Bryson is just as enthusiastic about music these days as his little brother.  When Bryson discovers a new song he loves, he puts it on his playlist, hits the “repeat” button, and listens to it for hours until he knows the lyrics and rhythm by heart.  I remember doing that with “Escape (the Pina Colada Song)” as an 11-year-old myself.  Oh.  Except it was on a 45 record, so I had to keep getting up to move the needle back to the beginning!

He especially likes songs with a fast beat, a la the ‘80’s.  His current favorites are Mambo No. 5 (maybe because his mom’s name is in it?), Oye Como Va, Island Girl, and anything by Roy Orbison.  I gave pause at some of the lyrics in the songs he has added, but then I reminded myself of the questionable content of the songs I was allowed to listen to at his age.  I just draw the line at songs that are labeled “explicit”, which I am not old enough to listen to either.  Check and see if you can find some influences from his mom and dad…

 

Only The Lonely, Roy Orbison

Dream Baby, Roy Orbison

Blue Angel, Roy Orbison

I’m Hurtin’, Roy Orbison

Oh, Pretty Woman, Roy Orbison

We Got The Beat,  Go-Go’s (the first song I owned)

Billie Jean, Michael Jackson

Rock Me Amadeus, Falco

Centerfold, J. Geils Band    (questionable.  hoping it goes over his head)

Down Under, Men At Work

Homeward Bound, Simon & Garfunkel

Take It Back, Jimmy Buffett

One Particular Harbour, Jimmy Buffett

American Pie, Don McLean/Don McLean

Pump Up The Volume, MARRS   (can you say 1988 High School Dance?)

Cha Cha Slide, Mr. C

Sailing, Christopher Cross

Only Time, Enya

Piano Man, Billy Joel

F**kin’ Perfect, P!nk  (she doesn’t actually say it in the song)

My Sharona, Knack

Free To Be… You And Me, the album    by Marlo Thomas and Friends

Do any of my 1970’s friends remember album?  These were the first songs to influence my life: Free To Be.. You and Me, Boy Meets Girl, When We Grow Up, Don’t Dress Your Cat In An Apron, Parents Are People, Housework, Helping, Ladies First, Dudley Pippin And The Principal, It’s All Right To Cry, Sisters And Brothers, My Dog Is A Plumber, William’s Doll, Atalanta, Grandma, Girl Land, Dudley Pippin And His No-Friend, Glad To Have A Friend Like You, Free To Be… You And Me (Bonus)

If I Had $1000000, Barenaked Ladies   (all the fanciest ketchup….dijon ketchup!)

Lovely Day, Bill Withers   (I still put this one on repeat sometimes)

Thunder Road, Bruce Springsteen

I Like to Move It, from Madagascar

I Love My Life, Demarco  (if you haven’t heard this one, check it out)

One Love, Bob Marley & The Wailers (we’ve done SOMETHING right this year)

Is This Love, Bob Marley & The Wailers

No Woman No Cry (Live), Bob Marley & The Wailers

Could You Be Loved, Bob Marley & The Wailers

Three Little Birds, Bob Marley & The Wailers

Buffalo Soldier, Bob Marley & The Wailers

Get Up Stand Up, Bob Marley & The Wailers

Stir It Up, Bob Marley & The Wailers

Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…), Lou Bega

Cool Change, Little River Band  (one of our theme songs for the journey)

Piove, Jovanotti

Low (feat. T-Pain), Flo Rida

Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra), Gotye

Love Is In the Air (Vocal Is In the Air Mix), Milk & Sugar

Rainbow Connection, Kermit The Frog & Muppets

Somebody to Love, Justin Bieber

Familjen Krokodil, Nu ska vi sjunga  (a swedish song about a family of crocodiles that I sing to the kids )

Hot N Cold, Katy Perry

Pata Pata,  Miriam Makeba

Me and Julio Down By the School Yard, Paul Simon

Papa Loves Mambo, Perry Como

Neutron Dance, The Pointer Sisters  (a Bestefar favorite)

Some Like It Hot (7″ Mix), The Power Station

Let’s Go Crazy, Prince & The Revolution

I Would Die 4 U, Prince & The Revolution   (he loves doing the finger movements for the chorus)

Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl), Looking Glass

Redemption Song, Bob Marley & The Wailers

You Got It, Roy Orbison

Oye Como Va, Santana

Hand Jivin’, The Bee Gees

Big Time, Peter Gabriel

September, Earth, Wind and Fire

The Devil Went Down to Georgia, Charlie Daniels (all three kids know every word to this song)

Firework, Katy Perry

Take It Easy, The Eagles

Danger Zone, Kenny Loggins

Pumped Up Kicks, Foster the People

Cruel Summer, Bananarama

December, 1963 (Oh What a Night!), Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Viva La Vida, Coldplay

La vie en rose,  Edith Piaf (He LOVES this song.  So cute)

Hey Ya! (Radio Mix/Club Mix), OutKast

Informer, Snow

The Gambler, Kenny Rogers

I Go to Rio (Extended Version), Pablo Cruise

The Lazy Song, Bruno Mars

August Town, Duane Stephenson

Island Girl, Elton John

Banana Pancakes, Jack Johnson

From My Heart, Jah Cure

Glass House, Peter Tosh

She’s Royal, Tarrus Riley

Girl I Want To Make You Sweat, UB40

Reggae Night

The entire Jimmy Buffett “Songs You Know By Heart” album.  ‘Cause we’re sailors…

Cheeseburger in Paradise, He Went to Paris. Fins, Son of a Son of a Sailor, A Pirate Looks at Forty, Margaritaville, Come Monday, Changes in Lattitudes, Why Don’t We Get Drunk, Pencil Thin Mustache, Grapefruit – Juicy Fruit, Boat Drinks, Volcano