It’s been a while since I’ve had a blog about music but now I’d like to take a look at my soundtrack of 2011. The first half of songs really mean something to me and so does the 2nd half. These songs can be about a moment in the year, a long period of time where everything seemed to go to right, or in some cases where everything went wrong. For example, one of the songs, It’s like that, by Run-DMC, demonstrates things in life happen to bring is back down to earth or it leaves us in a certain state. I also chose this song because it gives me a sense of what my time in my social movements was like as the class discussed inequality, rights, and everything else there is in the world. Some songs I put in here to remind me of a time in the year or a week where I did something. Several songs off the top of my head that can be classified into this category include, but are not limited to, Esa Fue mi Novia, which is a traditional Tamborazo song, El beeper, Cult of Personality, Dying to be Alive, Down Easter Alexa, and one of my favorites Skew it on the Bar-B. I’d like to think that this past year I had some of the experiences on these songs by either choice or fate. I remember hearing Rodolfo Guiterrez by Los Incomparables and it gave me a picture of what a corrido or ballad can do for people. It allows them to be happy or it allows them to imagine what kind of people they may be because of what they hear. Now I’d like to talk about this long list of songs:
1. Cult of Personality by Living Color
I love this songs considering it is one of the best world’s theme song, CM Punk. To me, it represents the summer of 2011, unpredictable, fun, thriving for myself and others around me. It also reminds me of the battles that wrestling went through that summer as the WWE tried to make itself seem relevant. It hooked me very much and every week I still tune to see what one of my favorite wrestlers will do and say. The song also is representative of what a leader is capable of and we should be thinking for ourselves sometimes and not following.
2. Police Station by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
I’m with you, the Peppers new album after a few years, really changed sound and perspective on what kind of band they were. I chose this songs because it tells a great story of a young man falling in love with a woman he keeps seeing over and over. It isn’t about killing somebody or getting revenge and it tells the story over three story arcs. The first time the meeting, the second time she seems different and willing to change after many battles, and the third time is when he sees himself falling for her again. Just a great song that reminds me of the end of the summer during which I did a lot of great reading.
3. Dying to be alive by Hanson
The album This Time around had some awesome songs but this one really hits the nail in the coffin for me. Just as the title says, a song about living life and not giving up on your dreams. It is about doing what you want to do and not having people dragging you to them.
4. E=MC2 by Big Audio Dynamite
I spent many nights in the winter this past year listening to this song and even it is about a movie director, it still is an awesome song to rock out to and also paints out many scenes in the movies of this director.
5. Bankrobber by the Clash
My favorite song by the Clash as it has many meanings behind it. I chose this song because it reflects the first part of the year for me. For a long time, I had little motivation at my job but listening to this song made me think that there are other opportunities out there. One of the best lines is when they say A lifetime at one machine is ten times worse than prison which is a great line about life and what we can do with it. Even though I had that little motivation at the beginning of the year, I am very motivated now because of the great contributions and experience I get from working at my job.
6. Unmistakeable by the Backstreet Boys
One of the first love songs I heard this year that got to me because of what love can do for somebody. Waiting for that perfect someone to come into your life is hard to find and this song correctly pin points that as it gives the idea that love is out there for everybody. I am still waiting for that person so in that perspective I enjoy this song very much. I remember listening to this song and thinking that this song fits me because how is someone really supposed to know how a relationship or friendship with a girl ends before it begins? My answer it just happens in our way of thinking so we just have to let it happen.
7. All the Right Friends by R.E.M
A funny song about looking for friends and what we look for them. I may not have the same friends I did before but we are searching for that new crowd or that new friend. For me, I found some classmates or friends of my brother’s who became my friends either by sheer luck or common interest. At work, I started talking to more people and sometimes at work I would hang out with some of these people and I became friends with them. Truth is, the past year I connected with a lot of people and I had some cool experiences with some current and new friends.
8. We’re not alone by Nas
A song about searching for the truth whatever that may be. I find it cool that it integrates political, spiritual, and religious elements into one song. It talks about conspiracies, philosophy, life, society, family, the universe and many other topics as well. I love the fact that Nas talks about real topics and strays away from the usual hip-hop junk these days. I would wonder if he does it to reach others or does he actually believe in many of these ideas? All I have to say is that he is very deep on this song and I can feel him on this one.
