Songs That Define Me
Colleen Bramham
Music often leaves a deep mark on its era. Songs become embedded in our consciousness through their ability to perfectly capture a moment. They are burned even deeper into history through stories, newsreels and documentary footage, circulated by word-of-mouth as well as official documentation.
For this reason, music gets mixed up somewhere between ourselves and our collective understanding. Music becomes part of intimate memory as well as public record. In this sense, certain songs transcend a moment as well as embody it.
In this list, we take a look at those bits of music that cling to us like memories, from the generation-defining tracks and testaments to the moment to those songs that tether us to the past on a personal level. Here are 11 songs that define their moment.
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The holiday season is synonymous with warmth, joy, and the unmistakable sounds of Christmas music. No festive celebration is complete without these enchanting tunes, and throughout the years, some songs have etched themselves into our hearts and become the quintessential soundtracks for the Yuletide spirit. In this article, we take you on a musical journey through the top 10 Christmas songs of all time, and explore the captivating stories behind these timeless classics.
Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" is a sentimental masterpiece that has weathered the ages. Penned during World War II, it resonated deeply with soldiers and their families, invoking a longing for traditional snowy Christmases. This poignant ballad, born in tumultuous times, has endured as an emblematic holiday classic.
"Jingle Bells" is the very essence of Christmas joy, recognized the world over. Composed by James Lord Pierpont, it was initially intended for Thanksgiving but quickly found its home as a Christmas favorite. The iconic jingling bells, sleigh rides, and infectious melody make this a song that truly rings in the season.
On a scorching summer's day, Mel Torm and Robert Wells crafted "The Christmas Song," a cozy hymn to the holiday hearth. Its heartwarming lyrics, combined with Nat King Cole's iconic rendition, have eternally etched this ballad into our holiday memories.
Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" is a modern marvel that has been captivating audiences since the '90s. With its spirited melody and Carey's dynamic vocals, it has become an indispensable part of any holiday playlist, injecting energy and merriment into the season.
"O Holy Night," composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847, is a timeless carol that unites hearts with its spiritually rich lyrics, recounting the birth of Jesus Christ. The evocative melody and message of hope make it an unwavering presence in Christmas celebrations worldwide.
Created for the film "Meet Me in St. Louis," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a poignant song that captures the nostalgic essence of the season. It's been interpreted by countless artists, each adding their unique layer of sentiment to the cherished message of the song.
Johnny Marks crafted the catchy melody of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" based on a storybook from a department store. This song narrates Rudolph's journey from outcast to Christmas hero, resonating with audiences through its cheerful tune and captivating tale.
Jos Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" is a joyous and inclusive Christmas song that blends English and Spanish. Its universal message of holiday cheer and goodwill has made it a global favorite, spreading the spirit of Christmas around the world.
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is an energetic and merry song that encourages young and old to embrace the excitement of Santa's visit. The playful lyrics and catchy melody make it an indispensable part of Christmas festivities.
These top 10 Christmas songs are more than just music; they are the very essence of the holiday season, woven into the fabric of our celebrations. Their diverse origins and stories, combined with their enchanting melodies, encapsulate the rich tapestry of Christmas. Whether you have a penchant for the classics or prefer modern interpretations, these songs serve as a reminder of the magic of Christmas and the power of music to evoke warmth, love, and goodwill during this special time of year.
The 1990s were a chaotic and gritty and utterly magical time for music, a confounding barrage of genres and lifestyles and superstars, from grunge to hip-hop, from sumptuous R&B to rambunctious ska-punk, from Axl to Kurt to Missy to Santana to Tupac to Britney.
In 60 SONGS THAT EXPLAIN THE '90s, Ringer music critic Rob Harvilla reimagines all the earwormy, iconic hits Gen Xers pine for with vivid historical storytelling, sharp critical analysis, rampant loopiness, and wryly personal ruminations on the most bizarre, joyous, and inescapable songs from a decade we both regret entirely and miss desperately.
Rob Harvilla is the host of the podcast 60 Songs That Explain the '90s and a senior staff writer at The Ringer; he's been a professional rock critic for 20-plus years with stops at the Village Voice, SPIN, Deadspin, and various other alt-weeklies that generally no longer exist. (Not his fault.) He lives with his family in Columbus, Ohio, by choice.
Aug. 15, 2019: nothing could have possibly prepared me for the journey that I would begin on this date. It was my first day of high school and my first day at a public school. Coming from a private school, I quickly realized that this new environment was a lot bigger than I was used to, making it hard to adjust at first. A few months later, just as I began to grow familiar with my surroundings, make new friends and balance schoolwork, life took the most unexpected turn.
These songs certainly amplified each of the ups and downs that I experienced in high school. I highly recommend giving these songs a listen as they may do the same for you. I will always appreciate the moments that I experienced as a student at Naperville North High School and I will listen to each of these songs going forward as a reminder of my high school journey. I am forever thankful that I discovered each of these songs at perfect times and that I found a passion and a friend in music. Each of these tunes work together to form the biggest lessons I took away from my years as a student: live each opportunity to its fullest extent and never take any moment for granted.
i have many other songs that will put me in that time, in that place but those are the ones that stand out in my mind and in my heart.
thank you for letting me share a minute of my life with songs
This is probably my favorite post of all time! I totally have songs that immediately take me to certain places in my life, not always at critical moments, but just ones that I can pinpoint that a certain song was playing!
I recently read an article about how the music you listen to between the ages of 12 and 25 will always be more meaningful to you because those are your most formative years where your emotions run the highest. This makes SO much sense to me.
MMMBop by Hanson. As an 11-year old, this boy band was the epitome of cool. They were the first band to get me thinking about musical threads, their songs a tapestry of Beach Boys sunny pop, motown, Jackson 5. These were bands of my parents yet I heard them in this Hanson tune. And, they played their own instruments, a fact I repeated to any who considered them just another boy band. My love affair with Hanson faded as I aged through high school, but I still grin like a fool any time MMMBop happens to turn up.
Crazy Girl by the Eli Young Band! My husband and I have considered it our song for years! Since our early months of dating. It was also the song we had out first dance to at our wedding. Even now years after hearing the song, I still cry when I hear it.
Last. Saturday we listened to Free Fallin on the way to find out we are having a perfect little boy after two long years of trying and a horrible first trimester scare where we were sure we had lost him. Probably not the coolest song in the world but certainly makes me smile.
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