November/December 2005

When it comes to music, this time of year sucks like no other. Now, I've nothing against Christmas/holiday music as such, but when it starts playing in stores before Halloween and is unavoidable through the end of December, it's too much. And don't get me started on the ironies of today's [cough] stars [cough] -- whose recent hits explore themes like how far down one's throat a tongue can go or how badly she wants a guy -- singing O Holy Night.

I'm one of those mutant individuals who has a very difficult time tuning out music. It's been an important part of my life since childhood, and many songs carry deep meaning or other personal significance for me. So, instead of offering a half-hearted list of holiday music or somesuch, here's a list of songs that almost always bring me to tears because they mean so much to me. No, I won't tell you why; I'm not sure myself why some of them do that. They're also in aphabetical order by artist -- there's no way I could rank these tunes in any other meaningful order. I hope you smile at some of the songs, and perhaps discover some worthy artists as you explore the list.

Sunni's "More Meaningful than Holiday Tunes" Song List

• Old and Wise, by the Alan Parsons Project (Eye in the Sky, Best Of)
• Don't Follow, by Alice in Chains (Jar of Flies)
• Cherish, by The Association (And Then ... Along Comes the Association; Greatest Hits)
• Dancin' in the Ruins, by Blue Oyster Cult (Club Ninja; Workshop of the Telescopes)
• Just Wait, by Blues Traveler (Four)
• 1000 Goodbyes, by Captain Tractor (Bought the Farm)
• Free Yo'Self, by Captain Tractor (East of Edson)
• Beginnings, by Chicago (Chicago Transit Authority; Group Portrait)
• Unforgettable, by Nat King Cole (Penthouse Serenade; Unforgettable; Collector's Edition)
• Sunshine of your Love, by Cream (Disraeli Gears; The Very Best of Cream)
• Digging a Ditch, by the Dave Matthews Band (Busted Stuff)
• Someone to Talk to, the Devlins (Drift)
• Surrounded, by Dream Theater (Images & Words)
• Tom Paine's Bones, by Dick Gaughan (Outlaws & Dreamers)
• When I'm Gone, by Dick Gaughan (Outlaws & Dreamers)
• In Too Deep, by Genesis (Invisible Touch; Turn It On Again)
• Ghost, by the Indigo Girls (Rites of Passage)
• Never Givin' Up, by Al Jarreau (This Time; Best of)
• Don't Tread on Me, by Metallica (Metallica)
• Gone for Good, by Morphine (Yes)
• Brown Eyed Girl, by Van Morrison (Blowin' Your Mind!; Bang Masters; Best Of)
• Alive and Kickin', by Mr. Big (Lean Into It; Greatest Hits)
• Time, by Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon)
• Save Me, by Queen (The Game; Greatest Hits)
• The Show Must Go On, by Queen (Innuendo)
• Best I Can, by Queensryche (Empire)
• People Got to be Free, by the Rascals (The Ultimate Rascals)
• Something for Nothing, by Rush (2112)
• The Analog Kid, by Rush (Signals)
• Time Stand Still, by Rush (Hold Your Fire)
• Cut to the Chase, by Rush (Counterparts)
• This is the Time, by Savatage (Dead Winter Dead)
• The 59th Street Bridge Song, by Simon & Garfunkel (Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme; Greatest Hits)
• Fire and Rain, by James Taylor (Sweet Baby James; Greatest Hits)
• Silent Night, by Uncle Bonsai (Boys Want Sex in the Morning; The Inessential Uncle Bonsai)
• Here I Go Again, by Whitesnake (Whitesnake)
• Cinnamon Girl, by Neil Young (Everybody Knows This is Nowhere; Decade)
• Keep Me in Your Heart, by Warren Zevon (The Wind)