I’m not quite sure why this song has been in my head lately, but i’ve been singing it for days now.
Some background: I heard this song several times on the old radio program “Music with Moskowitz”, which used to be on a Seattle country station every Sunday. It was a local variant of Dr. Demento style comedy songs which was broadcast in the 90s on a country station.
I remember seeing this before, but “Mad Man Moskowitz” died in 2006 at the age of 61.
I would like to apologize for being away for so long.
My partner and i have a now 5mo baby girl, I got a new job this last July, and frankly, I have been enjoying my evenings zoning out on Netflix as opposed to thinking of new content.
I had a whole 2021 20th anniversary reviews list all picked out, but blew them all off because I didn’t have enough free time.
Rage Against the Machine: Renegades
I wanted to get this out before the month got away from me…Released December 5, 2000, Renegades was the final album released by Rage Against the Machine. Featuring 12 cover songs, Renegades featured the singles “Ghost of Tom Joad” (originally released back in 1997) and “Renegades of Funk”.
Ghost of Tom Joad was originally released by Bruce Springsteen from his 1995 album of the same name. The first RATM version of the song meant a lot to me because I had been reading The Grapes of Wrath that year in school and enjoyed the literary allusions. Also, my then girlfriend was pregnant and the scene where the woman who had just had a stillborn offered a starving man some milk was very poignant from where I was standing.
This song was Rage flexing their guitar muscles (courtesy of Tom Morello) and showing their fans that sometimes stories that inspired them came from the likes of Springsteen writing about a character from a novel about the Dust Bowl.
Renegades of Funk was a song by rap pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, who I had not previously heard before the release of this song as a radio single. The track leaves a trail of figures leaders to follow, detailing how in their time, even they were considered renegades.
The non-single which really impressed me was “I’m Housin'”, a cover of a song by rap duo EPMD, or Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith. I remembered the original track from my early days of devouring music and having a friend who introduced me to rap and hard rock (later some grunge). We enjoyed EMPD because their music had a hard edge while also containing comedic elements. RATM’s version showed off Zack de la Rocha’s considerable rap skills while still making it unmistakably a “Rage” song.
Renegades was the last non-live music release from Rage Against the Machine, they parted ways just before the dawn of the George W Bush years. Three of the members have formed Audioslave with Chris Cornell and later Prophets of Rage with Chuck D and B Real. In 2020 Rage were set to go on a stadium tour with Run the Jewels, who frequently collaborate with de la Rocha. The tour is now postponed until at lease 2021.
Fans like me are still hoping this tour results in new music from the band, even if it’s just an EP or something. Surely if they were so angry at the Clinton administration, they have something to say about the current occupant of the White House?
This list is brought to you by the letter Death and the number 666. Apologies, but I had to do it. There are some heady topics in this list, but that’s what made the songs so memorable for me.
20. You Should Be Sad – Halsey
favorite line: “I’m so glad I never ever had a baby with you/’Cause you can’t love nothin’ unless there’s somethin’ in it for you”
Yes, this is a song about making it out of a bad relationship, but I’ve been in one of those and was glad on the back end I made it out with only one child.
19. Hindsight 2020 – Milo Aukerman
favorite line: “#MAGA, for real, with your 2020 vote”
Dr. Milo of the punk band Descendents has a little something to say about 45. On ukulele no less. FYI, he recorded a 4 song EP of political songs. He also recorded their own “Hope” for a Sublime tribute EP benefitting a rehab center.
18. Pulling the pin- Run the Jewels (f. Mavis Staples)
favorite line: “It hurts I’m being torn apart/there’s a grenade in my heart”
RTJ recorded their fourth album before covid hit, but their album features so many lines relevant to the 2020 experience it’s uncanny. Cudos to Mavis Staples for that amazing chorus.
17. March March – The Chicks
favorite line: “Print yourself a weapon and take it to the gun range/(Ah, cut the shit)/(You ain’t goin’ to the gun range)”
The Chicks, formerly known by Dixie, came in to 2020 swinging. Gaslighter was aimed at the current occupant of the White House. March March put the sights squarely on the far right.
16. No Time for Love Like Now – Michael Stipe & Big Red Machine
favorite line: “Whatever waiting means in this new place/I am waiting for you”
Michael Stipe’s first alternative pop single since the end of REM. It’s as if he never lost a moment.
