What's Your Very Favorite Song?

[ewok20t3]

I am currently somewhat obsessing over trying to figure out what my very favorite song is. Since I am having trouble deciding, I thought I'd throw this question out to you guys. What is your very favorite song? I'm also curious about when you realized that that song is your favorite song and what brought you to that realization. Also, Is the song also by your favorite artist? Did you compare that song to a previous favorite songs before deciding that that song is your favorite?

I know that's a bunch of questions about such a simple topic, but thanks for taking the time to answer if you chose to do so.  

[enemy anemone]

I can never figure out what my very favorite (as in, only one) of anything is. it's too apples-and-oranges. and pineapples-and-kiwifruit-and-ice-cream-and-cookies-and-cupcakes.
I have been known to make spreadsheets with lists of potential favorite things and qualities that I like about them. I assign and add up arbitrary points. but if I don't like what the arbitrary points determine to be my favorite, I will add other categories for additional points. and then at some point I abandon the whole endeavor, so I still don't know what my very favorite of anything is.

[ewok20t3]

I can never figure out what my very favorite (as in, only one) of anything is. it's too apples-and-oranges. and pineapples-and-kiwifruit-and-ice-cream-and-cookies-and-cupcakes.
I have been known to make spreadsheets with lists of potential favorite things and qualities that I like about them. I assign and add up arbitrary points. but if I don't like what the arbitrary points determine to be my favorite, I will add other categories for additional points. and then at some point I abandon the whole endeavor, so I still don't know what my very favorite of anything is.

Haha, we're so much alike! I constantly make lists and such trying to figure these things out and eventually get so frustrated and overwhelmed that I abandon the whole thing, only to start all over again a month or so later.

[murlough23]

I was pretty sure for most of my adult life so far that it was "Like a Child" by Jars of Clay. But I realized over time that the longer Jars of Clay (still my favorite artists, that I'm sure of) kept putting out music, the more I felt that they had outdone their first album. So I wondered if that song was still my favorite due to quality, or just due to nostalgia. (Nothing wrong with nostalgia - that'll land a song on a list of favorites, but it really needs to pass some rigorous quality tests to land at the very top.) Not that it's not a quality song - I love almost everything about it - but it's artistically simpler and sonically less accomplished in terms of the production and stuff than a lot of my later favorites by the band. So if I like another Jars song that's more recent more than I like "Like a Child", then by definition, "Like a Child" can't still be my favorite song of all songs.

I can say with 90% certainty that Much Afraid has probably been supplanted as my all-time favorite album by Sufjan Stevens' Illinois. But I'm not sure if my favorite song from Illinois ("The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders") counts as my favorite song of all time.

And there's not even a requirement that my favorite song by anybody be a song by my favorite artist. I like several artists who are hit-and-miss, but when they're good, they blow me away. So I don't know. It'd probably take some excruciating list-making and difficult choices to sort this out. Several songs by Jars, Sufjan, Vienna Teng, and Iona, among others, would likely have a fierce fight for that top spot.

This was easier in high school, when I literally kept a personal Top 20 list that I changed weekly, because I was obsessed with radio countdowns.

[ewok20t3]

So I wondered if that song was still my favorite due to quality, or just due to nostalgia. (Nothing wrong with nostalgia - that'll land a song on a list of favorites, but it really needs to pass some rigorous quality tests to land at the very top.)

Same here. I've considered "The Everglow" by Mae to be my favorite song for a couple of years, but I'm pretty sure it's mostly for nostalgic reasons, and the fact that it's me and my wife's song. If I didn't have so many memories and such attached to it, I'd still think it's a good song, but probably not in the discussion of my very favorite song.


I think I've settled on a list of finalists for my favorite song, and I still can't eliminate "The Everglow" just yet.
Here's my list:
"The Everglow" - Mae
"Sorry" - Five O'clock People
"(*Fin)" - Anberlin
"Control" - Mute Math
"Flowers and Fireworks" - All The Day Holiday
"Salty Grave" - Life In Your Way

So, I've got it narrowed down to six. Not sure where to go from here.

