I have really diverse music tastes. I like music that makes you think or that evokes some sort of emotion, or if it doesn’t evoke an emotion, it feels just right for the way I feel at that moment. I love music that, even though there are no words, or you can’t understand the words because they’re in a different language, it still moves you. My music tastes range from Beethoven to Kelly Clarkson to Juanes, so I thought I’d share some of my favorite songs with you and why I like them. Listen for yourself, you’ll see what I mean.

Updated 09.08.2007 - I finally linked the songs to a YouTube video. I’m having a hard time finding a few of them, but if you manage to, please let me know!

Thought-Provoking Tunes:

• Que Pasa - Juanes - This song questions the state of the world today and why things are the way they are - why is everyone fighting, why is there so much hate and pain? It’s in Spanish, so if you don’t understand you probably won’t get the same effect, but if you do, this is a must hear. There has to be an English translation out there somewhere.
• It Could Happen Then - Collin Raye - This one is really a Christmas season song, but the lyrics in it are really good. It’s about how soldiers in the war could be at peace during the holidays and enjoy each other’s company instead of fighting.

Get Up and Dance (Old Style):

• Sing Sing Sing - Benny Goodman - You might recognize this one from an old commercial for Ritz Bits. It’s a classic, almost everyone’s heard it at one point or another.
• In the Mood - Glenn Miller and His Orchestra - Another one that everyone’s heard at some point. Gotta love Benny Goodman
• What’s Next - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - This one isn’t really old, but it’s swing-style so I figured I’d include it here.
• The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra - One of those old romantic songs that just makes you melt.
• Crazy - Patsy Cline - Another one of those old romantic songs that you can imagine your grandparents dancing to.

Just feeling blah…:

• Time - Chantal Kreviazuk - I don’t know what it is about this song, but it’s just the song that you’re looking for when you’re just feeling blah. You’re neither happy nor sad, you just “are”.
• Moon River - Frank Sinatra - I have a few different versions of this, including Elvis and Barbra Streisand, but this one is by far my favorite. It’s one of those songs that can sweep you back to another time.

Something about Love:

• Tu Guardian - Juanes - This song is really great. It’s in Spanish once again, but the lyrics are amazing. It’s about always being there for someone, watching over them, and protecting them from all the bad in the world. I love it.
• Inevitable - Shakira - Another song in Spanish. This one is about how, although they’re no longer together, it’s “inevitable” that she will go on loving him.
• When it Comes to Love - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Nice old-fashioned style song. Should possibly be in the “Get Up and Dance (Old Style)” category, but it doesn’t always make you want to dance, so I’ll stick it in here.
• Feels Like Home - Chantal Kreviazuk - This is one of those songs that’s just “pretty”. It has a nice whimsical musical backing and nice lyrics. It’s worth a listen.

Cry Your Eyes Out Music:

• Nessun Dorma - Puccini - (sung by The 3 Tenors) - You’ve probably heard this song at least once in some sort of movie, but even without some heart-wrenching visual scene to accompany it, this song has so much power and emotion that it’s hard not to feel moved by the end.
• Mi Mancherai (Il Postino) - Josh Groban - The first time I heard this song I cried my eyes out. I don’t really understand Italian, but WOW. I’ve heard it so many times it doesn’t really have the same effect on me anymore, but still an amazing song nonetheless.
• You’ll Never Walk Alone - Michael Kennedy - This song is one of those uplifting songs lyrically, but just makes you want to cry the way it’s sung. It’s originally from the musical “Carousel” and is sung at various “low turned high” moments, so that basically sums it up.

Just Plain Beautiful:

• Cello Suite No.1: Prelude - J.S. Bach - (Performed by Yo Yo Ma) - This is probably one of my favorite classical pieces. It’s just a beautiful song. I have a few different versions of it, some faster, some slower, but Yo Yo Ma’s is my favorite.
• Bach Double - J.S. Bach - I’ve loved this one for a really long time. It’s also known as the Double Violin Concerto or the Concerto for Two Violins. This particular version is performed by Roberta Guaspari, her students, and a dozen or so famous violinists such as Izhak Perlman, Isaac Stern, etc. It’s performed exactly like this in one of my favorite movies: Music of the Heart, which is based on Roberta Guaspari’s life.
• Classical Feather Theme - John Williams - This one is the theme from Forrest Gump. It’s all instrumental, but it’s usually just right for the mood.
• The Swan - Camille Saint-Saëns (Performed by Mischa Maisky) - The Swan is an incredibly fluid and soft song. It’s would actually make a great lullaby. Johnny Weir skated to this in the Turino Olympics. It’s always one of my go-to classical favorites.
• Prelude, Opus 32 No. 5 - Rachmaninov - I only recently added this one to my list of favorites. It’s the perfect song for a rainy day.