I am, and who I'll be
I am changed, I am Yours eternally
An awesome song of worship. Once again, I can't remember how I found this - I really need to start jotting these things down! :-P
17. Rebels - Influence Music
You can find me with the sinners
The rebels and the dreamers
Those hidden in the darkness
A glimpse of light
Take me where it hurts the hardest
How dangerous Your love is
You can find me with the sinners
Where You gave Your life
Simon - a colleague of mine, who also happens to be a Christian - has taken to recommending new songs he finds to me. Some of them aren't really my style. Others - like this one - are spot on! I love it!
18. Reason - Unspoken
This year's felt like four seasons of winter
And you’d give anything you think to feel the sun
Always reaching, always climbing
Always second guessing the timing
But God has a plan, a purpose in this
You are His child and don't you forget
Really can't remember how I found this... might have been Simon again, or it might have been Spotify's "Top Christian songs" channel. Either way, it has the most amazing lyrics.
19. Beyond the Gates - For All Eternity
You were before and You are right now, You forever will be here with me.
Really slow start, but once it gets going, I love it. Especially when I stop to listen to the lyrics. Another recommendation from Simon.
20. Friends - Marshmello & Anne-Marie
Proof that you can find random likes anywhere! This song was used in a commercial (can't even remember which one any longer), and I immediately got out SoundHound to figure out what on earth the song was :-D A song about how ANNOYING we find it when others complain about being 'friendzoned'.
21. Believer - Imagine Dragons
Another totally random find... this one thanks to Lars. We'd been watching the new "Murder on the Orient Express" movie and when it was over, Lars complained that one of the songs from the trailer wasn't in the movie! (I NEVER pay attention to stuff like that, but he's really good at it). He found the trailer and both of us immediately fell for the song. It's definitely not my usual fare, but there's something about the beat that just appeals so much to me.
22. Storm - Victor Crone
This was also an ESC entry... I know, I know - I get a LOT of my musical inspiration from there. What can I say, guess I really am a pop-girl at heart ;)
23. Like It - Zena
I've come to realize that there's a certain sound that's totally different from what I'm usually drawn to, but if it's done *just* right, I absolutely love it. I'm not yet at the point where I can recognize it ahead of time, but there have definitely been a few songs with the same kind of vibe on my playlists over the years.
24. Fibs (Løgn & Latin) - KNA Connected
At the high school reunion back in August, I realized that the musical career of one of my class mates had been a LOT more successful than I'd ever realized. I knew Khalil (the 'K' of KNA) had published a few singles (some solo, some with KNA Connected), but that was as far as my knowledge went. Turns out he'd played concerts at pretty large venues and received 2 gold and 1 platin records! Anyway, some of the others put on this song at the reunion and got Khalil to sing his part. I love that I can actually recognize his laughter in it! Khalil is a great guy and this is guaranteed to make me smile whenever I hear it.
25. Joyride - Roxette
Roxette - and the Joyride Album in particular - made for the soundtrack to my tweens / early teens. I never got to see them in concert, and with the recent death of Marie Fredriksson, I've had to take that off my bucket list. But in honour of her and the memories Roxette's songs bring, I had to add one of their songs to this year's playlist.
26. Unwrap My Heart - Marie Lind
Okay, so I'm like crazily biased since Marie has been a dear friend of mine for 25 years by now, but I totally love this new Christmas song she put out last month :-D So of course I have to add it here. It's happy and foot-tappy and Christmassy as and just plain awesome!!
3 Oct 2019
40 Songs for 40 Years
Brenda did this when she turned 40, and I thought it a really interesting idea, so here's my Spotify Playlist of 40 songs that have defined my life so far - either due to the memories they evoke or because at one point I listened to them over and over and over and... (you get the picture). With a small comment next to each of course, because I'm me, and that's how I roll :-P Almost all of these are from the 90s, which I guess makes sense as they've had more time to get thoroughly ingrained into my life ;-) And I'm still more likely to turn to old favourites than check out new stuff.
