music meme numero un

I recently had to restore my iTunes, so my top bands/artists are more like guesses combined with what's on my most frequent playlist on my iPod and what I've been listening to a ton lately.


Name your top 10 most played bands on iTunes (Or Last.FM):

1. Regina Spektor
2. The Beatles
3. Interpol
4. The Decemberists
5. Eric Whitacre
6. Led Zeppelin
7. Ben Folds
8. Fiona Apple
9. The Ramones
10. Myrtille

What was the first song you ever heard by 6 (Led Zeppelin)?
I was going to say "Stairway to Heaven" because, obviously, but actually I think it was "Kashmir."

What is your favorite album of 2 (The Beatles)?
Tough! The White Album or Abbey Road...hmm...Today I'm going to go with Abbey Road. But they're pretty much tied for me, I listen to them constantly.

What is your favorite lyric that 5 (Eric Whitacre) has sung?
Again difficult - mainly because as a composer he sets lyrics to music, he doesn't write them. Anyway, although I swoon over his setting of James Joyce's "She Weeps Over Rahoon" I have to say his "Five Hebrew Love Songs" have my favorite lyric (words by his wife, the wonderful poet Hila Plitmann):

“Larov,” amar gag la’shama’im,
“Hamerchak shebeyneynu hu ad;
Ach lifney zman alu lechan shna’im,
Uveyneynu nishar sentimeter echad.”

Translation: "Mostly," said the roof to the sky,/"The distance between you and I is endlessness;/But a while ago two came up here,/and only one centimeter was left between us."

How many times have you seen 4 (The Decemberists) live?
Once. They put on a fantastically fun, energetic, and interesting show, particularly in the Mariner's Revenge.

What is your favorite song by 7 (Ben Folds)?
Oh my goodness, without a doubt "The Luckiest." If I ever get married that is so very much my wedding song. Someone once asked me what song I wish was written for me and I said that one. It's just so amazingly simple, sweet, straightforward, and touching.

What is a good memory you have involving the music of 10 (Myrtille)?
It's probably the best music ever to just wander around during the spring/summertime. I like to take walks around evening or nighttime at home and one summer I would just walk for hours listening to the album Murmures on repeat.

Is there a song of 3 (Interpol) that makes you sad?
"Pioneer to the Falls" makes me sort of sad but it probably shouldn't. Their lyrics can be so weird to try to figure out but this one comes across to me as pseudo hopeful, if that makes sense. I feel like despite the reassurances he'll fall anyway.

What is your favorite lyric that 2 (The Beatles) has sung?
Haha, seriously? I could pull one from about half of their songs, but I'll go with "Living is easy with eyes closed" from "Strawberry Fields."

How did you get into 3 (Interpol)?
My best friend sent me "Specialist" and "Evil" and I loved both.

What was the first song you heard by 1 (Regina Spektor)?
"Samson," the slow version. I promptly listened to it 800 more times to transcribe it so I could play it myself.

What is your favorite song by 4 (The Decemberists)?
"The Island - Come and See/The Landlord's Daughter/You'll Not Feel the Drowning" - an amazing set and gotta love The Tempest as inspiration. Masterful transitions between the sections, love the wordplay, love the opening. I also love "We Both Go Down Together," so that was kind of hard.

How many times have you seen 9 (The Ramones) live?
Never. Have they even toured within the last 20 years?

What is a good memory you have involving 2 (The Beatles)?
One of my first moments of truly appreciating both them and the beauty of music theory - my theory teacher in 9th grade had us analyze "Let It Be" to study chord progressions. He also mentioned "Chopin-like appoggiaturas" in the vocals. I loved the simplicity of the progression and how much the melody depended on it. Then we listened while following the score and I fell in love!

Is there a song of 8 (Fiona Apple) that makes you sad?
"Never is a Promise" can make me bawl in the right mood.

What is your favorite album of 5 (Eric Whitacre)?
Uh, he doesn't really have albums, per se. I suppose "The Music of Eric Whitacre" with U of Miami Chorale and Brigham Young U Singers. The recordings on that are great but it's missing some of his best pieces.

What is your favorite lyric that 3 (Interpol) has sung?
"You make me lose my buttons"

What is your favorite song of 1 (Regina Spektor)?
Ah...I'm going to say "Samson" though I love "Aquarius."

What is your favorite song of 10 (Myrtille)?
Probably "L'ombre." The music is so deceptively upbeat for such introspective lyrics. But I love the tone of both and they actually mesh well for me.

How many times have you seen 8 (Fiona Apple) live?
Ergh...I wish!

What is your favorite album of 1 (Regina Spektor)?
Soviet Kitsch I think. It's just so innovative and overall awesome. This is despite the fact that I probably listen more to Begin to Hope.

What is a great memory you have considering 9 (The Ramones)?
Haha there are many. I had a great time playing Rockband with Nat's siblings to a bunch of Ramones songs. T and I have walked around campus on many days singing random songs, notably "Pet Sematary," "Sheena is a Punk Rocker," and "The KKK Took My Baby Away."

What was the first song you heard by 8 (Fiona Apple)?
I'm going to guess and say "Criminal."

What is your favorite cover by 2 (The Beatles)?
Ooo, by them. Once I heard a great live recording of them doing a Bob Dylan song, I don't remember what it was. Honestly I can't think of many covers they've done.