Its Not In The Words That You Told Me

No fuss...just Monday Night Shuffle.

M79 by Vampire Weekend (31) - This song reminds me so much of Paul Simon's Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes. Not so much the lyrics but the beat and sound of the Ezra's voice. It is a enjoyable to listen to even if you don't pay attention to the lyrics. At first I thought the song was a brief but passionate love affair. Further listening to the song proved me wrong. I think it is more of a cry against hatred. Also cool but not exactly the sweet romantic song that I thought it was a first. The line: "Stay awake to break the habit."

Spare Me the Details by The Offspring (65) - I think this so song is funny! Sure the topic isn't very funny but it is the way that it was sung. I have said it before but I think that Dexter is one of the more talented lead singers in alternative music. I laugh every time he sings "I'm not the one who's acting like a ho!" I don't know why I find it so damn funny about that but you can't go wrong with a song that makes you laugh. I also like it because it seems to be the theme song to nearly every party that I went to high school. What makes people think that the wounded party wants to hear all the details anyway? My favorite line is obviously the one mentioned above because it is funny but here is another one. " And it drives me insane sittin' with a vision, stuck with that image burned into my brain."

Bittersweet by Big Head Todd & the Monsters (30) - This song is just that for me but not for the obvious reasons. I always think of Jenn S whenever I hear this song. I have fond memories of us driving around the Duke City one summer day just enjoying the break from everyone else in our lives. It was the day that we got kicked out of Party City for throwing at least three dozen army men with sticky feet to the wall. It wasn't the first place that we got kicked out off and not the last but for some reason it is one of strongest memories of our friendship. Jenn S was the one girl-friend that I was completely comfortable being friends with. We were never in competition with each other, we were never jealous of other, we never used the other to make our self better...we were simply friends who enjoyed the other's wackiness. Anyway, every time I hear this song I have memories of us driving down Montgomery BLVD listening to this album...singing this song over and over again. Every memory that I have of Jenn is positive and fun up until the end. I still remember how beautiful she looked the last time I saw her...as for some reason I never saw the obvious injuries that she had sustained. I wished that I thought of something special to say to her that last time I looked at her. Instead I said nothing and never even cried until the day of her funeral. I think of her often but don't really of think of her death. I always think of us joking around the gym or being escorted out of party stores or restaurants...both of us laughing so hard that we were crying. In fact...there is only one memory of her in mind that she isn't smiling or laughing...and even then I think that I saw of hint of smile on her face the last time I looked at my good friend. I picked a line in honor of my friend in though it is necessary to point out that this is a song about passion gone cold. The line: "She's not so far as she seems". I think that she would be proud of me for finally getting on the back of a motorcycle recently. It wasn't as tough as I expected it would be but of course it helped that I trusted the driver completely.

Hold the Line by Toto (58) - This song spends the entire time naming off all of the things that it isn't about. I never got it when I listened to it in my younger days....back when I foolishly believed that love would make perfect sense once I found it. Now I think that if the love is real you don't have to say "what" exactly is it. In fact is easier to name the things that it "isn't" because love doesn't seem to make sense. So I think that they got it right when Toto sings that "It's not in the way that your love set me free, it's not in the way you look or the things that you say that you do" It is all of those things and more. But I must say that there is something intoxicating and extremely romantic about love setting someone free...even if the love doesn't come at the right time. Toto got it right with the line "Hold the line...love isn't always time."

White Flag by Dido (215) - Here is another song that totally got it right. Whenever I hear this song I tell myself that it is the perfect "road map" to being strong. That is the funny thing about the end...rarely are both parties happy that it has finally come...regardless of what kind of end it is. In the event that I reach an end and I am the one who is less than pleased...I will find strength in this song because if you thought enough of the person to love that person in the first place...don't they deserve at least that much? The line that is just totally awesome in this song is "And when we meet which I'm sure we will, all that was there will be there still. I'll let it pass and hold my tongue...and you will think that I've moved on." Of course if the other person ever loved you they will know better but I am sure the effort will be appreciated. All of this I have learned from watching far more movies and TV shows than any normal person should.

Its Not Unusual by Tom Jones (181) - This might be one of the greatest non-Jovi songs ever. I love this song! Yes I am aware of how lame that makes me but I don't care. It is a great song to begin with but I think of its use in the greatest alien movie ever and it escalates it to a newer and greater level. Something about those little green guys dancing on stage with Tom Jones just equals movie greatness. Damn it all but just thinking about it makes me want to the movie but I won't since I promised to try to get some sleep night and I am the right condition to actually do it. Maybe tomorrow night I will sit down and watch the movie. I will have to make due with the movie as much to my dismay...Tom Jones concert tickets are a little more pricey than I had expected. I would pay the price to see him but I doubt that anyone else would and what fun is it to go to a concert on your own?