Songs that just stop you in your tracks

goldrush

I'm thinking about songs that, when they come on the radio or randomly on your ipod, just make you stop and listen. Songs that, even though you may have heard them a million times, you just have stop whatever you're doing and listen. They aren't necessarily going to be on your list of all-time favourite songs but they are songs that mean something special to you or remind you of a certain place, time, experience etc.

I started writing this after hearing "It's Tricky" by Run DMC this morning. It's not one of my favourites but it's an ok song. Every time I hear it I think of my friend Tim who took his own life in 2009 at the age of 32. The last time I saw Tim alive was at a house party a few months before, he was wasted and decided it would be a good idea to break out a Sing Star game. I took a video on my phone of him (a drunk, white guy with a strong Welsh accent) 'singing' It's Tricky and it's the funniest and saddest video I own. The song will always remind me of a happy Tim.

On a brighter note, Ben Lee's "Birthday Song" is another that gets me every time. My wife and I had the first dance at our wedding to Birthday Song (it opens with "Hey there I said it, I'm in love with you") and it always makes me smile and think of her. http://youtu.be/aAJN3tUzAp4

There are plenty more of course. Some that remind me of sad times and some that make me smile and laugh so hard that people think I'm going mad. I can't hear "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield without hearing my Dad's voice singing it. "Walk" by Blind Melon reminds me of a pretty dark time in my life and emerging from it; "Shed A Little Light" by Foy Vance reminds me of the greatest summer of my life.

All of them have one thing in common - when I hear them, time stands still for a few minutes and the song is all that matters. What songs have this affect on you?

dcfaithful

Rocket Man by Elton John is a first-to-mind one for me. I love that song. I associate early Elton John with my childhood... a time where all I knew was complete happiness because I hadn't been exposed to heartbreaking sadness.

It brings me back memories of my childhood prior to my parents divorce, which really proved to be a big "reality check" in my life, especially at 11 years old.

dcfaithful

Just thought of another one. "I Stay Away" by Alice In Chains never fails to make me stop in my tracks and think about my sister.

Reading what you wrote about your friend Tim made me think of that song, which makes me think similar thoughts to yours of Tim.

SavedFucker

Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down

Bennyorr4

Just happened to me this morning when I heard Phil Collins "In The Air Tonight". Reminds me of Miami Vice and Mike Tyson's scene in The Hangover. I just love the part that Mike likes.

pjamaholic

This new one out by Gotye. I listen to it about 3 times a day lately, cant get it out of my head.

veddertown

REM - Strange Currencies
Dandy Warhol's - Sleep
Johnny Cash - Dark As The Dungeon
Nick Cave - Love Letter
Tom Waits - House Where Nobody Lives
Mark Lanegan - One Hundred Days
Soulsavers - Some Misunderstanding
Tindersticks - Tiny Tears
Faith No More - Take This Bottle
Leonard Cohen - Chelsea Hotel
Black Crowes - Sometimes Salvation
Damien Rice - Delicate
Gomez - Free To Run
John Martyn - Ways To Cry
Neil Young - Expecting To Fly
Spiritualized - Sweet Talk
Pearl Jam - Come Back
AC/DC - Cover You In Oil (ha ha just kidding)

I could come up with so many more.....

frazba

This was on the CD player when I got the call telling me my sister had died, aged 32, I find it very hard to listen to it now, unfortunate 'cos it's a great album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3f8VUZ5xAU



On a lighter note, these remind me of the first time I heard both, two of the best songs ever written.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXVMCHG-Nk&ob=av2e

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyyFLYNbQpg