Daniel’s Favourite Songs

 

And now for something completely self-indulgent – a list of my favourite songs.

 

You can often tell much about a person by the sort of music to which he or she listens. Furthermore, you can find out much about yourself if you sit down and make a list of the songs that you really like. Not simply the songs that you can stand, but the songs that really get your juices going.

 

For a list of the songs that really, really, really get my juices going, you can click here. This page, however, contains a huge list of songs that I really quite like sorted by artist. If after reading below, you want to talk music or recommend some more music that you think I may like, feel free to write to [email protected].

 

 

This list is ordered by (a) descending number of songs in the list and (b) alphabetical listing. Songs for each artist are ordered by preference.

 

Paul Simon (25) Paul is my second favourite popular musician after Peter Gabriel. Graceland and, even more so, The Rhythm of the Saints are my favourite albums of his but his solo work before that is very underrated and You’re the One is an astonishing album with songs that only a 60-year-old wise man could write. I love how he uses the world music influences in his music; his songs are always so rich with plenty to listen to every time.

 

The Cool Cool River

Señorita with a Necklace of Tears

The Coast

The Obvious Child

Crazy Love, Vol. II

Born at the Right Time

Further to Fly

Hearts and Bones

Graceland

Spirit Voices

The Boy in the Bubble

That's Where I Belong

Can't Run But

Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes

Look at That

The Teacher

Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard

Old

Hurricane Eye

Something So Right

Bernadette

Love

Rene and Georgette Magritte with their Dog After the War

Quiet

Pigs, Sheep and Wolves

 

Genesis (23)I spent most of high school listening to Genesis. At an age when I was realising just how much all pop music sounded the same, I discovered a band who would use different sounds, different chords, different rhythms and say very different things with their music. In short, Genesis showed me that the supposed limits of music are there to be smashed.

 

The Musical Box

Dodo / Lurker

Home by the Sea / Second Home by the Sea

Squonk

One for the Vine

Domino

Dancing with the Moonlit Knight

Driving the Last Spike

Fading Lights

The Battle of Epping Forest

No Reply at All

Firth of Fifth

After the Ordeal

Keep it Dark

Mama

Dance on a Volcano

I'd Rather Be You

Me and Sarah Jane

The Fountain of Salmacis

Supper's Ready

Ripples

The Cinema Show

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

 

Peter Gabriel (22)Peter is my musical hero. His brilliance in using technology and world music in his recordings overshadows just how good a singer and lyricist he is, which is unfortunate in one sense but it does mean that once you’ve got through to that layer of his songs, the effect can be quite overpowering. His Secret World concert would have to be the most stunning live show in pop music history. Very few come close to Peter for imagination and good ideas.

 

Love to be Loved

Digging in the Dirt

Come Talk to Me

A Different Drum

I Grieve

San Jacinto

Blood of Eden

Downside-Up

Fourteen Black Paintings

Mercy Street

I Have the Touch

Secret World

The Barry Williams Show

Solsbury Hill

The Time of the Turning (with Richie Havens)

Family Snapshot

Growing Up

Sky Blue

The Tower that Ate People

Darkness

Don't Give Up (with Kate Bush)

Shaking the Tree (with Youssou N'dour)

 

Suzanne Vega (20)I was a little older when I discovered Suzanne and I probably had to be to appreciate her properly. I love her whispering voice that gets through to the soul before you realise it’s there. I’ve heard her say that she writes words that sound good when you sing them with lots of round vowels and pronounced consonants. If you try it, you’ll realise how right she is.

 

Gypsy

The Queen and the Soldier

Room off the Street

Pilgrimage

Tired of Sleeping

Penitent

Book of Dreams

Last Year's Troubles

Soap and Water

St Clare

Stockings

Marlene on the Wall

Widow's Walk

Big Space

Fat Man & Dancing Girl

Rusted Pipe

Casual Match

As Girls Go

Predictions

Men in a War

 

My Friend the Chocolate Cake (17)This band is the sound of Australia. If someone asked me to find music that best depicted what it was like living in suburban Australia, I would hand them a Chocolate Cake CD and tell them to see me in a month. I love how much space they put in their music and the strings can create so many different atmospheres. Pure genius.