1. Kim Larsen - Jutlandia Kim Larsen was the first "popular" artist I ever discovered, and this the first song of his I heard. It's not my favourite of his any longer, but it was the first I learned off by heart, and still reminds me vividly of my childhood, and of a weekend sleepover I had with two friends where we rocked out to it :-D. I don't see those friends any longer, but the memory stands. I'm so glad I got to see him live before he died last year.
2. Keith Green - You Put This Love in My Heart My uncle introduced me to Keith Green when I was in my young teens, and I fell for him, hard. For several years he was one of my favourite artists, and I even read the biography his wife wrote about him after his way too early death.
3. New Kids on the Block - Games If there's one band that's been a constant in my life, it's them. I was introduced to them in NZ in 1990 and have loved their music ever since. I missed out on going to a concert with them in 1991, so was THRILLED when they reunited and I got a second (and third!) chance in 2009 and 2012... even if I was annoyed that they'd changed out the rap in "Games" so I could no longer sing along to that part of it!!
4. Cliff Richard - Some People Where even to start with him?! My first really serious boyfriend was a huge fan, and got me hooked as well. From late 1997 to 1999 sometime I listened to his music pretty much non-stop, and I still return to him on a fairly regular basis. His songs remind me of New Zealand, of first love and of myself in my late teens. I've even gotten to see him live three or four times. Deciding on a favourite song of his is almost impossible, as I love so many of them, but in the end I decided on this one, as it was the first one Andrew played for me.
5. Roxette - Joyride I absolutely LOVED Roxette back in the early 90s! A friend of mine from school introduced me to them at a camp back in 6th grade, and I think I basically stole his walkman(!!!) that entire week to listen to them. Joyride is still both my favourite album and my favourite song. I love the energy of it, and can't not sing along to it. It's great "getting stuff done" music, so I'd often put it on when Mum told me to clean my room ;-)
6. Tori Amos - Mr. Zebra Liz introduced me to Tori Amos back in 1996. It's not the type of music I'd probably have found on my own, but I have very fond memories of sitting on the bed in her room, talking, playing cards or working on each our cross-stitch project while Tori Amos played in the background. This is by far my favourite song of hers, as I just love the absurdity of the lyrics. I'm a huge fan of the absurd as you will see again in later songs on this list.
7. Newsboys - Breakfast I've seen Newsboys in concert twice. The first time was at a Christian music festival in New Zealand back in 1997. There were many big names that year, but Newsboys was definitely the headliner. It was an awesome experience, made even better by the fact that one of the guys in the band is from New Zealand. Part of the intro to Breakfast / Take Me to Your Leader could easily dissolve into the start of the New Zealand national anthem... so during their performance of that song he did just that! Cue everybody in the audience instantly singing along and the rest of the band looking at him in mock annoyance :-D And again - there's the absurdity of the lyrics.
8. DC. Talk - Jesus Freak "I don't really care if they label me a Jesus Freak / There ain't no disguising the truth". We listened to this song pretty much NON-STOP during the New Years camp of 1996/1997. I still see myself sitting outside Rebekah's tent with the other teens whenever I hear it.
9. Beach Boys - Kokomo I've loved the Beach Boys ever since I first got to know them through "Full House". I'm so glad I got to see them live. I got a "best of" CD for Christmas 1994 and listened to it so much over the Christmas break that when I went back to boarding school after New Years just listening to it made me immediately homesick until I got used to being back at school again.
10. Amy Grant - Every Heartbeat I got this tape for Christmas back in 1993 or 1994 and immediately fell in love. Since then I've bought many of her other albums, but this was still my first and my favourite.
11. Hillsong - Shout To the Lord Well, it's no secret that I love Hillsong, and this "oldie but goodie" is my all time favourite. We even sang it at our wedding ceremony.
