This is the first post in my brand new feature ‘Five Songs That Changed My Life’. Interested in participating? Leave a comment below, or e-mail me at mliss024[at]gmail[dot]com. New posts will be up every Friday for as long as I have people interested in participating :)
I thought it was only fit to start my blog feature by talking about the music that has changed MY life. I am a music junkie at heart, and without music in my life? I don’t know where I would be. Here is a little bit about the music that has changed my life.
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We all have those songs that have impacted our lives in some way. There are many tracks that remind me of the exact moment I fell in love with a band; others have stayed with me because I listened to them on repeat while I traveled. Whatever the moment, the song stuck, and that’s what matters.
Choosing only 5 songs is nearly impossible for me. I think for each era of my life, a new set of 5 songs emerge and they begin to shape the person I am, and that I’m becoming. I have such an intense love for the songs that I had on repeat in high school, but they haven’t all necessarily stood the true test of time, I don’t still listen to ALL those bands, despite the fact that at one point or another, I couldn’t get enough of them.
There are more than five songs that have changed my life. Many, many more. Today, I’m going to share the five that I still listen to and love as much as the first day I heard them.
1) I Woke Up in a Car by Something Corporate
The first band (and musician) that I remember loving so much, it physically hurt. I was 14, in my room with this album, and this song is just the one that has always stood out for me most. 8 years later (two years ago) I got to see this band live during their reunion tour, and still to this day, Andrew McMahon is my absolute favorite singer/songwriter. He not only inspired my love for music and my appreciation for songwriting, he is a big reason I pursued my passion when I felt like I had no direction in life.
2) The Middle by Jimmy Eat World
I discovered this song in high school, not knowing what a big impact this band would have on me for years to come. Not only are JEW still together making wonderful music, they are a band that I rely on to get me through tough days, much in the same way that I rely on some of my best friends. Their song ’23′ is the anthem to my current twenty-third year. Their concerts have changed my life! They are absolutely on my “must interview” list for CONFRONT Magazine.
3) Hum Hallelujah by Fall Out Boy
I’ve been a fan of Fall Out Boy since high school and their ‘From Under the Cork Tree’ album- any of those songs could have easily made this list- but it was ‘Hum Hallelujah’ that inspired my very first blog. The title of that blog was “I could write it better than you ever felt it”, lyrics from that song. I’ve always taken a deeper meaning from this particular track, and I always thank it for giving me the courage to start writing my life out in the open, something that would eventually change my life.
4) Old School by Hedley
This track just coincidentally began playing as I started writing this. This band’s first album is by far one of the most influential in my life, and it is because of them and their countless concerts that I have some of my best friends today. The day that they played a stadium show in Montreal for the first time ever, my friends and I stood up to this song, linked arms, swayed, and there were definitely some tears as we sang along. This band has seen me grow up, and the concert experiences I’ve had because of them are still my most memorable from when I was 18-21 years old.
5) Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran
The only song on this list that comes from an artist I haven’t listened to since a teenager, but I think it’s fair to say that Ed Sheeran has gained his place in life changing moments. I discovered his music because Rupert Grint from Harry Potter was in his music video. This isn’t that song, but since then, almost two years ago now, I have had his music on repeat. This is the song that he opened with both times I’ve seen him live, and it is spectacular. It’s also my favorite from his album.
Beyond just this song though, I have grown as a music writer because of Ed Sheeran. His music has been with me in some of the craziest years of my LIFE. University, my job at CONFRONT as an editor, all the crazy days where I almost went insane… His music has just *been* there. I can’t wait to road trip to Toronto in June and see him live for the third time. He is one hell of a musician, and this song is just the start of it.
I love this and would love to participate (I will email you).
It’s amazing how certain songs can transport you to a specific time in your life.
I agree! I’d love for you to participate as well. I’ll e-mail you back ASAP.
I think this will be a great series, and I can’t wait to participate! I absolutely loved The Middle by Jimmy Eat World in high school, and it still remains one of my favorite songs. I rock out to every time.
That was definitely THE jimmy eat world song that introduced me to them. The first time I saw it performed live it almost ended me LOL.
Holy hell! I forgot how good Hum Hallelujah was! Now listening on repeat…
RIGHT?! I really loved that entire album. I didn’t *want* to, because I was so keen on loving only their older material at the time, but it really was a great record.
I love this list! Great choices
Why thank you
You’re a Hedley fan! Love it! I went to Jacob’s birthday party in Detroit way back in 2006 haha. I’ve been a fan of the band FOREVER. It was so weird when I finally saw them play in an arena… I was so used to seeing them in little bars. I think “Saturday” is my favourite Hedley song.
Oh man, it’s so rare to come across another Hedley fan in the blogosphere! I forget you’re Canadian and therefore totally understand this
I’ve been a fan of the band since I’m like 15-16, and I’m 23 now! I love Saturday too. I was listening to their entire first album trying to pick a song for this feature, but I realized that it was on their next album, when they really got BIG, that it started to affect my life, so I went with Old School. I love all their music though. It makes me so sad to think I may never see them in a small venue again- last time they were in Montreal I went to the Bell Center to see them & it was amazing, but also crazy and sad all at the same time.
I love this series. This music took me back, especially Jimmy Eat World. And that is my favorite Ed Sheeran song too. I get chills.
It was hard for me to pick an Ed Sheeran song, but I must admit this is one that has stood out for me a lot in the past two years. We play it at my work now and I get so annoyed when a customer approaches me while it plays LOL. In my mind I’m all like “you couldn’t have waited THREE MINUTES to need help?!”… I think that’s a sign of a good song haha.
Oh my gosh! I just had a Fallout Boy flashback. I absolutely loved them for a time during college and Hum Hallelujah is a great song. it’s so nice when they pop up on my iPod and it’s a blast from the past
Thanks for reminding me!
Ah yes, the FOB flashbacks, ha! I’ve been having them more & more since they announced their reunion + tour!! I love Hum Hallelujah though. I always felt like it was such an underrated song, but I think more people than I realize loved that one!
Love the first two tracks! I Woke Up In A Car is actually my favorite song of all time.
REALLY!?!?! I knew there was a greater reason the two of us were destined to be friends, lol! <3
I have only heard 2 of these 5 songs! So thanks for giving me some new music to check out. This was fun to read! I, too, have fallen hard for Ed Sheeran! His voice and lyrics are amazing!!
The Middle would most definitely be on my list too. This is such a great idea! I’d love to participate in this
I’d love to have you participate!
Can you e-mail me mliss024@gmail.com? That way I can give you a date, etc and be able to send you a reminder e-mail.