Amy's Blog : What's on Amy's iPod?

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys

Amy Unger — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:22:00 GMT

I've had a soft spot for country-western music since I was a little kid -- not so much the new stuff, but the classic, pre-1980s twang-laden, hard drinkin', hard lovin', tear-in-my-beer kind of country-western. Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, George Jones -- all favorites. I'm not sure where I picked it up. Mom has always been a sucker for 50's and 60's rock, while dad was all over the map with Neil Diamond, The Traveling Wilburys, Meatloaf (yes, Meatloaf), and most recently the John Butler Trio. But there's something solitary and strong in the laments of the Old West, like "I can go through hell and back, and still be ok enough to belt out this tune for y'all."

My really annoying, and horribly fun, cowboy-phase came after a trip to a ranch in Wyoming - the Two Bars Seven - when I was 22 years old. We spent the week herding cattle and riding horses through the most beautiful country I had ever seen. For months after, it was nothing but Chris LeDoux, Tanya Tucker, and of course, Willie Nelson in the CD player.

I have since moved my main music staple to other genres, but I occasionally like to close my eyes and remember what it was like to ride up to a canyon to see mountains under a never-ending sky, listen to the spooky night-sounds of coyotes under a billion stars, and whistle at cows like an idiot while listening to this.

Modern English

Amy Unger — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:09:00 GMT

There is one reason, and one reason only, why this classic 80's tune is a 5 star selection in my iTunes: Valley Girl. For a 13 year old girl growing up in a midwestern suburb, this was the coolest movie ever. Along with Footloose.

Fer sher!

Sweet Jane

Amy Unger — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:15:00 GMT

I'm trying to recall when I first heard the Cowboy Junkies, and I'm going to have to go with when I saw the creepy, disturbing, and utterly fantastic Natural Born Killers (has it really been 15 years??) back in 1994. You can hear this song, originally done by The Velvet Underground, during Mallory's poem recital to Mickey in the desert in an early scene. In fact, the entire soundtrack is perfectly selected, not to mention diverse, and does a fantastic job of creating just the right mood for every surreal moment.

After hearing the song, I immediately headed over to my local Karma record store and purchased the Junkies' Trinity Session. This is easily the most mellow album in my entire collection, and I listen to it on auto-repeat on days meant for chilling. Or sleeping.

What a Wonderful World

Amy Unger — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:57:00 GMT

Few artists have reached the pinnacle of success The Great Satchmo saw in his lifetime, or have left a legacy so profound. His staying power continues to surprise me, the latest being the inclusion of "La Vie En Rose" in one of my favorite scenes of the much loved WALL-E.

I appreciate him more now than when I was first introduced as an unthinking high school senior, wrapped up in my own teenage drama. I remember clearly watching Good Morning, Vietnam in the local theater, laughing at the antics of Robin Williams despite the somber backdrop. But you could cut the silence with a knife during the scene featuring Louis Armstrong's unsurpassed rendition of "What a Wonderful World," except for the occasional sniffle.

I don't recall having been as moved by a single combination of film and music up until that time, and there have been relatively few since. I still get goose bumps from just the clip.

Music + Movies? Yeah, it's that important.

So Cruel

Amy Unger — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:35:00 GMT

I would never describe myself as the U2 fan that my cube-neighbor Don is - not even remotely. He reaches psychotic levels. But I do love select tunes from their expansive portfolio. This is my favorite from the album the band cleverly described as being the sound of "four men chopping down The Joshua Tree" - 1991's Achtung Baby. I'm not even sure why I like it so much. It's a sad and borderline pathetic tale about an indifferent woman being obsessed over by a man who is "only hanging on to watch you go down. My love." Yikes.

But the tune is catchy and the beat is funky. And perhaps, like all women, I can relate to that cruel streak. But only ever so slightly.

Under Pressure

Amy Unger — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:06:00 GMT

I can't say that I'm a huge fan of Bowie, although Blue Jean and China Girl rank up there as 80s favorites, but Freddie Mercury? I attest to this day that he is one of the greatest vocalists of all time, and I'm forever grateful to Vanilla Ice for blatently ripping off this song to bring it back into the limelight. It's fantastic.