 

Brood

Sirens

Travel Shop

A Slow Storm Brews

The Romp

I've Got a Plan

Fingerbone

Malolo

A Midlife's Tale

How Green was My Valley

Teteko

Nanny's Farewell

The Kitsch Parade

Uncle Bill’s Paddock

The Mangrove Song

The Old Years

Can’t Find Love

 

Sarah McLachlan (16)I hated Surfacing the first time I heard it. Looking back, I think it’s because she was talking about matters of the heart at a time in my life when I was trying to ignore them. By the time I heard Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, I needed it. Sarah writes love songs for people who have suffered. She knows how to make something beautiful without sugar-coating it. Oh, and she doesn’t look half bad either!

 

Possession

Wait

Fumbling Towards Ecstacy

Mary

Time

Drifting

Building a Mystery

Fear

Do What You Have to Do

Train Wreck

Answer

Hold On

Adia

Good Enough

Witness

Lost

 

Kate Bush (14)Kate is one of those performers who makes you realise that the word ‘original’ is horribly overused. She probably doesn’t get enough credit for her lyric writing which so often delves into the more tender parts of the heart. Hearing her sing with Trio Bulgarka is one of life’s great pleasures.

 

Cloudbusting

The Song of Solomon

Deeper Understanding

Love and Anger

The Sensual World

Babooshka

An Architect’s Dream

A Coral Room

Reaching Out

Rocket's Tail

Bertie

Never Be Mine

This Woman's Work

Wuthering Heights

 

R.E.M. (14)I wouldn’t actually refer to R.E.M. as one of my favourite bands. I was a little surprised to see them this high on my list. I tend to enjoy their more obscure songs where they create a dark atmosphere and let Michael Stipe’s voice float through it. Their willingness to experiment with sound and form is a guide to any band.

 

Be Mine

Leave

Parakeet

At My Most Beautiful

Try Not to Breathe

Let Me In

Walk Unafraid

Nightswimming

Sweetness Follows

Diminished

Shiny Happy People

Strange Currencies

You’re in the Air

Sad Professor

 

10000 Maniacs (13)Bands that write the music and lyrics separately frequently court disaster. When 10000 Maniacs do it, it usually becomes something very special. They are very good at representing people who are suffering inside but have to maintain a happy face on the outside, whether it be a battered wife, a single mother, a troubled friend or a broken planet.

 

You Happy Puppet

Don't Talk

Candy Everybody Wants

Stockton Gala Days

Hey Jack Kerouac

Eden

Jezebel

These Are Days

Verdi Cries

Gold Rush Brides

Few and Far Between

Because the Night

Noah's Dove

 

The Whitlams (12)The Whitlams sound is richer and more dense than My Friend the Chocolate Cake, but it still shows Australian suburbia perfectly. While their name might be overtly political, the Whitlams are at their best when they are looking inside the head of the sensitive young man wondering what the hell he’s supposed to do with his life.

 

Buy Now Pay Later (Charlie No. 2)

Her Floor is My Ceiling

I Make Hamburgers

Life's a Beach

Time

You Sound Like Louis Burdett

Thankyou (for loving me at my worst)

Charlie No. 3

You Gotta Love This City

Blow Up the Pokies

I Will Not Go Quietly (Duffy's Song)

1995

 

Phil Collins (11)Phil was my first musical hero. I’ve always loved his voice and the way he uses rhythm in his music. Even now, when I write songs, my first instinct is to get the rhythm right first; that comes from Phil. Yes, he’s written a lot of syrupy stuff, but when he is on, he’s on!

 

Take Me Home

Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore?

