A - Z Music I love, Z is for Zeppelin

Yea, yea, you could get me on a technicality, but you can also suck it! Hehe! During spring break of my 10th grade year, I spent hours with Brian and Josh listening to Houses of the Holy and and doing our own horrible versions. Liking Led Zeppelin in high school is almost mandatory. Every now and then when I hear them on the radio, I think fondly of that spring break and how dorky we were, but it was awesome. This is my most favorite song from this band. This also ends my A through Z blog posts :) (for now muahahaha)

A - Z Music I Love, Y is for Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I have been told that this song isn't their best. I say I don't care cause I love it. I don't know much about this band, but I know I have liked what I have heard and Karen O is pretty.

A - Z Music I love, X is for XTC

To be honest, I don't know any other band that begins with X, but I am fine with that. I am actually new to XTC. I had heard of XTC because an ex-boyfriend was named after an XTC song, which I never heard until the day we broke up. It randomly played on the radio. About seven years ago, I purchased a box set of new wave music. And this song was one of my favorites in the set.

A - Z Music I Love, W is for Weezer

I was in the 10th grade when the Blue Album was released. I was in Art History class and the teacher let us listen to the radio and we each had a turn picking a station. A senior named Kim picked the town's alternative station and I hear Undone (The Sweater Song). I was in the middle of my NIRVANA IS THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD, I don't want to say phase, cause they are. But I would pay little mind to the "nerd rock" scene. But I fell in love with the Blue album, Pinkerton is still in my top ten of favorite albums, The Green Album was good too. I am not so much into Weezer so much anymore, but I still have a soft spot for the band that made it seem ok to listen to more than Nirvana.

=w=

A - Z Music I Love, V is for Violent Femmes

Right after I got my license, My pal Shannon, her boyfriend Tom, and I hopped into Mollie, my 1991 Ford Escort, and we went down to the beach to sit outside the bar where The Violent Femmes were performing. Despite not really getting to "see" them, the show was fantastic.

The Violent Femmes also provided the soundtrack of when a friend of mine and I would cruise around town. She ended up being a mega bitch, but back then, we were always hanging out. Going to shows to see a co-worker's band. Going to Coco's and counting down the tip based on the service. Being 19 was the best.

A - Z Music I Love, U is for The Used

The Used reminds me of a relationship in my younger days. This person was and will forever will be important to me.

A - Z Music I Love, T is for Tori Amos

Tori's voice is beautiful, her music is hot. Her music can take me to places in my mind, it is almost like being Alice in Wonderland. Eclectic and memorizing. Sweet and sexy. Hurtful and dirty. There is not one single word I can pinpoint to describe Tori. Of all the music I love, she is my favorite woman.

I discovered Tori because I'm a thief. I was at a friend's house and one of his friends left a box of CD's. I found Little Earthquakes and thought, huh, I've heard of this chick. So I swiped the CD. I know, horrible of me. Now, if I find any Tori album, I have to have it. Who cares if I have 10 versions of Precious Things?! I love every single one of them.

A - Z Music I Love, S is for Saves the Day

Saves the Day is another band Melanie introduced me to in 1999/2000. This is one of my favorite songs because I always wished I could go to Jersey and Melanie and I would drive somewhere and rock out to this song. Hey I was 20 and didn't have a care in the world and I think this song described what I was feeling at the time. Anytime I here this song I think about my pal Melanie tons.

I miss when emo was good. I bet Bjorn is puking right now.

A - Z Music I Love, R is for Rilo Kiley

I saw Rilo Kiley perform this song on Craig Ferguson one night and said I need this album. What this album brought was my love affair with Jenny Lewis. Who knew an actress who did a few episodes of the Golden Girls, stared in the Wizard with Fred Savage, and was in Troop Beverly Hills with Shelly Long could write and sing songs that I would fall in love with.

A - Z Music I Love, P is for Peaches

I love women who do whatever the fuck they want and make no excuses. Peaches is, in my opinion, an in your face bitch. Love her! Huh? What? right? Uh!

A - Z Music I Love, O is for OutKast

OutKast to me is more than a rap group. I think they hit most of the elements I want from my music. Creativity and a sound you don't hear everywhere are at the top of those lists. There videos have a look to them that is unmistakably OutKast and I love the way Andre 3000 dresses. B.O.B was the first OutKast song I ever heard and went what the fuck is this?! in a good way.

A - Z Music I Love, M is for Modest Mouse

I am not sure how I found Modest Mouse. I really think it was back in the Napster days before iTunes and paying for music. I think I found Modest Mouse at the right time in my life. It was the end of a relationship and nothing was making sense. And here was Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset. Full of lyrics and music that made sense and at the same time...didn't.

A - Z Music I Love, L is for Lady Gaga

I didn't want to love her. I was determined to hate her. But I saw her on Oprah, not performance wise, but her interview. She was thoughtful, intelligent, and so creative. She wasn't this pop music star in a package that some producer threw out and is about as creative as Jessica Simpson or similar. So, I listen to the Fame, over and over. I wouldn't consider myself a pop music fan, but when it's good, it's good. And Gaga is better than good.