9. Little Boxes by Various artists
Late 2010 I started watching the show Weeds and this song was originally sung by Malvina Reynolds and it was used as the shows intro song but it branched off to be sung by almost two dozen other artists. I love the show and many of the topics were hilarious on the show and it resembles what modern America is like. Very plain and very simple as the song says that we all live in little boxes
10. Campfire by Wu-Tang Clan
This song is epic. That is all! Insane beat and great lyrics by some MC’s out of New York.
11. It’s like that by Run-DMC
As stated earlier, this song is about life and the many struggles that accompany. It’s about working hard, staying ahead of the curb, money, ups and downs in life. Everybody works and even though we don’t stay young this song makes me want to keep striving in work and in school. It teaches us that nothing in life is fair and sometimes the challenge of getting something is what makes us try harder.
12. Skew it on the Bar-B by Outkast
I have no idea why this song is on my list other than when I bought Aquemini by Outkast I couldn’t stop listening to this song. It has a great flow, a great ebb to it, and it also demonstrates what music used to be like. I remember having a conversation with a friend of mine at work and we talked about how music isn’t that good and we brought up Hip-Hop as a good example. This song to me shows what music was like back then as it is innovative catchy and not corny at all. When I listen to music today I can’t get into 90% of it because it is not defined clearly at all and the few that I do listen to today are defined clearly. This song is great and a great song to put on repeat.
13. Don’t Worry by Bone Thugs and Harmony
A song about not having to worry about things in life and just letting them happen. I remember worrying about a few things this past year and I just said to myself I have to do something about it. For example, me not being able to finish Math at De Anza was fixed by the fact that I can now take it at Mission College and I look forward to that starting in almost a month. The members tell their own stories and I can relate to them as well as we all have things we worry about but we are in charge of what we do in life. I have to have faith and just keep on pushing until I feel satisfied for I am a person with a big heart.
14. DownEaster “Alexa” by Billy Joel
I discovered Billy Joel this past year and this is one of the best songs he has as it is dedicated to fisherman that work in the harbors. I like many of these songs by him but this one sounds different and he really puts his heart into it as he integrates real life elements in here. He doesn’t BS and tell you an exaggerated story as he tells it from the experiences of people he knew and what they went through. He gives it his all and it tells a layer of many stories here. I highly recommend this song to anybody.
15. Next Question by Kid N’Play
Kid N’ Play were pretty cool back in my day but listening to this song gives me a sense of what they were about. They give you a picture of what music should teach and how it can be taught to the younger generation of music listeners. People can interpret music the wrong way sometimes and this song demonstrates that positive music just about anything can do better for any of us. Back in the day, hip-hop music was about how dirty women would be but now that has changed as it is almost been integrated into society and TV as well. Times change and so does music.
That concludes the English portion of my soundtrack and now I’d like to move onto my Mexican music side which is a little more meaningful but still resonates something for me.
16. El Preso No.9 by Gerardo Reyes
A song about a man that kills his wife and he ends up being executed for it. The first time I heard the song I thought it was a beautiful tale and albeit fictional but it gave me a picture of what that must be like for somebody that murders his wife. He catches his wife cheating on him and kills the wife and the man that has caused this. Once I heard the same artist made a movie with Felipe Arriaga and some other well known actors I caught it and it was very well done. I was amazed that the movie concluded with him killing his wife and it was very sad due to him working and he ended up bringing his wife all the way from Mexico as well. A great song indeed
17. Leyendas del Principio by Cuisillos
I love this song because it is one of the few non-love songs by Cuisillos as it is about the world we live in and it questions the end of the world. Pending this year, could it be that our experiences as a planet, as a culture,could lead to the end of the world? It gives us a call to action of sorts to look out for clues in the ways that the world has brought us to certain times that we are in now. The more I think it about the more I see that the singer, Rogelio Torres, gives emotion in this song to remind us that we as people have to take care of the planet and take care of each other as well. He says there is always something new to every day and people are more conscious of what they do. Just a touching song overall.
18. Te solte la Rienda by Vicente Fernandez
A song that I had been looking for for years now. I happened to be searching on Youtube and this song popped up and I was very happy to hear the emotion and vigor in Don Chente’s voice. He is the last guy to be singing very traditional Mexican music and this song is representative of a time when I would just be searching for very rare songs. Ah, what a time indeed.