[murlough23]

Same here. I've considered "The Everglow" by Mae to be my favorite song for a couple of years, but I'm pretty sure it's mostly for nostalgic reasons, and the fact that it's me and my wife's song. If I didn't have so many memories and such attached to it, I'd still think it's a good song, but probably not in the discussion of my very favorite song.

Personal memories can shape your perception of a song a great deal. My whole "soundtrack" project is based on the very idea that music is strongly tied to memories in my life, that reminds me of where I was and what I was going through, and that it probably wouldn't have the same effect without some of those personal points of reference.

The Everglow was very high on my list of favorite albums from the 00s, and probably would be on an all-time favorite albums list since the only other decade I really know is the 90s, but the title track has always been one of those that I'm just OK with - it's a connector in between other songs that I hold in high esteem. (Which is weird, because they named the album after it, so they clearly wanted it to stand out.) My favorite songs on that album are generally just ones where I adore the music - I don't have personal stories that tie into that album to any extent beyond that whole CD in general reminding me of a time in my life when I was preparing to get married and had a lot of hope in the future ahead (and a lot of angst in the present with all the stress of planning it).

"Sorry" - Five O'clock People

I've said before that this is my favorite breakup songs. And I have an unusual fondness for breakup songs, for a person who hasn't been dumped or dumped anyone in nearly a decade.

"(*Fin)" - Anberlin

Was just listening to that yesterday; I've always loved the song, but never fully realized how dark and despairing it was until perhaps recently. I'm just overwhelmed by all of the layers and the drama - I'm a sucker for that kind of over-the-top-ness. Also, when I bought Cities, it was the Extended Edition, so the CD actually ended on a few happier songs. (Debatable whether The Smiths' "There Is a Light that Never Goes Out" is actually happy, but "The Promise" is, so yeah.) I might have reacted differently if I first heard "(*Fin)" in its intended context of being the final word on the album, but then there's that song about the world ending on New Surrender, so I dunno.

"Control" - Mute Math

That's one of my go-to songs for unrelenting, euphoric, no-holds-barred happy. I first heard it the night before I proposed to my wife, so it brings back strong memories of one of the most certain times in my life.

I like that such polar opposite moods are present on your "cream of the crop" list.

[bloop]

It's a little hard for me to pick a favorite song, but here are a few that may be finalists for me, thinking (roughly) chronologically:

"Tomorrow Never Knows" by The Beatles
"God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys
"Shine a Light" by The Rolling Stones
"Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd
"Shelter from the Storm" by Bob Dylan
"Space Oddity" by David Bowie
"Bastards of Young" by The Replacements
"Radio Free Europe" by R.E.M.
"The Fly" by U2
"The Diamond Sea" by Sonic Youth
"Mayonaise" by The Smashing Pumpkins
"All Is Full of Love" by Bjork
"Pyramid Song" by Radiohead
"Wake Up" by The Arcade Fire

Those are just off the top of my head.  I don't think I'll put myself through really agonizing over it.

[ewok20t3]

I like that such polar opposite moods are present on your "cream of the crop" list.

I think the different moods between the songs is why it's so hard for me to chose between them. It's like I'm not just comparing songs, I'm comparing moods and emotions associated with those songs. The songs you're not familiar with somewhat continue with that theme. "Salty Grave" is my go-to hardcore song. It's so hard to compare a hardcore song to a folk-rock song like "Sorry".

"Flowers and Fireworks" is a relaxing and meditative type song. It has some similarities in content to "(*Fin), and the atmospheric tone of the song reminds me somewhat of "Control", but the song is not similar enough to those to where I feel I can put them head to head and chose a favorite between them. Some of the songs I eliminated from making that final 6 list are because I felt I could put them up against those songs that made it and they'd lose. I can't seem to compare the one's I have left with each other.

[ewok20t3]

"Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd

"Comfortably Numb" is most definitely in my top 15. I actually prefer the live version from the Pulse album to the studio version, though.

[murlough23]

"Comfortably Numb" is most definitely in my top 15. I actually prefer the live version from the Pulse album to the studio version, though.

I like the Scissor Sisters version. 

