The rating system I devised in my head that translates into iTunes is as follows:

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars A song that should be deleted from the database.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars A pretty bad song but worth listening to once a year or so.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars A decent song, worth listening to from time to time.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars A great song that almost never gets skipped.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars One of the greatest songs ever recorded.

It’s highly subjective and extremely weighted to the center; I guess it’d create a pretty sweet looking bell curve — then again I have a lot of stuff that should just be deleted so maybe not. Anyway, of the 8,500 songs I’ve only given the coveted five star rating to thirty tracks. Just 30. Less than 1%. I take the “greatest song ever recorded” moniker very seriously.

All of this jibber jabber is basically to say that I’m sharing with you, fine reader, my list of the greatest songs ever recorded. Behold the greatness, alphabetical by artist:

I thought about going through and explaining why each song made the cut, like I did with my celebrity playlist, but I’d rather let the greatness stand for stand for itself.

There you have it. So much awesome you can’t even contain it all. What’s your greatest song of all time? Is it on my list?

On February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, United States killed three American rock and roll musicians: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson. The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean in his 1971 song “American Pie”.

The unfortunate death of these three musical legends spurred many memorials and tributes over the years, but none as well known as Don McLean’s “American Pie.” So, what a better way to honor the golden anniversary then a YouTube video of Don letting it all out?

Now can someone please tell Britney Spears and Beyonce that the music, is in fact, dead?

1. Song: The Load Out/Stay
   Artist: Jackson Browne
   Album: Running on Empty

   The song of life on the road and wanting to continue playing after the show is over. I really like the lyrics and how the song shifts into Stay by the Four Seasons. Too bad it’s not available on iTunes.

2. Song: The Wino and I Know
   Artist: Jimmy Buffett
   Album: Living and Dying in 3/4 Time

   My celebrity playlist would not be complete without something from Buffett. I’ve been a Parrothead for at lest a decade and while I celebrate the entire catalog, a playlist calls for a specific song. The Wino and I Know has been my favorite song by Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band since the moment I heard the first riff. It’s got fun lyrics, a killer bridge, and a sound that just draws you in. How can you possibly go wrong?

3. Song: The Skies Won’t Fall
   Artist: Foundation
   Album: Foundation

   Foundation is a solo project by Ann Beretta frontman, Rob Huddleston. While Ann Beretta is upbeat and at times hard core, Foundation is soft and acoustic. It’s really hard to pick one song from the only Foundation album in existence (2001′s self-titled debut) but The Skies Won’t Fall is just as good as any. The song showcases the bands smooth sound that just demands to be repeated over and over again. According to Foundation’s MySpace page a new album is in the works which is very cool news!

4. Song: Where the Streets Have No Name
   Artist: U2
   Album: Joshua Tree

   If there is a song that speaks of more hope I don’t know about it. Someday we’ll find the place where we can take shelter from the poison rain. No matter what crap we go through, there is always hope for something better. For me, it’s where the streets have no name. Bono captures that ultimate hope in this wonderful song.

5. Song: When Your Mind’s Made Up
   Artist: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
   Album: Music From the Motion Picture ‘Once’

   I’ve talked about Once before. The movie is incredible mainly because the music is so good. The song that is brought up every time the movie is mentioned, the one that won them the Oscar, is Falling Slowly. In my opinion, which is what makes up everything I write here, that’s not the best song in the movie/soundtrack. When Your Mind’s Made Up is nothing but pure passion and emotion on the part of Glen Hansard that’s translated to the listener. In the film, Glen and Marketa have finally saved up enough money to record. This song grabs the attention of the sound guy and shows the world (and themselves) that they really have something to be proud of. They’ve made it; they’ve done what it takes to chase their dreams. What’s happened in the past doesn’t matter and what will happen in the future is irrelevant. All that matters at that moment is the music.