19. Como Quisera volver by Los Temerarios
This song reminds me of the very fine days I had in Mexico and all the adventures I had. Not only because the group is from Fresnillo Zacatecas, but also because I saw all the old places where I would hang out with family members, friends, and pets as well. I remember being in my aunt’s house and having memories of talking with my cousins, playing with toys or just sitting around talking, and all the other silly things we used to do. When I went to Mexico, it wasn’t the same but I made the best of it and saw the great places and the people had never changed in my opinion. It is a time that is gone but not forgotten.
20. El JB
A song that is somewhat an inside joke but also a song about a soldier in the drug wars in Mexico. A very special song for me and a good friend.
21. Rodoflo Guitterez by Los Incomparables
A very cool song I heard one night back at the gym where I had a memorable night and day. I remember connecting this song with the fact that me and my brother did some fun stuff this day as we took care of some matters that had to be taken care of. It’s about a guy that sells drugs and he likes to have a good time by having friends around him and he also enjoys having the band play his favorite songs. Just a good, upbeat song about a person we will never hear from or see.
22. El Caracoal by Conjunto Primavera
No idea what this song is about but once I heard it, it gets my spirit up for doing activities and helping around the house as well.
23. El corrido de Zacatecas by Antonio Aguilar
The song says it all as this represents my two week expedition to Mexico and the love I had for the place. For one,when you go outta state and even outta the country you feel much more relaxed and nothing matters in the long run. I remember being there and not having to worry about money, school, books, or any other problems. Once you leave home, you have little to no worries and everyone should be able to do this at least once in their lives. Zacatecas, hopefully I can go back one more time and rejoice in the beauty and the sunset that is in the air around the place.
24. Esa Fue mi novia
Cool song with just instruments by a traditional tamborazo sound.
25. Cascos Ligeros by Alejandro Fernandez
A song I spent many nights listening to at the gym, on the road to San Francisco, on the way to the Oracle Arena, and many other places. One of my favorite songs too!
26. Secretos de Mi Memoria by LABEL
I love this song for a number of reasons. For one, I listened to it many a times while writing a blog about an experience I had with a former friend/girlfriend. I also like the likeness it can take from many real life experiences where people break up with a girl and they remember all the good times they had with that person. They remember those times and they wish they can have that person back and I got flashbacks listening to that song. It is a good song and a good reminder for most of us that are in love and out of love as well.
27. Ramona Pineda by Chalino Sanchez
I can’t say much about this song except I can feel his voice and his valor on this song as he doesn’t sing the best but his heart makes you feel for the guy. He’s singing about a drug lord but only he makes it feel sympathetic as well as the story is told from a various perspective and nothing is too short of interpretation when that is involved. Kinda funny when people say that music used to be a lot better and this is a very good example.
28. Tube que tuvo tuvo by Los Titanes
A great song to work to and also a great song to work out to. I can say that songs like this make me want to jump up and have a good time. Los Titanes certainly have a lot of energy in their songs and this is a perfect example of all that.
29. Fina Estampa by Felipe Arriaga
I can say that this artist being discovered by me this year was one of the coolest things this year as he has a great voice and some great stories to go along with his mariachi music. But nothing beats the fact that I remember he was part of the fact that I lost one of his Cd’s this year and my dad got very upset at me for this but thankfully it was saved on one of our harddrives and I went through many challenges trying to find it in order to burn the new CD.
30. El beeper by Banda la Tunera
The last song on my collection and the greatest struggle of this year in trying to find a CD or a piece of music from this Cd. The reason I found the CD to be so great was because it didn’t sound like anything traditional and it told great tales. But this one in particular caught my attention because it is just a regular guy trying to make a living selling drugs. The funny part is, this has been accepted in society as being a sort of cool and against the grain move that is socially ok. Listening to this song, it also has a great rhythm and beat to it which is very hard to bet this day and age when everything has the same sound to it. I like the sound of trumpets, flutes, and many of the other banda instruments which bring about a certain energy and feel to a song. Just a song that defines the end of the year for me and many other aspects of life for me.
Quite a collection and what a year it was everything in life has a meaning and these songs have a meaning for me!
Just Another Day... 