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/901824501/908414443
15. Slint, Spiderland- Colin Meloy
favorite line: “So I headed to the market/Took my life in my own hands/Like those four boys on the quarry/On the sleeve of Spiderland”
The lead singer of The Decemberists singing about quarantine through the lens of a documentary of a relatively unheralded album. Because of course that’s the frame he chose to use for his contribution.
14. Both Sides – Forest Blakk (f. Kamilah Marshall)
favorite line: “Let your arms be a place/She feels safe in”
Forest Blakk is a spoken word artist whom I have been listening to his every release for years. This is a love song, true, but the video is Forest and his girlfriend.
13. Fetch the Bolt Cutters – Fiona Apple
favorite line: “So all I could hear was the noise that/People make when they don’t know yet”
One of music’s most enigmatic performers, often taking more than five years between albums yet always delivering a masterpiece. The title track from her most recent album seems to be all about telling people to just let her do her thing.
12. Quarantine Together – Drive-by Truckers
favorite line: “So if you come on over to my place/I promise you I will stay/Six feet away”
Now THIS is love in the time of Corona! I saw an ad on the side of a bus that made me think of this song that read, “Find love when you least expect it, Like in 2020″…
11. Chapter 319 – Clipping.
favorite line: “Donald Trump is a white supremacist /full stop/If you vote for him again, you’re a white supremacist/full stop”
Mr. Trump and his followers, you should have taken some advice from Hamilton’s Thomas Jefferson (Daveed Diggs is clipping. and played the part). He also happens to release music on Sub Pop records, which is where I first heard of him.
10. I Remember Everything – John Prine
favorite line: “I remember every song on a guitar out of tune”
John Prine is a legend in the songwriter/country genre. His debut album features the immortal protest anthems “Sam Stone” (about a father whose kids notice that he has a heroin habit) and “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Any More” (about how there has to be more to patriotism then blind faith). He died of Covid in early April.
9. What Are We Standing For – Bad Religion
favorite line: “Those who kneel to implore know just what they’re standing for”
Bad Religion have long been the smartest, most verbose punk band in America (if not the world). They expect their audience is smart enough to interpret their songs. In the current “scandal” of people taking a knee during the National Anthem, those who take a knee know exactly what they’re standing for.
8. Island of Doom – Agnes Obel
favorite line: “I’m just another fool for the earth to swallow”
Released in February 2020, Obel’s latest album, Myopia, obscured hard topics in beautiful instrumentation and vocals. Island of Doom roominates on death seven years after her father’s passing, having to deal with never seeing them again while at the same time trying to decide the future of everything that used to encompass “them”.
7. My Name’s Not Abraham Lincoln – The Black Tones
Favorite line: “I don’t know who I am”
The only song on my list I heard on the radio, this song struck a chord with me because of it’s simplicity and it’s comedy. I love that this is an African-American duo making music like this in Seattle…in 2020.
6. Hell – Waxahatchee
favorite line: “Swallow my pride, it’s mine to quell/I’ll put you through hell”
Waxahatchee has made a name for herself as an extremely talented singer-songwriter. Her latest album, St. Cloud, is a new high water mark for her.
5. WAP – Cardi B (f. Megan thee Stallion)
favorite line: “He got a beard, well, I’m tryna wet it”
The most controversial pop song of the year by a long shot, a song with two women proclaiming their love of sex featured in news stories, pushing it ever further into the national consciousness. Not entirely certain I understand the “with a hook in it” line…
4. Cowboy Blues – Kesha
favorite line: “Did I fuck my whole life up?/Did I miss my one true love?/Was he right in front of me at the dive bar?”
For years, I thought of Kesha (she previously had a $ instead of an S in her name) as a pop artist, but this is the second time in two albums she has had a song rank high on my end of year list. While the song is a little comical, it also speaks to the missed opportunities of people losing the art of interaction.
3. I Contain Multitudes – Bob Dylan
favorite line: “I drive fast cars, and I eat fast foods/I contain multitudes”
At nearly 80 years old, Bob Dylan is still one of the best songwriters to have ever lived. Before releasing Rough & Rowdy Ways, he release three singles three months in a row, this was the second of those.