12. The Lads - The Cactus Song Not many people know of The Lads, as they are a small Christian band from New Zealand. But whenever I hear this, I'm back up under the attic in Benjamin's room ("He's so 11") talking Animorphs with him :-D
13. Aqua - Cartoon Heroes Back when Lars and I first got to know each other, he used some of the lyrics from "Cartoon Heroes" as his email signature. I first started suspecting I was possibly falling for him, when I found myself listening to this song at any chance I got (I didn't actually own it myself at the time, and this was waaaaay before streaming).
14. Alice DJ - Will I Ever Fall in Love Lars told me that he listened to this one quite a bit, when he first realized he'd fallen in love with me ;)
15. Melanie C - I Turn to You "Our" song. I'd originally planned to sing it at our wedding, but didn't feel I could do it justice, so I had my friend, Karen do it instead. It keeps popping up in the radio at the most random times :-D
16. Cher - Just Like Jesse James This is the song that first got me hooked on Cher. Karen and I spent an entire evening at boarding school listening to it over and over again, trying to decipher the lyrics. We never did get them 100% right, but I fell in love with the song all the same.
17. Cyrano - Hvem kommer ind? Ah, my first true obsession with a musical. I was lucky enough to see this three times on stage, listened to the music non-stop for months on end AND then got to perform in it myself! I loved every single minute of it.
18. Cats - Skimbleshanks My love for Cats came slowly... I was first introduced to "Memory" in 1990, but had no clue where it came from. Fortunately my parents had the entire soundtrack on LP, and when I tried to start it right at "Memory", I'd often miss by a few millimeters catch some of the other songs instead. Slowly I'd grow to love "Mr. Mistofelees" and "Macavity" as well, and then that expanded to even MORE songs, so when I finally saw the musical for the first time in 1994 I already knew most of the songs off by heart. "Skimbleshanks" holds a special place in my heart, though. It somehow became tradition for Dad to quote it whenever we took the night train anywhere as kids, so now whenever I listen to it, I'm right back in the rattling night carriage, traveling through Europe.
19. Thomas Helmig - Gotta Get Away From You This song got played over and over and over again doing my year at boarding school.
20. Crowded House - Not the Girl You Think You Are Liz introduced me to Crowded House and Split Enz back in 1996-1997. Apparently this song remnded her of me. I never quite got her to explain why, but of course it now means that it reminds me of her in turn :-)
21. Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons in the Park Dad introduced me to Tom Lehrer back in 1994-95 sometime. As I've already mentioned several times, I love absurd lyrics, and Tom Lehrer definitely delivers here! I can't even remember why or by which song Dad introduced me to him in the first place, but I'm so glad he did. I just wish I could have gotten to see him live.
22. Fool Garden - Lemon Tree This song was all the rage during my last year in NZ. I still remember trying to catch it on the radio so I could copy it to tape, and sitting in the kitchen listening to it, singing (loudly) along with my host-siblings.
23. Hilllsong - Not Today Hillsong has had such a huge influence on my life that I couldn't stick with just one. I love "Shout to the Lord" for nostalgic reasons - I love "Not Today" for how it speaks to me today.
24. Royal Guardsmen - Snoopy vs. the Red Baron My parents had an LP single with this which my sisters and I discovered back in the early 90s. We absolutely loved it, and quickly learned it off by heart. I still remember sitting in the living room with my sisters working on some craft or the other while it ran on repeat in the background... sorry, Mum and Dad :-P
25. Søs Fenger - Kun et kys herfra One of my friends gave me this CD for my confirmation back in 1994. I'd never heard of Søs Fenger before, but immediately fell in love. I can't even COUNT the number of times I listened to the album over the next years. I don't listen to her much any longer, but this song brings me right back ´to the summer of 1994 and the hopeless crush I had at the time X-D
26. Michael Jackson - Heal the World My first slow dance back in 6th or 7th grade :-D
27. Billie Piper - Day & Night Another song Lars and I decided was "ours" (yes, we have two songs - so sue us ;) ). Nina choreographed a dance to it which she, Rebekka and Michala danced at our wedding. Unfortunately we only caught about 30 seconds of it on video, but we loved it!
