A song in a language that you don't know.

This took me a minute to think about but one standout came to mind: 747 by Kent. They are Swedish as is the song if memory serves and it happens to be one I love. One online moniker I used in college came from this song actually. I'm pretty sure I'm linking to the Swedish version because they did release it in English. If it plays, and you can understand - look up the Swedish version too as it's well worth it!

If today were a genre, what would it be? Pick a matching song.

The genre: classic rock/pop rock. The band: Queen. The song: Don't Stop Me Now

It was a good day today. Some really good things happened to my wife and it marks the end of a challenging season and the beginning of a new, better season.

I'm a shootin' star, leapin' through the sky like a tiger Defyin' the laws of gravity

What song reminds you of your first love?

The first song that came to mind I've already used for a similar question (Umbrellas by Sleeping At Last) so I'll go with a current song that makes me think of her: Crush by Indigo De Souza. It's poppy, catchy and fun. It captures that excitement at the initial stages of dating that (hopefully) carries through with love.

Ooh, I think I got a crush on you Ooh, I think I got a crush on you

Sidenote: Precipice is an incredible album. It's a definite contender for album of the year for me. Check it out if you haven't yet!

Describe a concert that changed your perspective on music or life. Pick a song from that artist or band.

It was the summer of '98 I think (maybe '99). The End of the Ring Wars had just come out and The Appleseed Cast were playing at a small festival of mostly christian bands in OKC (I don't think TAC ever identified as such though). I talked the youth minister at our church at the time into going and a small group went.

I was mesmerized by The Appleseed Cast. It was everything right about the merging of emo/post-hardcore/post-rock. I was even more deeply moved by the final song. The bassist put down their bass and grabbed a saxophone and I was done. I played several years of saxophone in junior high/high school, did a some ska stuff a couple of times with a pop-punk band my brother was in but never heard it in this sort of context. I was blown away. They are a go-to band to this day.

Today's song is Untitled 1/2 from The End of the Ring Wars which I think is the only studio recording they did with a sax.

What artist or band changed your music taste forever? Pick your favorite song of theirs.

I grew up as a PK - Preachers Kid - so was limited in my music exposure to worship stuff and classic rock. My dad was a youth minister still when I was growing up in the 90s (middle school/high school for me) and got sent boxes of CDs for the youth group that ended up with my brother and I mostly (they were at the church but didn't really get play outside of us); it included a little known at the time but destined to be really important label called Tooth & Nail. MXPX was one of those early bands and was one of my first exposures to more of a punk sound and, more importantly, opened the door to harder genres. They aren't my favorite band by any stretch and I don't listen to them all that often anymore but I do credit them with changing my music taste in this way and they are the band that immediately came to mind when reading this question.

My favorite song of theirs is probably Middlename off of "Life in General". It's not one of those rough-around-the-edges early songs but it's probably my favorite of theirs. They also have a great cover of Take on Me if you are interested - look it up!

What was your favorite song in high school? Why did it resonate?

I don't listen to this band nearly as much anymore but I loved The Get Up Kids in high school. I got 4 Minute Mile on a cassette from my cousin and wore it out (and eventually got the CD at Hot Topic because where else would you go to get mid to late 90s emo/punk/hardcore albums???).

Fall Semester is the song that stuck with me. If not my favorite it was in the top 3 in high school. It's the one I remember. And it's lyrics make sense for that:

If I tried, would you still call me son? If I tried, would you call me at all? If I say that I'll go, regardless of what you want me to do If I say that I'll go, regardless, I'm better off without I'm better off without you

If I change my mind, it won't be soon enough for you But I'm not you I'm not you I'm not you

I'll try to compromise for you to see There's so many other things for me to find out Run myself into the ground Would you please forgive me if I found my way back home?

Everything I see Everything I do Everywhere I've been These mean nothing to you?

It captures that angst of trying to figure out who you are while dealing with the expectations of others. It balances the desire your parents have for you with your own desire to explore the world and figure it. "There's so many other things for me to find out." A perfect emotive high school anthem.

Pick a song from an artist or band that’s had the biggest impact on your life.

I don't love picking the same band over and over again for these - there are too many great bands out there! The prompt is worded in such a way though that a repeat band is going to be brought up: Mineral. I love this band - no question about that. One of my biggest dreams (that'll go completely unrealized) is seeing their final show at the Best Friends Forever Fest. There are so many good bands at that festival but alas Vegas is expensive and tickets are expensive. I digress though - Mineral has been a defining band throughout my life. I'm always going back to them. My wife rolls her eyes but I still love turning it on whenever I get a chance.

One song I love that I haven't mentioned here yet is Unfinished off of their second full length End Serenading. It's a definitive 2nd wave emo love song if there is such a thing.

I wish you could put your ear up to my heart And hear how much I love you I wish you could put your ear up to my heart And hear how much I love you

I still dream of December Dancing together With rings on our fingers

And the two shall become And the two shall become, become

What is a song that instantly energizes you?

Fun's Over by Drug Church is the one. That driving guitar, the anthem at the chorus - it's all just converts to energy. It's got the vibes for sure.

Did you sing along to anything today? Describe the moment.

I've been on a bit of a nostalgia kick this evening thinking through songs performed live that didn't ever (or won't ever) get a legitimate studio release but are amazing none-the-less. It's hard to link them because of the lack of a studio release but I did quietly sing along. Majesty Snowbird by Sufjan Stevens, the "live in paris in '94" version of Round Here by The Counting Crows (I'll link this because it actually is in Apple Music), Post Malone performing Smells Like Teen Spirit with the surviving members of Nirvana.

Lots of nostalgia. Lots of amazing music. All of it quite old (I think the live version of Majesty Snowbird floating around is from 2008 and the others are from the mid '90s). You won't go wrong looking any of those up on youtube.

Think back to your childhood: What is your earliest music memory? Share that song and your story!

This was an easy question to answer! Growing up, I was exposed to a lot of music. I'd trade punk and emo mix tapes with my cousin every time we saw him, my dad was a Worship pastor so he did lots of singing and guitar playing, I played violin in elementary school and tenor saxophone in middle school and high school AND whenever we went on road trips my parents would challenge my brother and I to "Name That Tune" for control of the radio. Of course the radio would always start with their music, typically the classic rock station.

For several years my brother and I were horrible because it wasn't the music of our generation. But things gradually started changing. We'd occasionally even win. One of the stand out songs I remember is "More Than A Feeling* by Bosston. Their whole self-titled album is great and includes a number of songs we got familiar with on the radio but that's a standout.