I saw this music ask on Twitter where people are supposed to send you a number and you answer the corresponding question but I kind of feared it would flop, with no one sending a number, and I also got fascinated with some of these asks so I decided to answer them all.
I think it's a pretty cool thing because I struggle to introduce myself to others and show what makes me me but things I'm passionate about help a lot with revealing parts of myself.
Music Ask Game
1. A song you like with a color in the title
Blue Eyes by Cary Brothers
I think I discovered this song through the movie "Garden State" and I was today years old when I learned that it isn't a band but a solo artist whose surname is "Brothers".
2. A song you like with a number in the title
1914 by Florist
3. A song that reminds you of summertime
T-shirt Weather by Circa Waves
4. A song that reminds you of someone you would rather forget about
Jasmine (2016 Version) by The Magic Gang
This is just one of a few songs that remind me of this one guy (I had a massive crush on, who was my first kiss and then turned me down) because we were pen pals who bonded over music and used to make small playlists for each other, so I have a bunch of songs I discovered because of him. I guess a part of me doesn't really want to forget about him but the fallout really fucking hurt.
5. A song that needs to be played LOUD
I Still Believe by Frank Turner
This song means so damn much to me. I get the chills every time I listen to it. The lines "I still believe in the need for guitars and drums and desperate poetry" and "remember folks, we're not just saving lives, we're saving souls" live in my mind rent free.
6. A song that makes you want to dance
Dancing In The Moonlight by Toploader
I believe I discovered this one through the Swedish movie "Eva & Adam - fyra födelsedagar och ett fiasko" I loved as a kid. After that, Toploader was one of the first bands I got interested in.
7. A song to drive to
Communion Girls by Malojian
I usually listen to anything I feel in the mood for while in a car or on a train, so I went with a song I have a vivid memory of hearing on a car drive while it was raining.
8. A song about drugs or alcohol
The Next Round by Frank Turner
As an alcoholic I have listened and cried to this song a whole lot. I think it conveys what it feels like to fall into addiction really well and in a beautiful but heartbreaking way. I recommend listening to it if you want to get a bit of an understanding of addicts.
(On a side note: it bothers me that this question distinguishes between drugs and alcohol (as does most of the world) even though alcohol is a fucking drug. You can simply say "drugs" and that way "alcohol" is in there. It bugs me as an alcoholic cause it always seems like an attempt at playing alcohol and its harms down. So many people put themselves onto pedestals for "not taking drugs", meanwhile they drink alcohol. It's simply hypocritical.)
9. A song that makes you happy
How Beautiful Life Can Be by The Lathums
It's a song that's also making me think but mostly it just reminds me of the little things in life that I enjoy, tiny stuff like seeing a snail on a walk (I love snails), drinking chocolate milk or getting inspiration for a new story.
10. A song that makes you sad
I couldn't possibly choose just one. As someone with several mental health problems I've had my fair share of emo playlists and the top sad songs for me are probably:
My Body Is A Cage by Arcade Fire
I listened to this so much like 10 years ago. It was when my depression was really fucking bad and I felt so seen by these lyrics. The part starting at 02:11 always wrecks me.
Black Orchid by Blue October
CAREFUL HERE cause this one talks about suicide/suicidal thoughts! "Maybe life's not for everyone" is probably the most devastating sentence I've ever heard.
Something To Believe by Philip Labes
This one evokes a different kind of sadness. Weltschmerz. It's about how heartbroken and powerless you feel about the state the world is in and it hits home.
11. A song that you never get tired of
There is a lot of songs I'll never get tired of so now is the chance to plug two of my favourite bands, who I discovered during my teenage years and who helped me through them a lot:
Don't Look Back In Anger by Oasis
My most well-loved hoodie is one I bought off Etsy or Red Bubble or something and says "please don't put your life in the hands of a rock'n'roll band".
Live Forever by Oasis
I was so obsessed with this band. My room was full of posters and printed out pictures and the first concert I went to was of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
Music When The Lights Go Out by The Libertines
When the Libertines obsession started, my posters and printed out pictures slowly changed. I got my dad to buy me one of their signature red jackets that I still display in my flat on a mannequin and the first tattoo I got was the word "libertine" on my upper arm.
I Get Along by The Libertines
It was Oasis and The Libertines that made me get fluent in English because I watched all the interviews and clips they were in religiously. These two bands were the biggest part of my youth. In general my music taste back then consisted to 90% of british bands. I wanted to live in the UK so bad. With the brexit and the general state it's in now though... nah.
