This song, which will probably be largely unknown to a lot of people, is actually a really good song… if you can get past the lead singer’s voice. It’s one of those voices that you either like or you hate. It’s kind of high pitched, but I really like this band’s sound: huge guitar riffs with a higher than average voice. My favorite part of the song happens to be when the song reaches the chorus and the lead singer belts out the lyrics, “Bye bye beautiful, Don’t bother to write” and this happens to always be the part that gets me every time. I really enjoy Coheed and Cambria’s music and if you like a progressive rock sound, you might like them as well. Plus, their guitar playing can be quite intense at times and I dare anyone to try to match it. And, the video is quite humorous: Music Video

This will be one of the very few Christian songs you ever catch me listening to (and the other Christian songs I listen to are by this band). This is not a knock against Christianity in anyway, shape, or form. It is, however, a knock against Christian music: most of the mainstream Christian music just isn’t that good (and I do acknowledge that this is my view and not necessarily true to all people). But this song, when I originally heard it on an NHL PS2 game, really got stuck in my head and has never left. When I hear it, I instantly think of hockey (hey, I said I originally heard it on an NHL PS2 game) but the lyrics are very much about Jesus (which I like to pronounce hey-zeus). The song is driven by heavy guitar riffs and when it builds up to it’s magnificent vocal crescendo, it’s enough to give anyone shivers. The lyrics that get me the most: “As I recall when my stomach turned, And I was hiding away from myself, Away from you, Like nothing (but something) was terribly wrong”. Check it out sometime, especially if you like slightly heavy metal.

Now, many are going to question my manhood on picking an Elton John song for this list, but let me say this: Elton John’s music, especially his earlier stuff, is really great. Regardless of the man’s sexual orientation or lifestyle, his music is really great. And this song, which is quite melancholy, continues to give me goosebumps no matter how many times I’ve heard it. I first discovered it as a young lad rummaging through my parent’s music collection and it has now been added to my own collection. If you don’t own Elton John’s Greatest Hits album (the latest one) I suggest you at least listen to the first disc (and then find This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore somewhere else, as it’s on the second disc and is amazing as well) and become a fan yourself. I really love the opening line in this, “When are you gonna come down, When are you going to land” as it always makes me think of when will this college roller coaster finally end for me.

Many Floyd fans will say, “But wait, what about Wish You Were Here? I admit, Wish You Were Here gives me goosebumps as well, but not in the same ballpark as this song does. I absolutely love this song and I love The Wall. I don’t know if it’s my favorite Pink Floyd album, but it’s definitely up there. I was introduced to Pink Floyd at an early age as my parents listened to them constantly. I grew up with a lot of their music and it has stuck with me over time, Pink Floyd definitely being one of those bands that stuck with me. I really enjoy their music and they have gotten me through some hard times (such as listening to Darkside of the Moon while doing calculus homework. The lyrics that really get me in this song are all of them. But if you made me choose a segment of the song, it’d probably be this:

I got nicotine stains on my fingers.
I got a silver spoon on a chain.
Got a grand piano to prop up my mortal remains.
Ive got wild, staring eyes.
And I got a strong urge to fly,
But I got nowhere to fly to.
Ooooo babe,
When I pick up the phone,
Theres still nobody home.

Warning: This video clip is from Pink Floyd’s The Wall Movie. Nobody Home starts after about 2:50 into this video clip. I apologize for this clip, as anyone who has seen the movie can vouch for me, this movie is one of the creepiest, weirdest movies ever. So please, bear with me… it’s the only clip I could find and I’m sorry if it gives you nightmares.

Alright, another one of those artists that men will be like, “Why would you listen to them?”. I’ll tell you why I would listen to Prince: he’s awesome. Even if he does strange things (not Michael Jackson strange, but strange nonetheless), this does not take away from his guitar playing ability (which you will hear in Purple Rain as one of the best guitar solos ever). This song affects me on many levels and I remember listening to it many times while in high school. A mix CD of Prince tracks became permanently stuck in my CD player for most of my time in high school. Purple Rain was always one of those tracks that I’d listen to, with the top down on the Corvette, turned up as loud as possible, and singing along with every word. The words that affected me the most were, “I never wanted to be your weekend lover, I only wanted to be some kind of friend, Baby I could never steal you from another, It’s such a shame our friendship had to end.” If you can get past the 80′s-ness of it, this song is a great song with one tremendous solo.

Sorry, couldn’t find a video for this. Hope you enjoy the song though: