Steal My Sunshine - Len

This song, a great definition of "one-hit wonder" just makes me smile and feel good. It reminds me of summer...it makes me want to dance...it makes me want to ride a scooter and get a little too intimate with my sister. Well, maybe not the last part, but you gotta admit the video is a little incestuous.

This song was released in 1999, but for some reason I feel like it should have been mid-90s. It sounds like something that should have been played at my high school dances. My girlfriend recently brought this song back into my consciousness and I think it's there to stay for a while.

13/365

Comfortably Numb -- Pink Floyd

Midway through the second disc of Pink Floyd's epic concept piece, The Wall, the story of a fame-addled rock star hits it's apex as our "hero" presumably overdoses (the film would seem to support this theory) and reaches something of a happy place within himself. Doctors try to revive him for a big show that evening...because, as other tracks will tell, the show must go on.

Full of great harmony and smooth vocals, most will find this the most accessible track on The Wall, and certainly one of the best. The early echo-y aspect builds to the final minute and a half or so with one of my favorite guitar solos from the band.

There isn't much more to say about this one...just a fine song from a legendary band. I truly wish I'd had the chance to see them in concert in the 70s. I don't think anyone has really come close to what they did since.

12/365

The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) -- John Williams

It's no secret to anyone that I'm a huge fan of Star Wars. I practically grew up on it...born the year it was released, saw every film in theatres multiple times, played with the toys, read the books...you get the idea.

The interesting thing is you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that didn't recognize this piece of music, even if they don't like the movies or haven't even seen them all. I'm completely speculating, but it's possibly the most recognizable film tune in history, perhaps only eclipsed by Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark or the main Star Wars theme. Ironically, all are from the same composer...the great John Williams.

After winning an Oscar for Star Wars, I think Williams outdid himself with The Empire Strikes Back, building upon his efforts to create thematic music for characters (called leitmotifs) and weaving them together to make the score as important to the films as the special effects, characters or good vs. evil storyline.

Evil was personified by Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire, so it was only fitting that to punctuate their movements against the heroes of the Rebellion in the second act of the legendary sci-fi trilogy, Williams composed a bombastic march that defines the dread Vader himself imparted as he swept down a corridor or as an Imperial Star Destroyer crawled across the cosmos. Unrelenting, militaristic...brilliant.

11/365

Staralfur - Sigur Ros

It's interesting, because until I did a little research for this entry, I had always been told and thought that Sigur Ros sung ALL of their lyrics in a made-up language. Turns out that's only true of their follow up album to ÁGÆTIS BYRJUN, ().

I implore you not to look for translations of songs on this album, though. It doesn't sound nearly as beautiful and haunting as the original Icelandic.

This song just moves me every time I hear it. The slow swell of strings, punctuated by a synthesizer before the singer's lonely voice enters. The best part of listening to a song in an unfamiliar language is interpreting it solely for yourself.

"Staralfur" has always seemed like a sad song of loneliness, yearning and an examination of a universe so much larger than ourselves. As the song reaches the end of it's first refrain, the music fades to a simple guitar, the singer delivers a last word and you almost think it's ended until you still hear the scratching of a record and the music returns with what sounds like fireworks. From here on out, a sense of peace and hope permeates, as if the voice within has come to terms. I fancy someone looking at the night sky on a cool night and returning to bed to find a previously unattainable sleep.

10/365