6. Song: Blinded by the Light
   Artist: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
   Album: The Roaring Silence

   Originally written and released by Bruce Springsteen but made popular by Manfred Mann, this song has some of the most intense lyrics ever written. Written about Springsteen’s early career, it’s like a crazy trip through dive bars in Jersey complete with very strange characters and situations.

7. Song: Move Away and Shine (In a Dream)
   Artist: Tim DeLaughter (The Polyphonic Spree)
   Album: ‘Thumbsucker’ Original Soundtrack

   I’m pretty sure The Polyphonic Spree is a cult. I remember seeing them on Conan years ago dancing around in their colored robes playing instruments and hitting beach balls in the air. That’s pretty cultish. Though, just because they are a cult doesn’t mean they can’t make really, really good music. Like another song on this list (that’s what they call a teaser) it’s impossible to listen to anything The Polyphonic Spree does without being put into a good mood (which might be how they get people to join their cult). This song was, more or less, the theme song for a little indie flick that I couldn’t tell you about if I tried. The song, however, is much more memorable. Don’t be afraid to break your comfort zone, get out there and shine. How can you not like that?

8. Song: Call Me, Call Me
   Artist: 菅野よう子 (The Seatbelts)
   Album: Blue

   In case you didn’t know, I’m a geek. I dig the internets, video games, and yes, some anime. One such work that I am especially fond of is Cowboy Bebop. It’s a short, 26 episode series about a group of bounty hunters who are forever broke in the year 2071. Call Me, Call Me plays during the climax of the series and wraps up one of the main characters story lines. It’s such a happy and sad moment that is heightened by the emotion in the song. One of the few songs The Seatbelts do that are in English, Call Me, Call Me is about looking for someone long ago lost, and hoping that they’re alright; something all of us can relate to.

9. Song: Along for the Ride
   Artist: Mates of State
   Album: All Day

   Mates of State is an interesting band. It consists of a husband and wife who play the drums and keyboard respectively. Needless to say this produces a very unique sound. They’ve been featured, of all things, in an AT&T commercial and in a prior post here. The first time I heard Along for the Ride was at a concert on Election Night 2004 in Tallahassee. They played the song with fellow touring group Bishop Allen. Like most of their music, it’s a fun, upbeat, song that is hard not to like.

10. Song: Walk of Life
    Artist: Dire Straits
    Album: Brothers in Arms

    It’s pretty impossible to hear this song and not be put into a good mood. I rediscovered this song after watching Space Camp with some friends a while back. I regret forgetting about it in the first place. It is now my ringtone and every time I get a phone call my coworkers start humming. It’s one of the most contagious songs out there. Good thing it’s a pretty good one.

There you have it, my ‘celebrity’ playlist. Like something here? Don’t like something here? Just want to argue about it? Let me know in the comments below.

Once is a very simple story about a guy and a girl who develop a non-sexual relationship through their musical talents in an effort to get their lives back on track. Because the two main characters are musicians trying to follow their dreams, a majority of the film is devoted to the two singing. The music for once was written by the two actors, who are actually musicians, in order to complement and represent the script. It’s passionate and hopeful music that help to turn the simple story into a very deep and beautiful one.

In contrast, Across the Universe takes established music, in this case the entire Beetles catalog, and uses it to tell a story. It seemed as if the screenwriter had a very simple concept where a guy falls in love with a girl in the 60′s and went and found songs to make it work. The main characters were aptly named Lucy (in the Sky with Diamonds) and (Hey) Jude. Here, the concept works wonderfully at times and at times feels a bit awkward. Sure, it was interesting seeing Bono sing I am the Walrus, and the song was used as a way to show Jude and Lucy’s trip through the 60′s drug culture, but it felt really out of place. On the other hand (warning, spoilers), the presentation of All You Need is Love at the end of the film fit perfectly with the story line and closed the movie in a very nice way.

Both of these movies approach the musical genre (which I would assume both would fall into for lack of a better term) in such a new and interesting way that it makes the genre worth watching. Granted, this idea isn’t exactly original. Movies like Moulin Rouge have used established songs to tell the story in the past, but it seems both Once and Across the Universe are reinventing the idea.