28. Michael W. Smith - Friends This song has been with me for years. I first heard this at the boarding school I attended in 1994-95, I sang it for my music assignment in New Zealand in 1997 and we played it on the stereo in my room as some of my friends came over to sit with me the last few hours before I left New Zealand. It's bittersweet, and will still bring me to tears sometimes... but I love it.
29. Casting Crowns - Who Am I? This song had been on me periphery for years, but I never really paid attention to it until I came across it (again) during a readthough of Neta Jackson's "Yada-Yada Prayer Group" and decided to check it out on YouTube. I cried my way through it the first time, and fell in love.
30. Geri Halliway - Raining Men This song IS the early 00s for me. I can't even explain why I love it so much, but I do... and actually prefer this cover to the original :-P
31. Glenn Miller - Bei Mir Bist Du Schön Farmor and Farfar took me to a "Remember Glenn Miller" concert in the late 90s sometime. I had no clue who he was ahead of time, but they knew I liked jazz, so thought I might enjoy it. I really did, and went straight out to purchase some of his albums straight after.
32. Elisabeth - Hun danser en morgen Another song that Karen introduced me to. Karen and I were best friends from age 6-15 and spent several days a week together. I can't remember the context of this song any longer, but it so clearly reminds me of her and of my childhood, so it had to be added here. Fortunately Spotify had it! I actually hadn't expected that.
33. Kaya - Traffic Jam I have no memory of how or when we stumbled over Kaya (something tells me it was Nina who first found her, but I might be mistaken), but I only have to hear the first few notes of the song, and I'm instantly back in the back seat of our car driving... somewhere... with the music up as loud as Mum and Dad would let us. Few songs take me back that vividly.
34. East 17 - House of Love I listen to this and I'm instantly 13 again... I don't know how it does it. I remember being totally gobsmacked when I started really listening to the lyrics and realized that they might actually be Christian! ("The creator created / we tore apart" here, and even more the lyrics to "Gold": "Jesus wasn't sent to set a precious stone free").
35. Gary Chapman - Sweet Jesus One of the very few songs to make me ugly-cry.
36. Jesus Christ Superstar - Heaven on Their Mind Musicals are weird, because you tend to get hooked on "your" soundtrack as being the only RIGHT one. I almost didn't add this one, as it took me ages to find the "right" one on Spotify and any other version just sounds wrong :-P Finally succeeded in finding the 1970 recording though - which is the one my parents had, and which I've listened to COUNTLESS times on LP.
37. Kylie Minogue - Wouldn't Change a Thing I'm a child of the 90s and proud of it!
38. Sophie & Magaly - Papa Pingouin I love that this is even ON Spotify!! It's a random song from ESC 1980 which Mum and Dad happened to have as a single and which my sisters and I loved to dance along to... and Frode (one of the guys from the gang) won Michala's eternal admiration when she first met him by immediately knew what we were talking about when we mentioned "Papa Penguin" in a random aside (although don't ask me about the context any longer - I have no clue!).
39. Colin Buchanan - John 14:1-4 Anne introduced me to Colin Buchanan when I visited her and her family back in 2011. His songs are awesome and ridiculously catchy (to the point where I found myself humming them to myself on my way home - after only having listened to them once!), so I knew I had a winner. And sure enough - I've been listening to them on and off ever since. They're a great way to learn Bible verses off by heart.
40. Hamilton - Alexander Hamilton The most recent addition to this list, but I doubt anybody's really surprised that it made its way on here ;)
Bonus Track: Continental Singers - Stand Up (Added here because I couldn't find it on neither Spotify NOR YouTube!!! :-o ) Various groups of Continental Singers made it to Denmark on numerous occasions in the 90s, so I've seen them in concert at least 4 times and actually both auditioned and got approved to go touring with them myself in the summer of 1995. Unfortunately that never happened, but by then the damage was done, and I'd been listening to them for hours on end for years.