Human Wheels

Amy Unger — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:17:00 GMT

Back in the late 80s and early 90s you'd be hard pressed to find a bigger John Mellencamp fan than yours truly. I bought every album from the Johnny Cougar days right up until the late 90s - and even a couple imports. It was the release of Mr Happy Go Lucky (featuring "Key West Intermezzo") that finally soured my affections after years of tireless worship. I just didn't love it, and I haven't loved any efforts since. But the older albums continue to be mainstays in my iPod rotation.

If I were to rank my favorite albums from those days, I'd put Big Daddy and The Lonesome Jubilee at the top, but the it's the single Human Wheels from the album of the same name that has always been, to me, his finest work. I can't think of a song with more honest lyrics that capture the entire human experience.

Although I no longer consider myself an avid fan, Mellencamp's ability to withstand the test of time in the face of criticism, his unique sound, and his unwavering political convictions has always held my respect. And the fact that he's a Hoosier, and has continued to be a Hoosier, doesn't hurt.

Cash

Amy Unger — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:47:00 GMT

One of my favorite tunes from childhood is "Ring of Fire" by the late, great Johnny Cash. When the American series albums were released in the mid-90s through 2002, consisting of mostly cover songs that you wouldn't expect to hear from an old country singer, I was the first in line. One of the best to come from those efforts was "Hurt," a song originally by Nine Inch Nails. While it obviously was not written either for or about Cash, he made it his own. Also one of the best music videos ever.

Coldplay

Amy Unger — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:10:00 GMT

I know it's uber-hip to be a fan of Coldplay, and I usually consciously avoid the smug recommendations of the uber-hip, but I made an exception for these guys. I fell in love with their sound the very first time I heard "Yellow." I don't recommend listening to entire Coldplay albums from beginning to end, unless you're on some good anti-depressants, but a nice scattering throughout your music selection is a great way to enjoy them.

Although hard to choose a favorite, I'm partial to "Shiver," from their debut release Parachutes. And it's not even all that depressing. Unless you listen to the words.

Frankie Valli

Amy Unger — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:36:00 GMT

Ok, so I'm showing my true colors now (as if Neil Diamond wasn't bad enough). I admit I love this song. I think it's due mainly to its use in The Deer Hunter, one of my all time favorite movie scenes, as well as little known version by the late Heath Ledger in a cute scene from "10 Things I Hate About You."

I also like that Steven knows almost all the words, and will sometimes sing it acapella. The lyrics sound a little weird coming from a 4 year old, but its still pretty darn cute.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Amy Unger — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:33:00 GMT

I discovered the Chili Peppers during my college years when Give It Away and Under the Bridge were all the rage. They are actually one of the few bands left over from those days that I haven't given up along with big bangs and stirrup pants. And my major.

This track, Universally Speaking, is from the album "By the Way," but I must admit, I prefer the live version at Slane Castle over the original recording. I think it's the energy.

Boston

Amy Unger — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:46:00 GMT

Even though at the time they had released only two albums, in my early high school days you couldn't find a bigger Boston fan than me. I knew all their songs by heart, and my cassette tapes were worn. I remember learning to drive to "More than a Feeling" and "Don't Look Back." When Third Stage was released my junior year, I was elated. I'd never heard anything like it before.

Although my music tastes have evolved over the years, I still like to listen to this album on full volume and pretend I'm a kid again. Except now I'm a much better driver. And I have Klipsch.

Neil Diamond

Amy Unger — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:55:00 GMT

Yes, I have Neil Diamond on my iPod. He holds a special place in my childhood heart (a gift from my parents), and he was my first live concert at age 9. And, in the words of one of my favorite Bill Murray characters - Bob Wiley: "There are two types of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond, and those who don't."

I love him.

Simple Minds

Amy Unger — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:30:00 GMT

My iPod is chock full of retro tunes like this one featured in the teen-angst classic The Breakfast Club, proving you can take a girl out of the 80's, but you can't take the 80's out of the girl.

Bittersweet Symphony

Amy Unger — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:49:00 GMT

In my most random of blogging ideas -- except for maybe Dwight the traveling duck -- welcome to the "What's on Amy's iPod" series!

This song by The Verve first caught my attention in the 1999 movie "Cruel Intentions," which I admit is a guilty pleasure of mine. Involving snooty NYC high school kids who speak well beyond their years (loosely based on Les Liaisons Dangereuses) meddling with the lives of others in the most wicked fashion, the song enters the film at the best part -- as the good girl finally exacts her revenge on the bad girl. Bittersweet indeed.