[ewok20t3]

I like the Scissor Sisters version. 

Haha, I didn't even know they covered it. Hopefully they did a better job with it than Staind did.

[murlough23]

Haha, I didn't even know they covered it. Hopefully they did a better job with it than Staind did.

Didn't know Staind had covered it. Scissor Sisters covering it is both how I first heard of Scissor Sisters (their other music is really trashy, but re-envisioning a Pink Floyd song as disco was a work of twisted genius), and how I first heard the Pink Floyd song (I went and listened to the original for comparison, and I remember having a favorable impression of the original as well.) I'd imagine Staind tried to play it more straight, but wound up shitting all over it with their un-fun angst.

[ewok20t3]

Didn't know Staind had covered it. Scissor Sisters covering it is both how I first heard of Scissor Sisters (their other music is really trashy, but re-envisioning a Pink Floyd song as disco was a work of twisted genius), and how I first heard the Pink Floyd song (I went and listened to the original for comparison, and I remember having a favorable impression of the original as well.) I'd imagine Staind tried to play it more straight, but wound up shitting all over it with their un-fun angst.

I'm going to have to check out that Sister Scissors version, it sounds pretty interesting!

You're dead on with how you envision Staind's version. They recorded it acoustically (which is the only way to make Staind sound even more boring), and parts of it are downright cringe-worthy. I never thought such a great song could sound so bad.

[murlough23]

You're dead on with how you envision Staind's version. They recorded it acoustically (which is the only way to make Staind sound even more boring), and parts of it are downright cringe-worthy. I never thought such a great song could sound so bad.

Often times, the best songs are the ones that sound the most painful in the hands of hacks. Hacks performing their own material usually don't seem as audaciously bad, just generally uninteresting. A bad cover of a classic song will actively offend people.

[ajyouthguy]

"Worlds Apart" by Jars of Clay has been my favorite song since the summer of 1996 driving home from staffing a youth camp, my first real foray into something resembling youth ministry, and the first time a song had ever literally left me absolutely broken and in awe of God and what He could do.  It hasn't even come close to changing, and I don't forsee that happening any time soon.

[murlough23]

"Worlds Apart" by Jars of Clay has been my favorite song since the summer of 1996 driving home from staffing a youth camp, my first real foray into something resembling youth ministry, and the first time a song had ever literally left me absolutely broken and in awe of God and what He could do.  It hasn't even come close to changing, and I don't forsee that happening any time soon.

That one would be on my short list. I know I slight the album it came from at times in comparison to other Jars records that I wish folks would give a fair shake, but that particular song is flawless. Poetically written and also profound enough to have an impact on virtually everyone who hears it. I've met people who aren't even Christians who love that song. There are other Jars songs that have personally impacted me more, but in terms of both artistic quality and popularity, that may well be the group's "best" song.

[Wildcatblue7]

I sure couldn't pick one, but here are some finalists:

The Who--"Love, Reign O'er Me"
Steely Dan--"Doctor Wu"
Steely Dan--"Pretzel Logic"
Nine Inch Nails--"The Fragile"
A Perfect Circle--"The Noose"
Pat Metheny--"The Truth Will Always Be"
Katatonia--"Criminals"
The Police--"Synchronicity II"
"Little Wing"...by Sting, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, among others

but my favorite this week..."Shutterbugg," by Big Boi. 

[ewok20t3]

A Perfect Circle--"The Noose"

That one would be in my top 100 favorite songs. I still don't understand why Maynard thought it would be a good idea to shut down A Perfect Circle. That Puscifer project seems to be working out really well for him...

[Wildcatblue7]

That one would be in my top 100 favorite songs. I still don't understand why Maynard thought it would be a good idea to shut down A Perfect Circle. That Puscifer project seems to be working out really well for him...

Supposedly APC has been revived, but like all things Maynard, I'll believe it when I have the new album.

[Brenden]

My absolute favorite has always been changing, but in terms of songs I keep going back to again and again.

The Hold Steady - Both Crosses
The Hold Steady - Cattle And The Creeping Things
Jars of Clay - The Edge Of Water
U2 - Electrical Storm
Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio
Josh Ritter - The Temptation Of Adam

To name a few.

