I wrote a few weeks ago about one of my current favorite songs, and it got me thinking about the wide variety of songs that have held the title of “favorite” in my heart over the years.  I have had phases where certain songs burn hot and bright and I listen to them on repeat until the cassette breaks or the cd scratches or the spouse begs to please put something, anything else on the ipod.  Some have been a slower burn, a deep affection that makes me smile with pleasure any time it comes on the radio, even years later.  And some are just embarrassing, but what is this space for if not to embarrass myself?

Here, then, a partial list of songs that have spent some time on repeat on my boom boxes, discmans, and ipods over the years:

1985 (ish): Morning Has Broken, Cat Stevens.  My first favorite song.  My dad and I would listen to it as we drove around in his late-70s Mercury Cougar.

1987: You Can Call Me Al, Paul Simon.

1989: Free Fallin’, Tom Petty.  My best friend introduced me to this song, having discovered it on the radio.  She had a radio in her room, people.  Her OWN RADIO.  I seethed with jealousy.

1991: American Pie, Don McLean.  I came back from three weeks at camp having memorized all the words, then made my parents play the song on repeat for weeks.  They must have loved that.  I still know every word by heart.  All eight minutes of them.

1992  Paradise City, Guns N Roses.  This one was a popular “fast” song at junior high school dances.

1993: Lady in Red, Chris DeBurgh.  Older, wiser, and in the 8th grade, I’d moved on to this junior high “slow dance” classic.

1996: A Long December, Counting Crows.  A boy I liked put this on a tape for me. Smooth.

1997: Romeo & Juliet, Dire Straits.  I still love this song beyond all reason.  It came on Pandora the other day while I was at work and I couldn’t help but sing along.  I think my officemate was afraid.

1998: Torn, Natalie Imbruglia.  Let us never speak of this again.

Later 1998: Philosophy, Ben Folds Five

1999: Closer to Fine, Indigo Girls.

2001: Tangerine, Big Head Todd and the Monsters.  A truly great cover.

2002: La Cienega Just Smiled, Ryan Adams.

2005: Music When the Lights Go Out, the Libertines

2006: More Adventurous, Rilo Kiley

2007: South Texas Girl, Lyle Lovett.  I first heard Lyle Lovett play this song at Ravinia, before it had been recorded, and I waited anxiously for months until he released it on an album so I could hear it again.  It’s that good.

2009: Casanova, Baby!, Gaslight Anthem.  Seriously, if you’re not listening to these guys, I highly suggest you start.

There are so many more- several per year, really- but these are some of the ones I played so many times I could sing them in my sleep.  I can’t be the only one who falls hard for songs like this.  Please tell me what some of yours are.  I need some new inspiration.