A - Z Music I Love, K is for Kenny Loggins

Yes..Kenny Loggins. Footloose, Danger Zone, I'm Alright, ect...

But one song haunts me. My mom said in passing that she wanted this song played at her funeral. I am not sure exactly why, but this song means something to her. Every time I hear it, it reminds me that I am going to lose her one day. It breaks my heart. My mom really means everything to me and becoming an adult child and having to come to terms with losing your parent is heart wrenching. It's a beautiful song and my mom really is a beautiful lady.

A - Z Music I Love, J is for Jimmy Eat World

Back when I first got internet access (like 1999/2000), I was in a random chatroom when a girl named Melanie sent me an IM. For some reason, we clicked. She lived in Jersey and was amazing. She introduced me to bands like Alkaline Trio, Jets to Brasil, and The Juliana Theory just to name a few. Her and I emailed and wrote letters back and forth for several years. When Derek and I got married, she wrote to me that I Derek was a lucky guy and she loved me. She called after that, but I missed the call. When I tried calling back, it was disconnected. I don't make friends with girls easily. Let's face it, girls are bitches. Melanie wasn't, she didn't want anything from me but to be a friend. I miss her. And she introduced me to this song and I will always think of her when I heard it.

A - Z Music I Love, I is for INXS

There is not a whole lot I enjoy as far as music goes that starts with the letter 'I'. But then I was struck with a memory from my youth. My aunt used to watch my sister and I during the summer while my mommie was working. She used to turn on MTV and we would rock out to the videos. Although the song I selected is not a video that would have been on heavy rotation during those summers, INXS always reminds me of my aunt and how she encouraged us to find our inner rock star at the age of 10 and 6.

A - Z Music I Love, G is for Garth Brooks and H is for Hole

Yup, that's right. I said Garth Brooks. I am not a huge fan of country music, but I can appreciate entertainment. When I was 19, maybe 20, I saw Garth in concert with my very first gay. His name was Alex and was the first openly gay man I had ever met. We would go to Hillcrest and hang out, I learned about drag queens and how you could probably tell a top from a bottom.

The concert was great and Alex and I had a great time. I miss Alex. He moved to San Francisco to be with his boyfriend and I never saw him again. I hope where ever he is, he is happy and doing well.

garth brooks If tomorrow never comes

It is surprising to a lot of people that I would like Hole. Yes Courtney is a train wreck, but aren't we all at some point? Hole was different from anything I was listening to at that point and taught me that women can rock, that they don't have to be soft and dainty. Women don't have to be quiet and shy. Train wreck as she may be, Courtney gave me a different look on how a talented woman can be.

A - Z Music I Love, E is for Elliott Smith and F is for the Fire Theft

Of Course E would be for Elliott. Elliott is my heart. I was a late comer to the Elliott game. He was already gone when I fell in love. The majority of his songs speak to me, as corny as that sounds. It is like he is describing to the world how I feel, but was too afraid to say on my own. Sometimes when I get sad, listening to Elliott reminds me that I am not alone in that pain, and I find solace in that. This might not make sense to a lot of people, but that's OK. Another extraordinary artist gone entirely too soon, and I miss him. And to quote Elliott, "I'm never gonna know you now, but I'm gonna love you anyhow."

The Fire Theft is my selection for F for one song. I haven't heard a great deal of the Fire Theft, but where ever I heard this song, it resonated with me so much that I can't forget it. I know I first heard it shortly after Derek and I got married. I just found it to be a beautiful song and sometimes I just listen to it over and over again.

A - Z Music I Love, D is for Def Leppard

There are actually a few "D" musical acts I love, but Def Leppard has the distinction as being my first concert. I was 15 and my best friend Janessa (cute right) went with my mom and her best friend. I also saw them a second time a few years ago when they toured with Journey (another guilty pleasure). I love my 80's music, it holds a special place in my heart. Mostly because it's what my mom listened to. If it weren't for my mom, I don't think I would have the music appreciation I have today. This is my favorite Def Leppard song.

The A-Z Music I Love, C is for Coldplay

Now before anyone groans, let me explain. I am actually not a huge fan of Coldplay; however, I am a huge fan of one of their songs.

Back before Derek and I were married...hell before we lived in the same country, Derek sent me the CD single of this song as a gift. I am not sentimental about material items; however, I still have this CD packed away and will never get rid of it. This song reminds me of falling in love, how exciting it was to have someone adore you, and it reminds me of possibility.

On and on from the moment I wake,

To the moment I sleep,

I'll be there by your side,

Just you try and stop me,

I'll be waiting in line,

Just to see if you care.

Did she want me to change?

But I change for good.

And I want you to know.

But you always get your way,

I wanted to say,

Don't you Shiver? Shiver, Shiver

I'll always be waiting for you,

So you know how much I need ya,

But you never even see me, do you?

And this is my final chance of getting you.