I Won't Stop Believing

The other night at the bar, a friend posed a question.

“Ok, what is your favorite guilty-pleasure song?”

As everyone listed their choices (heavy on the Kelly Clarkson), I thought long and hard. But I couldn’t think of one. Maybe it is that I don’t feel guilty for any of the music I listen to. Or maybe it was just the tequila.

“You don’t know yours? How about I call your phone and let it play?” my friend joked.

She was referring to my new ring tone: “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey.

“That’s not a guilty pleasure, that’s just good music!”

“Oh please! Every hipster kid in America suddenly thought the same as soon as they heard Journey on the OC!”

I watched my share of the OC in college (who didn’t  have ‘OC and forties’ nights with their dorm buddies?) but my love of Journey was not born from some Ryan/Marissa love scene. Or Seth/Summer love scene? No, I think it was a Seth/Anna love scene…

Whatever the scene was, it wasn’t what made me love the song. I love “Don’t Stop Believing” for the same reason I like “Your Love” by The Outfield.

Because it’s awesome.

So who cares where I first heard it?

How many people do you know that fell back in love with The Pixies after Fight Club came out? Or maybe got into The Fray because of "Grey’s Anatomy?" Or perhaps saw that damn Target commercial and are now suddenly fans of The Go Team?

I won’t feel ‘guilty’ for any of the music I listen to, regardless of why. And I certainly won’t change my ring tone.

After all, I changed it to Journey for a good reason. Big Pimpin’ was getting old.

I would ask which songs are your guilty-pleasures, but I know better. Instead, how about you share which songs you refuse to feel guilty for loving? That's something I'd be more interested to know, anyway.

P.S. In case the photo up top didn’t clue you in, I’m not Dan. Nope, it’s me, Bridget, that Starbucks-hating, Veteran-loving Seven Days office manager back again! And it seems I’ll be here a little more often. I know Dan already has a tall blonde by his side (Hi Joanna!), but I’m going to do my best to fill her shoes in the online music musing capacity. Because as much as I love blaming my office accounting errors on the fact that I was a Creative Writing major, I’m even more excited to expose myself to all of your criticism with no excuse at all.

Especially you, 'Porknolt'. I’m saving all my Grace Potter comments for you.

Comments

[Mistress Maeve]

Hot damn, I love The Outfield! No guilt there.

[gd]

i love sound.

[dan]

Def Leppard. There, I said it . . . man, that feels good.

[tyler]

Billy Joel's "An Innocent Man". Love that album.

[colin]

wow! I swear I was just trying to remember the name of "that outfield song" a few days ago...thanks!

yow!

[Cathy Resmer]

Ultimate Dance Party 1997. Love it!

[Tanner]

*cough* INXS *cough*

[Mistress Maeve]

Wow, Cathy. I must say, that's impressive!

[Cathy Resmer]

What's wrong with INXS? They're still cool.

I should clarify that the only song on Ultimate Dance Party 1997 that I never, ever listen to is the Macarena. I shudder to even type it.

[Murf]

A large part of my childhood was spent rolling around in the back of a crappy station wagon listening to 1970's AM radio on the way down to the Jersey shore. So, I have a fond place in my heart for singer-songwriters of the 70's. Gordon Lightfoot. Jim Croce. Cat Stevens. Harry Chapin. Love 'em.

I don't really feel guilty about listening to them. They're just outside of my normal listening range. However, that's what makes iPod shuffle so much fun. Haven't you ever wondered what it sounds like to transition from "Ballad of the Edmund Fitzgerald" to "Summer Babe"?

[bridgetb]

I have to agree with Tyler about Billy Joel. The first cassettes I ever bought were EVERYTHING HE EVER PUT OUT.

[Cathy Resmer]

I do not profess to enjoy these songs, but I have several tunes from Billy Joel's Storm Front album stuck in my head on a fairly regular basis.

[ben]

rush "caress of steel"

[theleduo]

i have a guilty ditty bout jack & diane

[Tanner]

the one about two 'merican kids growin up. in. the heart. land. ?

[jds]

Off The Hook - Barenaked Ladies
guilty as charged

[tyler m]

there are some "jam bands" that make great music--The Slip, Benevento/Russo Duo, North Mississippi Allstars, Medeski Martin & Wood (if they count), even Phish on some occasions. I almost think its unfair to call some of these guys jam (Slip and Duo are both veering way into indie rock territory, NMAs are pretty blues, etc.) especially since jam bands have such a negative rep. and most jam bands make me violently angry. especially the Disco Biscuits.

this might be blasphemy and may result in the loss of "indie cred", especially here in Vermont where it's an uphill battle against drugged-out shallow wankery, but I don't care. The Slip kick so much ass.

[ben]

mmw is righteous. they do what jam bands should be doing . . . going out on a limb and kicking arse when they're out there.

[theleduo]

i agree, ben- mmw have been one of my favorite bands for years

[Lisa Crean]

Great topic, Bridget! Lucky that I'm finding this thread late, so most people won't find the theater critic who grew up in the late 70's (aka the disco era) throwing all her cultural cred down the crapper. Where do I begin? YMCA's In the Navy? Alan O'Day's Undercover Angel? About 20 or so songs by the BeeGees?

Okay, I'll turn off my mirror ball now and purge with some Puccini before it starts Raining Men by The Weather Girls...

[amanda]

That Akon song, you know, "Nobody want to see us together, but it don't matter, No, Cuz I got you." And also Ja Rule Put It On Me.

Ditto on John Cougar Mellencamp and Billy Joel.