I am, above all things, a music lover. That’s not to say I possess any musical ability whatsoever, unless you count memorizing every word to every song I’ve ever heard. That makes me the Rain Man of song lyrics…..definitely, definitely “My Country tis of Thee”….

I was one of those teenagers who slapped on big can-style headphones and lost myself in music, the likes of Styx, Peter Frampton and Aerosmith. It drove my parents nuts...ha ha!

It has been said that music both reflects and influences society. I don’t know who said it or I would give them props, or even if I got the adage correct, but I know that it does both for me.  .

While songs like “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith, “Locomotive Breath” by Jethro Tull and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar are all rocking, classic songs, they don’t really get you thinking about the meaning of life, and one’s place in the world. These are among the ones I think make quite a statement.

Disclaimer:

First of all, there is no order to this list. Does there need to be?

Second, and most important, this is not in any way intended to be the “definitive” list.

The wonderful thing about music is that no matter how much you think you know, someone else comes along and shows you a secret door to a vast new array of artists, songs, lyrics and ideas.

This has less to do with your personal beliefs than in how we treat each other as human beings. 

Pink is definitely not one of the stupid girls, and her scathing video to this song, making fun of them, should be mandatory viewing for little girls. The women’s movement went from “We’ve come a long way, baby” to Britney Spears getting more press than Condoleeza Rice. It’s not condemning the idea of being one of the Beautiful People, just in losing yourself to do so.

Violence, death, mayhem.

Greed, Lust, Narcissism.

These are what the media bombards us with daily. Jack Johnson, by his music and his very existence, reminds us that there is plenty of good in the world. What a wonderful world it would be if the positive got its fair share of press.

www.jackjohnsonmusic.com

One person cannot change the world, but each small act for good at least helps counteract the evil in this world.  Even when it looks like good is on the losing side, the crazy optimist in us all clings to hope.

“Its not the world that I am changing – I do this so the world we know will not change me”

The ultimate “Live and Let Live” song, set to a rocking, funky beat.  Clothes, hair, skin color, financial status, musical taste, who cares?  We’ve got good music.

Human beings are self-destructive creatures, and we are hurtling ourselves towards extinction.  Who better to drive that point home than a rock band, whose near-demise (both literally and musically) is the stuff of rock legend.

Love him or hate him, Marshall Mathers knows how to write lyrics that push everyone’s buttons. This song reminds us that in order for good to still exist, we need a demon to collectively hate.

"No I'm not the first king of controversy
I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley
to do black music so selfishly
and used it to get myself wealthy"

Spoken like a man who understands and accepts his place in the world.

We take children and try to mold their brains and turn them into little versions of ourselves, and then we are all shocked and shaken when they turn on us.

This song takes on the notion that it’s not all that scary to let your teenager have an original thought. Being an individual is as rare as it is difficult, Mom & Dad don’t need to add to the pressure.

“Meet the new boss,

Same as the old boss”

On the one hand, you could say that this song says we are stupid for trying to fight for change when we end up with the same result.

On the other, you could say we are hopeful as we fight for change.

Pleased to meet you, won’t you guess my name?

The idea that evil lurks everywhere, and that history has been fueled by this evil, is not a new concept. It’s just that the Stones almost make the devil seem cool.

O.K, so this one’s a truly emotional choice.  The early history of Rock n Roll- theorizing that the death of Buddy Holly was the catalyst for events that robbed America of its innocence, musically, socially and politically.  I don’t agree with the theory, but the song just spins my head, every time.

This song needs no explanation, other than that its as relevant now as in the 70’s. I am not really a Beatles fan, but love the poetry of John Lennon. Aside from that, I just can’t hear it without picturing Forrest Gump assisting Lennon with the lyrics.