The Sound of Music

Dear Diary,

10 SONGS I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO (and make me smile uncontrollably whenever I hear them):

Sleeping Satellites (Tamsin Archer) - The best thing about working at the pub is the music. The landlord downloaded a programme called "Spotify" - which is apparently the next big thing. Anyway, it means I get to enjoy and hear new music, as well as re-discovering old ones I'd conciously forgotten. Like this! It's so beautiful and profound and spacey - the minute I heard it after 16 years, I got goosebumps like you wouldn't believe. Have a listen, you'll surely recognise it.

Porcelain (Moby) - Oh my god. This has to be one of my favourite songs OF ALL TIME. As I said to Lisa a few weeks ago - this is a song that I would physically MARRY, if that were possible. In a heartbeat. I can't remember the last time I heard something so stunning and sweepy and marvellous - and was there EVER a better scene to play it over than that one out of "The Beach"? This song never fails to make me smile - and it's great for falling asleep to.

Kissed by a Rose (Seal) - Again, if I could marry this song, I would. It's simply PERFECT. I'm a huge sucker for harmonies, so as you can imagine, this is song is a veritable 3-minute orgasm of wonderful-ness. No idea how Seal performs this Live, with all 208 (probably) harmonies that appears in it, but let me tell you one thing - "Only Men Aloud," 20-part choir, 2 men for each harmony, 5 feet away from me..... YES. I will never ever stop loving this song, because it is outstanding.

Uninvited (Alanis Morrisette) - Proof, if more were needed, that I am really REALLY getting into Alanis, and that she is fantastic. I was originally looking for the 2009 Freemason's mix, and ending up downloading The Morrisette's version as well. Oh my god. If only I could sound this powerful and magical with 4 piano notes and a 24-piece orchestra behind me. And I wouldn't normally put three links in one paragraph, but you just HAVE to see this. Yes, she looks slightly drunk at times, but EPIC goosebumps. And just LOOK at that orchestra get their groove on! Perfect for sticking on when you're alone in the house and want to belt out an enormously agonising emotio-gasm.

Hold on (KT Tunstall) - For some unknown reason, I don't normally like KT Tunstall. No idea why - probably cos she looks a bit odd and she just irritates me. But I heard this playing in New Look a while ago, and couldn't get the beat out my head. Plus, it sounds a bit like "Walk like an Egyptian," which makes me happy.

Work (Kelly Rowland/Freemason's) - Wow. GodDAMN I love this song, it's the catchiest beat in the WORLD. Heard it whilst out bowling with Anne about a month ago, and the second I heard that opening, I was hooked. I'm a sucker for Indian instrumentals (hence why I love "What goes around comes around" so much) and it just makes you want to hit the nearest dancefloor and shake-ass. Although don't listen to the original - once you've heard the Freemason's remix, the original just sounds like a child trying to cover it on a keyboard.

Golden Brown (The Stranglers) - Oh my god, just listen to that harpsichord. LISTEN TO IT!! Have you ever heard anything so fantastic and swaying and fairground-like? Almost makes you want to do a waltz and grab some candyfloss. I actually have no idea what the song's actually about, as I always get too distracted by the background music to focus on the lyrics.

My Little Runaway (Dell Shannon) - Yet another gem discovered whilst listening to the background music at work all evening. It's so old-sounding and fantastic, and makes you full of the "your music today is all a load of machine-produced WANK!" spirit. And if that weren't enough, it was the theme to an old TV show called "Crime Story" AND has the most crazy wonderful keyboard solo I've heard in a long time. Watch the Live version as well, it's just fantastic and so energy-filled. But, thinking about how much old music I prefer to current music, I've come to the conclusion that I SO belong in another era.

Aint no sunshine (Bill Withers, Jackson 5,) - For some reason, I cannot get this out my head. It's always great to stick on and walk moodily down the street like you're Hugh Grant in the famous market scene from Notting Hill. But the Jackson 5 version gives me chills - I never knew they covered it, and it almost seems kind of poignant, given recent events (can't believe it was a month ago). But damn, if anyone can sing like they're genuinely heartbroken, it's Jacko.

Common People (Pulp) - I seem to be getting into songs about 10 years after they came out. I do the same with fashion too, if I'm honest. But this song - I don't know why, but I just love it. The lyrics, the melodies - and the idea that a woman just came up to a man one day and said "I'm tired of being rich, I wanna see how the other side live!" Brilliant.

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