Now I’m starting to have trouble. Back in the day, I used to listen to the radio, or go out to parties or hang out with friends, and I got exposed to music of various types. Now, not so much.
Most of my exposure to some popular culture now would be from movies and a bit of TV. Although I don’t watch a lot of TV, I am very fond of So You think You Can Dance, and have seen three or four seasons of American Idol. But I realise my choices are severely limited. So I’m inspired to be more proactive about checking out new music, but for now, here's what I’ve got.
For 2008, I can’t find a favourite song, but it was a very good season for So You think You Can Dance. So I’m going to pick one of my favourite dances for you instead. My favourite dancer was Katee, and I think probably my favourite dance was her and Joshua dancing to Hometown Glory by Adele. On the back of that performance, I think Katee should have won! Another one I considered was Twitch and Kherington dancing to Dreaming With a Broken Heart by John Mayer. But I eventually decided on Katee and Twitch dancing to Mercy by Duffy. Mainly because the dance is the most accessible to those of you who are not dance connoisseurs.
For 2009, I’ve again gone with something from SYTYCD. For this year, I picked “the butt dance” performed by Randi and Evan to Koop Island Blues by Koop ft Ane Brun. Jazz is not usually my thing but the dance is way cool.
I didn’t have anything for 2010, so had a look down the Billboard Top 100 Songs of 2010. Nothing much there to get me excited, but one name jumped out. Although I didn’t see the season of American Idol with Chris Daughtry, I had seen him since and thought Daughtry’s song Life After You might have possibilities. After listening to a few Daughtry songs, I think I like him. So here it is.
2011 – I’m not especially a fan of Lady Gaga, but I do like Edge of Glory. And I picked this video as she’s dancing with Mark, who I first saw on So You Think You Can Dance in 2008.
2012 – Nashville is nothing but a soap opera, I know that, and without the music, I wouldn’t give it five minutes. But the first season had some fabulous songs, and I’m not even a country fan especially. So many that I don’t know which one to choose. From Hayden Panettiere, I can’t decide between “Undermine”, “We are Water” and “Nothing in This World Will Ever Break My Heart Again”. Ok, for better for worse, I’ve called it – We Are Water.
2012 continued – And there has to be one from Clare Bowen in there too. I think I’ll go for Fade Into You, performed with Sam Palladio. These two performers aren’t even American; Clare is Australian and Sam is British, but they are superb musicians and (to me anyway) nailed the accents.
Oh, I can’t stop there. Even though it’s from Season 2, 2013 – I gotta put in one more from Nashville. Believing by Lennon & Maisy Stella and Charles Esten.
Carrying on with 2013 – Time for another kiwi. Here’s Lorde with Royals.
And 2013 yet again – Titanium, American Idol 2013 finale, sung by Angie Miller and Adam Lambert. Don’t know when the original was released. Don’t care. This is the only version for me.
2014 - Hozier – Like Real People Do – a rather sweet song that I heard on So You Think You Can Dance and choreographed a routine to for my arthritis ladies.
You may have noticed this is the last week of 2016, and I haven’t finished my 60 years. That because I’ve set myself a challenge. By next Friday, I want to find a few new songs from 2015 & 2016. Can’t wait to see what I come up with!
Thanks for reading, and hopefully listening and enjoying at least some of them.
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Some of my previous posts about music:
• Benefits of joining a community choir
• 60 years of my favourite music – 1957 to 1966
• 60 years of my favourite music – 1967 to 1971
• 60 years of my favourite music – 1972 to 1976
• Singing carols with the NZ Symphony Orchestra PLUS my best loved Christmas music
• 60 years of my favourite music – 1976 to 1983
• 60 years of my favourite music – 1983 to 1988
• 60 years of my favourite music – 1988 to 1994
• 60 years of my favourite music – 1995 to 2001
• 60 years of my favourite music – 2001 to 2007