12. A song from your preteen years
There is a bunch of stuff I could list here but since I didn't really care about music during that time, it has to be the band my sister used to listen to during her teenage years and that I later fell in love with too. At that time I was greatly annoyed by her playing her music all the time because we were sharing a room but now I'm glad this is how I discovered Fotos. Me and my sister went to a concert together a few years ago. I can't choose just one song though so you'll get two again:
Giganten by Fotos
Nach dem Goldrausch by Fotos
My favourite part is 02:40
To this day this is one of the only German artists I listen to.
13. One of your favorite 80's songs
Before my Oasis obsession, which really got me devoted to music, I had a brief Journey phase because of watching Scrubs. Those were the first CDs I bought/got for my birthday or Christmas. I could list a bunch of songs again but I'll never get done with this list if I do. Also some of my favourites are from the 70s, not the 80s, so they wouldn't count anyway.
Suzanne by Journey
...this song is about a stalker, right? At least I always understood it that way. I never checked though and it's a banger either way haha
14. A song that you would love played at your wedding
I don't think I'll ever get married but if I have to name a romantic song, the first that comes to mind is:
Doesn't Matter by Ellen Krauss
I watched a few episodes of that season of Så mycket bättre because of Omar Rudberg but this one blew me away instantly.
15. A song that is a cover by another artist
Cut Your Bangs by Girlpool
The original is by Radiator Hospital but I like this slower version with the two female voices harmonising a lot.
16. One of your favorite classical songs
I love Modest Mussorgski's orchestrated version of Pictures At An Exhibition a lot. Is this what "classical" means here? Is instrumental okay? Anyway, I'll go with Promenade
17. A song you would sing as a duet with someone on karaoke
Christmas TV by Slow Club
18. A song from the year you were born
You Get What You Give by New Radicals
19. A song that makes you think about life
Again, there is a bunch. I have a playlist for such songs called "Pensive Parkinson" (...as a word play on Pansy Parkinson from Harry Potter... don't ask me why, it doesn't make any sense, I just thought it was funny). But I think the one that fits best here is:
A TV Show called Earth by Philip Labes
20. A song that has many meanings to you
I thought about this for a while but I couldn't find a song. Usually I get pretty strong feelings/thoughts/vibes from a song that are quite clear, no matter if it's the actual meaning of the song or not. So I don't have anything for this.
21. A song with a person's name in the title
Katie Queen Of Tennessee by The Apache Relay
22. A song that moves you forward
Your Heart Is A Muscle The Size Of Your Fist by Ramshackle Glory
23. A song you think everybody should listen to
I already shared two songs by Philip Labes but I have to mention him again because he makes such amazing and important songs. Most of them are political and I can only recommend you give them all a listen:
Jeff Found A Genie by Philip Labes
This is probably my favourite song by him. It's full of very well thought through metaphors and mental images and tells a story that is easy to interpret but also genius in its facettes. If you don't want to click on any of the other links, this is the one I'd want you to give a try!
It's The Guns by Philip Labes
"You're trying to untangle things by adding extra string" is such a phenomenal line.
Don't Politicise This by Philip Labes
24. A song by a band you wish were still together
Swings And Waterslides by Viola Beach
It's not a band that broke up, it's way more tragic than that. The whole band, including their manager, died in a car accident. They were still so young and had so much potential but only ever got to release one album.
25. A song by an artist no longer living
I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
26. A song that makes you want to fall in love
Wrong by Omar Rudberg
27. A song that breaks your heart
The songs from number 10 kind of fit here too and since I am already naming way more songs than intended, I'll let them apply to this number too.
28. A song by an artist with a voice you love
Barfuß Am Klavier by AnnenMayKantereit
A few nights ago I watched a bunch of videos of people reacting to hearing Henning May's voice for the first time and that was really funny because they all stopped in their tracks, shocked and amazed.
It would have fit in number 15 but this cover of Tom's Diner by Giant Rooks and AnnenMayKantereit apparently went viral on Tiktok a few years ago and that's what many people reacted to.
On a side note: I love Giant Rooks and saw both bands live at a festival once.
29. A song that you remember from your childhood
Ohrwurm by Wise Guys
They are an acapella band and my parents always put their CDs on on long car rides. My whole family went to their concerts too. It was quite fun.
30. A song that reminds you of yourself
My Own Person by Ezra Williams
It's kind of an identity crisis song and I relate to that on so many different levels, regarding so many different parts and crises of mine. I still don't really know who I am, I think. I once wrote a line that describes it a bit:
"I haven't grown into my life. In parts I have grown out of it."
Okay so that was it. This was fun!