[eatenbytehworms]

couldn't decide...
The Beatles - the whole medley at the end of Abbey Road
The Who - "Love, Reign O'er Me"
The Ramones - "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue"
Simon & Garfunkel - "The Boxer"
Anberlin - "Fin"
Jeff Buckley - "Lover, You Should've Come Over"
Switchfoot - "Meant to Live"
Tool - "Parabola/Parabola"
Pixies - "Gigantic"
U2 - "Bad"
Pearl Jam - "Alive"
Thrice - "Stare at the Sun"
Radiohead - "Fake Plastic Trees"

[ewok20t3]

Thrice - "Stare at the Sun"

That one's towards the top for my favorites, too. Probably top 20 or 25.

[murlough23]

While we're talking about Thrice, "Image of the Invisible" would probably have a shot at my list.

[ewok20t3]

While we're talking about Thrice, "Image of the Invisible" would probably have a shot at my list.

That's a good song. I was reading through a bunch of Thrice's setlists online recently because I'll be seeing them in a couple weeks, and I noticed that they apparently don't play that song anymore. I can't figure out why that would be.

[murlough23]

That's a good song. I was reading through a bunch of Thrice's setlists online recently because I'll be seeing them in a couple weeks, and I noticed that they apparently don't play that song anymore. I can't figure out why that would be.

It was bugging me that it wasn't on their live album. Not sure what the deal is.

"Stare at the Sun" is definitely one of my faves from their older stuff, as is "All that's Left".

[bloop]

Do we have any nominations for very least favorite song?  I nominate that "Lynyrd Skynyrd" song Sean Hannity uses all the time.

[murlough23]

Do we have any nominations for very least favorite song?

"Butterfly Kisses". I can think of more obnoxious, offensive songs, but usually I can at least have a good laugh at those songs' expense.

[ewok20t3]

Do we have any nominations for very least favorite song?

Hmmm, I'm going to have to think about that. Some that come to mind immediately are "Imma Be" by Black Eyed Peas, "Pieces of Me" by Ashlee Simpson, "Something In Your Mouth" by Nickelback, and "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train.

[bloop]

"Butterfly Kisses". I can think of more obnoxious, offensive songs, but usually I can at least have a good laugh at those songs' expense.

I actually don't really hate that song.  Surprised?

But, along the lines of crossover CCM hits, "Christmas Shoes".

[murlough23]

I actually don't really hate that song.  Surprised?

For me it was a combination of overexposure, awkward flow in the song structure (that extra measure at "all up in her hair" gets on my last nerve every time), and the inability to get away from the song well after its radio life had run out (I had to fight to make sure the song would not be used in any way, shape, or form at my wedding). I could see how someone could be ambivalent towards it, given less exposure.

But, along the lines of crossover CCM hits, "Christmas Shoes".

Was going to mention that one, but then I remembered that I'm fortunate enough to be one of the few people in America who still hasn't heard it.

Back on the subject of songs I'd actually consider favorites, "Hawaii" by Mew. Every time I hear it, it's OH MY GOD TOTAL EARGASM.

[ewok20t3]

Back on the subject of songs I'd actually consider favorites, "Hawaii" by Mew. Every time I hear it, it's OH MY GOD TOTAL EARGASM.

"Special" and "The Zookeeper's Boy" are both in a playlist I have of about 1,000 of my favorite songs. I still haven't heard No More Stories Are Told Today.... Sounds like I definitely need to hear "Hawaii" at least.

[murlough23]

"Special" and "The Zookeeper's Boy" are both in a playlist I have of about 1,000 of my favorite songs. I still haven't heard No More Stories Are Told Today.... Sounds like I definitely need to hear "Hawaii" at least.

I think And the Glass Handed Kites is a beautiful album ("The Zookeeper's Boy" being one of my favorites for much the same reason that I love "Hawaii", and I'm also so in love with the horribly depressing one-two punch of "White Lips Kissed" and "Louise Louisa" at the end of the album that you should probably be concerned for my mental well-being). But I think No More Stories... blows it out of the water. I probably shouldn't have said that.