2. Last Days of the Thin Blue Line Lie – Quasi
favorite line: “Left hook to the racist mind’s eye/ Bye bye miss American lie”
The Portland duo, now the main band for legendary drummer Janet Weiss, released this song on Bandcamp with all proceeds benefitting Don’t Shoot Portland. The song’s rhythm section is a chant from Portland protesters and the video is actual footage of said protests.
one. Cement Mixer (to All My Beautiful Friends) – SNFU
favorite line: “Sad to have to say goodbye/At least i finally get to go to sleep”
SNFU lead singer Chi Pig (as he was affectionately called) died in mid-July, but not before he wrote a farewell song to everyone he knew, with express instructions to have the song released only after his death. The single shows Ken Chinn in last known photograph. Though obscure, I’m pretty sure his thought was that if his ashes were mixed into cement, he would in effect live on forever.
This year being what it was, many artists took to recording and releasing cover versions of songs that had inspired them. When compiling my top 50 list, I made the decision to cut out all cover songs and create a separate list for this year only. I attempted to cut this down to 10 songs, but really felt like any final cut was missing something which I wanted to share.
12. Fuck the USA – Mr. Bungle (originally by The Exploited)
In a year where we saw a global pandemic, justified riots around the world in solidarity with the killings of unarmed black people, paralysis of US government to pass any meaningful legislation, and an economic downturn that saw a massive spike in unemployment claims, this nearly 40 year old song brought on newfound relevance from Mr. Bungle. The band donated proceeds of the single to Musicares Covid-19 relief.
11. Our Anniversary – Bill Callahan & Bonne “Prince” Billy (originally by Smog)
This is almost cheating because Bill Callahan is Smog, but the song is a radical reworking. Bonnie “Prince” Billie is Will Oldham, who is known as an alt-folk singer since the mid-90s. Smog/Bill Callahan has made a career for himself on the indie label Drag City.
10. Waterfalls – Death Cab for Cutie (originally by TLC)
Released just over a week ago as part of a now monthly Bandcamp Friday, DCFC released a 5 song Georgia EP to assist in raising funds for the Democrats of the upcoming Georgia Senate runoffs. The song does not include the rap, but they wouldn’t have sounded right with a verse like that anyway.
9. Young, Gifted & Black – Yola (originally by Nina Simone)
Also released as part of a Bandcamp Friday compilation, African-American country artist Yola released a take on the Nina Simon classic. The song was featured on one of two compilations put out to benefit Voting Rights Lab, which fights against voter suppression of various forms.
8. Girl From North Country – Greg Dulli (f. Mark Lanegan) (originally by Bob Dylan)
Greg Dulli is the lead singer of Afghan Whigs and his friend Mark Lanegan fronts Screaming Trees. Both have distinctly gravelly voices, but their cover of an early Dylan classic just works. The track was released as a Record Store Day exclusive, which releases special vinyl to keep independent record stores open.
7. Nobody Told Me – Margo Price (originally by John Lennon)
Released early into the pandemic, Margo seemed to encapsulate the angst and solitude of quarantining without resulting to the obvious “Isolation” cover. The cover was also released to coincide with the announcement that her 2020 album had been delayed due to the lockdown. This is the only artist to feature on both this and my top 50 list.
5. I’m Going to Go Back There Someday – The Dresden Dolls (originally by The Muppets)
The Dresden Dolls are a cabaret punk duo who only occasionally perform together any more, but when they do, they make it count. This track benefitted the Boston Resiliency Fund, helping out Boston residents most impacted by Covid restrictions.
5. America – Courtney Marie Andrews, Liz Cooper & Molly Sarle (originally by Simon & Garfunkel)
Also released as part of the Good Music to Avert the Collapse of American Democracy benefits for the Voting Rights Lab, these three women made a great cover of a timeless song. All three are songwriters of the inde folk genre, with Andrews being a solo artist, Liz Cooper fronting a band called The Stampede and Molly Sarle being a member of Mountain Man.
4. The Devi Went Down to Georgia – Korn (f. Yelawolf) (originally by Charlie Daniels)
Korn released this track shortly after the passing of Charlie Daniels in late July. Proceeds from the single benefitted Awakening Youth, an organization which benefits young people who have lost regular interaction with a parent to life events such as divorce, addiction, death, and more, to realize positive change in their lives and awaken the motivation to be their best selves.
3. Fast Car- Black Pumas (originally by Tracy Chapman)
Black Pumas came onto the scene only last year, but they certainly have made a name for themselves. Earlier this year, the band performed as part of a Paul Simon organized One Night for Austin, which aimed to assist Austin-area small business owners affected by the pandemic.
