The Bookkitten's iPod Playlist: My 25 Most Played on iTunes

I wasn't going to share another playlist this week, but as I was going through iTunes last week, I thought, "Why not share with everyone?"

So here are the top 25 most-played songs in my personal iTunes library. We're gonna do this countdown style:

25. "Kodachrome," Paul Simon
"When I think about the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I learned anything at all." I absolutely LOVE that opening lyric. It's one of the best opening lyrics in all music.
Ironic, though, that the last lyric to the chorus goes, "But mama don't take my Kodachrome away." Well, they are! Kodak recently announced that they're no longer going to produce it, making this song more meaningful, in my opinion.

24. "Summer, Highland Falls," Billy Joel, Songs in the Attic
I like this live version better than the original one, which was originally on the Turnstiles album. This includes another one of my favorite opening lyrics:

"They say that these are not the best of times, but they're the only times I've ever known."

The last line of the chorus is great, too:

"We are only what our situations hand us, it's either sadness or euphoria."

23. "Laughter in the Rain," Neil Sedaka
I have a thing for singer-songwriters from the 70s. I first heard this on a road trip to Long Island about ten years ago. I always listened to WCBS 101 FM whenever I traveled to Long Island. One of my best friends from college lived there, and we'd listen to this station whenever we were in the car together. I always think of her whenever I listen to CBS FM online.

22. "Kids in America," Kim Wilde
I heard this song on one of the Music Choice stations one day and liked it so much I downloaded it. There's no other cool story to it other than that.

21. "Our Lives," The Calling
I first heard this song on the radio about five years ago. It's just such a positive little tune. I just love the chorus; it's so optimistic and upbeat:

"These are the days worth livin',
These are the years we're given,
And these are moments, these are the times,
Let's make the best out of our lives."

20. "Gimme Little Sign," Brenton Wood
See #23. Again, it's another song that we heard consistently on CBS FM.

19. "Even the Nights Are Better," Air Supply
I remember when this song came out. I was in kindergarten. It played on the radio all the time.

18. "Groovin'," The Young Rascals
See #20 and #23. I also heard this a lot in the car growing up. My parents loved listening to WDRC, the local oldies station.

17. "Pleasant Valley Sunday," The Monkees
Sister Kitten and I watched reruns of The Monkees obsessively when we were growing up. Anyone else remember when they were on Nickelodeon?

16. "Goin' Out of My Head," Little Anthony and the Imperials
See #20 and #23.

15. "Out of the Blue," Debbie Gibson
I was a huge Debbie--ahem, DEBORAH--Gibson fan in middle school and am not ashamed to admit it.

14. "Invisible," Clay Aiken
The only song of Clay's I really like.

13. "Where You Lead I Will Follow," Carole King and Louise Goffin
This was the version that served as the theme to Gilmore Girls. It reminds me of my mentor, who passed away in 2005. She was a huge Carole King fan and would often play her CDs at work.

12. "Starry Eyed Surprise," Paul Oakenfold
This played on the radio quite a bit about four or five years ago, during a very sweet time in my life. Nothing major or earth-shattering happened, but it was one of those times in life where everything just seems to click.

11. "Closer to Fine," Indigo Girls
A couple of friends of mine sang this at a pops concert in college. I've loved it--and the Indigo Girls--ever since.

10. "Bittersweet Symphony," The Verve
This played on the radio during my senior year of college--specifically, second semester senior year. This was an appropriate song to hear then: bittersweet feelings about graduating and moving on to the "real world." It's my coming-of-age song, I guess.

9. "LDN," Lily Allen
I first heard Lily Allen on an episode of Saturday Night Live. She performed this song, and I've loved it since then.

8. "Least Complicated," Indigo Girls
See #11.

7. "Up Around the Bend," Creedence Clearwater Revival
I've loved this song since I first heard it in Remember the Titans.

6. "Home," Michael Buble
I always think of BFF when I hear this song. Not only does he adore Michael Buble, but he sings a wonderful version of this tune.

5. "Smile," Lily Allen
I love how Lily Allen marries bitter lyrics with cheerful chords.

4. "Celebrate Me Home," Kenny Loggins
There's no other reason that this is on the playlist other than I just really dig the tune.

3. "Old Town," The Corrs
See #4.

2. "When the Stars Go Blue," Tim McGraw
See #3 and #4.

1. "Hello It's Me," Todd Rundgren
See #20, #23, and any other tune referencing CBS FM.

As you can see, most of these songs invoke very specific memories for me. That just shows you how powerful music can be. I don't know what I'd do without my iPod or my tunes. They are so very important to me.