31 Songs - Nick Hornby

There are many, many things I love (passionfruit, chocolate, red wine, cologne...) and among them are two particular things that, when combined, I can barely resist. One is music, and the other is lists. Now, not to confuse things, I like the kinds of lists other people write, rather than my own and have been known to read news items about dust particles on the moon (or lacktherof) rather than write a list of things I have to actually do...but I'm getting all sidetracked. What I'm trying to say is that when someone else puts together a list about music, I'm likely to pay attention. And this brings me to Nick Hornby's book about a list of his 'selected' songs which he likes for a variety of reasons which are entirely personal yet fascinating. At least to me.

So after making through the other side of On the Road, I decided something a little lighter was in order, and dived right into 31 Songs. Yes, it was as fun as it sounds!

After reading about Teenage Fanclub, Nelly Furtado (?!), Patti Smith, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Ani Di Franco and others I was inspired to start a list of my own. But what kind of list would I put together? 31 seemed like a good number, being one for every day of the month if I was in, say, December, and I quite like December since it's full of holidays and summer and things. But that was about as far as I got initially, as I couldn't decide whether I wanted a list of songs which reminded me of things, or a list of songs I have liked from as young as I care to remember songs I've liked, or a list of my favourite songs from my favourite albums (i.e. one song per album, 31 different albums, 31 different songs) and on and on and on it went. Which meant that though i finished the book weeks ago, I only started my list last night because I couldn't decide which rules I wanted for this list. And that's when the genius struck! I could write as many different lists of songs as I wanted, with all different rules! Oh, the prospect! The joy! The fun!

And without further ado, here is my very first song list. Rather than writing it all at once though, I think I'll add 5 songs at a time. 31 is quite a long list, after all.

31 songs from my itunes library I never want to do without (notice the rule???)

1. Pictures of You, The Cure
Yes, The Cure are my favourite band. No, this is not my favourite song of theirs. This song is, however, the first introduction I had to Mr Smith and his lipstick lips. I listened to it over and over and over one afternoon on the lounge room floor until I am sure my father wanted to rush out and buy 'How to know if your teenage daughter is depressed - reconigisng the signs and other useful tips for Concerned Fathers'. Lucky for him I discovered much more than Disintegration, unlucky for my flat mates, I still know where the repeat button is.

2. This Mess We're In, PJ Harvey and Thom Yorke
While Thom tells me everything is going to hell, PJ lilts in the background about the city's sunset and tries to distract me from the truth. It's an unusual duet that has me vowing to get to New York one day, and play this song as the sun sets over the skyscrapers. (no, this does not count as part of a 'to do' list, in case you were getting suspicious. It just doesn't).

3. Sunny Road, Emiliana Torrini
Ok, even I suspect this subconsciously could have something to do with me being in my late 20's, single, footloose and fancy free, in that I can picture myself one day uttering the lines "I've never married/never had those kids" but that isn't the reason why I like it. I still remember the first time I heard it (when I wasn't so single) and her voice pulled me up from the edges of sleep until I was wide awake by the end. Ever since, I have always enjoyed taking the journey of this song with her, and that's why it's here.

4. One Crowded Hour, Augie March
It's funny how when I set out to write a list like this, how suprised I am by what has mdae it on here, and by what hasn't. This song is one of those surprises, but now it's made it I'm quite glad. Who, after all, doesn't know the feeling "for one crowded hour/you were the only one in the room"? I do, and I think Glenn and the boys have done an outstanding job here of capturing that exact feeling. The build throughout the song is engulfing, and I'd be enourmously proud of even knowing someone who has produced such a brilliant song, let alone being someone involved in its creation. Which I'm not, just for the record.

5. I Want You (She's So Heavy), The Beatles
The fab four were always going to feature, the question is how many times. Picking just one or two of their tunes proves immensley difficult for me, but here is my first selection. Put yourself in a room, all alone. Find the song. Turn out the lights. Enjoy.