In the years we’ve been together, music has always had a special place in our relationship. Whether its songs we hear in the background of movies, artists we’ve discovered, or the concerts we’ve enjoyed together and with friends, there are certain moments and feelings that are tied to the music we’ve experienced. The songs that we’ve included on our CD favors are the ones that mean the most to us. Below are some explanations of what these songs mean to us, or at least to me. This may be a bit over the top on the sentimental scale, but I should be able to get away with that today.
Track #1 - The Beach Boys – God Only Knows
Brandie and I couldn’t figure out what “our song” was until we thought back to the first time we went out together. The first time we ever went out together wasn’t on a date, it was for a class project. We had to sit through one of the most boring meetings I’ve ever been to and we ended up cutting out early. I think we both still got A’s on the assignment, though. After the meeting, I convinced Brandie to join me for a movie (it didn’t take much convincing). We saw “Love Actually” and it soon became “our movie”. God Only Knows punctuates that movie in a great scene at the end. It’s the song that sums up “our movie,” so it has become “our song.”
Track #2 - Ben Folds – The Luckiest
This is the song Brandie walked down the aisle to. It is a beautiful song about love and being meant for each other. This is one of those times where the song says it better than I could. There is actually a line toward the end of the song that goes “I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you.” It may be overly sentimental and a bit clichéd, but I think I can get away with that today.
Track #3 - The Clarks – I’m the Only
The first time Brandie and I went on an official date, she took me out to dinner. I proceeded to call her my sugar mama every chance I got. After dinner, we were hanging out with one of my roommates at my apartment and I decided I’d try to show off by playing some guitar. “I’m the Only” is the first song I ever played for Brandie. It must have worked.
Track #4 - Old 97s – Question
One day, we were in my favorite music store (City Lights Records) and decided to get an Old 97s album. Brandie insisted we get the one with “Question” on it. I wasn’t familiar with the song, but soon found out how great it is. “Question” is a song about a man proposing to a woman who isn’t quite expecting it. When I decided it was time to pop the question, I had originally planned on playing this song in front of a bunch of people and making a big production out of it. I ended up not having the patience for a big production of a proposal and asked her as soon as I got the ring home from the jewelry store. Just like the song, she wasn’t expecting it (but she was hoping for it) and she started to cry.
Track #5 - Frou Frou – Let Go
We first heard “Let Go” at the end of the movie “Garden State.” “Let Go” is a song about taking risks, letting go, and appreciating that great things can come from screwing up. This marriage thing is a big step. Putting so much trust in someone can be risky, but we know that even through hard times, we’ll come out on top.
Track #6 - Bright Eyes – First Day of My Life
This is one of my favorite love songs ever written and it is by a guy who is better known for sad songs about loss and pain. There is one specific part of the song – “I don’t know where I am, I don’t know where I’ve been, but I know where I want to go” – that I think is a great example of the sense of comfort and security you get when you’re with the one you love.
Track #7 - Ray LaMontagne – Trouble
Brandie and I found our way to Ray LaMontagne’s music through the TV show “Austin City Limits.” Ray came on after we watched Ben Folds and we decided to listen to this shy guy who looked like he was just pulled in off the street. Our jaws dropped when he started playing and we bought his debut album as soon as we could. This song in particular always sticks out for us. It’s a simple song of redemption through love, when a man is “saved by a woman.” I can’t say that Brandie pulled me out of a gutter or anything, but I know I feel better around her than elsewhere.
Track #8 - Iron & Wine – Such Great Heights
Iron & Wine’s cover of the Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” comes from the Garden State soundtrack. This is another song that is exceedingly sappy, but we love it anyway. Its quiet, its sweet, its everything you’d want in a song that reminds you of the one you love. While Brandie was studying in England, she listened to the original version of this song quite often. It reminded her of me and of home. Now, every time we listen to either version, she thinks back to her time abroad.
Track #9 - Cary Brothers – Blue Eyes
Another song from the Garden State soundtrack (if you didn’t guess, we really like that album). Brown Eyed Girl doesn’t work for us, so we needed a replacement. Most of the lyrics in the song - “I just want to sing a song with you. I just want to be the one that’s true” – are pretty simple statements of love and affection, but simple is good enough for me.
Track #10 - Duncan Sheik – For You
This song is included largely because I pushed for it. I had known the song before I ever met Brandie, but it has taken on a new significance for me lately. It’s a song that makes me think about wanting to – how did they say it in “As Good as It Gets?” – be a better man and wanting to build a great marriage.
