"Ride Like The Wind"

I've always liked Christopher Cross. My mom loves him and she had some of his records so I would play them when I was little. "Ride Like The Wind" came out the year I was born (1979) and features the amazing Michael McDonald on backing vocals. This is a song I could use as a writing prompt I swear. I can always make up a good Bonnie and Clyde type story to match this track! I saw Christopher Cross with my mom "point blank" (as Metalboy! would say) and it was just awesome. I never tire of this track. Cross' self-titled debut is one of the best in the last 50 years of popular music.

"Hearts Burst Into Fire"

"Hearts Burst Into Fire" sounds pretty different from the rest of the Bullet For My Valentine catalog. I discovered this band back during my corporate PR days. I would listen to them via headphones while plugging along in my little cubicle. I grabbed Scream Aim Fire the day it was released and popped it in and started listening. When this song came on I stopped working and just listened, very intently. Then I listened to it again and then immediately called Eric and said "Bullet For My Valentine is goin to be a big band." I got to interview singer Matt Tuck about a month later and that was pretty cool. Bullet is great fun live, too and I would enjoy seeing them again.

"The Final Episode (Let's Change The Channel)"

My introduction to Asking Alexandria was an ironic one. I was at Rock on the Range a decade ago and staying with a big group of people. Think like three connecting double-suite hotel rooms. One guy was a Secret Service agent for Barack Obama (seriously), some are regular readers of this blog and one was the creator and owner of the ShipRocked cruises. So the creator of ShipRocked is named Alan and he is always online, trolling for new bands. So he comes across Asking Alexandria and plays them on his laptop over and over and I'm not sure if he likes them or not. But before you know it, I'm a big AA fan. In fact, if it wasn't for Asking Alexandria, I doubt I would have made it through my first half marathon. 

During my training, I would make little deals with myself and anytime "The Final Episode (Let's Change The Channel)" came up on my iPod shuffle (again, this was a decade ago!) I had to run two times as fast and as hard as the typical day's pace. Even if it was near my cool down period, I would ramp it up and go hardcore again. I did not die during that half marathon, thanks to my mental stubbornness and Asking Alexandria pushing me along! #YouNeedADoctorBabyYouScared? (Asking Alexandria is on ShipRocked right now, by the way!) 

"Lowdown"

A lot of songs are pretty important to me. Still, there are some that just rise to the top when it comes to memories or special moments in my life. The very first time my husband and I went to Hawaii a few friends were with us too. One of them was Christa (see post from yesterday). The first time you visit Hawaii, you experience magic. The place is so special, it is hard to describe. You just must go there. So this was a very special trip when we were very young and very poor. We had to save pretty hard to be able to do it and we had so much fun. One night we wandered into a bar and there was a big band with horns and the whole bit and dancing. A cover of Boz Scagg's amazing "Lowdown" came on and the place just came alive. It felt so cosmopolitan to be dancing in paradise as a 24 year old. I've loved Boz Scaggs ever since.

"September"

Today's pick of one of my favorite songs is pretty bittersweet. I always smile when I hear "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire. The song was an absolute favorite of my friend Christa. We were supposed to see Aerosmith together last year and she died very suddenly the weekend before our trip. I always thought of her each time I heard "September" but now I will never be able to decouple memories of her from the song. These days, each time I pop on Earth, Wind & Fire I imagine her infectious laughter, nodding with approval and giving me a thumbs up sign.

"Deacon Blues"

I'm rolling along on my vacation and I hope you're enjoying my eclectic song picks. Today's choice is "Deacon Blues" from Steely Dan. A standout track from the Aja masterpiece, I bet I've listened to "Deacon Blues" more times while at work than any other song in the history of recorded music. I'm pretty sure my coworkers hate it now! I can't get enough. #DrinkScotchWhiskyAllNightLongAndDieBehindTheWheel

"Rockstar"

Ready for another pick of my random favorite songs? Here's the live version of Nickelback doing "Rockstar." I grabbed some lawn seats for their upcoming tour this summer. I typically hate sitting on the lawn but I've seen them live before (amazing show!) and this seemed like a great, cheapish way to spend a summer Saturday night with my husband.