Nevermind The Posers

TNT’s Top 5
5. “Happy Holidays” by Andy Williams – This song makes the list because of one line…”It’s the holiday season (holiday season), with the whoop-de-doo and hickory dock”.   Oh Irving Berlin, no one could ever pull off the phrase ‘whoop-de-doo’ in any song today, not even Lady Gaga.
4. “Blue Monk” by Thelonious Monk – Without this song, I fear I would have never gotten into jazz.  I will forever give thanks for “Blue Monk”
3. “The Thanksgiving Song” by Adam Sandler – Another classic!  “Turkey for me, turkey for you, let’s eat the turkey in my big brown shoe”.
2. “Jesus of Suburbia” by Green Day – It was a toss-up between this track and “American Pie”, after further thought, I compared “Jesus of Suburbia” to a modern-day version of the classic by Don McLean.  Can you see the similarities?  Discuss.
1. “Alice’s Restaurant” by Arlo Guthrie – It’s not Thanksgiving if you don’t hear “Alice’s Restaurant”, it’s a tradition!!

Hoverbee’s Top 5
5. “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by Marvin Gaye – The lyrics say it all.  I want to stop and thank you baby.
4. “I Want to Thank You” by Otis Redding – I want to thank Otis for making music and using his fantastic voice.
3. “Look What You Done for Me” by Al Green – I’m so thankful for Al Green and all of his music.  He sets my heart free.
2. “Thank You” by Led Zeppelin – Written by Robert Plant to his then wife Maureen, the lyrics of this beautiful song express thanks to a partner or significant other.
1. “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” by Sly & the Family Stone – I love this funky tune.  I’d also like to thank all those who let be myself.

Klone’s Top 5
5. “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses – This was my first bit of musical rebellion.  My sisters and I loved this when it exploded on the scene, despite the fact that we were in elementary school at the time.  Mom hated it because of the lyrics and type of character Axel Rose was.  Without Guns N Roses, I would’ve never broken away from my elders and formed my own musical tastes, and for that, I am thankful.
4. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica – This was the song that introduced me to what would become my favorite band of all time, Metallica.  For that, I am thankful.
3. “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly – This was my introduction to epic musical masterpieces.  Without this song, I would have no appreciation for long-form tracks, and for that, I am thankful.
2. “Not Quite Sonic” by I Mother Earth – This was a track that taught me all about music from our Northern neighbors in Canada, and how their rock kicked ass like ours.  In fact, one could argue that they picked up the torch once we dropped it here in the U.S. and continue to put out awesome rock heavily influence by the mid-to-late 90s grunge explosion, but with all the heavy metal roots from the 80s still very present, and for all of that, I am thankful.
1. “Mandel Groove” by Blue Man Group – This song, among the rest of the Blue Man Group’s repertoire, has helped me shed my fear of aliens and look at them more conceptually than as horror movie bad guys, and expanded my perception to the possibilities of music.  With instruments of their own invention, the Blue Man Group is able to captivate the imagination by doing something incredible and new, but also create music using the same notes we recognize, only we have an easier time recognizing them when they emit from a guitar or keyboard.  They are a successful experiment, and an evolution of music, and for that I am thankful.

Daniel-Edward’s Top 5
5. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey – I’m thankful this is the unofficial karaoke anthem for pretty much every karaoke establishment in the United States.
4. “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones – It’s the soundtrack to one of the best pieces of marketing (Call of Duty: Black Ops commercial) to grace televisions this holiday season, and for that I’m thankful.
3. “Fuck You” by Cee-Lo – I’m thankful for its tongue-in-cheek humor and for the fact that someone made “fuck you” into such a catchy, melodic chorus.
2. “Dancing With Myself”by Billy Idol – By far one of my favorite songs to karaoke to.
1. “Bad Romance” by Lady GaGa – I’m just thankful for GaGa, and “Bad Romance” is the perfect rocky relationship song.

Mark’s Top 5
5. “Moonlight Sonata (1st Movement)” by Ludwig van Beethoven – Beethoven’s masterpiece for the piano, as far as I am concerned.  To me he is a pioneer in the emotionally dictated compositions, lacing each note of this piece with unfulfilled fantasies and long-standing heart ache, allowing one’s mind to truly envision what he dreamt while creating this longing piece.
4. “Foreplay/Long Time” by Boston – Thank you Tom Schulz and Co., you helped me to understand from a young age what real rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to sound like, and that if you want to truly realize your sound, just do it all yourself.
3. “Message in a Bottle” by The Police – The song that caught my interest in the Police.  I am musically forever in debt to Sting, Andy Summers and above all, Stewart Copeland, for showing me how to infuse both your influences and musical individuality in each song without going overboard.
2. “Flaming June” by BT – Sure, I have included this on numerous lists, and for good reason.  Mr. Transeau’s amazing compositions helped
to introduce me to the concepts of the emotional and spiritual connections to music, and how one’s inner spirit can guide both the composer and listener through the meanings behind each notation or audio edit.
1. “Bliss” by Mystica – In one word: Perfect.  A masterful and exotic chill-out electronic tune from an Israeli dance group, featuring grainy, floating synths delicately flirting with Middle-Eastern influenced samples.  A song that is a true milestone to me, as it was a major turning point in the shift of my musical taste.  It opened my eyes and ears to the ever expansive world of electronic music, and to the very skilful mixing of Globe-trotting DJ Paul Oakenfold.  And it opened my eyes to the international parts of the world, where music and dancing weren’t just fun past times, they were simply a beautifully crafted way of life.  Thanks Mystica and Paul.

Stigz’s Top 5
5. “Tommy the Cat” by Primus – Yea, anybody that’d heard this knows why I’m thankful for it.  The sheer amount of originality is one reason.
4. “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)” by The Rolling Stones – Songs like this are what revolutions are made of…and we thank you thirty years later.
3. “Illusion, Coma, Pimp and Circumstance” by Prince – Besides being uber-funky, this song paints a hilarious picture.
2. “#1 Radio $ingle” by PsychoStick – One of the best things to happen to metal…ever, and they rip on the all too prevalent formula-bound “musicians” polluting the airwaves…Drum Fill!
1. “The Bed Intruder Song” – For some reason, I love that someone besides Kanye West and the other no-talent “hip hop artists” found Auto-tune and did something worthwhile and hilarious…thank you…and remember, “hide ya kids, hide ya wife!”