[ewok20t3]

But I think No More Stories... blows it out of the water. I probably shouldn't have said that.

I'm intrigued now. I'm going to have to look for it next time I make my rounds at the used music stores. It's now in my Amazon.com cart in case I don't find it used. I've actually been wanting to pick up this album for awhile, so don't be concerned that there will be any blame on you if I don't care for it, haha!

[murlough23]

You can listen to it here for free:

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/album/No+More+Stories+Are+Told+Today+I+m+Sorry+They+Washed+Away/3389612

Everything after "Reprise" (track 14) is bonus stuff that I actually haven't heard yet. Just so you know where the album proper ends.

[ewok20t3]

You can listen to it here for free:

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/album/No+More+Stories+Are+Told+Today+I+m+Sorry+They+Washed+Away/3389612

Everything after "Reprise" (track 14) is bonus stuff that I actually haven't heard yet. Just so you know where the album proper ends.

Awesome! Thanks! I'll start listening to it now.

[bloop]

And here's The Christmas Shoes for you, mur.

[murlough23]

And here's The Christmas Shoes for you, mur.

You don't think I'd have looked it up on my own by now if I actually wanted to hear it?

Normally I'd say that you shouldn't knock something 'til you've tried it, but just reading the lyrics to this one informs me that I'm not missing anything.

[bloop]

Hey, it's a song I honestly love to hate.  I thought I'd share that with others, and it's a total package thing.  The lyrics alone don't really capture it.

[Wildcatblue7]

OH MY GOD TOTAL EARGASM.

This should definitely be the name of the thread.  CHANGE IT

My total eargasm tunes (and yes, they are different from my favorite songs, which I know is weird...this is musical perfection, which means sometimes the lyrics are not up to par or just meh):
"Closer," NIN
"Into the Void," NIN
"King of Pain," The Police
"Ms. Jackson," Outkast
"Evidence," Katatonia
"Alive (Nightmare)," Kid Cudi
"Nike Boots," Wale
"More Than a Feeling," Boston
"Around the World/Harder Better Faster Stronger," Daft Punk (from Alive 2007)
"That's Nasty," He is Legend

[NewDimension]

I'm not sure if a "favorite" song (or anything) legitimately exists within my mind. The closest I come to saying that something is a "favorite" is saying that I "really like X for reason Y." I think the concept of "favorite" presupposes that a frame of reference exists for rating something as a "favorite." The frame of reference doesn't necessarily have to imply that the reference point is fixed--it could change, depending on how someone deteremines and/or creates that frame of reference. And when people claim that something is their "favorite" it's possible that the person is consciously unaware that they even have a frame of reference for rating if they like or dislike something; or maybe they don't even have a frame of reference and they just say that something is their "favorite" without really thinking about what "favorite" means.

Now let's say that someone has a distinct frame of reference for determining their favorite song. Let's suppose that there are different factors which determine whether someone likes or dislikes a song. Suppose that someone likes a song for one reason (which corresponds to certain factors and how someone determines their level of like/dislike for each specific factor) but dislikes it according to their rating for another reason/factor. How will they determine if they like or dislike the song? They'll only like a song according to how the song rates on each factor---and not necessarily how they like the song "as a whole." If the song being examined happens to rate strongly on a majority of the different factors involved in rating it, then it would probably be considered a more liked song overall than when compared to songs that didn't score equally as well on as many factors being considered. If all the songs a person would consider worthy to contend for the position of "favorite" do not out-score each other on the overall number of factors upon which they are being rated, then how can someone really determine if they like a song more or less than any other song? The songs would be liked according to how they rate on different factors---factors which none of the other songs being considered for "favorite" have in common. You'd be left liking different songs for different reasons, and not having any particular "favorite" out of all the songs you listen to; just favorites which correspond to the different ratings they receive according to the factors taken into account. And if you're frame of reference changes frequently, then how you rate the factors can vary as well, which only further impedes your progress toward reaching a "favorite" even if you stop/postpone trying to deteremine an overall "favorite" and just attempt to have a "favorite" according to certain factors.