35: Even More Songs I Like and Why.

See, I told you I would do another one of these lists. Enjoy.

Shop window on Beach Street, Daytona Beach, FL. 2022 Photo: Mark Lepow

Recently, a member of the 701 South Alumni FB Group posted a YouTube playlist of the songs that became the soundtrack for the alternative music night at the infamous club in Daytona Beach, FL. Since I am on Spotify (follow me HERE) I created a playlist of those songs HERE.

In Chapters 14 and 14.1, I wrote about a few of the songs that I love and why. In this chapter, I introduce you to some old-school 80s club music and, yes, other songs from the era.

But wait, there’s more, because I will also share some songs released in 2020something. Yeah, I know, had no idea music was still being created past the 90s.

The following links go to the official video for the song on YouTube.

Macy Grey: I Try
I know, for most people, this song is about meeting someone, falling in love, then the eventual break-up that takes you back to square one. For me, love and being in love really hasn’t happened in the fairy tale type of way. But there have been failed attempts at dating, totally missing obvious flirtations sent my way, and then, realizing later on that people I have dated over time used the word “love” as a weapon. Growing up “I love you” was uttered by either of my adopted parents before abuse/assault or immediately after.

The XX: Angels
Angels is a song that I can not pinpoint exactly where I was when I first heard it, but it has always been a very haunting song to me. It is a slow-moving song, and that is ok by me. This is one portion of the song that gets me every time:
“And with words unspoken
A silent devotion
I know you know what I mean
And the end is unknown
But I think I'm ready
As long as you're with me”

I admit I stink when it comes to matching songs with their creator or performer. Until about six months ago it had been years since I heard this song, but the melody has always rolled around in my brain. Now, Angels is played once a week or so.

Offspring: Self Esteem
This song so encapsulates how I saw myself from the mid-80s through the mid to late 90s. I know, holy cow Mark, that is one hell of a period. What’s incredible to me is that I am even here to talk about it. During this period of my life, me and my Nikons conquered the world, on my terms, but I barely dated because I didn’t feel worthy of love, or the women I had any type of intimate connection with, were just as messed up as I am, and it hindered any type of long term relationship. There is more to what this song means to me, and maybe I will type more at a later date, but yeah, when I heard this song just last week, a floodgate of emotions opened.

Listen, everyone, I do try to remind myself that I have meaning and purpose, but it is quite friggin’ hard right now.

The Pretenders: I’ll Stand By You
After what I just typed about the song “Self Esteem”, and saw this song was next, I thought to myself, “Mark, DUDE! Ya gotta move this song up or down in this list!”

Eh, screw it, caution, meet the wind. Why do I like this song, DUH!!! Because I WILL stand by you. I’m like a dog, you need someone to talk with at any hour, call me, you need someone to take on a road trip (so you can most likely talk), I’m your guy.

Yes, I’m serious, mostly because I know what it is like to need someone to talk to some odd hour of the day or night, and not know who to call without getting your ass chewed out because you woke them up. Most people will. I know from experience. This is exactly why my phone is rarely in DND mode.

I don’t care what struggles you are going through, I’m there for you. Sadly for me, I don’t exactly expect anyone to be there for me when I need someone in the middle of the night. I’ve learned the hard way through my life that people don’t always give back what they want to receive. Me, yeah, that damn “do unto others as you would want them to do unto you” sticks out like a sore friggin’ thumb.

Kora: Secret Lover
I included the Pet Shop Boys’ “Confidential (demo for Tina)” in Chapter 14, and explained why I liked it. This song has similar overtones, a forbidden relationship regardless of the reason that it is forbidden, the attraction and pull that a forbidden relationship stirs up, and more. I am not exactly in love with the video, but it does get the point across.

Disturbed: Sounds of Silence
Yes, this is a superb remake of the Simon and Garfunkel song that they released a year before I was born (1964). Could it be that I have memories buried very deep that have yet to be unlocked, I’m not sure, but if there is a song that might have been the first song I WANTED to play on one of those plastic 45rpm record players meant to play happy dappy kid songs, this was the one. I have ALWAYS had a special place for this song.

Seven years ago, while hanging out with Laura (who I wrote about in Chapter 33) she asked me if I had heard this remake. I told her no, and she played it. CHILLS, yes CHILLS I tell you. No, it wasn’t caused by some well buried deep in my memory bank of horror, but I have ALWAYS slowed the tempo for this song down when singing it