I think the best way to start off 2010 is to remember 2009, because, after all, it is hard to know where you're going if you don't remember where you've already been.
Colleen, my wonderful friend that I met in Dublin created an amazing blog where she posted her Top Nine Songs of 2009. I like this idea, so I am stealing it.
Here it goes:
1. Angry Young Man by Billy Joel
Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I love Billy Joel. This summer I went to my very first Billy Joel concert at Nationals Stadium in D.C. This concert was the first stop on the Billy Joel/Elton John Face2Face tour. When the show began, the two men rose up with their grand pianos from the floor. They played a few songs, but Elton announced his piano was off key. After many techs tried to fix it quickly, Billy took off his suit coat and climbed under the piano in an attempt to fix it. He did not succeed. Elton threw a hissy fit and left the stage, but Billy saved the day by playing solo. The first song he played was Angry Young Man. The prelude to this song is amazing, but I never realized how amazing until I saw Billy’s fingers move so fast on the big screen. Every time I hear this song now, I get a big smile on my face and nothing can bring me down. PS. The video link is of the actual moment of the concert I am talking about. So cool!
2. Upside Down by Jack Johnson
I lived and worked in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2009. Every day I found myself amazed to be so lucky to live in such an amazing city and work for the United States Senate. After work, I would skip the metro and opt to walk (or should I say roll) the three miles from Capitol Hill to Foggy Bottom, where I lived. I know that most people try to forget about work after they leave, but I would always look back because the sight was just so beautiful. One day as I looked back, Jack Johnson came onto my Zune and I sang along to the lyrics, “Who's to say I can't do everything? Well I can try. And as I roll along I begin to find things aren't always just what they seem.” Every word described how I felt and this song became the theme song of my summer. 3. So What? by The Carter Twins
Before I went to D.C., Ali came to Rochester to visit me. I met Ali when we studied abroad in Ireland at Dublin City University. We became really good friends while in Ireland, sharing dinners, doing our nails and even travelling to Spain and Italy. Needless to say, I was very excited when she came to visit. Every morning, as we got dressed and ready for a new day in Rochester we would listen to CMT and a song called “So What?” came on. We watched the video and two cute young guys called the Carter Twins were singing. We jokingly decided to marry them. Then one day I decided to take Ali to the Lilac Festival which is a pretty big thing in Rochester. We heard the “So What?” song and realized the Carter Twins were performing live at the festival. We met their father and informed him of our marriage plans, and he gave us his blessing. We also met the boys themselves. Afterwards, we forgot about the marriage plans.
In 2009 I decided to try out for The Vagina Monologues at St. John Fisher. I got the part of “Cunt” and had so much fun with it. I made a lot of friends through the Vagina Monologues, including a girl named Jenny. Every time I saw her I couldn’t help but sing, “Jeeeennnnnnny, I got your number!” Of course, I got a lot of girls to sing along with me. It was a great 2 months with those girls, which is why I tried out for the 2010 show and I am excited to say that I got the part of “Cunt” again!5. Over It Now- Taylor Dayne
At the end of 2008 I was asked to go to Nashville, TN to talk about my experience as a disabled student studying abroad. While in Nashville, I decided to see the city. One night, I saw that there was going to be some sort of televised concert and was invited in. Curious, I went in and found that they were taping the final episode of “Gone Country 3” a popular show on CMT about “has-been’s” trying to become popular again through country music. While the show was taped in 2008, it did not air until February of 2009. I was very excited to watch the final episode and see myself on national television. My favorite performer that night was Taylor Dayne, and although she did not win, I still think her song rocks.
6. Leavin'- Jesse McCartney
One of my favorite things to do is ride around in the car with my very best friend, Katie Kamm. As we ride around Rochester going to malls, restaurants and coffee shops, we always find something great to obnoxiously sing along to. While we usually like to scream to Kelly Clarkson, I found that one of my personal faves to rock out to this summer was “Leavin’” by Jesse McCartney. I’m not sure if Katie loves the song as much as I do, but I do know that she definitely sang along to it with me plenty of times. 2009 may have had its ups and downs for me and for Katie individually, but 2009 was a great year for us as friend. I’m looking forward to many more great years singing along to poppy songs in the most obnoxious voices we can create. 7. I Want You Back- Jackson 5
You may already know this, but Michael Jackson died this year. I was crushed and literally cried. However, the bright side was that everyone began playing a lot of Michael Jackson music, including the fabulous Jackson 5 hit “I Want You Back.” This song is one of my favorite MJ songs because when I lived in Dublin, we would go to the pub on campus at DCU one night a week. This was the most popular night and the DJ would ALWAYS play “I Want You Back.” So even though I was super sad about MJ dying, I was happily reminded of all my great friends and fun times back in Dublin. I guess there’s an upside to everything, right? Plus, I bought the Jackson 5 Ultimate Collection for $2 on Amazon this month, and the very first song on the CD? You guessed it. 8. My Life Would Suck Without You- Kelly Clarkson
This is embarrassing for me to say, but my boyfriend is in love with Kelly Clarkson. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea. I do know that I am an awesome girlfriend and bought him tickets to see her this summer at the Great New York State Fair. We decided to spend the whole day at the fair before going to the concert that night. I must say, best decision ever. I love the state fair! We got to pet sea lions, meet Scooby Doo, eat lots of food, feed giraffes and zebra and hold baby pigs. Of course, in the end, I still had to sit through a Kelly Clarkson concert, but it wasn’t that painful. I ever got to scream along to some songs and inform Matt, very loudly that “my life would suck without you.”
9. December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
While in D.C. this summer, a few friends and I decided to go to the 4th of July concert and celebration at the Capitol. There were some great artists there, including Barry Manilow, Natasha Bedingfield, the cast of Sesame Street and the cast of Jersey Boys. When “December, 1963” came on, I immediately jumped up and danced along with my blind, gay, Iranian husband, Rohmteen. We had a great time. Not only did I enjoy this song on that night, but on the long drive back from D.C. to Rochester at the end of the summer, I dazzled my mother by serenading her as I obnoxiously sang along to her “Jersey Boys” soundtrack. I must say, my mother is a very lucky woman. So thats my soundtrack to 2009, I hope 2010 is just as good!
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