1. Kim Larsen - Jutlandia Kim Larsen was the first "popular" artist I ever discovered, and this the first song of his I heard. It's not my favourite of his any longer, but it was the first I learned off by heart, and still reminds me vividly of my childhood, and of a weekend sleepover I had with two friends where we rocked out to it :-D. I don't see those friends any longer, but the memory stands. I'm so glad I got to see him live before he died last year.
2. Keith Green - You Put This Love in My Heart My uncle introduced me to Keith Green when I was in my young teens, and I fell for him, hard. For several years he was one of my favourite artists, and I even read the biography his wife wrote about him after his way too early death.
3. New Kids on the Block - Games If there's one band that's been a constant in my life, it's them. I was introduced to them in NZ in 1990 and have loved their music ever since. I missed out on going to a concert with them in 1991, so was THRILLED when they reunited and I got a second (and third!) chance in 2009 and 2012... even if I was annoyed that they'd changed out the rap in "Games" so I could no longer sing along to that part of it!!
4. Cliff Richard - Some People Where even to start with him?! My first really serious boyfriend was a huge fan, and got me hooked as well. From late 1997 to 1999 sometime I listened to his music pretty much non-stop, and I still return to him on a fairly regular basis. His songs remind me of New Zealand, of first love and of myself in my late teens. I've even gotten to see him live three or four times. Deciding on a favourite song of his is almost impossible, as I love so many of them, but in the end I decided on this one, as it was the first one Andrew played for me.
5. Roxette - Joyride I absolutely LOVED Roxette back in the early 90s! A friend of mine from school introduced me to them at a camp back in 6th grade, and I think I basically stole his walkman(!!!) that entire week to listen to them. Joyride is still both my favourite album and my favourite song. I love the energy of it, and can't not sing along to it. It's great "getting stuff done" music, so I'd often put it on when Mum told me to clean my room ;-)
6. Tori Amos - Mr. Zebra Liz introduced me to Tori Amos back in 1996. It's not the type of music I'd probably have found on my own, but I have very fond memories of sitting on the bed in her room, talking, playing cards or working on each our cross-stitch project while Tori Amos played in the background. This is by far my favourite song of hers, as I just love the absurdity of the lyrics. I'm a huge fan of the absurd as you will see again in later songs on this list.
7. Newsboys - Breakfast I've seen Newsboys in concert twice. The first time was at a Christian music festival in New Zealand back in 1997. There were many big names that year, but Newsboys was definitely the headliner. It was an awesome experience, made even better by the fact that one of the guys in the band is from New Zealand. Part of the intro to Breakfast / Take Me to Your Leader could easily dissolve into the start of the New Zealand national anthem... so during their performance of that song he did just that! Cue everybody in the audience instantly singing along and the rest of the band looking at him in mock annoyance :-D And again - there's the absurdity of the lyrics.
8. DC. Talk - Jesus Freak "I don't really care if they label me a Jesus Freak / There ain't no disguising the truth". We listened to this song pretty much NON-STOP during the New Years camp of 1996/1997. I still see myself sitting outside Rebekah's tent with the other teens whenever I hear it.
9. Beach Boys - Kokomo I've loved the Beach Boys ever since I first got to know them through "Full House". I'm so glad I got to see them live. I got a "best of" CD for Christmas 1994 and listened to it so much over the Christmas break that when I went back to boarding school after New Years just listening to it made me immediately homesick until I got used to being back at school again.
10. Amy Grant - Every Heartbeat I got this tape for Christmas back in 1993 or 1994 and immediately fell in love. Since then I've bought many of her other albums, but this was still my first and my favourite.
11. Hillsong - Shout To the Lord Well, it's no secret that I love Hillsong, and this "oldie but goodie" is my all time favourite. We even sang it at our wedding ceremony.
