Fifty Years Of Music – 2006

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2006, the year I celebrated my 32nd birthday.  A mere eleven of these songs remain familiar to me today, with just three of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#76: Rascal Flatts – Life is a Highway
iTunes stats: N/A

A cover of the Tom Cochrane classic for the Cars soundtrack, it peaked at #7.

#71: Bon Jovi – Who Says You Can’t Go Home
iTunes stats: N/A

The band’s highest charting song of the decade, it reached #23.

#42: Black Eyed Peas – My Humps
iTunes stats: 26 plays

Dismissed as a puerile form of sexual titillation by some critics, it spent six weeks at #3 while spending over nine months on the Hot 100.

#38: Nickelback – Photograph
iTunes stats: N/A

The band’s third top ten hit, it went to #2.

#34: Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx – Gold Digger
iTunes stats: 17 plays

Featuring a sample of a Ray Charles song from 1956, it became West’s first #1, spending ten weeks atop the Hot 100.

#23: Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dani California
iTunes stats: N/A

The band’s third top ten hit, it topped out at #6 and won two Grammys.

#9: Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland – SexyBack
iTunes stats: N/A

The lead single from his sophomore effort, it spent seven weeks at #1.

#7: Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
iTunes stats: 27 plays

Spending seven weeks at #2, the group’s debut single was the first track of the year to hit #2 and not rise to the top of the charts.

#5: Shakira featuring Wycleaf Jean – Hips Don’t Lie
iTunes stats: N/A

Shakira’s first chart topper, it spent two weeks at #1 in the summer.

#4: James Blunt – You’re Beautiful
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending a single week atop the Hot 100, it was the first non-hip hop/R&B track or American Idol song to reach #1 since 2001.

#1: Daniel Powter – Bad Day
iTunes stats: N/A

It spent five weeks atop the Hot 100 in the spring of 2006.

Fifty Years Of Music – 2002

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 2002, the year I celebrated my 28th birthday.  Only 29 songs remain familiar to me today, with just 21 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#96: Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi
iTunes stats: 29 plays

Peaking at #10, it gave Lavigne her second straight top ten hit and a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

#95: Alanis Morissette – Hands Clean
iTunes stats: 12 plays

The lead single from Morissette’s fifth studio album, it reached #23 and was her last single to crack the Top 40.

#87: Jewel – Standing Still
iTunes stats: 20 plays

Spending a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100, it topped out at #25

#77: Ludacris – Rollout (My Business)
iTunes stats: 23 plays

Nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance, it went to #17.

#71: No Doubt featuring Lady Saw – Underneath It All
iTunes stats: 12 plays

Spending two weeks at #3, it is the groups highest charting single.

#63: Eminem – Lose Yourself
iTunes stats: 55 plays

The track from the 8 Mile soundtrack spent 12 weeks at #1 across 2002 and 2003, becoming the rapper’s first chart topping single.

#59: No Doubt – Hella Good
iTunes stats: 26 plays

The second single from the group’s fifth studio album, it peaked at #13.

#56: LeAnn Rimes – Can’t Fight the Moonlight
iTunes stats: 12 plays

The theme song from Coyote Ugly, it stalled at #71 in 2000 but returned to the charts in late 2001, eventually rising to #11.

#54: Missy Elliot – Work It
iTunes stats: 21 plays

Elliot’s most successful single, it spent ten weeks at #2, tying Foreigner for the longest stint at that position.

#47: Eminem – Cleanin’ Out My Closet
iTunes stats: 31 plays

The second release from the rapper’s fourth studio album, it peaked at #4.

#46: Five for Fighting – Superman (It’s Not Easy)
iTunes stats: N/A

The first charting single for the band, it reached #14 while being used to honor the victims, survivors, police, and firefighters involved in the 9/11 attacks.

#45: Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head
iTunes stats: N/A

Written and produced by former singer Cathy Dennis, it topped out at #7 and was her best-selling single in the US since 1987.

#43: Pink – Just Like a Pill
iTunes stats: 28 plays

Peaking at #8, it was written by Pink and Dallas Austin for her second studio album.

#36: Pink – Don’t Let Me Get Me
iTunes stats: 21 plays

The fifth top ten hit of Pink’s career, it reached #8.

#35: Sheryl Crow – Soak Up the Sun
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The lead single from her fourth studio album, it went to #17, becoming her sixth Top 40 hit.

#32: No Doubt – Hey Baby
iTunes stats: 27 plays

Earning the band the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, it spent two weeks at #5.

#28: Shakira – Whenever, Wherever
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The lead single from the Colombian singer’s English language debut, it peaked at #6.

#25: Chad Kroger featuring Josey Scott – Hero
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded for the Spider-Man soundtrack, it topped the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts while topping out at #3 on the Hot 100.

#24: Pink – Get the Party Started
iTunes stats: 26 plays

Originally written for Madonna, Pink took the party anthem to #4 in late December 2001.

#23: Michelle Branch – All You Wanted
iTunes stats: 16 plays

Reaching #6, this second single from her debut album was written by Branch.

#22: Enrique Iglesias – Hero
iTunes stats: N/A

Released eight days before the 9/11 attacks in 2001, it spent fifteen weeks at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart while going to #3 on the Hot 100.

#21: Eminem – Without Me
iTunes stats: 25 plays

Earning two Grammy nominations, the lead single from Eminem’s fourth studio album peaked at #2.

#20: Creed – My Sacrifice
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending nine weeks atop the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, it reached #4 on the Hot 100.

#14: Jimmy Eat World – The Middle
iTunes stats: N/A

The band’s only Top 40 hit, it went all the way to #5.

#11: Avril Lavigne – Complicated
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The debut single from the Canadian singer-songwriter, it topped out at #2 while staying on the chart for 31 weeks.

