30 Day Song Challenge

Day 1 Your favourite song The Dock of the Bay

This was the easiest song selection. The vocal is so relaxed, the music is beautiful and the song is so laid back its almost horizontal. It makes Rio Ferdinand’s relaxed style of play look positively stressful and this song cheers me up whenever I hear it.

Historically, it was recorded at the back end of November and early December ’67, just two days before his death in a plane crash.
There was some doubt surrounding the song, typically from men in suites and not from the artist himself, who loved it. Otis Redding died on December 10th, 1967. The song was released in January 8th 1968, exactly one month after Redding had completed overdubs and left the studio to tour.

Day 2 Your least favourite song You're Beautiful

This song has three things going against it in my opinion. Firstly; it’s shit. Secondly; It was played to death for ages by radio and music channels and last but not least, it inspired loved up couples to adopt it as our song. This means that in years to come it’s likely to appear as the ‘first dance’ selection at weddings, which means that we’ll never be free of the rancid recording.

I’m sure James Blunt has a real talent, and I can only hope he finds it sometime soon, whatever it may be. I will listen to Black and Yellow once a day for the rest of my life if James Blunt promises never to play music again.

Day 3 A Song That Makes You Happy You're the First, the Last, My Everything



This song is a mood changer, it’s impossible to hear it and not smile and cheer up. Also impossible to hear it and not think of Peter MacNicol’s dance in Ally McBeal. I'll slap anyone who gets coupley around me, at all... death to smushiness but this song is just piled up with peppiness without being Disneyfied.

Got me? Good. Carry on - watch the video too.

Day 4 A Song That Makes You Sad The Living Years

This song is about absolutely the scariest thing I can imagine, the death of a parent. Specifically, Mike Rutherford and BA Robertson had just lost their fathers but the words throughout it can hit anyone. There isn’t a wasted lyric in any of it and each line hits me. All that stuff about listening and hearing, being a hostage and prisoner for your parents dreams and ideals and running out of time to tell someone what you really wanted them to know. I couldn’t listen to it when it first came out and then my Mum goes and tells me that Paul Carrack’s son is in the choir on the video...MORE LAYERS.

Can’t explain it any better than that.

Day 5 A song that reminds you of someone Bobby Jean



The song was recorded in late 1983 in the sessions during the Born in the USA sessions. It's a song about friendship, loss and moving on and though it's not gender specific it is believed that Springsteen was inspired to write about Steve Van Zandt who had left the E Street Band to embark on a solo career.

This is the first of probably a few Springsteen songs that will appear in the list, I had to include this here because it's my song for a friend who moved to Canada. Went thru Uni, living together, girlfriends,boyfriends, family stuff, ice hockey and everything with her. Maybe she'll see this, who knows?

I miss her, "and all the miles, in between"...

Day 06: A song that reminds of you of somewhere Mr Lover Man Shabba Ranks and Maxi Priest



Great memories of this. Family holiday, I was young enough to be put in those Kids Club things with the smiley holiday reps, but old enough to think they were a waste of time. Our rep was Spanish and she kept singing this song so it got in our heads and we'd all join in with the "Shabba" bit after she'd sung "Mr Lover Man" in a voice that well let's just say, everyone liked.

Don't own it, didnt really listen to it after that holiday, so when I do it does remind me of that place.

Day 07: A song that reminds you of a certain event Together in Electric Dreams

This song reminds me of Manchester Pride. It was the Friday, first night of the Big Weekend a few years back and I had saved up enough money to get VIP Tickets instead of the normal weekend ones. This was immense for me as it meant I could watch the Main Stage acts from the VIP balcony and not worry about people standing infront of me or getting stuck in the mud.

I'd had a lot to drink, I was surrounded by close friends I didnt know, everyone was singing and dancing and it was one of the happiest moments of my life.

The Pride Big Weekend always is.

Day 08: A song that you know all the words to Fire With Fire



I'm good with lyrics and if I hear a song once or twice I have the lyrics in my head. I don't even know that til the song comes back on and I'm singing it. This one could have been any of my favourite artists but I chose this one coz the lyrics are good, the tune's collosal and Jake looks cute in the video.

