Music is my escape from all the BS in life.
If you follow me on good ol’ Instagram, you probably already know that music is a huge part of my life. I grew up listening to all types of music, singing in Church choirs, and yes, singing in a confused teen garage band. I wrote music in college and also won a few songwriting contests as well. I also sang on the side for some extra cash during college. In fact, most of my earliest memories are of me either singing on stage or with family, or doing some crazy dance moves to one of my favorite songs. I like to say that it molded me into who I am today because I know for a fact that without it my life would not only be unbearably boring, but I’d probably be really depressed.
Okay, I’ll stop yapping and get to the point already. I LOVE MUSIC.
So since I love music so much, and didn’t really know what to blog about today, I decided to throw a list of my all time favorite songs together. You know, in case you woke up today and thought, “Hmmm.. I wonder what Mitch’s top 20 all time favorite songs are?”, if you did well then, here ya go and you’re welcome! haha…
20. Nobody Knows – The Tony Rich Project
I cried to this song.. A LOT! Ya I know, pretty sad, but we both know very well that you went through that same heartbroken moment growing up when you thought that you couldn’t live without that jerk that broke your heart and that the only way to win him back was by either trying to slide back in to his life by making yourself look super hot so he’d regret leaving you, or pretend that the break up didn’t affect you at all.. but deep down you are really crying worse than a toddler who’s pacifier got thrown over a bridge.
19. Stand by me – Ben E. King
This was the first song I learned how to play on the guitar. When I was 9, my dad saw how much I loved messing with his guitar, I’m not sure if he wanted to coddle that interest or get me to stop messing with his expensive guitar, so he got me my own guitar with Nylon strings and taught me how to play.
18. Storms – Fleetwood Mac
This song is one of my favorites because the emotions are just so real. It’s almost like I can feel what Stevie Nicks felt whenever I listen to it. My favorite line is, “But never have I been a blue calm sea, I have always been a storm.” Plus, Stevie Nicks is my hero.
17. Piece of my Heart – Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was a certified bad ass. Her raspy voice was what I think, one of the best vocals of all time and her pure power is something that inspired me. Just think about how great it would have been if she didn’t leave this world so early. Best lesson here is, stay away from drugs kids!
16. Let it be – The Beatles
I think I came out of the womb singing this song. My parents loved the Beatles, so much that they actually named me after a Beatles song, Michelle. This is one of those songs that no matter how many times you listen to it, it just gets better and better. It is just so amazing. The lyrics are simple, but the meaning is so deep.
15. (What a) Wonderful World – Sam Cooke
Remember that butterflies feeling you got when you saw your crush at school, or when they’d actually notice you for the first time? This song is just that. It’s pure butterflies. It reminds me of how beautiful love really is when we don’t overthink things.
14. Every breath you take – The Police
When you really listen to the lyrics of this song, it’s actually not really a love song, but a song about someone who seems to be overly possessive.. almost stalkerish. So if it’s so creepy, why do I like it so much? Well that’s exactly why. If you can make a song about a crazy stalker and still get people to love it, and even play it at weddings. Then you are a musical genius. The Police are just that. Musical geniuses.
13. Let’s Get it on – Marvin Gaye
Hands down best “Romantic Song”, EVER! I’m pretty sure this song also contributed to the increase in our population in the 70s.
12. Drift away – Dobie Gray
The ultimate appreciation for music can be heard in this song. It’s almost like an ode to music. “I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away”, is what we all do when we listen to music. We drift into that special place in search of healing. May it be rock, hip hop, reggae, or even just the sound of instruments, we all get lost in music. We all have that one song that hits us, almost to the point where we think that it was written just for us.
11. More than a feeling – Boston
I’ve always loved this song. It’s one of those songs that you can listen to over and over again, and never get tired of it. I think it’s about feelings for a certain someone that were never pursued, and now it’s just too late. It’s about a feeling that will always be there and never go away.
10. Valerie – The Zutons
She’s crazy, she’s trouble, and is just bad news in general, but he misses her like crazy. We’ve all felt that way for someone once or twice in our lives. No matter how crazy things get, we as humans try to fix everything, only to get hurt even more. Insert the feels.
9.Hotel California – Eagles
Everything about this song is perfection. The lyrics, Don Henley’s voice, The battle of guitars between Joe Walsh and Don Felder. EVERYTHING. I personally think that this is by far one of the greatest songs that was ever made. It stemmed a lot of controversy, but that’s what great songs do and this song is just that.
8. Lights – Journey
Steve Perry’s vocal chords were literally chosen by God himself. The range in his voice is not only amazing, but is by far one of the most iconic voices in the world. This song describes his love for his city, and just how much he appreciates it.
7. Strong Enough – Sheryl Crow
I feel like this song is about going through a tough time and just wanting someone to be there, something we all want in our lives. I think that’s why I love this song so much. Growing up was hard for me, and I always hoped to find that person that would always be there for me.
6. Tracks of my Tears – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
This song tells about how he seems to be happy on the outside, but is really suffering on the inside. “My smile is my makeup I wear since my breakup with you”, shows just how easy it is to pretend you’re happy. Again, the emotion in this song makes me love it so much. Something we can all relate to.
5. No woman, No cry – Bob Marley & the Wailers
I found Reggae thanks to this song. Bob Marley instantly became one of my favorites after hearing it. I remember asking my dad about how music back in the day had so much substance and him telling me that it was mostly thanks to what everyone was on. I wanted to be on what they were on so bad, little did I know that it was actually something illegal. lol
4. Crazy love – Van Morrison
I love this song. It’s about a feeling that he has about a girl that is just so real. I think that’s what gets me most of the time, the feels of the song. When it’s about pure emotion that is real, it just sucks me right in.
3. Can’t help falling in love – Elvis Presley
I have always loved Elvis. When I was a kid, I played his songs on repeat over and over again. This song very special to me because it’s the song that my dad and I would sing during our family karaoke nights, and it was also the last song that we sang together before he passed away. so ya, it’s pretty special to me.
2. Leather and Lace – Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
Two of my favorite vocalists in one song. Can’t get any better than that.
1. Take it to the Limit – Eagles
Yes, this is my favorite song ever. I love the Eagles. Randy Meisner hits all the right notes in this song. I’ve had many downs in my life and this song always inspires me to keep on going and to take it to the limit. This song is beautifully written and always hits me when I hear it. Hands down, best song in my book.
So there you have it. My top 20 favorite songs of all time. I admit, this list was hard to make because I love music in general. You don’t know how tempted I was to add some Nsync, Backstreet, Usher, heck and even some Lady Gaga in there, but I had to choose the music that I always go back to, and this list is it.
Hope you enjoyed it!!
Hugs,
M