2. It’s a Fire – Amanda Palmer & Rhiannon Giddens (originally by Portishead)
Another radical reworking of a track, this one by the singer of The Dresden Dolls and the singer formerly of Carolina Chocolate Drops. With sweeping strings, the track was recorded amidst the pandemic and features the line “I can’t breathe through this mask”. Proceeds benefitted The Free Black University Fund, which works to “decolonize” higher education.
one. Hell You Talmbout – David Byrne (originally by Janelle Monae)
Performed as an Encore at David Byrnes “American Utopia” musical, Byrne & Co. took a track that brought attention to murdered African-American youth way back in 2015. The song updates the roster some, but still connects recent deaths back to Emmitt Till to highlight the fact that these tragedies are not new. This version was caught on video by Spike Lee for release on HBO Max.
50. Black magic – Backxwash
A rapper rapping about being in a bad place and comparing it to black magic…all I needed to know to want to hear this song.
49. Cloud City – Hum
Welcome back, Hum! I’ve missed you. This is my favorite track from their first album in 22 years.
48. Babysitter – Tobacco (f. Trent Reznor)
A side project from a member of Black Moth Super Rainbow enlists Trent Reznor to record vocals and makes a video featuring Falcor. Nuff said.
47. The Problem – Amanda Shires (f. Jason Isbel)
Wife enlists husband on a duet about a difficult conversation regarding abortion. Honesty in this age. Brilliant.
46. Taking a Page (demo) – Devandra Banhart
This is not the demo, but the song remains. Features the line “do you think colors ask/’who is your favorite human?”
45. Hate for Sale – The Pretenders
Welcome back, The Pretenders! I enjoyed your new album very much!
44. Who’s Gonna Stop Me? – Portugal.The Man (f. “Weird Al” Yankovic)
The relationship between PTM and WAY goes back a bit, but kudos go to them to have convinced him to record vocals on his first ever ‘serious’ song.
43. Get It Back – Pearl Jam
I was very glad to hear this Gigaton outtake on a bandcamp friday release, and ended up liking it more than anything on the rest of said album.
42. Letting Me Down (Downer version) – Margo Price
Margo Price has become one of my favorite new musicians. This is a down tempo version of a song from her new album.
41. Welcome to the Endgame – Typhoon
“Welcome to the endgame, final movies already been made/We’re finding out the hard way, there’s’ not a savior left insight.”
40. No Flag – Elvis Costello
Nearly 40 years into his recording career, Costello is still putting out music that should be bigger. Features the great line “no God for the damn that I don’t give”.
39. Ice – Micah Bournes (f. Vernon Caraway)
One of my favorite spoken word artists put out several singles this year dealing with ‘race’ relations. This was my favorite among them.
38. A Dying Plea – Anti-Flag
Video contains decades of police and military brutality against civilians. Song features Tom Morello.
37. Water Witch – The Secret Sisters (f. Brandi Carlile)
Two incredible female performers featuring guests vocals from another incredible female performer.
36. Genocidal Humanoidz – System of a Down
Releasing their first music in 17 years, System of a Down released music to highlight the continuing warfare in Armenia.
35. The Escape – Erin McKeown
A quarantine video made about a quarantine song and premiered on the podcast Our Plague Year.
34. Gramercy Park – Alicia Keys
A gentle song about doing things you think a lover wants you to do and them falling in love with that version of you. The feeling of losing yourself in love in two senses, personal and mental.
33. Living Room – Andy Shauf
“Today my son came home from school/And he had drawn a picture/But I was so tired from work/I told him I would have a look in a little while/I should have hung it on the fridge for him/I mean how hard is it to give a shit/To give a shit, to give a shit”. Thank you for this track about being a working parent.
32. When History Comes – Matthew Caws
The singer of Nada Surf steps into the political fray on a track that shows behind blue and red we are al just people. Neither side are demons or want to see the end of society.
31. Miracle of Live – Bright Eyes
A song about the difficulties of dealing with the aftermath of getting an abortion where proceeds benefitted Planned Parenthood.
30. A Lasting Peace – Peace Talks
Released at the beginning of the pandemic by Pittsburgh punk band Peace Talks, the track rages against just how fucked up the world is right now.
29. Revolution – Heartless Bastards
Many of the downsides of the American experiment in on brief song. From happy pills to politicians telling lies…it’s all in there.
28. Instant Night – Beauty Pill
Written during the early days of Trumps 2016 run, but not released until the waning days of the 2020 election, Beauty Pill takes anger and fear of many to a single that conveys fear of social media’s influence on today’s culture.
27. Paradise is Very Fragile – Lana del Rey
A track from her spoken word album to accompany her book of poetry, the track features the line “our leader is a megalomaniac”.
