(This Playlist can be found in iTunes iMix section under the title “Lindsay Johnston’s Top 27. Listen to it while you read)
iTunes is somewhat famous for these Celebrity playlist. You can find out that Nicole Kidman loves Outcast or Michael Cera really is as Indie as he seems. When a celebrity is figuring out what to put on their playlist they go two ways. The first, their all time favourite songs. The second, what they are currently listening too.
My “celebrity playlist” would constantly be changing. However if iTunes came to me at this VERY moment and asked me to put 25 songs on a playlist, here’s what it would be. (In no particular order, I picked them and then shuffled.)
- “Let Go” Frou Frou – I’ve been OBSESSED with this song for about 5 to 6 years. Yes I joined the Garden State crowd, but MANNNNN. Her album “Details” is SOOOO good. And then her solo album titled “Speak for Yourself” under her real name “Imogen Heap” is almost better. She’s British, has a haunting voice, and screw the OC for making one of her lamest songs her most popular.
- “In Your Eyes” Peter Gabriel – Okay, so part of my secretly hopes John Cusack is standing outside my window right now holding a ghetto blaster. But the song is just SOOOO SWEET! And SOOO ROMANTIC!!! And did I mention sweet?
- “Aphrodisiac” Bow Wow Wow – I know the 80’s New Wave didn’t really satisfy your knowledge for Marie Antoinette, but it definitely sparked a sweet tooth. Bow Wow Wow is only famous for “I Want Candy” which is such a lame song. This song is just AWESOME. Bring on the Cake!
- “Here Comes the Rain Again” Eurythmics – Definitely a song with memory. I always remember sitting in a tanning salon waiting for my mother with one of those orange sunset picture wallpapers and the smell of coconut, and I think about it EVERY time I hear this song. Surprisingly it’s comforting. Annie Lennox just rocks, and this song is CLASSIC!
- “What It Feels Like For A Girl” Madonna – MY GOSH! WHEW! Just listening to this song. I am a big Madonna fan. New and Old. But this, unlike most of her music, is just porcelain. Hearing Charlotte Gainsbourg speak at the beginning with those electro beats seriously send chills through my body. By far my favourite song of the 2008 year.
- “Say What You Want” Texas – If ONLY I could be a college child of the 90’s. I loved all the usual radio pop music, and this just STUCK with me. Texas is a pretty under-rated band, and this song just sends positive ions throughout my soul.
- “Get On With It” Val Emmich – A-ha! Currently something new. Sooooo I admit it, I learned about him from Ugly Betty, but this song is actually EXTREMELY CUTE AND AWEEEEEEESOME. Once you learn the lyrics it is so much FUN to sing along too. (This is total, at home alone in your pj’s and dancing and singing throughout the house song. You bet I do it all the time)
- “Thank You Too!” My Morning Jacket – If you came to me tomorrow I’d give you a different My Morning Jacket song. It changes EVERYDAY. I’m surprised I put one from their newest album “Evil Urges” but its SUCH a good album!!!! You should NOT ignore “Gideon,” “Anytime,” One Big Holiday,” “Steam Engine (live version),” or “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Part 1.” MMJ are GREAT performers, GREAT music, and GREAT moments along for the ride!
- “Cheers Darlin’” Damien Rice – Damien Rice IS probable my favourite musician in the entire world. And although I love lyrics and beats and pretty much everything better about others songs, “Cheers Darlin’” NEVER escapes my mind. I don’t know why, because its clearly not one of his best songs, and I can’t let go of it. It’s too slow. Too long. Too dry. And I listen to it every single time. I guess the only thing I can think of is unconditional love.
- “Kiss Me” Sixpence None the Richer – I’m a GIRL!!!! But okay. So this song comes on and you go “OH! It’s that song from “She’s All That.” And that’s what you’re thinking the whole song. Okay, LET THAT GO. FORGET it was a HIT, FORGET it was in EVERY SINGLE MOVIE of the 90’s. FORGET IT. Because once you treat it like a normal song, it unravels itself, and there’s really something magical waiting for you.
- “La Ritournelle” Sebastien Tellier – My newest edition. I heard this song for the first time 2 weeks ago. And it blew.me.away. Its cute, its poppy, its indie, its FRENCH, its everything I’m craving to hear in music these days. PLEASE give it a listen. SO WORTH IT.
- “This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)” Talking Heads – OMG. I actually raised my arms over my head and cheered when this song came on. Another memory song. It’s unique. It’s 80’s. It’s chill. It’s just catchy and awesome. I can’t wait to be an adult and throw a party, because the whole music will be based around this song.