Can't Turn Back the Years

Behind the Lines

Something Happened on the Way to Heaven

Survivors

Droned

Love Police

Two Worlds

Lorenzo

Take Me Down

 

Dave Matthews Band (11)I was a very late appreciator of DMB, possibly because while most of the musicians on this list are people that I would really like to meet, I don’t really warm to the band members as people. I love the inventive music and the virtuosity, but I think there are just too many references to getting drunk and stoned for me to want to invite them to dinner for a good chat. Somehow, I don’t think they’ll mind.

 

Grey Street

The Stone

Pantala Naga Pampa/Rapunzel

#41

Crash

Christmas Song

Warehouse

Ants Marching

So Much to Say

Long Black Veil

The Last Stop

 

James Taylor (10)Listening to James’ work from the mid-80s onwards suggests to me that he was famous too early. While his songs in his megastar period were very good, he left that stuff for dead as soon as people stopped listening. He’ll probably keep getting better the longer he goes.

 

Never Die Young

Only a Dream in Rio

Belfast to Boston

Up on the Roof

The Frozen Man

Down in the Hole

Valentine's Day

Shower the People

Copperline

Jump Up Behind Me

 

Be Good Tanyas (9)These girls are amazing. I don’t know how they came up with their sound, both vocally and instrumentally, but this is North American folk music as it is meant to be done. I would love to be in the same loungeroom as the Tanyas, just sitting, tapping my feet and listening to them do their thing.

 

Horses

Song for R.

Ship Out on the Sea

Junkie Song

Scattered Leaves

It's Not Happening

The Littlest Birds

In Spite of All the Damage

Ootischenia

 

Jars of Clay (9)So many Christian bands fail because the Christian sub-culture is suspicious of poetry. Anything that isn’t hammering the message down the throats of listeners is subject to criticism from the Christian community. Jars of Clay are one of about three groups who have broken through the cult and write intelligent, thoughtful music and lyrics. Long may they continue.

 

Like a Child

Boy on a String

Worlds Apart

Love Song for a Savior

He

Liquid

Portrait of an Apology

Frail

Five Candles

 

Billy Bragg (8)Billy is the conscience of modern rock music. Everything he does comes from a very big heart. He gets that life is about both the political and the personal and so many people underrate his more tender songs simply because his political songs hit their target so accurately.

 

Trust

Levi Stubbs Tears

She Came Along to Me

Everywhere

Tank Park Salute

England, Half English

Jane Allen

California Stars (with Wilco)

 

Ben Folds (8)

Bastard

Give Judy My Notice

Late

One Down

The Ascent of Stan

Fred Jones Part II

Gracie

Still Fighting it

 

Ben Folds Five (8)I once heard Ben Folds described as “equal parts Burt Bacharach and The Clash”; that’s pretty accurate! Ben simply has such a wide variety of sounds to choose from and his aggression can be taken more seriously because he also understands the tender side of music. I shouldn’t dismiss Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee who add much in the way of musicianship and personality, but this was always Ben’s band – and it was great!

 

Don't Change Your Plans

Magic

Brick

Emaline

Evaporated

Smoke

Alice Childress

Mess

 

Patty Griffin (8)

Mother of God

Rain

Goodbye

Kite Song

Christina

Useless Desires

Rowing Song

Long Ride Home

 

Tom Lehrer (8)Tom Lehrer was a musical satirist in the late 50s and 60s. Apart from being tremendously witty – and not above a little toilet humour here and there – he also had his finger on the pulse of political stupidity. A song like Send the Marines could have been written in 2005 such is its relevance. Every future satirist should bow daily in Tom’s direction.