12. The Lads - The Cactus Song Not many people know of The Lads, as they are a small Christian band from New Zealand. But whenever I hear this, I'm back up under the attic in Benjamin's room ("He's so 11") talking Animorphs with him :-D
13. Aqua - Cartoon Heroes Back when Lars and I first got to know each other, he used some of the lyrics from "Cartoon Heroes" as his email signature. I first started suspecting I was possibly falling for him, when I found myself listening to this song at any chance I got (I didn't actually own it myself at the time, and this was waaaaay before streaming).
14. Alice DJ - Will I Ever Fall in Love Lars told me that he listened to this one quite a bit, when he first realized he'd fallen in love with me ;)
15. Melanie C - I Turn to You "Our" song. I'd originally planned to sing it at our wedding, but didn't feel I could do it justice, so I had my friend, Karen do it instead. It keeps popping up in the radio at the most random times :-D
16. Cher - Just Like Jesse James This is the song that first got me hooked on Cher. Karen and I spent an entire evening at boarding school listening to it over and over again, trying to decipher the lyrics. We never did get them 100% right, but I fell in love with the song all the same.
17. Cyrano - Hvem kommer ind? Ah, my first true obsession with a musical. I was lucky enough to see this three times on stage, listened to the music non-stop for months on end AND then got to perform in it myself! I loved every single minute of it.
18. Cats - Skimbleshanks My love for Cats came slowly... I was first introduced to "Memory" in 1990, but had no clue where it came from. Fortunately my parents had the entire soundtrack on LP, and when I tried to start it right at "Memory", I'd often miss by a few millimeters catch some of the other songs instead. Slowly I'd grow to love "Mr. Mistofelees" and "Macavity" as well, and then that expanded to even MORE songs, so when I finally saw the musical for the first time in 1994 I already knew most of the songs off by heart. "Skimbleshanks" holds a special place in my heart, though. It somehow became tradition for Dad to quote it whenever we took the night train anywhere as kids, so now whenever I listen to it, I'm right back in the rattling night carriage, traveling through Europe.
19. Thomas Helmig - Gotta Get Away From You This song got played over and over and over again doing my year at boarding school.
20. Crowded House - Not the Girl You Think You Are Liz introduced me to Crowded House and Split Enz back in 1996-1997. Apparently this song remnded her of me. I never quite got her to explain why, but of course it now means that it reminds me of her in turn :-)
21. Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons in the Park Dad introduced me to Tom Lehrer back in 1994-95 sometime. As I've already mentioned several times, I love absurd lyrics, and Tom Lehrer definitely delivers here! I can't even remember why or by which song Dad introduced me to him in the first place, but I'm so glad he did. I just wish I could have gotten to see him live.
22. Fool Garden - Lemon Tree This song was all the rage during my last year in NZ. I still remember trying to catch it on the radio so I could copy it to tape, and sitting in the kitchen listening to it, singing (loudly) along with my host-siblings.
23. Hilllsong - Not Today Hillsong has had such a huge influence on my life that I couldn't stick with just one. I love "Shout to the Lord" for nostalgic reasons - I love "Not Today" for how it speaks to me today.
24. Royal Guardsmen - Snoopy vs. the Red Baron My parents had an LP single with this which my sisters and I discovered back in the early 90s. We absolutely loved it, and quickly learned it off by heart. I still remember sitting in the living room with my sisters working on some craft or the other while it ran on repeat in the background... sorry, Mum and Dad :-P
25. Søs Fenger - Kun et kys herfra One of my friends gave me this CD for my confirmation back in 1994. I'd never heard of Søs Fenger before, but immediately fell in love. I can't even COUNT the number of times I listened to the album over the next years. I don't listen to her much any longer, but this song brings me right back ´to the summer of 1994 and the hopeless crush I had at the time X-D
26. Michael Jackson - Heal the World My first slow dance back in 6th or 7th grade :-D
27. Billie Piper - Day & Night Another song Lars and I decided was "ours" (yes, we have two songs - so sue us ;) ). Nina choreographed a dance to it which she, Rebekka and Michala danced at our wedding. Unfortunately we only caught about 30 seconds of it on video, but we loved it!
