I know that I usually don't post this sort of thing in this journal, but I figured my Johnny page needs more love, so here we go.
Apparently, one of my friends on dA started a very interesting "100 picture" list. Why 'interesting,' you ask? Well, instead of listing random words, it listed 100 blank spaces... each to be filled with the name of one of your favorite songs.
Yep, I have to pick the 100 songs that mean the most to me and draw a picture for each of them. I hope I can do it; it would mean a lot to me..
Here, though, I want to give a brief explanation of why the listed songs mean what they do to me.
Even if I can't draw, I have treasured memories for each one, and that means just as much, if not more.
So, without further ado, here's the music!!
1 "LINK" (L'Arc~En~Ciel) I've always associated this song with Chaos 0, even before I found out that the lyrics apply to 'us' shockingly well.
"Even if we are far apart, our hearts are linked... even if a mischievous fate befalls us, the link won't break..." Seriously, even without being familiar with my jargon, you have to admit that's perfect. So, for me, this is his song. It's quite beautiful.
Random trivia... Hyde is one of the few vocalists I've heard with almost the
exact voice I picture Chaos with.
2 "Big Julie" (Jarvis Cocker) My theme song. It has an interesting history, too. On 031207, around 3AM, I woke up for no real reason and spontaneously decided to see what was on the radio. I tuned in to my favorite local college station, and there was some rock song finishing up... immediately after, this song started. The piano chords caught me immediately, but as the song progressed, I knew that I couldn't possibly let it go. I wrote down the chorus-- "big Julie rules the world"-- and looked it up the next morning. I found the artist, and bought the album a few days later. The lyrics apply to me more than I can say...
3 "Racing Green" (High Contrast) This song is, quite literally, the auditory embodiment of a perfect summer day. It's fast, catchy, uplifting, and optimistic. It brings a smile to my face every time I hear it, and it never fails.
4 "Living" (Todd Rundgren) This is the other song I associate with Chaos 0, but this time it's entirely because of the lyrics. Don't get me wrong, the song is absolutely gorgeous, but the words get me every time.
"Fate is cruel; you're made a fool... and when I'm falling from grace, I look for comfort in your face. So look me straight into the eye, swear to God and tell me I'm not living a lie..." 5 "Sincerely" (Tsutchie) I love this song to pieces. It's very simple, sure, but it's so darn happy! Every time I hear it, it just carries me away to a better place. It's the sound of optimism, of fluffy clouds and blue skies, of wide open meadows and the entire world open for me to explore.
6 "The Sound" (Orson) I remember hunting this song down obsessively after I first heard it, finally managing to buy the actual CD it was on. It was worth it! The chorus is just amazing, and I love the lyrics.
7 "Northern Girl" (Orson) When I first heard this song, I started to cry, because the lyrics fit my life all too well. They still do. It's an absolutely gorgeous song.
8 "H! VLTG3" (Linkin Park) This song + sunny weather + sitting in a Starbucks parking lot = vo!t@ge. No kidding. As a result, this song means quite a lot to me. Also, it's addictive as heck.
9 "Easy To Please" (Coldplay)
This song will forever remind me of Dori. That's all I need to say.
10 "Lupinne" (The Drowners) I first heard this song on my favorite college radio channel (yep, the same one i heard 'Big Julie' on), but I heard this one on a snowy afternoon in December 2005. I was drawing Hokthai at the time, when then this song came on and I was left speechless. Thank God I had a tape recording the entire time I drew, because I never heard the song again-- and I couldn't find the name OR lyrics to it anywhere. God works in funny ways, though-- last week, I randomly decided to look up the lyrics again, and I found it. It's still just as beautiful as the first time I heard it.
11 "Place" (Senri Manaka) I find this song extremely calming. I don't even know how I came to like it so much-- one day, it just started playing through my head without warning, and after that, I couldn't stop listening to it.