 

The Masochism Tango

Smut

In Old Mexico

My Home Town

Vatican Rag

National Brotherhood Week

Be Prepared

It Makes a Fellow Proud to be a Soldier

 

Joni Mitchell (8)

Amelia

The Sire of Sorrows (Job's Sad Song)

Magdalene Laundries (with The Chieftains)

Otis and Marlena

Sex Kills

Both Sides Now

Slouching Towards Bethlehem

Carey

 

Not Drowning, Waving (8)

Penmon

Teteko Aoteoroa

Norman Young

The Magician

The Migrant

Spark

The Kiap Song

Sing Sing

 

Simon & Garfunkel (8)

The Only Living Boy in New York

The Boxer

America

I am a Rock

Baby Driver

At the Zoo

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Richard Cory

 

Loreena McKennitt (7)

Bonny Portmore

The Dark Night of the Soul

Full Circle

Dante's Prayer

The Old Ways

The Mystic’s Dream

Caravanserai

 

Natalie Merchant (7)

Wonder

Frozen Charlotte

River

I May Know the Word

Cowboy Romance

Carnival

Break Your Heart

 

Björk (6)

Jóga

The Modern Things

Hyper-ballad

Aeroplane

Bachelorette

Big Time Sensuality

 

Jackson Browne (6)

The Barricades of Heaven

These Days

The Rebel Jesus (with The Chieftains)

Fountain of Sorrow

I'm Alive

In the Shape of a Heart

 

John Denver (6)

Rhymes and Reasons

Rocky Mountain High

Sunshine on my Shoulders

Poems, Prayers and Promises

Wild Flowers in a Mason Jar

The Eagle and the Hawk

 

Joe Jackson (6)

Real Men

Angel (with Suzanne Vega & Dawn Upshaw)

Steppin’ Out

A Bud and a Slice (with Brad Roberts)

Happyland

Stranger than You

 

Billy Joel (6)

Allentown

Summer Highland Falls

The Downeaster 'Alexa'

Goodnight Saigon

An Innocent Man

Don't Ask Me Why

 

Paul Kelly (6)

Other People's Houses

She Answers the Sun (Lazybones) (with Rebecca Barnard)

Little Kings

To Her Door

Deeper Water

Melting

 

The Muppets (6)

I'm Going to Go Back There Someday - Gonzo the Great

Hey A Movie

The Magic Store

Movin' Right Along - Kermit the Frog & Fozzie Bear

The Lime in the Coconut

Can You Picture That? - The Electric Mayhem

 

Randy Newman (6)

Louisiana 1927

Bad News from Home

Simon Smith and his Amazing Dancing Bear

I Think it's Going to Rain Today

You Can Leave Your Hat On

That'll Do (with Peter Gabriel)

 

Bruce Springsteen (6)

The Ghost of Tom Joad

Streets of Philadelphia

I'm on Fire

My Hometown

My Best was Never Good Enough

Red-headed Woman

 

Tori Amos (5)

Silent All These Years

Mother

Cloud on my Tongue

Winter

Baker Baker

 

David Bridie (5)

Stumble Away

Kerosene

Come Around

The Koran, the Ghan and a Yarn

The Last Great Magician

 

Paula Cole / Paula Cole Band (5)

Amen

Pearl

Feelin' Love

Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?

Throwing Stones

 

Doug Anthony All Stars (5)

Broad Lic Nic

Funk You

Gotcha

Middle Class

Dogs

 

Bob Dylan (5)

Not Dark Yet

Subterranean Homesick Blues

Make You Feel My Love

I Shall Be Free No. 10

Tombstone Blues

 

Elton John (5)

Tiny Dancer

Rocket Man

Bennie and the Jets

Daniel

Sacrifice

 

Anna Maria Jopek (5)

Dwa Serduszka Cztery Oczy

Ale Jestem

Cyraneszka

Gdy Sliczna Panna

Jednoczesnie

 

Fleetwood Mac (4)

Everywhere

Little Lies

Rhiannon

Temporary One

 

Nelly Furtado (4)

Powerless (Say What You Want)

Força

One-Trick Pony

Childhood Dreams

 

Bruce Hornsby / Bruce Hornsby & the Range (4)

Candy Mountain Run

The Valley Road

Hooray for Tom

What the Hell Happened

 

Alanis Morissette (4)

The Couch

Thank U

Front Row

Joining You

 

Noel Paul Stookey (4)

Garden Song

Peace in the Valley

Know Jesus

Wait'll You Hear This

 

Loudon Wainwright III (4)

