Soundtrack 2011 - I (commented)

My life has a soundtrack. And these three great months have more than enough music to brag about. These are the songs that bring to my mind the very memorable scenes that are sometimes much greater than the play itself. 

1) Fuck you – Cee  Lo Green

The most unpretentious New Year's celebration turned out to be a great example on what a luxury it is to be with friends wearing flat shoes and not worrying about the make-up. Out of the city, out of the road, out of the year. A great start.

2) Raise your Glass – Pink

What's the dealio? January, Germans in town and friends in the house. Booze all over the place and a heart-warming certainty: i'm in great company. My glass is not empty. 

3) La Gota de Rocío – Silvio Rodríguez

Maxim Gurki, late at night, early morning. Missing those days when i had to wake you up and listen to your sleepy voice, when i could play with your Geel-cuy alpaquita hair. You were the one who set the path for me to walk on; you fought against my stubbornness and you won. I love you, sweetie. Always did, always will.  

4) Love the way you lie Part II – Rihanna feat. Eminem

There's this dark, seductive beauty in relationships that require the ones involved to take leaps far too great for them not to crash onto the ground. It's dangerous, like the stride of a drunk man crossing an avenue. 

5) Feel Good Inc. – Gorillaz

The anthem of the year. Windmill, windmill for the land; love forever hand in hand. Take it all there on your stride, it is sinking, falling down. Love forever, love is free. Let's turn forever you and me. Windmill, windmill for the land. Is everybody in? 

6) Borderline/ Open your heart – Glee Cast

Freaky Friday, starring Gundula Kralem, The English Gentleman, Jackie-o and my hardest-to-love best-friend. Absynth gone, hard-disk fried, a raging night to think about; quite a nice deal, in fact. 

7) City of Refuge – Abigail Washburn

A great song is one that takes me somewhere else without me even having a chance. This is, without a doubt, a great song. No need to anchor it to a memory; it's memorable by itself. 

8) January Hymn – The Decemberists

I might have an affair with both this group and the idea of January (my birthday month) not having sun and sand, but cold and snow. Plus it would have some nice perks. Glühwein would be very welcomed, for example. 

9) Bethany Lane – Aaron Thompson

This is like falling in love with the nice guy who actually likes you. Rare... a little bit safe. But surprisingly good. 

10) Photoshop Handsome – Everything everything

You had me at "Hello" with the title. And the rest. 

11) Postcards to Italy - Beirut

Zach Condon has an extraordinary ability to take me to places i've never been and making me feel right at home. In every note he pulls a string, he pushes a button. It's like the notes are talking to my soul.  I'm sorry, it's not "like". They do talk; and sometimes i talk back. 

12) My blood is burning – Yodelice

Children's Psychiatry, second week. Best friends around, the best weekends of the best month. 

13) Gulag Orchestra – Beirut

The cry of a land that has been through the greatest pains of uprooting and war is the inspiration of this song. A beautiful example that art is not always meant to be pretty or please the senses. Goosebumps don't always come from happiness. In fact, most times they don't. 

14) Something I can never have – Nine inch nails

Strip love down to its most sensitive, most honest core. Scream the frights, accept the weakness, plead for the things you want the most. Sometimes it hurts. But i can't stop craving for it. C'mon, tell me; you make this all go away. I'm down to just one thing.

15) Sun of a Gun – Oh Land

Such a refreshing song, without the now so popular statement-need. What if it doesn't have an obscure, Madonna/Gaga hybrid meaning? Sometimes, less is more. 

16) Funny little frog – Belle and Sebastian

And maybe tell you all about it, someday. 

17) This is why we fight – The Decemberists

Sometimes the only way to win is to give in. For me to have a chance on getting the one thing i want, step one is to let go. Step two, to stop looking. And step three, letting it surprise me when i least expect it. 

18) Futile devices – Sufjan Stevens

Those little noises that make everyday life feel my own can be very nostalgic, yet very moving. The difference between looking and staring. That moment when i first felt this way; when he went from stranger to significant one. 

19) Don’t stop – Owen Pallet

Symphony-like, beats involved, early morning walking through the fog towards the Metropolitano. The quintessence of getting up early and going the hospital. 

20) Rose to your bones – Broadcast 2000

It doesn't need to be big to be good. In music, i give you that. 

21) Scenarios in stereo – Antics

Some good old Indie pop. Or rock. Who cares?

22) Sailing bird – Slothpop

Wrap your ears around great voice and percussion. Close your eyes. Yes, you're there. It feels good to be alive. 

23) Within you without you – The Beatles

Most of the music in my iPod is there because i downloaded it in an attempt to impress someone and ended up liking it. This is a great example of that. 

PS.: It's all in chronological order; but the ones holding the prime numbers (and number 14) are those who are/were particularly great. The couple with the videos are the very best.