28. Michael W. Smith - Friends This song has been with me for years. I first heard this at the boarding school I attended in 1994-95, I sang it for my music assignment in New Zealand in 1997 and we played it on the stereo in my room as some of my friends came over to sit with me the last few hours before I left New Zealand. It's bittersweet, and will still bring me to tears sometimes... but I love it.
29. Casting Crowns - Who Am I? This song had been on me periphery for years, but I never really paid attention to it until I came across it (again) during a readthough of Neta Jackson's "Yada-Yada Prayer Group" and decided to check it out on YouTube. I cried my way through it the first time, and fell in love.
30. Geri Halliway - Raining Men This song IS the early 00s for me. I can't even explain why I love it so much, but I do... and actually prefer this cover to the original :-P
31. Glenn Miller - Bei Mir Bist Du Schön Farmor and Farfar took me to a "Remember Glenn Miller" concert in the late 90s sometime. I had no clue who he was ahead of time, but they knew I liked jazz, so thought I might enjoy it. I really did, and went straight out to purchase some of his albums straight after.
32. Elisabeth - Hun danser en morgen Another song that Karen introduced me to. Karen and I were best friends from age 6-15 and spent several days a week together. I can't remember the context of this song any longer, but it so clearly reminds me of her and of my childhood, so it had to be added here. Fortunately Spotify had it! I actually hadn't expected that.
33. Kaya - Traffic Jam I have no memory of how or when we stumbled over Kaya (something tells me it was Nina who first found her, but I might be mistaken), but I only have to hear the first few notes of the song, and I'm instantly back in the back seat of our car driving... somewhere... with the music up as loud as Mum and Dad would let us. Few songs take me back that vividly.
34. East 17 - House of Love I listen to this and I'm instantly 13 again... I don't know how it does it. I remember being totally gobsmacked when I started really listening to the lyrics and realized that they might actually be Christian! ("The creator created / we tore apart" here, and even more the lyrics to "Gold": "Jesus wasn't sent to set a precious stone free").
35. Gary Chapman - Sweet Jesus One of the very few songs to make me ugly-cry.
36. Jesus Christ Superstar - Heaven on Their Mind Musicals are weird, because you tend to get hooked on "your" soundtrack as being the only RIGHT one. I almost didn't add this one, as it took me ages to find the "right" one on Spotify and any other version just sounds wrong :-P Finally succeeded in finding the 1970 recording though - which is the one my parents had, and which I've listened to COUNTLESS times on LP.
37. Kylie Minogue - Wouldn't Change a Thing I'm a child of the 90s and proud of it!
38. Sophie & Magaly - Papa Pingouin I love that this is even ON Spotify!! It's a random song from ESC 1980 which Mum and Dad happened to have as a single and which my sisters and I loved to dance along to... and Frode (one of the guys from the gang) won Michala's eternal admiration when she first met him by immediately knew what we were talking about when we mentioned "Papa Penguin" in a random aside (although don't ask me about the context any longer - I have no clue!).
39. Colin Buchanan - John 14:1-4 Anne introduced me to Colin Buchanan when I visited her and her family back in 2011. His songs are awesome and ridiculously catchy (to the point where I found myself humming them to myself on my way home - after only having listened to them once!), so I knew I had a winner. And sure enough - I've been listening to them on and off ever since. They're a great way to learn Bible verses off by heart.
40. Hamilton - Alexander Hamilton The most recent addition to this list, but I doubt anybody's really surprised that it made its way on here ;)
Bonus Track: Continental Singers - Stand Up (Added here because I couldn't find it on neither Spotify NOR YouTube!!! :-o ) Various groups of Continental Singers made it to Denmark on numerous occasions in the 90s, so I've seen them in concert at least 4 times and actually both auditioned and got approved to go touring with them myself in the summer of 1995. Unfortunately that never happened, but by then the damage was done, and I'd been listening to them for hours on end for years.
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