26. American Landfill – Kristeen Young (f. David Bowie)
A reworked version of a mostly unheralded 2001 track with entirely reworked musical arrangement…this felt like an entirely new Bowie track to me.
25. Halloween – Phoebe Bridgers
From her phenomenal album Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers has become an artist to watch where ever she chooses to go next.
24. Psych Ward – Okay Kaya
“You can peel an orange however you want in the psych ward”.
23. Life in Quarantine – Benjamin Gibbard
Can you tell quarantine was a popular topic in 2020? This was one of the earliest examples.
22. Until Olympius Returns – The Mountain Goats
John Darnielle put out an album during quarantine of songs recorded on his old tape deck, bringing back that feel not heard in nearly 15 years.
21. Bar No One – Beach Slang
The track highlights how people are more concerned with looking pretty when they’re dead than they are doing actual good deeds during their life.
Nine Inch Nails: Things Falling Apart
Things Falling Apart is a remix album featuring 8 remixes for songs from the standard release of The Fragile, a remixed version of a vinyl/b-side and a cover song.
“10 Miles High” was a song that was cut from the CD version of The Fragile due to run time limitations. The track features a driving beat and largely repetitive lyrics about somebody who feels like they are losing themselves by turning into somebody else. The narrator then goes on to claim that they will “tear it all down”. Versions of the song have also been included on The Fragile Instrumental and The Fragile Deviations 1.
“Metal” is a song originally by Gary Numan, originally appearing on his album The Pleasure Principle. Trent Reznor has repeatedly stated his fandom for Gary Numan. The band performed the song with Gary Numan on vocals during their 2009 Wave Goodbye stop in London. The song sounds reminiscent of 80s industrial rock, which was still a relatively new genre when NINs own Pretty Hate Machine came out in 1989.
In 2020, Nine Inch Nails were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They had a tour planned before COVID-19 and to raise funds decided to release the tour shirts anyway. They also released Ghosts V and VI as a surprise download.
Radiohead: Kid A
Kid A is the fourth studio album by Radiohead, their followup to internationally acclaimed OK Computer. After that album took the band in a more electronic direction, but still featured some radio friendly tracks, Kid A was their first to feature predominantly electronic generated music.
The opening track, “Everything in it’s right place”, was written by Thom Yorke on piano before being run through a synthesizer. Lyrics include a total of 12 words, but the song does not feel scant. The track was meant to cast off some of their fame from their first three albums, but only garnered them more acclaim for expanding their sonic range.
Track 3, “The National Anthem” was conceived as a free jazz cacophony of confusion, indicating that nationalities are a confusing concept, as are the symbols that are meant to stand for those nations (ie, flags and, yes, anthems). The song was not necessarily a radio hit, but it has become a staple of their live shows.
After the release of this album, Radiohead continued to fill large stadiums, headline festivals, and shun the mantle of media darlings. They released a companion album to Kid A, titled Amnesiac, just 8 months after this album.
At the Drive-in: Relationship of Command
I’ve been slacking on my self-imposed duties. Released September 12, 2000, the third and final album by El Paso, TX punk band At the Drive-in, but one which put the band on radio stations across the country.
The first single, “One Armed Scissor” climbed the Billboard Alternative charts and brought the band into the alternative rock pantheon. The title of the song apparently takes its name from a vodka and red bull drink in Canada, which makes sense as the band was reportedly frequently intoxicated on their tours, reportedly contributing to their breakup.
After the smashing success of the first single, “Rolodex Propaganda” was released, though to lesser acclaim, though the album version does feature Iggy Pop. The lyrics are somewhat unclear as to the topic of the song, but it seems to suggest taking a look at history rather than pretending that the past does not matter, with the line “manuscript replica” suggesting repeating the same things again and again.
After this album, the band split into two separate bands. The Mars Volta took a more prog-punk angle, releasing a stream of obtuse, but aurally stimulating albums. Sparta took a more straight ahead punk angle, with a string of acclaimed albums.
At the Drive-in briefly got back together for their first large scale concerts in 2016 and 2017 before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2018.
I’ll begin this by stating that #2 has an asterisk, which I will explain when I get there.
10. St. Vincent – Pills
favorite line: “Pills to grow, pills to shrink/Pills, pills, pills and a good stiff drink”
Original release year: 2017
It’s blatantly obvious that this song is about America’s culture of over prescription of drugs, or as some say “better living through chemistry”. Which is to say, the song actually has something to say, and that helps.