The show was great, of course, and even though I was behind the stage the view was great. It was a fun weekend 18 hours seeing old friends and enjoying some great music.

For those who care, you can find the set list here. It was cool seeing some old stuff including Pencil Thin Mustache, which I hadn’t seen in concert since 2003, as well as some others that I had never seen in concert like Bama Breeze, Changing Channels and the new rendition of Floridays. There were also a cool video called Here We Are (you can find it on iTunes) which shows Parrotheads through the years.

Anyway, it was a great show.

A few weeks ago I started the arduous process towards SCUBA certification. This means countless hours of not actually doing anything. Well, not really. I read a book, answered some questions, and dove in a pool for a few hours. Today I went down to DeLeon Springs (think cold water) and spent another few hours underwater performing various skills. I am now one ocean dive away from being a full blown PADI Open Water diver. Look out world, here I come.

Last week I was in the Golden Isles/Brunswick area of Georgia with the sixth graders on their mission trip. It was a lot of fun and the kids did more work then I could have imagined. They built cabins so that future TEAMeffort work teams will be able to come and help out the area. It was a great trip and I only had to take one person to the hospital — that was a first.

Last night was the fourth of July. Fireworks. Bang.

I am currently counting down the days until Intel releases the Core 2 Duo — stupid name I know — processor and Apple puts it in the iMac. When that glorious moment comes, I will be buying a pimped out computer that will then be cooler than yours. I’m a geek, I know.

The week before I left for the mission trip I officially became the Associate Youth Director of First United Methodist Church of Orlando. I’m on the letterhead. Cool huh?

Saturday I leave with the seventh and eighth graders on their mission trip to Asheville, NC. I don’t really have a clue what we’ll be doing. Should be fun though.

I’ve been getting back into Fueled by Ramen music lately. October Fall is a great band. Check them out.

I’m tried of this. This posting is done.

Well, almost. I found this funny and maybe the two of you will also. Check it out: Website Flags.

As many of you know I consider myself a loyal member of the Parrothead nation and have now attended seven Jimmy Buffett shows in Orlando, Tallahassee, Atlanta and now Jacksonville. I haven’t quite made it to the point where my car turns into a shark and I wear a grass skirt though it really can’t be that far off the horizon. Last night Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band played Jacksonville for the first time in almost twenty years and I was there, enjoying every minute of it. But before I get into the show, I’ve got to build up the story.

Sometimes it just comes down to who you know. My friend Kyle happens to work for the State of Florida and has a few connections that reach into the US Department of State. I won’t reveal the full extent of his connections here so as not to get anyone into possible trouble. But lets just say he knows a guy who knows a guy who is the attorney for the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Stadium. And wouldn’t you know that just happened to the venue where Bubba was playing? Needless to say a request was made and last Thursday afternoon word was passed down the preverbal grapevine that tickets would be waiting at will call for us. Plans were made and around two yesterday afternoon we left Tallahassee for I-10. There were just about a hundred and fifty miles between us and our Parrothead friends.

When we got to the stadium we knew things were on our side as we scored a parking space right next to the exit of the lot. Fighting to leave would not be a problem after the concert. Never having spent more then a fleeting moment in Jacksonville, we had no idea where we could score dinner before the show. What do you do in that situation? Ask a newsman. The guy pointed us to The Amsterdam Cafe right next to the stadium and dinner was had. The cheeseburgers, not quite in paradise but good none the less, seriously showed up minutes after we ordered. These guys were on the ball. Next stop, will call.

Here is where our troubles began. Kyle went up to will call to claim the tickets and was told that there was nothing in the computer under his name but from the sound of who left them, chances was they were in the marketing office. So we went there. These people didn’t really put second thought into it as the names we were dropping seemed too good to be true and when they couldn’t find our tickets either, decided to ignore us. After a frantic phone call to his connection–which resulted in voice mail–another attempt was made at will call with a different teller. This woman seemed to be in a friendlier mood then the first and decided to try all the names the tickets could possibly be under: Kyle’s, Kyle’s connection, Kyle’s connection’s attorney friend. At this point the woman told us to step aside and wait. Ten minutes later she arrived out of a side door with our tickets, Section 101, row B, seats 10-12. It was now only a matter of time.

