The A to Z List of Songs in Frequent Rotation on my iPod

A “Angel Baby” by Rosie and the Originals.  I always enjoyed that song, marveled at how my mom could reach the high notes as she’d sing along in the car.  When I became a Mommy, the song took on a deeper meaning.  It’s one of “Our Songs” - a song with special meaning for my son and I.  I slow-danced with him when he was an infant, as a toddler I sing it to him as we’re driving around town.

B “Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder.  It’s one of those songs that isn’t often played on the radio, but when it is, it brings a smile to my face.  It’s one of those uplifting songs about staying upbeat, staying focused, and hanging in there.

C “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” by Elvis Presley.  I never felt this song, until I became pregnant.  From the moment I learned I was pregnant, I have experienced a love 

previously unknown to me.

D “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest.  There’s no special memory connected to this song.  Just a sweet sounding song that brings a smile to my face.

E “Eternal Flame” by the Bangles.  An 80’s song that I enjoy singing out loud.  (Sweeter still is my three year old, trying to sing along with his own version of the lyrics.) 

F “Fernando” by ABBA.  The song starts off slow and quiet, builds louder and faster, and it’s just fun.  I sing, I dance, I smile, I feel good.

G “Grease” by Frankie Avalon.  It’s one of those songs that you learn the lyrics to, without ever trying.  I sing along.  I smile.  And I will forever refer to John Travolta as Danny Zucko.

H “Hang On to Your Love” by Sade.  It’s got a good beat, it’s got singable lyrics, and it’s got a message.  Love isn’t always going to be easy, it is easy to turn away from it, but you’ve got to hang on.

I “Imagine” by John Lennon.  This is a song that needs no further explanation.  Except, it takes on an even more poignant meaning when my three-year-old-son attempts to sing along. 

J “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars.  My husband introduced me to this song and told me it was meant for me.  A lovely, romantic reminder that my partner does love me just as I am.

K “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys.  A song about places promising to be paradise - Aruba, Jamaica.  A song about escaping to the place we all hold as our special place.  A song with the harmonious vocalizations of one of my favorite groups.

L “La Vie en Rose” by Louis Armstrong.  I can’t think of another song more characteristic of, more reminiscent of Paris than this one.  I never tire of hearing it.

M “My Life” by Billy Joel.  When I was in high school, this was my mantra, my theme song.  I was so tired of teachers and counselors telling me what I should do, but in the end, I had to get strong and stay true to myself.

N “No One” by Alicia Keys.  While my son sat in his high chair, I’d cook and serenade him.  Now, it’s one of the songs we (try to) sing along with in the car. 

O “Over and Over” by the Dave Clark Five.  It’s just one of those songs that is fun.  No deep meaning, no challenging lyrics.

P “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” by Jackie De Shannon.  It’s a beautiful song, full of hope and possibility and the belief that we all can make the world a better place.

Q “Que Reste T’il de Nos Amour” by Charles Tenet.  This song comes from the Something’s Gotta Give soundtrack.  It slows me down, makes me smile, and transports me to Paris.

R “Right Back Where We Started From” by Maxine Nightingale.  It’s the song my son and I first began singing with our microphones (what other people might call red plastic salad servers).  

S “Sugar Sugar” by the Archies.  Okay, when I sing along to this song, I amend the lyrics and include my son’s name.  So while others sing “Honey, Honey,” I sing “Ryan, Ryan.”

T “Take a Chance on Me” by ABBA.  One of my favorite sing-along, foot-tapping songs on my ABBA greatest hits collection.

U “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers.  Yes, this is the song from “Ghost” - a movie and a song that were huge when I was in junior high school.  And, yes, it’s still a romantic song all these years later.

V “Venus” by Bananarama.  This song just gets you moving.  It’s got “you-go-girl” attitude.

W “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.  This is the song for peace, beauty, and hope.

X “Last X-mas” (or “Last Christmas”) by Wham.  I’m stretching the letters here, but in all honesty, this is a song I don’t just listen to during the month of December.

Y “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry.  This is just one of those songs that is fun.  Fun to hear and fun to try and sing along with (I never have learned all the lyrics).

Z “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.”  It’s a song I used to sing when I babysat part-time while in high school.  It’s a song that is timeless; it circulates, all children will hear it at some point or another.