Playlists have always been one of my hidden talents. Give me a theme, an era, a specific person; no can do, sir. I suppose I won’t give up my day job to become a DJ, but every road trip and every birthday party and every new painting or drawing project always get a custom playlist. And I am good at that. However, there are a couple of songs you just can’t play in the background at say a braai or casual G&T’s on a Friday afternoon. You need to really play them. There is a song by Meatloaf about that. Well, sorta. But, there are these two particular parts that put this post in a nutshell for me:
You’re never alone ’cause you can put on the phones
And let the drummer tell your heart what to do…
…When you really really need it the most
That’s when rock and roll dreams come through*
Here are my non-negotiable top-volume songs in no particular order. So, in silence and in solitude; turn these up!
- Meatloaf – Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through
- ACDC – Thunderstruck
- Counting Crows – Hard Candy | Round Here | Holiday in Spain | Possibility Days | Untitled (Blues Run the Game)
- Foo Fighters – Learning to Fly | Hero | Everlong | Best of You | Monkey Wrench
- Heuwels Fantasties – Nare Kaskenades | Pille vir Kersfees (Acoustic Version)
- The Cure – Pictures of You
- Eamon – F**k It (I don’t want you back)
- Nine Inch Nails – Hurt | Something I Can Never Have
- George Ezra – Budapest
- 50 Cent – In Da Club
- Boomtown Rats – I don’t like Mondays
- Nirvana – My Girl | In Bloom | Lake of Fire
- The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio | All the Wine | Fake Empire
- James – Out to Get You
- Guns n Roses – Paradise City
- Bruce Springsteen – I’m on Fire | Born to Run
- Neil Diamond – Holly Holy
I honestly recommend you give these a go. Don’t be shy to shake your booty or bang your head along the way. Nobody who truly enjoys the music pays attention to other dancers!
*I always thought he said true, and have to admit I was a little disappointed when I realised it was through.