Songs That Relax Me

Though I have my rocker moments (you should see what I listen to when I'm doing my Friday cleaning) there's a time when I want to slow down and take things a little easier. Maybe I'm getting old but here's a list of my favorites from my lengthy "easy listening" playlist--and don't worry I'm not quite to the "Carpenters-and-Manilow Phase" yet.

1. "River" by Sarah McLachlan. Every time Andrew hears me listening to this beautiful ballad he points out that "It's a Christmas song!" but that hasn't stopped me from listening to it for the past eight months. So what? It's not as if it's got Jingle Bells going in the background. Oh, well, maybe it does now that I think about it. Who cares, it's wonderful--and it's sad, what's Christmasy about that?

2. "Constellations" by Jack Johnson. Ever since his Curious George gig Jack Johnson's been on the radar but I was listening to this long before--it really gives the flavor of his Maui roots which I find so tasty. He has an acoustic version but this one is better.

3. "Someone to Watch over Me" by Ella Fitzgerald. Only Ella can do justice to the Gershwins' famous song. There are many versions but only one Ella. If you want to hear the song done right, this is the one.

4. "I Know You By Heart" by Eva Cassidy. I enjoy Eva's voice and have several of her CDs, but this one is her best, her absolute best. It's sad, it's haunting, it's that sound that Eva is famous for and I savor every note--the violins and her voice.

5. "With or Without You" by U2. My obligatory U2 song, can't have a music list without U2. This song came out in the 80s when I was in high school--the first time I ever heard a U2 song I was coming back from an afternoon of research at the UAA library, it was "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"--but I still love it. Next to Sting's "Every Breath You Take" it could win the title of "Best Ballad Ever Written."

6. "When You Say Nothing At All" by Alison Krauss. I'm not into country or much folk music but Alison Krauss' voice is enough to overcome all my objections. I love this song, it couldn't be more romantic and Rowan Keating's version isn't bad either, it's just not as good as this one.

7. "All At Sea" by Jamie Cullum. Not a well-known song or artist, in fact it was one I got for free from itunes as one of their weekly freebies but it's a great song. Go look it up and see what you think.

8. "Annie's Song" by John Denver. Yes, yes, I know it's cliche and is the #1 song most likely to be sung at a wedding--I think it's in the Guiness Book of World Records or something under Most Weddings--but it's still a beauty of a ballad. Romantic, lyrical, what more do you need? You know you like it too.

9. "Down to The River to Pray" by Allison Krauss. After saying I didn't like country I'm sure putting a lot of country songs on this list but this one is from the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack and it represents the beauty of southern American folk and gospel music. It's a cappella and needs nothing to accompany it.

10. "As Time Goes By" by Rod Stewart and Queen Latifah. That you read that right, Rod Stewart and Queen Latifah. Did you notice when Rod Stewart made an album full of classic American songs such as this? It was so successful he made three more--I have three of the four albums and they're all fabulous though I have never been a Rod Stewart fan. This version of an American classic is perfect: it's lilting but playful and Queen Latifah's voice adds a classy touch.

11. "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" by Louis Armstrong. Satchmo has some amazing songs but this is his best and my favorite. "Give me your lips for just one moment and my imagination will make that moment live . . . give me what you alone can give . . . a kiss to build a dream on . . ." It's everything a song should be.

12. "Misty" by Errol Garner. An instrumental classic that makes the piano into a paint brush, painting with each note the rippling beauty of a running stream. As with other songs on this list there are other versions of this piece but only one Errol Garner.

13. "Shoot the Moon" by Norah Jones. I love her music, have her three CDs and this is probably my favorite of her songs though it's hard to choose. I had to have her on the list at some point.

Honorable mentions: Dean Martin's "Buena Sera" if I had to choose my favorite of his. Likewise "Stardust" by Nat King Cole, "Vincent" by Josh Groban (not really a Josh Groban fan but this one I like), "Beyond the Sea" by Frank Sinatra, and "The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel.

Technorati tags: Thursday Thirteen, music, playlists, easy listening