Lyrics Collage

This week has been dedicated to the production and management of stress. Stress production = big work deadline. Stress management = breathing deeply, getting a professional massage (first time ever, oh man what a treat), and scratching the creativity itch. On that last note, today's post is a continuation from last week. In a burst of "why the heck not" I took the playlist I put together last week, picked one line out of the lyrics for each of the 36 songs, and assembled them together into a lyrics collage (sort of a found poem). Presented here for your enjoyment:

I dream of rain
Rain comes pouring down
Only in dreams could it be this way
I think I see the future
If you only knew what the future holds
Losing it all on my own
At least I can say that I’ve tried
I tried so hard

Nightfall will be comin’ soon
The sun goes down alone
and the way is dark
There’s a world outside every darkened door
Just go ahead, now

Like a Sunday morning Elvis, singing gospel
You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain
I hate when things are over
I never pray but tonight I’m on my knees
I’m gonna watch you plead

Bless your soul
I don’t wanna have to pay for this
I’m just being honest
This is our fate
you better take cover

You look at me and you see your past
Save me from the nothing I’ve become
Come on now, what you waiting for
A little gambling is fun when you’re with me
A new religion that’ll bring you to your knees

Dedication, devotion
Keep that spirit alive
How do you give me so much pleasure
Le bien par le mal

I hope you find your peace
I’m never changing who I am
There’s not a thing that I would change
don’t waste your time

Happy Friday! There may or may not be a post next week, Thanksgiving-dependent.

35

It was my birthday this week. I’ve decided that from now on I’m going to celebrate my birthday AFTER Election Day, even though my birthday usually falls beforehand. Fabulously, there's something to celebrate this year! I'm sad that Tia Walbridge didn't win, but I'm proud and grateful that she ran and exultant that Democrats flipped at least 14 seats in the House of Delegates. Given that the level-headed expectation was that Democrats might flip 4-6 seats, that is simply staggering.

Today I’m celebrating with a fun post. Because I am my father’s daughter, I present to you: one favorite song* off the Billboard Top 100 charts for each year I’ve been on the planet.**

1. “Waiting for a Girl Like You” – Foreigner (#19 of 1982)
2. “Down Under” – Men at Work (#4 of 1983)
3. “Break My Stride” – Matthew Wilder (#27 of 1984)
4. “The Boys of Summer” – Don Henley (#53 of 1985)
5. “Walk of Life” – Dire Straits (#49 of 1986)
6. “Stand by Me” – Ben E. King (#67 of 1987)
7. “Make Me Lose Control” – Eric Carmen (#38 of 1988)
8. “Welcome to the Jungle” – Guns N’ Roses (#74 of 1989)
9. “Black Velvet” – Alannah Myles (#18 of 1990)
10. “Sadeness (Part I)” – Enigma (#63 of 1991)
11. “Life Is a Highway” – Tom Cochrane (#18 of 1992)
12. “Two Princes” – Spin Doctors (#28 of 1993)
13. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (#77 of 1994)
14. “Kiss from a Rose” – Seal (#4 of 1995)
15. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” – Deep Blue Something (#39 of 1996)
16. “All For You” – Sister Hazel (#36 of 1997)
17. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” – The Verve (#79 of 1998)
18. “Smooth” – Santana ft. Rob Thomas (#19 of 1999)
19. “Desert Rose” – Sting ft. Cheb Mami (#50 of 2000)
20. “Fallin’” – Alicia Keys (#2 of 2001)
21. “In the End” – Linkin Park (#7 of 2002)
22. “Bring Me to Life” – Evanescence ft. Paul McCoy (#10 of 2003)
23. “Hey Ya!” – Outkast (#8 of 2004)
24. “Lonely No More” – Rob Thomas (#22 of 2005)
25. “Crazy” – Gnarls Barkley (#7 of 2006)
26. “Shut Up and Drive” – Rihanna (#90 of 2007)
27. “I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz (#27 of 2008)
28. “Poker Face” – Lady Gaga (#2 of 2009)
29. “Just the Way You Are” – Bruno Mars (#18 of 2010)
30. “Firework” – Katy Perry (#2 of 2011)
31. “Lights” – Ellie Goulding (#5 of 2012)
32. “It’s Time” – Imagine Dragons (#47 of 2013)
33. “Happy” – Pharrell Williams (#1 of 2014)
34. “Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon (#6 of 2015)
35. “Hello” – Adele (#7 of 2016)

Bonus Track: “Praying” – Kesha (#28 for the week of November 4, 2017)

*Disclaimer: these are not my only favorites or even necessarily my #1 favorites; this is designed to become a playlist, so these songs have to flow nicely together.
**Other Disclaimer: The computer science student in me is peeved that I can't start numbering at zero. It would make much more sense that way, given how age math works.