Boy, it seems like all I do these days is listen to kids’ music. But I have heard a few grownup tracks over the past, wow, over a year since I last updated this! So in order to take away your assumption that I only listen to tracks for tots, here are the latest 25 songs that have gone onto my shuffling playlist.
1) Earthquake Driver, by Counting Crows
Wow, this album came out a long time ago. I really liked it though, and this is my favorite track from “Somewhere Under Wonderland.” It’s fun, it’s upbeat, and, like all Counting Crows songs, it contains an underlying sense of loss and hope. I’ve been listening to it for over a year now, and I’m still not tired of it.
2) Elvis Went to Hollywood, by Counting Crows
So I put this song on my mix as well, and it turned out to be Ruby’s favorite song! While I know she didn’t understand the back story and social commentary of Elvis’ story, I heard her singing it in the shower one day and I was thrilled. I remember picking out tracks of my parents’ that I loved and claiming them as my own, and now my children are doing it too. Fantastic!
3) Shake it Off, by Taylor Swift
You know that this mix is primarily for dance parties and driving around town, right? So how could I not include this masterful jam by T.Swift? (Is that what they call her? I have no idea. I am old.)
4) See Through, by Pentatonix
This week I bought the new Pentatonix album, and I’m sure several of their tracks will be on the next interation of this list, but way back when they released their last album, I loved this song. From the opening solo to the pulsing rush of harmony, Pentatonix does here what they do best: knock my socks off.
5) Tokyo, by Owl City (ft. Sekai No Owari)
It couldn’t be a Tenor Dad mix without a little Owl City. As a would-be world traveler, I always enjoy his globe spanning themes, and “Toyko” is a fun song with an uptempo melancholy propping it up. We never get tired of this one.
6) Uptown Funk, by Mark Ronson (ft. Bruno Mars)
Remember when you hadn’t heard this song one billion times? Back when it was fresh and new and exciting? That’s when I added it to this mix. And then I sang it in church on Easter. And it still gets me going when it pops up during a living room dance party.
7) Ghost, by Ella Henderson
I almost sang this one in church too, as a medley with “Down to the River to Pray,” but in the moment it suddenly didn’t feel right and I omitted it. Great song though, and I may do it in church at a later date. You have been warned.
8) Sugar, by Maroon 5
Did you see the video of this song, where the band shows up to people’s weddings and surprises them? Wasn’t that so fun? It sure made me love this song. Thanks, wacky video!
9) Time Machine, by Ingrid Michaelson
You know, there might be something to this “video” thing these days. Because I also fell in love with this song after watching the hilariously amazing video. Have you seen it? No? Watch it now. And also, they had me at “time machine.”
10) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Theme, by Schmoyoho
Speaking of watching and listening, I hope by now you have all blasted through Netflix’s original series “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” because it is probably the best new show I watched this past year. And if you have, you know that the genius Gregory Brothers, in their autotuning alter-egos Schmoyoho, have cooked up one heck of a theme song. Laugh. Dance. Enjoy. Repeat.
11) Shut Up and Dance, by Walk the Moon
I hear this one ad nauseam now too, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t the single greatest pop/dance tune of 2015. Shut up. You know I’m right. Also dance.
12) The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe From A to Z, by Tribe One
As I was researching Blackalicious’s iconic rap “Alphabet Aerobics” in my attempts to make an opera version of it (which I did), I came across this superhero one, which I think is even better than mine. If you like Marvel superheroes and rap acrobatics, you will enjoy this.
13) Wandering Wanda, by Chris Dorman and Friends
Before I had a kids’ version of this mix, I sometimes found songs intended for children that I fell in love with as a technical grown-up. This is one of those songs. I don’t care who it was intended for, it’s great music and you’ll be singing it for days.
14) Geronimo, by Sheppard
I suppose, as my father pointed out when I played it for him, that there isn’t really much to this song. But it doesn’t need much. It’s really more of a musical set-piece that creates the background of a world within a story. Or else it is just a bunch of people yelling repetitively. You can decide I suppose. But I’ll tell you one thing, try playing this at the gym and just see if you don’t get a better workout.
15) Dad is Takin’ a Nap, by Keith Munslow
As my kids will tell you, this is, by default, my favorite song of all time.
16) Unpronounceable, by They Might Be Giants
I love how TMBG can take a simple and mundane thing and create musical art out of it. In this case, they take the case of reading someone’s name on a nametag and not knowing how to pronounce it, and turn it into a yearning epic with a beat.
17) Happy, by Big Block Singsong
Despite what my kids will tell you, this is actually my favorite song. It instantly makes me happy whenever it comes on.
18) Cheerleader, by OMI
I really only put this one on here so I could get familiar enough with it to write a better version about cheeseburgers. I mean, honestly, it has terrible lyrics. Basically the singer is saying that previous girls he dated had the nerve to have opinions and want support from him, but now he finally found a girl who knows that it is all about him. How luckily misogynistic of him. So don’t listen to this song. Listen to this one:
19) My Type, by Saint Motel
I feel like a spy in the seventies as I pump this thing up to full volume and drive through winding mountain highways. Yes! Horns! Blast! Drive! Sing! Fun.
20) Can’t Feel My Face, by The Weeknd
You all know this song. You all love this song. I don’t really need to say anything else about it at this point.
21) Rule the World, by Walk Off the Earth
Why are these people not bigger radio stars? I know they’ve had a few tracks with U.S. airplay, but come on people! Listen to this song and tell me I’m wrong!
22) Make a Liar Out of Me, by Striking Matches
After seeing them perform this tune in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry my wife and I became instant fans. No, the recording can never match the energy of a live performance, but this is the next best thing to being there.
23) Trouble is as Trouble Does, by Striking Matches
Ruby’s new favorite song in the world. ‘Nuff said.
24) Ex’s and Oh’s, by Elle King
What does this song remind me of? I don’t know, but something about it makes it feel at once familiar and new at the same time, and I can’t stop humming it after it ends.
25) Hold Each Other, by A Great Big World (ft. Futuristic)
Oooh. Now, here is another song that I want to sing in church. When, how, in what context? Not sure yet, but as we continue to discuss what it means to be in community with one another, I think this song has something to say.
So there you have it. 25 songs that have been running through my head for the past year. And I hope that it won’t be another year before I fill up the list again, but as I said, I am old. I am busy. I don’t hear as much new music as I used to, or rather I don’t hear as much new music that really grabs me like I used to. I’ll work on changing that. And if you hear something you think I will love, send it my way!