Dana Crawford's Top 25 Songs

This list is in chronological order
of listening experience.

1. You Can't Hurry Love - Diana Ross and the Supremes
In the beginning their was Oldies 104.3. it was the only compromise that could override talk radio in the car. I have 3 older sisters. Naturally, our best sing-a-longs were to all female ensembles.

2. Young at Heart - Jimmy Durante
This song was in a movie that I saw with my Dad’s mother (Grandma June) when I was about 11. It was one of the last times I spent the night at her house. This song stuck out to me back when I was young at everything, and it still does not that I’m young at most things still.

3. I'm Going to Go Back There Someday - The Muppets
This is the first song I put an effort into learning all the words to. It's difficult to try and imagine how different a person I would be without Muppets in my life.

4. On My Own - Les Miserable
A long, long time ago I wanted to be an actress. During my brief affair with children's musical theater my audition song was "Castle on a Cloud" but I always wanted it to be this song.

5. Always Be My Baby - Mariah Carey
Dare I categorize a Mariah Carey song as timeless? Yep, I dare. This is a timeless jam and a timeless video in my book. I miss the days when pigtails and cut off jean shorts is what sold a pop song.

6. Susanne - Weezer
There are no popular songs out there about a Dana. Suzanne is my middle name which is a nice coincidence because I like this song.

7. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
I could and have listened to this song over and over again.

8. Submarine # 3 - Starlight Mints
I really like string instruments in pop songs.

9. Two Headed Boy - Neutral Milk Hotel
I suppose this was the first ‘indie’ song that I fell for. Although, per Dan Tafelski’s list this album was on was all over the place when I was in high school and a lot of things seemed two headed.

10. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
I heart Freddie Mercury.

11. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
My junior year of college I studied abroad in Sidney, Australia. It was far away and remote and I made a small group of friends that was a very special little family for my time there. We did everything together, and more than anything else we danced. We danced like it was our job, we danced like nobody and everyone was watching, we danced with somebody.

12. God Only Knows / Sloop John B - Beach Boys
This song was part of the Oldies repertoire in the beginning, but it wasn’t until I heard it later that I realized just what a gem Pet Sounds is.

13. In a Sentimental Mood - Duke Ellington and John Coltrane
This song will always make me think of someone in particular.

14. Us - Regina Spektor
Us is the first I’d heard of Regina Spektor.

15. Celebration Guns - Stars
I love the opening strings.

16. I Wish It Would Rain - The Temptations/ The Cougars
Each version is great. Paired back to back each only gets better. (I couldn't find The Cougars version on youtube, so I'm leaving it up to Nate to fill that in.)

17. These Days - Nico/ Mates of State
There will always be days that feel like these days.

18. Downtown Train - Tom Waits (VH1 Storytellers version)
Tom Waits is a good example of how to grow into yourself.

19. Wake Up - Arcade Fire
It’s difficult to pick one song from this album.

20. Get By - Talib Kweli
This song certainly never lets me ignore what it's saying.

21. Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

22. For Good - Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth
This song best captures why I like Wicked.

23. Wrestlers - Hot Chip

24. Thriller - Michael Jackson

25. The Love You Save/ I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Thank you, Michael, for all the sage wisdom from such a young person.