Track #11 - matt pond PA – Lily Two
We got into matt pond PA thanks to Greg at City Lights here in State College. We’ve seen a couple of great matt pond PA shows in State College and couldn’t leave one of our favorite bands off of this list. Lily Two a song about being happy with who you are and where you are. Strangely enough, Brandie is even happy with who I am.
Track #12 - Beth Orton – Sweetest Decline
This song indirectly holds a special place for us. There is a book Brandie and I both read called “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.” “A Heartbreaking Work…” is a fantastic book that had a great effect on me in college, and I think, to a lesser extent, Brandie. Anyway, the author (Dave Eggers) likes to listen to songs repeatedly while he writes. He may be exaggerating, but he once said that he listened to “Sweetest Decline” on repeat for six days while he wrote this particular book. Brandie especially likes one line in the song: “You can’t pin this butterfly down.”
Track #13 - Jack Johnson – Banana Pancakes
I listened to a lot of Jack Johnson during the summer Brandie was in England and think about how great it would be when she got back and we could kick back and relax together. With how hectic life has been lately, we should take the advice in this song – “…maybe we can sleep in / I’ll make you banana pancakes / pretend like it’s the weekend…” – and forget about work for a day or two.
Track #14 - Gomez – See the World
For a Valentines Day gift, Brandie got us tickets to see Gomez and Ben Kweller in Baltimore. She even took me out to dinner in little Italy before the show. It was a great night and we had a lot of fun at the show. This song is especially meaningful for us because after we hear it, we tend to start talking about all of the places we want to visit.
Track #15 - Josh Ritter – Bright Smile
Josh Ritter is one of my favorite songwriters, and Brandie’s too. This song always makes her think about me and, of course, it makes me happy to hear that. This past winter, Brandie and I saw Josh Ritter play a solo show in DC. It turned out to be one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. After the show, Josh stuck around to talk with the fans and sign autographs. While we were talking to him, Brandie mentioned my desire to one day own a coffee shop. He seemed excited about it and even offered to play a show there whenever I get around to opening the place up. He signed a poster for me with a note wishing me good luck on my coffeehouse dream. Now, thanks to Brandie, I’m going to have to go through with opening a coffee shop some day. Otherwise, where is Josh Ritter going to play?
Track #16 - Dave Matthews Band – Dreamgirl
I couldn’t let this list happen without my favorite band being included. I could make hours and hours worth of CDs of DMB music that means something to me, but we had to choose one song. “Dreamgirl” is a song that puts a smile on our faces. It makes me think of Brandie and that’s about all a song has to do to make me smile these days.
Track #17 - Guster – Diane
There’s a few lines in “Diane” that repeat, “We’ll make it out together.” For me, that’s what this song is about…getting thorough the tough times and all of the speed bumps in one piece. Brandie and I will have our speed bumps along the way, but I know we’ll make it out together, just like the song says.
Track #18 - Norah Jones – The Nearness of You
Norah Jones’ take on “The Nearness of You” is a favorite of Brandie’s. We’ve been to a couple of Norah Jones shows together and had great times at each of them. I think its safe to bet that we’ll make a point of going the next time she comes to town. I can’t speak for Brandie on this one, but the reason I like “The Nearness of You” so much is the simplicity of it…the way it says, “it doesn’t matter what else is going on. As long as I have you, I’m happy.”
Track #19 - Looking Glass – Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)
We couldn’t make this CD without including “Brandy” (even though they spelled it wrong). I think about 80% of my friends responded to my introduction – “This is Brandie” – with a line from this song – “She’s a fine girl. What a good wife she will be.” They were right. Now that we live in Annapolis, and since Brandy used to be a bartender, the song fits even better. Any time I hear this song, I get a good chuckle out of it.
Track #20 - Virginia Coalition – Likeness
I introduced Brandie to VaCo’s music and she liked it right away. We’ve had a great time seeing them live and their music accompanies us on most of our trips. “Likeness” is one of our favorite VaCo songs. Its not just a song about being in love. Its about staying in love through a long life together. We obviously hope this for ourselves. We want to be one of those couples who are still cute and sappy together long after they’ve turned old and gray.
Track #21 - Jamie Cullum – I Get a Kick Out of You
Jamie Cullum is a musician we’ve been meaning to see live for a long time. He’s a crazy young British guy who loves to play jazz and big band music. You may have noticed this song as our recessional song. We’re hoping the first song played after we were married shows the kind of fun and good times we expect to have as a married couple.
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