Calling all music people who are cool
I’m in charge of putting together a slide show for high school kids who went to camp this summer in Colorado. I need a song that is fun and most everyone will know. Here are the rules:
1. No sappy slow songs that talk about finding yourself or saying goodbye.
2. No Mother Superior songs about climbing every mountain.
3. Songs that high school kids will know.
4. Songs that high school kids will know and sing to.
5. Songs that high school kids will know and sing along that don’t have lyrics talking about thongs, girls kissing girls or any secret sexual innuendoes that my naïve brain can’t even comprehend. Let’s keep it clean people.
Here are songs that I came up with on my own:
The Middle—Jimmy Eat World
It’s upbeat and I’m thinking high school kids would like it.
Don’t Stop Believin’—Journey
Hello. It’s Journey.
Walking on Sunshine—Katrina and the Waves
Happy, happy song, but may be too old for these kids who were born in the ‘90s.
How Far We’ve Come—Matchbox 20
Kind of appropriate that they were walking all over mountains, right?
Unwritten/Pocketful of Sunshine—Natasha Bedingfield
Fun to sing and definitely now.
America—Neil Diamond
Because it’s my job to make these kids cooler by introducing them to Neil Diamond.
Hooked on a Feeling—Steve Miller Band
Cool beginning, but might be too slow?
I’m Gonna Be (5,000 miles)—The Proclaimers
Fun sing-a-long part in the middle. Plus they probably did walk 5,000 miles.
Yes? No? Suggestions? Help!
**PS: Keep all Hannah Banana suggestions to yourself. And while I’m at it, let’s go ahead and boycott anyone from the Disney Channel family. I’ll have none of that on my slide show. It’s best the Jonas Brothers and the entire High School Musical cast stay on my iPod where they belong.
What about Bleeding love by Leona Lewis, or Apologize by One Republic ? I second the Natasha Beddingfields too! Good luck!
Right Here, Right Now- Jesus Jones
Take It Easy– Jackson Browne or the Eagles
Daydream Believer- the Monkees ( but the best version is the late great writer’s, John Stewart)
Unwritten – or Walking on Sunshine. My son – a 10th grader – likes both. Believe it or not, he has the Beatles and Walking on Sunshine on his ipod. He also has “Don’t worry, be happy” on his ipod.
And She Was- Talking Heads
New Shoes- Paolo Nutini
Flood- Jars of Clay
Alive and Kicking- Simple Minds
Run Around- Blues Traveler
Rain King- Counting Crows
Those last two remind me of my mountain climbing experience at JH Ranch. What an incredible spiritual and emotional experience!
Run, by Ben Kewller
Come on Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Jump – Van Halen
Jump Around – House of Pain
Beverly Hills – Weezer
Heart & Soul – T’Pau
Tainted Love – Soft Cell
Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne
Fantasy – Mariah Carey (Gulity Pleasure)
Mama Said Knock You Out – LL Cool J
Instant Karma – John Lennon (If it was good enough for Nike…)
I Feel Good – James Brown
Welcome to the Jungle – Gun’s & Roses
Sooner or Later – The Grass Roots
Forever – Goo Goo Dolls
And of course: Freedom 90 by George Michael
American Pie – Original version (nothing against Madonna)
Livin on a Prayer – Bon Jovi (Jersey girl weighing in)
new Kid Rock song sampling Skynard
Oooh, I vote for Tainted Love or Don’t Stop Believing. Or the quintessential summer song –
Don Henley’s Boys of Summer. Oh yes… LOVE that one.
Slayer – War Ensemble
Testament – Demonic Refusal
Slipknot – Purity
Meshuggah – Spasm
Lamb of God – Laid to Rest (What? It’s in GH2)
Too hard? Fine.
Eric B & Rakim – Follow the Leader
Public Enemy – Kevorkian
Beastie Boys – Car Thief
DOC – Let the Bass Go
EPMD – You Gots to Chill
What? You Uzi doesn’t weigh a ton, yo? Fine.
Tibet – Waterdance
Massive Attack – Safe from Harm
Enigma – Gravity of Love
Balligomingo – Purify
Amethystium – Lust
Delerium – Metamorphosis
Now what? No Buddha music?
OK, then take any of the Guitar Hero songs, filter it by your 58 demands, and then add the only thing left . . . . your Willy Wonka theme song like you put at the end of that first mix disc you made me (true story) freak. Was funny as hail though. Once.
You know you want to follow me on flip.fm now. No. OK.
New Soul by Yael Naim and David Donatien (the Apple song)
Daaaaaaamn webMAN. You can throw down a list with the best of them. Not so much with the flip.fm, but I’ll be your Huckleberry on Pandora.
INXS – Never Tear Us Apart?
Scorpions – Winds of Change?
The Pharcyde – Ya Mama?
I don’t know what the kids are into now, but I do know those Jonas Brothers can NOT sing. Whoa nelly! It’s bad, y’all.
new Kid Rock song sampling Skynard….love that song! But it does say something about “smoking funny things”…not sure if that is appropriate for high school kids 😉
My vote is for the matchbox 20 song…how far we’ve come.
Of course, isn’t there some country song by Alabama that starts out with some old grandpa saying “you see that mountain over there? one of these days I’m gonna climb that mountain (mountain, mountain, mountain)!!!! Is it called Mountain Music????
By the way…just kidding about the Mountain Music song! I bet high schoolers don’t even know who “Alabama” is!
WebMAN you are speaking a foreign language! How old are you???? LOL
Time of Your Life – Greenday
The Start of It – Meese (an up-and-coming CO band)
Our Time Now or Let Me Take You There – Plain White T’s
Life is Beautiful – Vega4 (may be too slow, but is a great song!)
Thanks For The Memories – Fall Out Boy
Viva La Vida – Coldplay
I’m always a fan of Journey, but then again, I’m a child of the ’80’s/early 90’s… Good luck! 😉
What about “Soak Up The Sun” by Sheryl Crow? 🙂