So, awhile ago I got it into my head to make an A to Z playlist.

For those who don't know, I'm a freak for making the perfect playlist. Sort of like Rob from High Fidelity, only I'm less a straight up asshole and more of a pouty douche bag, but I digress.

Anyway, I have this obsession with making playlists. I'm not quite sure how the A to Z list came about, but it did and I ran with it.

See, there's sort of a zen to making a really good playlist. I won't go too far into it, but I feel like you really have to be thoughtful on song placement. Which is why I came up with the A to Z list, because finding a song for each letter of the alphabet would be super difficult.

Here's the rules I set forth for myself.

1.) Pick a song for each letter of the Alphabet, first of all.

2.) All songs MUST be in English. The songs can be sung by non-English speaking (IE: Those that don't speak English as a native language) artists, but they have got to be in English. This makes it harder for you to pick songs for letters such as 'Q'.

3.) No artist can have consecutive songs. Example: I couldn't have Spiraling Shape as my 'S' song because I have Till My Head Falls Off for my 'T' song, because they both are by They Might Be Giants. This rule extends to cover versions as well.

4.) If an artist appears on your list more than once, there must be a one song lead between appearances, this also includes cover songs. Example: I picked Under Pressure David Bowie and Queen for my 'U' song. For my 'W' song, I picked We Are the Champions -- but I picked the cover version done by Johnathan Coulton. In between those two songs is Jamiroquai's Virtual Insanity.

The list is as follows:

1. Across the Universe by the Beatles (Acoustic version from Anthology)
2. Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might Be Giants (Flood)
3. Continental Drift by the Rolling Stones (Steel Wheels)
4. Don't Fence Me In cover by David Byrne, written by Cole Porter (Red+Hot+Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter)
5. Everything Under the Sun by Common Rotation (Live track off Clear Channel)
6. Free as a Bird by the Beatles (Anthology)
7. Genius of Love by the Tom Tom Club (Tom Tom Club)
8. Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought We Had a Deal by They Might Be Giants (Then, the Earlier Years)
9. Ikea by Jonathan Coulton (Smoking Monkey)
10. Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones (40 Licks)
11. Kiss cover by Der Palast Orchestra mit Max Raabe (album unknown)
12. Let it Be by the Beatles (Let it Be)
13. Mesopotamia by the B52's (Time Capsule)
14. No One Knows My Plan by They Might Be Giants (John Henry)
15. Once in a Lifetime by the Talking Heads (Remain in Light)
16. Pretty Pink Ribbon by CAKE (Comfort Eagle)
17. Quiche Lorraine by the B52's (Time Capsule)
18. Rock Your Socks by Tenacious D (Tenacious D)
19. Say You'll Be There by the Spice Girls (Spice)
20. Till My Head Falls Off by They Might Be Giants (Factory Showroom)
21. Under Pressure by David Bowie & Queen (Classic Queen)
22. Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai
23. We Are the Champions acoustic cover by Johnathan Coulton (Thing a Week Four)
24. XTC vs. Adam Ant by They Might Be Giants (Factory Showroom)
25. Your Rain sung by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, composed by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill 4 Soundtrack)
26. Z Y X by They Might Be Giants (Here Come the ABCs)
27. 1234 by Fiest (The Reminder)

I added the "bonus" track at the bottom for awesomeness. There was also somewhat of a fracas between my sister, husband and I regarding "Your Rain". They objected to the song on account that it was written and composed by someone who didn't speak English natively. I pointed out the same could be said of Max Raabe, who is German. The song he and his orchestra performed WAS written by a native English speaker. Max Raabe, being German, speaks German, but sings the song in English. Therefore it is allowed. And though Yamaoka doesn't speak English as a first language, he did write the song in English and it was performed by an artist who speaks English natively, therefore it counts. So there.

Anyway, if you're as big a nerd as I am, feel free to do this.

You know, I almost think this requires some kind of freaky CD exchange. If anyone wants this list, I'll happily find a way to send it to you. It's just that awesome. And you can send your own back.

If you want...

Categories: Music [t]

Wow, I just realized that I have NO 'Q' songs.
» randomjunk on 2008-03-09 06:53:04

wow cool play list

RYN: yeah he should have go down with the puppy... thanks for visiting :D
» jolenesiah on 2008-03-09 11:51:36

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