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Tuesday, April 1, 2008

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

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