Living Alone

Last Man on Earth

I Wish I Was a Lesbian

The Doctor

 

David Bowie (3)

Black Tie White Noise

Jump They Say

You've Been Around

 

Johnny Cash (3)

Hurt

The Man Comes Around

Fulsom Prison Blues

 

Crash Test Dummies (3)

Two Knights and Maidens

I Think I'll Disappear Now

Afternoons and Coffeespoons

 

Crowded House (3)

Private Universe

When You Come

Fingers of Love

 

Missy Higgins (3)

Any Day Now

The Special Two

Scar

 

Indigo Girls (3)

Closer to Fine

Least Complicated

Perfect World

 

John Mayer (3)

3 x 5

My Stupid Mouth

Why Georgia?

 

The Seekers (3)

I'll Never Find Another You

Myra

World of Our Own

 

Michelle Shocked (3)

Looks Like Mona Lisa

Streetcorner Ambassador

On the Greener Side

 

Carly Simon (3)

Like a River

Touched by the Sun

Davy

 

Nina Simone (3)

Mississippi Goddam

Little Girl Blue

Mr. Bojangles

 

Joseph Arthur (2)

Termite Song

In the Sun

 

Brainstorm (2)

A Day Before Tomorrow

My Star

 

Petula Clark (2)

Don't Sleep in the Subway

You're the One

 

Graeme Connors (2)

Boomerang in Paraguay

Let it Rain

 

The Cranberries (2)

You and Me

Loud and Clear

 

John Farnham (2)

Reasons

Age of Reason

 

Shane Howard (2)

Common Ground

Talk of the Town

 

Vince Jones (2)

Jettison

Lobster

 

Angelique Kidjo (2)

Logozo

Wé-wé

 

Mark Knopfler (2)

Hill Farmer's Blues

Why Aye Man

 

Wendy Matthews (2)

The Day You Went Away

Token Angels

 

Monty Python (2)

Galaxy Song

Every Sperm is Sacred

 

Roxy Music (2)

Jealous Guy

Love is the Drug

 

Mark Seymour (2)

Don’t You Know Me?

Can’t Crawl That Way

 

Smashing Pumpkins (2)

Daphne Descends

Appels + Oranjes

 

Various (1 each)

C'est le Dernier Qui a Parlé Qui a Raison - Amina

Diri Diri - Costas Bigalis & The Sea Lovers

Diwanit Bugale - Dan ar Braz et L'Heritage des Celtes

Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles

The Boy Who - Capercaillie

Suzanne - Leonard Cohen

Fisherman Song – Judy Collins

Star Shines Bright - Peter Combe

Heaven Knows - The Corrs

Emis Forame to Himona Anixiatika - Mariana Efstratiou

How Can I Keep from Singing? - Enya

Ellatha, Hora Tu Fotos - Keti Garbi

Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

Mr. Tugboat Hello - Sophie B. Hawkins

Highwayman - Highwaymen

Innocence Maintained - Jewel

Sunrise – Norah Jones

Olou Tou Kosmou I Elpida - Kleopatra

Chce Znac Swoj Grzech - Kasia Kowalska

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

I Eat Dinner - Kate & Anna McGarrigle

Vincent - Don McLean

Nit Khair Mansan Sohnia Main Teri - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Qawwal and Party

Minn Hinsti Dans - Páll Óskar

Dancing Steps - Geoffrey Oryema

Lonkotina - Pape & Cheikh

Dinle - Sebnem Paker

Weil Der Mensch Zählt - Alf Poier

My Winter Coat - The Roches

Messages – Xavier Rudd

Sigma - Secret Garden

Anything - Sixpence None the Richer

Six Months in a Leaky Boat - Split Enz

Hajde Da Ludujemo - Tajèi

Telstar - The Tornadoes

White and Black Blues - Joelle Ursull

Goodnight Girl - Wet Wet Wet

Fra Mols til Skagen - Aud Wilken

Ship of Fools - World Party

 

 

(last updated 1 March 2007)

 

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