12 "If You're Not The One [Dance Remix]" (Daniel Bedingfield) When I was 12, I heard this remix on the radio and immediately thought of Bakura. I still do, really. It's a beautiful remix-- much better than the original, in my opinion-- and the lyrics actually work pretty darn well.
13 "Winter: Allegro non molto" (Antonio Vivaldi) My brothers and I decided this was Marik's classical theme song a few years back, and it stuck. Honestly it's because of that awesome violin section-- you know what I mean!
14 "Hamburg Song" (Keane) I empathize perfectly with this song.
15 "Jingle Jangle" (Hot Hot Heat) Yet another song that I first heard on my local college radio channel! I remember how sad this song made me back in '05-- it still does; the lyrics are heartbreakingly sobering. It's a fantastic song.
16 "You Go To My Head" (Tony Bennett) I'll admit it... I sing this song to Chaos a lot. I love him so much it's intoxicating.
"And I find the very mention of you like the kicker in a julep or two..." yeah, pretty much.
17 "Can't Stop Now" (Keane) I listened to this song a lot when Star Wars Episode 3 was released, so I associate this one with Grievous for some reason. Regardless, the lyrics mean a lot to me, and the song itself is beautiful.
18 "Meteor Herd- Space Trip Steps" (Hunnid-P) This one has a long story behind it. My first time seeing Chaos in a videogame was the multiplayer in SA2B, and this was the stage I always played. Yeah, running around and exploring every inch of the place was fun enough, but I would always have Chaos climb to the absolute highest point on the map and stand there, looking out over the huge space station and the stars. Chaos' idle animation made it perfect. So hearing this song makes me think of him, and those little moments.
19 "What I Gotta Do" (Macy Gray) I first heard this song entirely by chance on a cable R&B station, and as soon as it came on, I literally stopped whatever I was doing to just listen. It's gorgeous in every aspect. Macy has a wonderfully unique voice, and the song itself is richly constructed. One of my all-time faves, actually.
20 "Empty Streets" (Starsailor) I just really like this one. I always picture Marik singing it, yeah, but it's just a lovely song in and of itself.
21 "Starlight" (Muse) This is the song I currently associate with Marik. Not sure why, but the first time I heard it, it just clicked. I consider Marik my 'shining star' too, so it works.
22 "Hard To Beat" (Hard-Fi) This song is incredibly catchy, has a great sound, and applies to my relationships. It wins!
23 "Anna Molly" (Incubus) Yet another great story behind this one. I first heard it when trying to fall asleep one night with the radio on. I never listen to the radio, so I got lucky! I loved it immediately and looked up the lyrics the next day, then bought the album as soon as I could. I then listened to the album on loop during a class trip to NYC, so that was great.
24 "The Big Jump" (Angelo Carter) This song is just really cool. It sounds very hopeful to me, like smiling and knowing things will get better. Plus that organ solo is awesome!
25 "Hit The Road" (Angelo Carter) Three words: Law Of Talos.
That's why!
26 "The Color of Jade" (Uyama Hiroto)
I never really paid much attention to this song until one day, when driving home from University, it began to rain while the sun was shining and this song was playing. I then proceeded to 'invent' three separate sets of lyrics for it off the top of my head, haha. It's a lovely piece, though.
27 "Shoot Me Down" (Boy Kill Boy)
This song is beautifully sad. It has a feeling of regretful sadness to it, and it applies far too well to my life. It reminds me of what I've gone through in the past, and so I listen to it whenever I feel lost too.
"It's hard to say how I fit in the line; I lost my way, lost my way, my own mind."
28 "Love of The Common Man" (Todd Rundgren)
The a cappella version of this is the best thing. Either way, it's a brilliant song, and despite its softly sad undertones I can't ever be upset when listening to it. Everyone needs love, and we can't ignore that, or put it off. I'd say this song really fits me.
