My Top 20 Songs (10-1)

And now, part 2 of my Top 20 favorite songs of all time.

10
Crash and Burn
Artist: Savage Garden



Savage Garden was one of the few groups from down under which received an overwhelming following in the US. With their songs, I Want You, Truly Madly Deeply, Affirmation and I Knew I Loved You, they infiltrated the US market and enjoyed quite a following there.

Crash and Burn is one of their best songs, in my opinion, and is also one of the best inspirational songs ever made.

When you feel all alone
And the world has turned its back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore

Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone

9
Signal Fire
Artist: Snow Patrol



Perhaps the most emotional of the Spiderman saga, the third installment also contains some of the most powerful music to be included in the film's soundtrack.

Signal Fire contains some of the most beautiful lines in a rock song, so beautiful, you'd think you're reading poetry. I once attended a wedding where the couple chose to had this song played during the ceremonies. I couldn't agree more to their choice of song.

The perfect words never crossed my mind
'Cause there was nothing in there but you
I felt every ounce of me screaming out
But the sound was trapped deep in me
All I wanted just sped right past me
While I was rooted fast to the earth
I could be stuck here for a thousand years
Without your arms to drag me out
There you are standing right in front of me
There you are standing right in front of me
All this fear falls away to leave me naked
Hold me close cause I need you to guide me to safety
No I won't wait forever
No I won't wait forever

8
Go The Distance
Artist: Michael Bolton



Back in 1997, the Disney animated movie Hercules inspired kids everywhere to buy McDonald's Happy Meals to get a miniature of the Disney hero. I wasn't spared...

The movie centered on a character born of godly parents who fell from grace thanks to an envious uncle. On his own, he had to gain back his reputation but the only way to do that was to rely on the help of an unsuccessful trainer and a conspiring vixen.

Go The Distance is one of the best-known encouragement songs from Walt Disney, hence it earns a slot in my top 20.

I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance
I'll be right where I belong

7
I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing
Artist: Aerosmith



This is one of the few songs where rock overtures did not dampen the romantic expressions infused into the song. A ballad version was also released in the market, performed by Regine Velasquez and the song received an equal acceptance from audiophiles.

Personally, I love the song because of the melody and the lyrics. A collaboration between a rock group and an orchestra is certainly no joke. The result was a success.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
Far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Well, every moment spent with you
Is a moment I treasure

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing

6
Sweet Child Of Mine
Artist: Guns 'n' Roses



When this song came out in 1993, my classmates added strings in their computer programs that would play the song on their PCs. To this day, Sweet Child Of Mine remains as one of the few songs with a distinct and familiar opening, known to people of all ages.

She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I'd stare too long
I'd probably break down and cry
Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine

5
214
Artist: Rivermaya



What makes Rivermaya's 214 memorable for me? It was the band's debut single--a chart-topper too--and I was then a freshie in college. Somehow, you always remember your firsts--your first shoe, your first haircut, your first teacher, your first heartache--this is one of those firsts that simply does not get off your head.

The title is derived from the song's first line--am I real--which had 2, 1 and 4 letters respectively.

I think this is also one of Rivermaya's greatest singles ever. It's the only OPM song to be included in my Top 20, and the merits presented justify the reason for being there.

Am I real?
Do the words I speak before you
Make you feel
That the love I have for you
Will see no ending?
Well, if you look into my eyes
Then you should know
That you have nothing here to doubt
Nothing to fear
And you can lay your questions down
'Cause if you'll hold me
We can fade into the night
And you'll know

The world could die
And everything may lie
Still you shouldn't cry
'Cause time may pass
But longer than it'll last
I'll be by your side

4
Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)
Artist: Christopher Cross



Nothing, yes I believe nothing comes close to this Christopher Cross love song. The line, "when you get caught between the moon and New York City" is just so romantic. Not only because I have been to New York, but because of what it meant. For me what those lines meant was the perfect place under a full moon is indeed the best place to fall in love. No matter where you are.

There are other things I like about it: the sax, the melody, the title, plus little-known trivia, such as four writers collaborated on the song, and that it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1981, with Bette Midler presenting.

Once in your life you find her
Someone that turns your heart around
And next thing you know you're closing down the town
Wake up and it's still with you
Even though you left her way across town
Wondering to yourself,
"Hey, what've I found?"

When you get caught between the Moon and New York City
I know it's crazy, but it's true
If you get caught between the Moon and New York City
The best that you can do
The best that you can do is fall in love

3
For Just A Moment (Theme from St. Elmo's Fire)
Artist: David Foster



Listening to this song gives me the shivers. Seriously. I first heard an instrumental version of this David Foster hit in my youth, and the song was being used as background music to some of the local drama series at that time. Whenever I hear the song today, I feel like I am being transported back to the past, and instantly I remember the color, style, flavor and feel of the 80s.

Incidentally, the song is also the theme song of the movie, St. Elmo's Fire, a coming-of-age film starring Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Mare Winningham. The movie is a story of friends who have just graduated from Georgetown University and their adjustment to their post-university lives and the responsibilities of encroaching adulthood.

We laughed
Until we had to cry
And we loved
Right down to our last goodbye
We were the best I think we'll ever be
Just you and me
For just a moment

We chased
That dream we never found
And sometimes
We let one another down
But the love we made
Made everything alright
We shone so bright
For just a moment

Time goes on
People touch and then they're gone
And you and I
Will never love again
Like we did then

2
Together In Electric Dreams
Artist: Human League



The 80s was a decade of tight pants, colorful shirts, Walkman, Karate Kid, high hairdos and of course, New Wave. Several New Wave bands made money during this decade, and the forerunners of today's rock music was everyone's favorite.

For me, New Wave Music meant the use of experimental musical instruments and new melodies. But the song that has stayed in my mind all these years was a song that I used to watch on MTV when I was a little boy.

I only knew you for a while
I never saw your smile
'Til it was time to go
Time to go away (time to go away)
Sometimes its hard to recognise
Love comes as a surprise
And its too late
Its just too late to stay
Too late to stay

We`ll always be together
However far it seems
(Love never ends)
We`ll always be together
Together in electric dreams

1
Light and Shade
Artist: Fra Lippo Lippi



Why does Fra Lippo Lippi's song top my list? There are several reasons. The song itself reminds me of many memories of my childhood. Nostalgic.

The writer of the song is definitely a genius. The lyrics of the song still find application today--to stand for your dreams no matter what happens is its message. To sail on the wings of the cloud, not knowing where it would take you, but to have that courage to have faith in yourself that one day your daily deaths will liberate you and your screams will finally be heard. I think the song has a message of hope for every person who dreams.

I never realized the reason why I liked the song so much when I was a little kid. To me the melody was just so inviting.

He will pain the light and shades
The colours and the trees
He will climb the steepest hill
Believing what he sees
He will lay down on the ground
Beneath the old oak tree
He will sleep forever
If you try to set him free

Sail on the wings of a cloud
Where to, well nobody knows
And cry, cry if you want them to see
Die every day to be free
Be proud to wear the colours that you call your own
Be loud, speak out when you want the world to know
Be strong, hold the flame for everyone to see
Be weak, if you want to love

He will paint the endless sea
A mystery to me
He will reach out for the sun
Not dreaming what he sees
He will fall down on his knees
Angel touching ground
Takes him to the other side
Sweet love is coming down