#6: Vanessa Carlton – A Thousand Miles
iTunes stats: N/A

The singer’s debut single, it remains her biggest hit, reaching #5.

#5: The Calling – Wherever You Will Go
iTunes stats: 17 plays

The band’s only single to reach the Hot 100, it peaked at #5.

#3: Nelly – Hot in Herre
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The lead single from his second studio album, it spent seven weeks at #1 during the summer of 2002.

#1: Nickelback – How You Remind Me
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending four weeks atop the Hot 100 across 2001 and 2002, it was named the most played song of the decade on US radio stations.

Goodbye, iPhone 4S – Music Edition

A little more than a week ago, I upgraded my phone from the iPhone 4S to the newly released iPhone 5S.  The biggest difference, aside from a slightly bigger screen, is the jump from 3G (or 4G, if you believe AT&T’s hype) to LTE.  I had the 4S for a little under 2 years, and in that time, we traveled the world together (well, at least going back to the UK) and have listened to a lot of podcasts and music. Here is every song (all 2079 of them) I’ve listened to on the phone, with some (ok, very little) bonus commentary.  Godspeed.

 

Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers 33
He’s a Pirate Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) 32
Take Me Out To The Ballgame Harry Caray 31
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge 31
Gordon Beckham Intro 29
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 29
Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Journey’s Greatest Hits 27
sox05_montage 27
We Are The Champions Queen Queen: Greatest Hits I & II 27
Your Love The Outfield Play Deep 27
2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage Chris Tannehill WSCR 670 The Score 25
Take Me Out To The Ballgame Nancy Faust 25
Harvester Of Sorrow Metallica …And Justice For All 20

You would hope that these numbers would have been higher, but this past season’s miserable performance by the White Sox has put the songs on their playlist out of mind more often than not.

Cannonball The Breeders The First 1000 Years- Rock 19
Man Or Muppet Jason Segel The Muppets 15
It’s Time For Our Song Miss Piggy The Muppets 14
Get Out There And Help Those Guys Jason Segel The Muppets 13
Main Title LOST Soundtrack LOST Soundtrack 13
Are You A Man Or A Muppet? Amy Adams The Muppets 12
How Charming, A Finale Uncle Deadly The Muppets 12
I’m On A Boat (ft. T-Pain) The Lonely Island Incredibad 12
Down At The Ole Barbershop Kermit The Muppets 11
Me and Drugs David Cross Bigger and Blackerer 11
The Antichrist Howard Stern Private Parts: The Album 11
Continue reading →

Mix Tape Monday – March 2002

After my tape deck crapped out in 1997, I was stuck listening to either the radio or full albums in whatever order the artist intended.  That all changed in 2001, when the new-fangled MP3 technology got combined with my new CD burner.

March of 2002 brought about new albums from Weezer and Alanis Morissette and new singles from Britney Spears, Pink, and No Doubt.

Cheap Trick – That 70s Song

The theme song from That 70s Show shows up halfway through the show’s run.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 10/12/2011

Possum Dixon – Watch That Girl Destroy Me

The first of two straight appearances for this song, which is certainly a good time but not necessarily good enough for such a continuous play.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 11/1/2010

Frank Black – Headache

The ex-Pixies singer had his one solo hit with this tune.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 4/4/2012

Garbage – Breaking Up The Girl

The latest somewhat hit for the band based in Madison, WI.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 10/19/2012

No Doubt – Hella Good

The Orange County rockers return with their second hit off of Rock Steady.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 8/21/2012

Zaeger & Evans – In The Year 2525

This 60s hit was an ode to futuristic science gone mad.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 11/6/2012

Weezer – Dope Nose

Weezer returns with their second album in as many years.

iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 7/16/2012

The Calling – Wherever You Will Go

The only hit from The Calling was featured on Smallville and Cold Case and in the film Coyote Ugly.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 8/12/2011

Sonic Youth – Bull In The Heather

This song was named after the winner of the 1993 Florida Derby.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/19/2012

James – Laid

The early 90s hit got a second life in the late 90s and early 2000s thanks to the American Pie films.

iTunes stats: 15 plays, most recently on 5/17/2011

Continue reading →

Goodbye, iPhone 3G – Music Edition

As I wait for tomorrow’s delivery of my new iPhone 4S, it is time to say goodbye to the 3G that has been my trusty companion for nearly the past 3 1/2 years.  We’ve traveled the world together (well, at least Canada and the UK) and have listened to a lot of music.  Here is every song (all 1597 of them) I’ve listened to on the phone, with some (ok, very little) bonus commentary!

He’s a Pirate Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) 100
Gordon Beckham Intro 91
Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers 87
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge 84
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 83
sox05_montage 75
We Are The Champions Queen Queen: Greatest Hits I & II 73
Boom P.O.D. Satellite 70
Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Journey’s Greatest Hits 69
2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage Chris Tannehill WSCR 670 The Score 65

No surprise that the top 10 are all part of (or were part of) my White Sox victory playlist.  This gets played on the way home from every White Sox winner, plus the occassional ride to a game.  Continue reading →

Retro (Un)Playlist

I recently came across my old, second generation iPod.  40 gigs of tiny, black and white screened goodness.

Here are the songs that never got played over nearly 4 years worth of listening, in iTunes alphabetical order.

Dude (Looks Like A Lady) Aerosmith O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits (Disc 1)
Thank U Alanis Morissette Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
Flavor Of The Weak American Hi-Fi American Hi-Fi
Little Bastard Ass Ponys Electric Rock Music
California Girls The Beach Boys The Greatest Hits – Volume 1
Twist And Shout The Beatles Please Please Me
Can’t Buy Me Love The Beatles 1
Help! The Beatles 1
Mony Mony Billy Idol Greatest Hits
Continue reading →