"But it won't take long to turn your head around. Too late tomorrow, 'cause everyone needs the love of the common man." 29 "Know Thyself!" (SEGA) My muse's theme song. It's a driving, orchestral anthem that rings with determined energy-- the perfect music for the penultimate boss! I'm almost glad this didn't get put in the game, because now I can imagine whatever I like to go with it. It's just that awesome.
30 "Can't Smile Without You" (Barry Manilow)
This was my absolute favorite song as a child. Not only is the lilting melody simply lovely, but the lyrics are completely true in their empathy. In a weird way I think I have this song to thank for how I view relationships-- it kept me from ever treating them lightly.
"You see I feel sad when you're sad, I feel glad when you're glad. If you only knew what I'm going through, I just can't smile without you."
31 "Xenon" (Tomoyuki Uchida)
This song is so catchy! I first heard it in a Newgrounds flash and immediately went and got a copy of it. It makes me think of fast-paced futuristic cities and bright horizons. Kind of like Sonic! But its impossible to be in a bad mood when listening to this song, as it just picks you right up and makes you want to start running free too.
32 "Celebi's Revival" (Pokemon)
You all know how much I love Celebi, so this one's a no-brainer. It's an absolutely beautiful piece of music and it captures the peaceful but victorious joy of this song perfectly. The Pokemon soundtracks always have gorgeous music and this is no exception!
33 "Ink" (Cubbiebear)
This song is pretty much the story of my life. I don't remember how I found it, but I swear, it is talking about me. It has an almost frantic but understated burn, like running through city streets at 2AM, and although some parts scream with purpose, the song never loses its haunting purpose.
"My anxiety forces lying sprees to cover up who I am, 'cause I don't lie to others just myself I don't feel like a real man. I got youth problems, I'm stubborn, I try to fit in other people's molds, to the point I can't be myself and every love I felt feels old..."
34 "Difficult To Say" (Eriko Imura)
Ah, Klonoa. That game will never ever get old to me, and this song captures the sound of why. It's short and sweet, but there is such a deep nostalgic sorrow to its echoes. Plus, if you've ever played the game, then you know when you first hear this song... I won't ever forget that last adventure either.
35 "Emily's Smile" (Commix)
I first learned of this song through a 'Metal Gear' spoof, but hey, they say God works in some pretty mysterious ways. As soon as I heard that ringing bass, I was caught! Seriously, get in your car, put this on, and just sit back. There's a sort of magic in this song and I just love it.
36 "Gran Torino" (Jamie Cullum)
I've never seen this movie, but as soon as I heard this version of the theme, I couldn't stop listening to it. It's delicate and sad, but so beautiful, like snowflakes or falling leaves.
"Gentle now a tender breeze blows, whispers through the Gran Torino, whistling another tired song."
37 "All These Things That I've Done" (The Killers)
I love this song so much. I don't know how to explain the feeling it gives me, but it feels like redemption and damnation and heartbroken resolve all at the same time.
"I wanna stand up, I wanna let go. You know, you know - no you don't, you don't. I wanna shine on in the hearts of men, I wanna mean it from the back of my broken hand." It's like an anthem for my life, almost.
38 "This River Is Wild" (The Killers)
For some reason this song tends to bring me to tears. To me, it sounds like looking back on a life lived too quickly, never really realizing what you had until it was gone... and trying to help others after you notice that beauty before they're too far gone themselves.
"Or should I get along with myself? I never did get along with everybody else. I've been trying hard to do whats right. But you know I could stay here all night..."
39 "The World We Live In" (The Killers)
I really like the sound of this one. I like the concept even more though. It's the song of someone who has seen too much but who still hasn't lost hope, and won't stop smiling even in the bad times.
"This is the world that we live in, I can't take blame for two. This is the world that we live in, and maybe we'll make it through." 40 "You Only Live Twice" (John Barry) Yes, this is a James Bond ending theme, but it's lovely. I love that weird buzzing melody in there, and the deep string section in the back, but the strange progression of chords is what I like best. It feels almost dreamlike, which is perfect.