I do know the words, I love the words, love the song, love the band. Hands in the air moment if ever there was one.

Day 09: A song that you can dance to Follow Me By Lange



This tune is immense. The film was good enough but the soundtrack is legendary in my eyes, coz its got tracks like this on it that make you want to throw your hands up for something other than Detroit.

Lots of songs came close, Kylie was in there with a shout but I have memories of playing this last thing on Friday nights when I had a radio show. Love it.

Day 10: A song that makes you fall asleep Someone Saved My Life Tonight

This song is beautiful, along with Tiny Dancer and a few other EJ songs it gets inside me like good music should do. In terms of subject matter it's Bernie writing about 'Someone' (Long John Baldry) talking Elton through a very unhappy time in his life where he looked set to marry and thought about suicide.

He called off the marriage, focused on music and thank God he did for himself and countless others.

Today's answer could have been flippant, it could have been one of thousands and it likely could have been a Bruce Springsteen song but the list is nothing if it's not personal to whoever it is.

In the best possible way this song is peaceful. The subject matter hits home, the delivery is beautiful and it's an outstanding song that makes me happy to have the friends I have. I'll say no more than that.

Day 11: A song from your favourite band In My Life

There are three bands I think of as favourites and they are all represented here. Bruce was given to me by my Mum and Dad and has helped me through various times in my life. Oasis were mine, pure and simple. The same year as Oasis were everywhere, the Beatles Anthology was on tv and this video and song started the programme and filled my head ever since.

For some of my other favourite artists they are the beginning of everything so who am I to argue. Rubber Soul is also a fantastic album. Away from the trashy pop stuff for the girls and before the fractured White Album stress... Rubber Soul is in my opinion their finest album.

They are my favourite band by a nose. This is my favourite song by them. On my favourite album by them.

Day 12: A song from a band you dislike Stuck in a Moment You Cant Get Out Of

Day 13: A song that is a guilty pleasure The Climb

Ok so the video is a craptastic cheesefest and a partial rip off of Britney's Not a Girl, where she also did the cliff and acoustic guitar thing. I cant speak of her career as a whole but this song is good and I sit by my choice. Quality songs dont always mean success do they Joe, eh?

Guilty pleasure indeed. What?! F*cking what?!

Day 14: A song that no one would expect you to love Z Cars Theme

For anyone outside England / Britain, this song has strong Everton connections, it's played before their home games. I am a Manchester United fan, NO ONE in their right mind would think I like this song but this is what 6 years on Merseyside does for you.

That AND working next to an Evertonian for a year and hearing this every time his phone went off. Then he left and I sat next to another Evertonian who played it constantly. Hence, love.

Soz, la!

Day 15: A song that describes you Given to Fly

This song is brilliant. It's about showing doubters what you are made of, being proud of what you are and what you have done and going through life with people. At least to me it is... and it certainly was when I first heard it shortly before I pinched the title for my website (and each website that followed).

Everyone is given to fly and they should. It's one of them 'don't tell me the sky is the limit when there's footprints on the moon' type moments. I've been told I can't, wont, shouldn't for most of my life... by people who didn't stick around long enough to see that I could, will, should do things.

Every time I hear this I think of them. Fuckers.

Day 16: A song that you used to love but now skip One Day Like This

Love the band, love the song, love the album. I just have to go a while without hearing it before I let it play nowadays. Mostly thanks to its use everywhere the year it was released (and now). The FA used it in the video they submitted for the England World Cup bid and the Daily Mail were less than complimentary about it. In fact according to the right wing facist paper, the selection of low brow Northern types over a more classical selection which would present the country proudly, is one of the main reasons the bid failed.

It goes without saying that this belief is utter tosh. It's now being used to advertise Royal wedding coverage on ITV... ENOUGH.

Well done boys, love you to bits but I have become saturated with that song. Also, I keep wanting to do the Hey Jude Na na's over the chorus.

Day 18: A song that you wish you heard on the radio

Waiting by Cheryl Cole



Caught in a Storm by the Elements (band that deserve more spotlight, this song is ace and the album is very good. Find it!



Smile by James Marsters
Yes its Spike from Buffy, but he sings. This is from his first solo album. It's beautiful.