Six favourite songs

draco_kc tagged me for this meme, and I submit this response. I had an easy time picking a list of 10 songs or so that have held special significance in my life. Narrowing it down was harder. The result is almost autobiographical. Clicking the link on each song name and scrolling down the page you can find a sound clip playable in WMP or RealPlayer.

1. Nuit resplendissante by Charles Gounod (1818-1893). Since my childhood, CBC Radio has contributed immeasurably to my appreciation of Classical music. I discovered this aria several years ago on Sound Advice, a guide to new recordings. I was captivated partly by the artistry of Magdalena Kožená, but songs about the night have a special, inexplicable place with me, as evidenced by all three of my Classical selections in this meme. ( lyrics )


2. Nachthelle by Franz Schubert (1797-1828). All songwriters today owe a certain debt to the modest Schubert. The modern form of a short, free-standing song with poetic lyrics and simple instrumental accompaniment originated in the German Lied. Schubert was one of the first to use this form, and he championed it, writing over 500 songs in his short career. Most were composed for solo voice and piano but this haunting setting for piano, tenor and male chorus has been a favourite since my teens. Its German style is unmistakable, but coloured by Schubert's distinctive charm and unexpected key changes. ( lyrics )


3. Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell. One of the few pop singers who captured my attention as a teen was Judy Collins. This was one of my favourite songs at the time. I never heard it sung by the writer until Joni's new interpretation came out in 2000, which I like best. The words mean more to me now. The three pop artists I chose are all Canadian born, and with more than six choices, I would have gone on to kd lang, Leonard Cohen, Loreena McKennitt. My taste for Canadian songwriters isn't intentional, it just is. ( lyrics )


4. I'm Going Home by Buffy Sainte-Marie. One of the essential musical moments of my life was hearing her sing "Starwalker" to an audience of 500 or so at a powwow in 1990. I had never heard of Buffy St. Marie, but her power and conviction were one of the influences that started changing my conservative view of the world. That might please her, an activist as much as a songwriter. Some of her songs have had careers of their own: "Universal soldier," "Up where we belong," "Until it's time for you to go." But this one is my favourite. ( lyrics )


5. Sure on this shining night (play or download complete song performed by the US Air Force Band choir) by Banjamin Britten (1913-1976). Of all the choral works I have ever performed with the Rainbow Chorus or anywhere else, this is my favourite. It was originally written for solo voice and piano, but I like the choral setting better. ( lyrics )


6. 14th Street by Rufus Wainwright brings me to the present. willowing turned me on to this gay Montrealer earlier this year. I can't get "Agnus Dei" and "Oh what a world" out of my head, but decided to choose for my list one song with an upbeat, irresistible rhythm. I also love the gospel style backups. Wainwright brings us back to poetry. Elton John says, "The greatest songwriter on the planet at the moment is Rufus Wainwright." ( lyrics )

I had a hard time coming up with six people to tag, partly because so many of my friends have already done this meme, and I can't remember who.

• djjo
• eloquentwthrage
• grandiva1968
• kwintt
• kyana
• poetbear

Ahhh!

I just heard the joyful sound of a toilet flushing.