"You only live twice, or so it seems. One for yourself and one for your dreams." How true!
41 "I'm Shakin'" (Rooney) This song has quite a fun history. I first heard it on the radio while doing homework one night, and actually had to stop for a few minutes because this song was so great! Yes, the lyrics can be disconcerting, but the upbeat mood of the song is a strangely fitting compliment.
"I'm supposed to feel better, this nightmare is supposed to end. I am holding on, I am holding on..." 42 "Brothers Forever..." (Jimmy Theed)
Oh how I love this song. It's incredibly sad, to the point where it can completely flip your mood around to match. It's actually a funeral piece, so that is to be expected, but really-- it is heartwrenching. And despite its somber, sorrowful tones, it really is a beautiful song.
43 "Almost Forgot Myself" (The Doves)
This song makes me think of Selph for some reason, probably because of his past. It's terribly sad but the mood is still glowy, and the piano/organ parts are just beautiful. It's broken but it's still trying to look up.
"So close, you're wasted again. I know, somehow, I lost myself again..." 44 "Micro Cuts" (Muse) I absolutely adore Matthew Bellamy's falsetto--it's absolutely brilliant-- and this song shows it off better than anything. This song shivers with a crazy energy and haunts you for hours... but it also has some amazing (and very personally symbolic) lyrics:
"I've seen what you're doing to me; destroying puppet strings to our souls!"
45 "Chip Off The Block" (Ima Robot)
This song really resonates with me. I find it terribly sad, but it also makes me think. "
Your life's a waste like mine, I know you don't care at all. But what if right before the end we quit? Now why don't we just stop before we die?" I don't know what else I could say about it, but it means a lot to me.
46 "12=3" (Ima Robot)
I first found this song on 052508, literally while I was writing a very stressed-out IJ entry. It's not only fantastically energetic and catchy, but the lyrics are freaking brilliant...
"A line around gravity, spiritual individual, corrosion and humanity-- the mathematics of love and the science of sanity!" It's one of those songs I never get tired of.
47 "Influtusa" (Erast) For some reason, this is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I found it through one of my obsessive cyberpunk searches, and I am eternally glad I did. It's instrumental, sure, but it fills my head with echoes better than any other song has ever done...
48 "Original Of The Species" (U2) Celebi's song. No lie! I first heard this song during a Celebi obsession phase, and for some reason I just linked the two together. The orchestration is beautiful, and it rings in my head for hours... I love the lyrics to pieces, though.
"Please stay a child somewhere in your heart!"
49 "Left Behind" (Aqualung) I actually first heard this song on my workplace radio station, and for 3 years I thought it was U2-- so, for 3 years, I couldn't find it! I finally got it late last year, and I love it. What completely caught me when I first heard it, though, were the lyrics--
"Why are you leaving me now? There must be some doubt in your mind. Can't you open your heart? Don't want to be left behind..."
50 "Black And White Town" (The Doves) I got this song off my brother's old file-sharing program in 07, as I had just discovered the Doves and wanted an idea of what the rest of their music sounded like (this was before I had iTunes). Well, I found this one at random, and when I hit play-- no lie-- my eyes watered up. It was that freaking beautiful. I love the lyrics as well:
"Here comes the action, here it comes at last. Lord, give me reaction... Lord, give me your chance." Also, random trivia, I loop this song whenever I play Sonic 360. It fits Soleanna perfectly, haha! To this day, I can't get enough of it.
51 "Ao no Ether" (Megumi Nakajima) This song is both very beautiful and very sad, both in the sound and the lyrics. Megumi has a gorgeous voice, and it rings over the quiet melody like sunlight in the rain. I absolutely love this song, and listen to it all the time when the day gets dark. I usually end up lost in it.
