At major league baseball games, the players get to pick the music that is played when they approach the plate, or at least that is the case in Toronto. So, instead of another “jock” story, I felt like writing about my favorite music, as I was asked about recently, by a Facebook friend. So, in no particular order, here is a list of the music and musicians, I love listening to. My taste in music, as you will read, is quite varied. Perhaps your taste in music is similar to mine. If it’s not, we agree to disagree, but most of you probably like many of the musicians listed here.
I still enjoy the music that I grew up with. That would include the Beach Boys, ( their harmonies were incredible ), the Mamas and the Papas ( also outstanding harmonies), the Beatles of course ( my favorite, “Please Please Me”) Rolling Stones ( “Get Off My Cloud”,” Ruby Tuesday”, “ Dandelions” ) Jimi Hendrix ( the best guitarist ever …the American anthem at Woodstock ) Ten Years After,( “ Change The World”- the lyrics are as relevant to 2010, as much as they were in 1971) Simon and Garfunkel ( very sophisticated lyrics, that are vastly superior to a lot of what you hear now.) My favorite Motown tune was The Four Tops 1967 hit, “Bernadette”. Janis Ian ( “Society’s Child” was way ahead of it’s time,( 1967) and she was 15 when she recorded it.) Melanie (“Lay Down” was as good of a vocal track, as I’ve ever heard…check out her performance on You Tube, singing live for a Dutch audience in 1970.. WOW !!!)
CANADIAN CONTENT: The Guess Who,( I still love “Wheatfield Soul”- an outstanding album ) The Kensington Market ( a great Toronto band, whose 1968,“Avenue Road” album was as good as anything else that ever came out of Canada, even now !!! ) Gordon Lightfoot ( I haven’t heard from you in a long time Gordon !!!! ) Avril Lavigne ( spoke with her briefly at the Swiss Chalet at Bloor and Jarvis, in Toronto, about 5 years ago….she was very down to earth and polite ) Alanis Morissette ( incredibly open and personal lyrics and a great voice ) Joni Mitchell ( “I’m A Radio”, “Raised on Robbery” – I didn’t know anyone else who ever stayed at the “Empire Hotel” – she sang about it !!! - the one in Huntsville, Ontario- long gone now- was a classic – The G-8 Summit would have loved it – Perfect for those guys - LOL !!!!!!!!! )
The Rest: Best Punk music- Linkin Park - their vocals and instrumentation set them apart from everybody……….. Lonestar – “ Already There” – what’s not to like ? Jordin Sparks --- her voice is about as good as anyone else I’ve heard. Taylor Swift – seems to be as down to earth and as approachable, as any superstar ever was. She actually seems to like meeting her fans, and speaking with them. Of course, Pink Floyd - is there anyone who doesn’t have “Dark Side Of the Moon” ? Was there a better band to go into teenage years with than the Doors ? Interestingly enough, with Jim Morrison as the ultimate rebel, I had heard that his father was a high ranking officer in the U.S. Navy, during the Vietnam war.