Trip Down Memory Lane

I was on the car driving back home, humming Careless Whisper by George Michael and feeling nostalgic, so figured I would share a few videos from my childhood/teens.

These, and others, are songs that combined well thought out, meaningful lyrics with wonderful, touching melodies. I can’t say I have felt towards music in any way even remotely similar to what these made me feel back then, in the past few years, even couple of decades.

It was tough to pick just 10; there were so many awesome songs back then. But here they are.

In no particular order:

1. Gary Moore – Still Got The Blues
That guitar blows me away to this day, it’s almost as if it’s crying, I don’t know.
This is such a superb song.

2. The Animals – House of the Rising Sun
There have been so many versions of this song but I still find this one the best.
When I was a kid, my parents got me an organ and, amongst other popular songs, it had this instrumental one pre-recorded.
I did not listen to the original version until much later but it was part of my life from a young age.

3. Soul Asylum – Runaway Train
I was a pre-teen when I first heard this, didn’t really know much English back then so I would just sing along as best as it could. I thought it was a very intense song but did not realize how sad it was until I understood the lyrics later on.

4. Extreme – More Than Words
Possibly the best love song ever made, in my humble opinion – both because of the melody and the lyrics.
And it is proof that you really don’t need many gimmicks to make an outstanding song.

5. Richard Marx – Hazard
I always found this song so eerie and yet was compelled to listen to it over and over again.
It sounded dangerous and immensely sad, at the same time.
Again, I had no idea what the guy said at the time.
Right Here Waiting by the same guy was another that touched me very much.

6. The Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody
A classic, if there ever was one. Incredibly romantic and yet unrelenting.
I believe this song can move the stoniest of hearts!

7. Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
Who can forget singing IIIII eeee IIIII will always loooove yooooouuu from the top of their lungs?
I know I did!

7. Ben E. King – Stand by Me
This song has one of the coolest rhythms of all time. The gourd and upright bass make such a cool combo!
I still need to watch the movie. I read the novella it was based on and now I really need to get to the film.
But boy the song is an all time favourite.

8. Phil Collins – Against All Odds
There are several Phil Collins songs I could have chosen but this one was definitely one of my favourites.
Such a sad and intense melody… It is one of those rare songs that takes its time building it up and then it just blows you away.

9. Scorpions – Still Loving You
Speaking of songs that build up to crescendo and then blow you away… This has got to be right at the top.

10. Radiohead – Creep

Boy, this song made me nuts! Still does. So deep, it has a way of crawling under your skin and leave you raw.

And the bonus track… I remember dancing this when I was little, usually with my cousins. It was HUGE here in Portugal.

Kaoma – Lambada

As I said, it was really, really hard picking just these, there are so many more I loved, from even before I was born, stuff from The Moody Blues (Nights In White Satin, anyone?) to Nirvana.

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So… Which song(s) would you add to this list?
Which still mean a lot to you, taking you back to happy times or even sad ones?