52 "The King" (Hard-Fi) This song will forever make me think of my sister. That's all I can say about it. I hope that you found love...
53 "Doctor Wu" (Steely Dan) I've been a fan of this group since my childhood, and this is my favorite song of theirs. I like the style of it, and I love the chords at the end of each verse. It's just lovely!
"All night long we would sing that stupid song, and every word we sang I knew was true." Plus Donald Fagen has a great voice and I always enjoy hearing him sing, so bonus points there.
54 "Mister Blue Sky" (Electric Light Orchestra) This song should NOT be #54, but at least it's on the list! Honestly, as a kid, this was my all-time favorite song, hands down. It's still in my top 5 to this day. Also, to quote a fellow listener on last.fm-- this song "nullifies road rage." Heck, it nullifies any and every bad mood, ever. Lastly, this song inspired the creation of
dark-velox's character of the same name, which gives ELO a huge amount of bonus points. As the song says,
"Hey there Mister Blue, we're so pleased to be with you!" 55 "Bluebird" (Electric Light Orchestra) The day I got ELO's
Secret Messages album, where this is from, I put it on my portable CD player and walked around outside listening to it. When the chorus for this song came on, I stopped dead, completely fascinated by the sound of it.
"It makes me feel so sad to think what I might've had..." It baffles me how this song isn't more well-known, because it is amazing.
56 "Move On Now" (Hard-Fi) Hard-Fi isn't known for their quiet songs, but this one deserves definite recognition. It is perfect early-morning music, sounding like a lonely sunrise or a cold starry night. The sparse instruments and delicateness of the vocals combine to make an absolute little gem that I will never tire of.
"Red light blinking in the twilight, tracing out a path right out of here and now..." 57 "All Star" (Smash Mouth) "Somebody once told me the world was gonna roll me, I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed!" Put quite simply, this song is not only freaking awesome and feel-good, but it was the second track on the metaphoric OST of my childhood (Bluesky was #1!). Seriously. As a result, I love it.
58 "Allegro ma non tanto" (Sergei Rachmaninoff) You heard me, Rachmaninoff is on this list. Get the song, listen from 3:54 to 6:27, and tell me that's not absolutely gorgeous. You can't. Bonus trivia, I had this song on loop for hours as I was coloring/ drawing the last three Puremaren. It's that good.
59 "Face To Face" (Daft Punk) The sounds in this one are delicious. Really, listen to the electronic awesomeness in this song! The vocal snippets and guitar-like accents just sound so great together.
"It's amazing what you'll find face to face!" It makes you want to get up and dance!
60 "Love of the Loveless" (The Eels) I have to thank my old friend TwistedSmile for introducing me to this one. I used "loving the loveless" as my personal quote for a while without knowing this song existed, but after he told me about it, I temporarily adopted it as a theme song of sorts.
"If there's a god up there, something above, God shine your light down here. Shine on the love." Hey, it fits me pretty darn well!
61 "Peace and Tranquility" (ABC) This song is lovely and fits its title quite well. It has this wonderfully happy sparkle to it, but it's still peaceful. Kind of like smiling at a clear sky. And thanks to the lyrics, it also reminds me of Chaos, ironically enough.
"I find my smile with you in the vicinity. It drives me wild; I'm thankful for the world you give me." I'll be your peace if you'll be mine!
62 "The Moment I Said It" (Imogen Heap) This song makes me think of my
Oneircia series. Not only did I listen to Imogen Heap on loop the entire time I was finishing the core plot development last year, but I never realized just how fitting the song was to the story. It's haunting, oddly unsettling, and sounds totally otherworldly. And the lyrics go without saying:
"Now sleep, I promise, it'll all seem better somehow, in time..." 63 "Oracion" (Shinji Miyazaki) Probably the most easily understandable reason why I will always love Pokemon. This song is 3 minutes of pure beauty. I'm one of many Pokemon fans to admit that they got teary-eyed when they first heard this piece in the 10th movie, and once you've heard this song, you will understand exactly why.