Once the gates opened we hit up the t-shirt vendor, which was organized madness to say the least. Conversation was made with the woman in front of us about t-shirt selections and, of all things, how to be more visible on a dive boat. Once the purchases were made, it was time to find our seats. We had no idea where they were in relation to the stage as an arena map was nowhere to be found, though from the seat numbers they sounded good. Good is an understatement, these seats were great. Section 101 was on the left corner of the stage and Row B translated to the second row. So there we were, about forty-five minutes before show time and almost close enough to touch the stage. After some small talk with our local security guard, and the realization that people owned tickets to seats one through seven of our row–which didn’t exist–we were ready to go.

Prior to the show, while the owners of the phantom seats were straightening things out with guest services, beach balls were flying across the stadium. There was a little girl, no older then eight, waiting in front of us with her mom while her dad took care of their tickets. Every time a beach ball ended up in our general area (and by general area I mean about a four row radius) it was given to her and in her attempt to spike it into the crowd she would inevitably hit one of us in the face. This little girl is probably the only person in the stadium that was luckier then us last night as when guest services fixed their seating arrangement they ended up right in front of the stage–so close that the girl was able to hand Jimmy, while he was performing, a note she had written him. This netted the girl, upon his return for his first encore, one of Jimmy’s sandals.

Once everyone’s seating arrangements were taken care of, the show began. What a show it was. In typical Buffett fashion he played almost thirty songs, a good majority which was from his older, dust covered catalogue–this made me particularly happy. A few shameless segments, a video tribute to the late Johnny Carson, and two encores–one dedicated to the recently departed Hunter S. Thompson–and nearly three hours later the show was over and it was time to go home. By two in the morning, twelve hours after the journey began, I was in bed attempting to recharge my batteries in time for class this morning. And that is the story of how I acquired Buffett tickets and sat just off the stage and made eye contact with one of the greatest performers of the last few decades.

There is an evil currently lurking the internet in search of its next victim. This evil doesn’t distinguish between man, woman, or child. The only thing it cares about is accomplishing its goal: the complete elimination of illegal music downloading. This evil I speak of is known as the Recording Industry Association of America (or RIAA) and has declared war with “illegal file swappers.”

RIAA has issued hundreds of law suits against such individuals as a 12 year old girl. How cruel is that? The girl settled with RIAA for $2000. RIAA’s claim is that people are illegally obtaining their music from the internet using programs such as KaZaA and Morpheus. These programs allow users to download music from other users — the creators of the technology calls it “file sharing.” Whatever the terminology, RIAA calls it illegal. I think that having a suggested retail price of $17.99 for a CD and concert tickets that cost $75 is illegal, but that’s just me.

My question to RIAA is this: if the musicians are really loosing money, as RIAA claims, because people are downloading music rather then buying it in stores, then how is it that Elvis made over $40 million dollars in 2003 based on album and merchandise sales? That’s a lot of money for a dead man; just think what the guys who are actually alive are making.

I really don’t think that internet downloading has hurt the recording industry as much as RIAA would like us to think. Some artists are known to release songs, and even albums, online. The Dave Matthews Band released the title track to their “Everyday” album online a month before the album was out in stores in an effort to drum up popularity for it. The DMB also unofficially released an album known around the internet as “The Lillywhite Sessions” online in an effort to spite their new contract.

Though, no matter how much I disagree with RIAA’s tactics or beliefs, the country is starting to adapt to them — which means that they are winning the war. In a recent CNN poll, some 60% of Americans believe that downloading music online is illegal as opposed to only 30% last year. But, with RIAA monitoring most internet service providers in search of people it can sue, I guess I have no choice but to comply.