While brushing through the magazine section of the Hindu this Saturday,my eyes fell on the ‘ My Five’ column, in which enthusiastic readers and music lovers sent their five best songs.When I thought about what songs I would personally choose…well,I got more than 5.So here I am,spilling the beans on my favourite English songs( not necessarily in order of preference,they are all of various Genres…)
Green Day-Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
This is one song loved by all college goers.Even the religious Hindi song lovers have this song stored on their cellphones,Ipods,mp3 players and stuff.A hummable tune,lyrics we can relate to,and a sad song,with not quite a sad tinge to it,all makes this song a winner.
Linking Park-Numb
This enjoys the same status as Boulevard..The difference being in the lyrics.In Boulevard,the singer seems to be lonely because of what he has done to his ife,whereas in Numb,he seems to be under the pressure of someone,be it either parents or peers or whatever.It also provides a perfect vent out ,and all the frustration of the singer is shown,or rather heard,which every guy can relate to.
3.98 degrees-True to your heart
Okay,so I admit it.The first time I heard this song was during the credits of the Disney film Mulan.And what an amazing song.
4.Bryan Adams-Summer of 69
Need I say anything??The greatest song on planet earth for poor lil college students like me.Well,as much as we curse college and its administration now,they will still remain ‘ the best days of my ( our) life’!!
5.Britney Spears-Baby One More time
I personally don’t care what type of person Britney Spears is.All I care is that she has actually sung quite a few good songs.And that’s all what matters.
6.Rihanna-Shut Up And Drive
Wow…..a song full of double entrendes…written seemingly about a car,and well,not about a car at all.Probably Rihanna had enough of men’s obsession with anything on wheels.The faster,the better.The best part of the song,in addition to being the ‘ shut up and drive part’and the sirens, is the sound of a crash at the end.
7.Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens-Breaking Free
A total teenybopper song.It proves the age old statement of nothing is impossible.…and that ‘ There’s not a star in heaven that we cant be’.And its not all in all a confidence booster,its also shows the colossal amount of energy in youngsters today,and their indomitable spirit.Zac Efron’s unpolished voice and Vanessa’s highly polished voice make perfect harmony to this hit of High Schol Musical.
8.Myra-Miracles Happen
A very happy-go-lucky song,was my first reaction,in addition to an extremely danceable tune.Its enough to say’ All things will come with a lil time,when you believe..’Definitely inspires you to believe,in true walt Disney style,that indeed, miracles happen.
9.Madonna-Vogue
The title song of the Hindi movie Fashion seems to wither away in front of this song.It works as a great confidence booster,especially when you are having one of those bad hair days,or you feel fat and bloated.The lyrics simply ask you to enjoy and sway to the music,and that beauty lies deep inside you,and not in your hair,or eyes.
10.Ricky Martin-Maria
Okay,so I know this is a fairly old song,but still,it was this huge hit then,when even in fourth grade I and my friends used to dance to this song.As my college friend very recently told me,this song was sung in three languages,two being English and Spanish,and the third..well,I really don’t remember.As for what this song actually means,I don’t know.The only parts I understand are the ‘ Un Dos Tres’ and ‘ I wanna make you mine’ but I am still lost .Well,in some extraordinary songs it just don’t matter.So dance,go crazy!!!
11.Hilary Duff-Why Not
This is not a very popular song here,but it sure is a damn cool one.It flashes the simple message that life is short,and live it upto the fullest,and in the way you want to live it,and that you have to have belief in yourself.
12.Geri Halliwell-It’s raining Men
This is probably THE song for all single and ready to mingle gals out there,when and if,they see an array of all these guys on the streets.For other gals like me,it’s a song with great lyrics,what with Mother Nature being a single woman,and stuff.
13.BoyZone-Words
One of…no,actually my favourite song.Its a slow song,and the piano in the starting is too romantic for words.Its lyrics have so much meaning and if you listened to them carefully,in the middle of the night thinking about the person you love,you will find that at the end of the song,you are actually too overwhelmed for words.Simply seductive…
14.Celine Dion-My Heart Will Go On
A timeless classic,which will probably enjoyed by our children and grandchildren.Together with ‘ Words’,it almost manages to define love.Sorry,define,true love,which is a very beautiful feeling.My favourite lines are’ We’ll stay forever this way,you are safe in my heart and my hy heart will go on and on..’
15.Backstreet Boys- What makes you different
This song is dedicated to all those wonderful gys who I know who have loved women,not for their face or figure,but for their hearts.Listen guys,and you’ll know why I dedicated this song.
16.Darius-Colorblind
Feeling Blue,we have heard.But feeling yellow?Or Black?I swear,I have never heard any other singer fill up his song with almost all the colors of the rainbow and then use each of those colours to describe his feelings…wow…
17.Selena Gomez-Not what it seems
This 51 sec song,also the title track of the hit “ Wizards Of Waverly Place” is full of magic,including the almost diabolical playing of the piano.The most creepiest part,or rather the most magical part of the song is when ‘ Be careful not to mess with the balance of things”
And now to the Oldies Section….
18.BeachBoys-Kokomo
Okay I really don’t know if there’s a place called Kokomo,but this song sure makes me want to go there.I can almost feel the Hula dancers on the coast of Hawaii,and people in floral printed shirts sipping on some coconut water and lying on the sand…
19.Elvis Presley-Rock The Hula
A mixture of Hawaiian and rock music,set to a great tune,and sung by none other thab the King himself results in sheer foot tapping and wiggling of the hips,like the Hula Dancer from Honolulu
And One from the animation section……
20.Beauty and the beast-Beauty and the beast
The original version of this song was sung by Angela Lansbury,in the movie,and then remixed by Celine Dion and some other guy who’s name I don’t quite remember.Watching Belle and The Beast dance to this song makes you feel,that,not for the first time,love can cross all boundaries,and need not depend on the physical appearance.It tells the love story of Belle and the beast.For, after all, it is a,” Tale as old as time”
There are so many songs still left out.And not all these songs are chartbusters,but these are few of those songs which managed to weave their magic around me.Music is a most incredible magic.There are a few people who do not enjoy music-whatever it is,Rock,Jazz,Classical,Instrumental- whatever.And those people lead a soulless life.A person without music is like tea without sugar;one can drink it,but it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
