10 Songs I Listen To Twice

Some songs are so moving that they will never be long enough, these are the songs we never want to stop listening to. All of my 10 touch me in a different way: they could make me relate to a particular time in my life, make me be happy, sad or just want to rock! Here are my current 10, feel free to do your own and link back!




1. Hero Of The Day (S&M) - Metallica
This song reminds me how important it is to take time out for myself - and yes, it is ok to do that! It's thought provoking in so many ways and tells me to stay strong. The beautiful orchestra in the background helps carry me off into a place where I sit back and think about the things bothering me.

2. I Want To Break Free - Queen
I spent many a time when I was with Wifebeater belting this one out at the top of my voice when he wasn't around. Even to this day those words still speak to me, making me feel as strong as I did every time I've ever heard this song since I was with him regardless of the fact that I managed to "break free" myself almost 2 years ago. It also makes me remember how I felt when I met Big Bear, how it felt to be with a man who treated women like royalty, the constant playful bickering at the tills over who was paying because I was used to being with men who scrounged every penny I had.

3. I'd Do Anything For Love - Meat Loaf
There's something about every Meat Loaf song from that era that almost everybody I know automatically connects to. Goldilocks loves Meat Loaf, so do I and so does my mother. Big Bear does too. What makes me feel particularly good about this song is the pure emotion heard (and felt when singing along) at the end when he's promising the earth.

4. Home - Foo Fighters
This song makes me well up the second I hear it come on - but I always listen to it out of respect. "Wish I were with you, but I couldn't stay" It just makes me feel for anybody taken before their time, like it's a message.

Iron Maiden - Dance Of Death

5. Journeyman - Iron Maiden
Another song of unstoppable strength and unlimited beauty, this one by my all time favourite band. It's one of those songs that makes your heart race as soon as you hear the first note. I always listen to this song twice consecutively, more if I'm interrupted in either play. One one hand, during the verse it's so relaxing as Dickinson paints that beautiful picture in your mind of sunsets and remote landscapes. When the chorus kicks in you get a powerful contrast as the strength of the song comes through. I know this list will change over time as my experiences shape me. I'm certain this song will always be on it.

6. Hysteria - Muse
This song has been a favourite of mine for a very long time. To me it is a tale of anguish, of being taken advantage of and needing something back. The riff is amazing, the song is one that makes me want to get up and rock (ever seen a heavily pregnant woman rocking out? It's highly amusing) much to the future embarrassment of my children, I'm sure.

7. Fade To Black - Metallica
First heard at a time when things with Wifebeater were at their worst and things seemed to have little hope of improving. I literally thought that the black cloud I was immersed in would be with me forever. It's a really depressing song but it suited me completely then. Every time I hear it I am filled with the deepest respect for myself and what I have overcome - and with appreciation for how much better my life is now.

8. Little Respect - Wheatus
I'm afraid I will have to show some youth and ignorance here - I'm sure this is a cover, but I have no idea who did the original, so sorry to whatever artist out there is responsible! This song brings an instant smile to my face. I can't help but sing along, not in the least because it's one of the only songs Goldilocks allows me to sing! It brings back wonderful memories of singing along with Goldilocks since she was about 3!

9. Wasted Years - Iron Maiden

Metallica S&M

Again, another song that makes me feel strong. Right from the start, the sound of the guitar just makes me wanna get up and go! I feel this song embodies everything I don't do. I'm the sort of person to over-analyze everything that has ever happened to me which means it can take me a while to get over things. I have to be able to understand why they happened to move on. This song reminds me that there are some things in life I will never understand no matter how hard I try. Time to move on and get on with my life.

10. Starlight - Muse
While I've liked this song since before Big Bear, this song always makes me think of how I feel about him and in another context, how I feel about the children. I guess it's because the lyrics are so affectionate.