64 "The Whole New World" (Phantasy Star Online) I have dubbed this song my musical drug, as I literally get shivers every time i listen to it. I first heard it in 2004 (shortly after I was introduced to NiGHTS), and it literally blew me away. I thought it was one of the most beautiful songs I'd ever heard-- I once played it on loop for about 3 hours on a car trip, nowhere to lie. The orchestration is gorgeous, and it's deservingly one of my all-time favorite songs.
65 "SONIC DRIVE!" (Sonic X) Classic. I cannot listen to this song without immediately grinning like a maniac and bursting into song-- because yes, I actually memorized the Japanese lyrics to it because why not? It's stupidly awesome and upbeat, and can lift my mood immediately on any down day. Throw away the boredom, and just start running!!
66 "Surrender" (Billy Talent) I'm used to unrequited love, and this song sums it up. There's a certain girl I loved in my childhood, but she was one of my closest friends and I knew that was all I ever had a chance of being.
"She'll never know how much she means to me, I'd play the game but I'm the referee." To this day I'm still wishing I could tell her.
67 "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Kenny G) There is a very significant and strange reason why this specific song is on this list. Around Christmas of 2005, I was sitting on the living room couch just listening to it on loop-- this arrangement is simply stunning-- and suddenly a huge
Dream World plot twist went down. So it is permanently tied to that event for me, but even standing alone, this is the best version of this song I have ever heard.
68 "Pokemon World" (Youngstown) Yeah. I still love this song. It's too freaking catchy.
69 "Amrita" (Yui Makino) This song is beautiful enough on its own, but it has a flipside: back when I used to fill out music memes, this one got tagged to Chaos and I. So I looked up the lyrics... and they fit us far too well. "
When the silver rain falls, think of it as me..." Needless to say, this song means more to me than it seems.
70 "Hide In Your Shell" (Supertramp) This was another one of my favorite songs as a child. Once again, the lyrics are absolutely brilliant, but what I love most about this song is how the chorus sounds in comparison to the rest of it. It absolutely soars!
"Well, let me show you the nearest signpost to get your heart back and on the road!" Sometimes it even brings me to tears with how beautiful it sounds in its own way, I'll admit that.
71 "When We Reach You ~ Could It Be Right?" (Sonic CD) Honestly, I love this song. That fact is made even truer by the fact that whoever sings the opening sounds almost exactly like Chaos Zero. I'm serious. But either way, this song is too awesome not to love. It's upbeat, energizing, and has a great melody. Sonic music is always brilliant!
72 "Jojoushi" (L'Arc~En~Ciel) I cannot describe how much I love this song. The melody is perfect, it really is... but the lyrics hurt. Why? Because thanks to them, I consider this song to be the 'theme' for Chaos and I.
"If this is just a dream, then let it be a dream. I don't care. My heart, filled with loving radiance, is forever thinking of you..." 73 "Mezase Pokemon Master" (Rica Matsumoto) Oh what memories this song has! I first found it as a file titled "japtheme.mp3" on an old Geocities Pokemon site, and as soon as I heard it, it became my favorite song for several years. I didn't think theme songs could be so awesome! To this day, this song makes me think of Pokemon's glory days around the turn of the century, and how much it brightened my life then.
74 "Singin' In The Rain" (Mint Royale) I can't remember how I found this song either, but I was hooked immediately. It's one of those songs that is just so ridiculously happy that you can't sit still when listening to it. The fact that it's a dance remix of an old classic is even better!
75 "Love At First Sight" (Kylie Minogue) I heard this song in a Newgrounds flash on Valentine's day, and it immediately became one of my faves. I absolutely love the idea behind the lyrics, sure, but the sound is what takes the cake. It's so freaking sparkly, with a great rhythm, and Kylie's voice is adorable. Love at first listen is more like it!
That's all for now!