9. Hey Marseilles – To Travels and Trunks
Favorite line: “All I want is love eternally/With your heart facing me”
Original release year: 2010
Until I am told otherwise, I will remain convinced that I heard this band performing at one of the practice spaces in the Seattle Library. One day i stopped to listen to a band who was making some great sounding music in the reservable practice space. Several months later, when I started hearing this band on the radio, there was a story about how they would practice at the Central Library.
8. Brandi Carlile – The Mother
Favorite line: “The first things that she took from me were selfishness and sleep/She broke a thousand heirlooms I was never meant to keep/She filled my life with color, canceled plans, and trashed my car/But none of that was ever who we are”
Original release year: 2018
As if it makes the song any better, Brandi Carlile is a lesbian and her real-life daughter’s name is Evangeline. This is exactly what it’s like to be a parent, losing selfishness, preparing to have a mess in your car even after you just cleaned it, and being prepared for things you treasure to be broken.
7. The Head and the Heart – Ghosts
Favorite line: “Is it any wonder why we all leave home?/People say, “I knew you when you were six years old”/And you say, “But I’ve changed, I’ve changed, I’ve changed, I’ve changed.””
Original release year: 2011
This song most definitely is about how so many people stay near the town in which they were born and raised. I really liked having the same set of people with whom I went to school through the entirety of primary school. What was a little more sad was that one of the jocks became a bar tender at a brew pub I would frequent, and somebody I rode the bus with K-12 became a message therapist at the original place I would go to for chiropractic adjustments.
6. Old 97s – Longer than You’ve Been Alive
favorite line: “We’ve been longer than you’ve been alive/Twenty good years, for about 25”
Original release year: 2014
The album this came from, Most Messed Up, was hands down the best album of 2014. There were two tracks that were strong contenders for my favorite of the year, this and the title track. The band, and lead singer Rhett Miller, have been putting out quality work for more than 30 years now.
5. NOFX – I’ve got one Jealous Again, Again
Favorite line: “Now I got “Group Sex” and “No Control”/I got “Suffer” and “Let’s Go””
Original release year: 2012
Oh how I wish this band would play this song live….It’s a bitter divorce song about how he’s separating his record collection to keep it safe while his soon-to-be ex is ignoring what had always attracted him to her, their similar tastes in music. Being a fan of punk rock, this song made it to my top song for 2012 pretty easily.
4. Kimya Dawson – All I Could Do
Favorite line: “All I can do next is just be a good mother”
Original release year: 2011
In 2011, I was struggling to be a single parent to a special needs son while being away from home for 12 hours per day before going home to make us dinner, bathe him, get him ready for bed, lather rinse repeat. And then this song came around. And all I had to do next was be a good mother. True story, one year at work, I wrote Kimya Dawson, a native of the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle, to see if she would come perform, with any proceeds benefitting a local food bank…she never wrote back.
3 (tie) Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – Same Love
favorite line: “It’s human rights for everybody/There is no difference/Live on! And be yourself!”
original release year: 2012
Sub Pop put out a limited 7″ one sided single of this song to support a gay marriage initiative in Washington State in 2012…and I happened to track down a copy at a random record store in Texas…I’m very proud that I have it as I feel like I own a piece of history.
3 (tie). Mary Lambert – She Keeps Me Warm
favorite line: “I named both of her eyes ‘forever’ and ‘please don’t go'”
orignal release year: 2013
These songs just had to be tied because they feel like two parts of the same song. The version above is my favorite, though I do like the album version too.
2*. Tegan & Sara – Someday
Favorite line: “Might do something I’d be proud of someday/Mark my words, I might be something someday”
original release year: late 2009
Did you spot the asterisk??? This song came out in November 2009, but I wasn’t keeping a ‘remnants’ list at that time and I got it in early 2010, it made it to my songs of the year list, and it has remained one of my favorite songs of that decade, in spite of the fact that it’s just a few months older than that. Deal with it…
(1). Frank Turner – Eulogy
favorite line: “On the day I die I’ll say ‘at least i fucking tried’/That’s the only eulogy I need”
original release year: 2011
This song, at a minute 35 seconds, has 42 seconds of intro, meaning the length of the song that has lyrics is officially 50 seconds long…but that’s all it needs to say everything one should want to say about their life. I’m in my early 40s now, and though I recently got a promotion at work, “at least I fucking tried”…thank you Frank Turner…
seattlemusicnerd 