- “Take it From Me” The Weepies – It was “Let Go “ by Frou Frou in high school and it’s totally “Take it From Me” by The Weepies in college. Meaning my favourite song that I live every single day by. If you have not heard of the Weepies CALL ME RIGHT NOW and I will burn you a copy TONIGHT! The Weepies has become my favourite band, and they are folkie, but poppy, but chill, but cute, but scarcastic. They are everything. If they published a book with all of their lyrics, I would tell you it was the best poetry book ever created.
- “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” Stars – When I first heard Stars someone told me “I hate that I like this band because everyone likes them.” I instantly didn’t accept them into my favourite group band cause I didn’t want to be like everyone else. Turns out, most people don’t even know who the heck Stars are, and every time I listen to them I can’t help but make them one of my top favourite bands. I’ve seen them twice, both amazing experiences. And this is the theme song to my life story.
- “Wolf Like Me” TV On The Radio – Another new obsession. BUT DAMN ITS GOOD! Get a beer, turn the lights OFF, crank this up, invite your friends over, shake your body, and HOT DAMN! Who would ever need drugs? This song is BAM BAM BAM!!!!! The lyric “Teach you tricks that will BLOW YOUR (blow your) Mind” sends me into full throttle like I drank a lot of Surge.
- “The Eraser” Thom Yorke – I can’t really comment on this song because I go to a place in my mind that even I don’t know how I got there. Yep. That’s all I can say, because I’m totally not even here right now, and what’s more scary is I have no idea where I am.
- “There She Goes” The La’s – COLLEGE 90’s KID! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I just LOVE this song. Case closed. I’m completely content with not wondering why I love this song, cause I just don’t care. I love it.
- “Ordinary World” Duran Duran – Man, I raised my arms above my head again. I didn’t know this song had that effect on me. I know what you’re thinking. “Duran Duran?” Yeah I know it. But this song is GUILTY PLEASURE WONDERLAND! I watched the film “Layer Cake” which has an awesome soundtrack and this song is just one of the many that’s on there.
- “Right As Rain” Adele – Another newborn!!!! Forget Amy Winehouse. Forget Duffy. I don’t need any of you. Because this song is better than all of yours combined. It’s just fun. Fun. Fun. Funny fun fun.
- “This Charming Man” The Smiths – You honestly didn’t think I’m make a playlist without The Smiths on there did you? I WANNA LIVE IN LONDON IN THE 80’s! And get pissed, and smoke fags, and go to the loo, and yeah…..all that other British stuff.
- “Mirrorball” Everything But the Girl – MOST UNDER-RATED BAND OF THE 90’S!!!! And that’s the truth! Their stuff is golden. Every song is well crafted, mixed, thought out, electronic chill, awesomeness. If you like bands like Zero 7, give this song a try.
- “Last Goodbye” Jeff Buckley – Possibly the best song every created? Possibly. Jeff Buckley is just awesome. This song is just awesome. I love driving in my car with the window down listening to this. It’s just GOOD. No reason. Just GOOOOOOOOOD.
- “Barely Breathing” Duncan Sheik – I’ve listened to this song more than any song in my life. Not kidding. It’s been my ring tone for the past 3 years. I hear it every single time I’m in TJ Maxx, Ross, Michaels, Outback, and endless other stores. I play it in my car everyday, and I play it on my computer everyday. Do you get the picture?
- “Ruby Blue” Roisin Murphey – WOAH WOAH WOAH. This is gold. I can’t describe it. It’s so unique, and different, and awesome. Just LISTEN to it!
- “Maestro” Hans Zimmer – It may be hard to believe, but I actually listen to instrumental music more than any other music. But a list of 25 instrumental songs would bore the heck out of you (although to me that sounds like an AWESOME playlist) This song comes from the film “The Holiday” and it’s just romantic and lovely and soft. So beautiful.
- “Say Aha” Santogold – So I planned this list to be top 25, and as I was writing I forgot Santogold and Sigur Ros. Which I can’t do. So I’m extending it. Santogold is probably the BEST album of last year. (Well Goldfrapps “Seventh Tree” was, and you wonder why she’s not on my list and its because I can’t choose a single song. The album is a whole, and it’s the most beautiful album I’ve ever heard) Anyways, SANTOGOLD! KICKS BUTTTTTTTT. She’s upbeat, rap, pop, electronic, ska, I don’t know what she is, but she’s AWESOME. And if you don’t listen to any of these songs on my list, listen to this one.
- “Gong” Sigur Ros – You have to have Sigur Ros on a playlist. They create the most beautiful music in the world. And I don’t lie a single second when I say that. Every song on every album is a different masterpiece and its hard to choose one. “Gong” really stands out for me though, so listen to it.
