All Go-To Songs, All The Time

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So, of all the Paste staffers, I have the longest daily commute to and from Paste World Headquarters. This is a good thing because I can spend some quality time alone with my ipod....which brings me to today’s topic: The Go-To Song.

The Go-To Song is a very personal thing. It’s the song you can listen to on repeat for the entire duration of your commute. It’s the song that begs you to sing along as loud as possible ignoring the frightened looks of the driver in the car next to you. But, it’s not a Go-To Song unless you have a Go-To Move during your in-car performance. For example, my wife immediately searches for a microphone prop - a pen, a tire-guage, it doesn’t matter. Me? I like to sing the instrumental parts between verses (guitar, banjo, trombone solo...I don’t discriminate) and add a little air-instrumentation when I can free my hands from the steering wheel.

For the past month my Go-To Song has been The Decemberists - “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” (Picaresque) and I can sing an amazing violin while playing a mean air-accordion.

What’s your Go-To Song, but more importantly, what’s your Go-To Move?

PS - We’re now fully recovered from our Turkey Day gluttony and wil resume our daily postings.

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By cheesehead on November 30, 2006

Currently my go to song is ‘O Holy Night’ off of the Sufjan christmas box set, I guess mostly because it is Christmas season. My all time go-to track would be U2’s ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’. The rhythm of that song coupled with the lyrics just makes me happy to be alive....

By dreamrains on November 30, 2006

Mine is definitely always “Miss Ferguson” by Cory Branan, since he’s from my home “town” of Memphis and that song just gets in your head and sits. My move is the streering wheel grip. Gotta grab it, and lean forward, and sing your heart out!

By WebWarrior on December 1, 2006

Lately, I’ve been flipping out to Clipse’s “Wamp Wamp (What it Do).” My air steel drum is so vicious that sometimes I worry about the health and safety of my rearview mirror.

By HelloCaitlinT on December 1, 2006

For the train: My Morning Jacket’s “Mahgeetah”—my only real move to accompany it would be holding my fist to my chest, closing my eyes, mouthing the words, being earnest and making other commuters uncomfortable.

For walking: Christina Aguilera’s “Ain’t No Other Man”—to that I just stomp around.

By kos.theory on December 1, 2006

For a very long time my song has been Xavier Rudd’s “Fortune Teller”, and let me tell you I have that mean didjeridoo solo down pat. However, “Sons & Daughters” off of the Decemberists’ new album is getting more and more play during my daily commute.

By fettered on December 2, 2006

This year, I’ve been big on “Down on Rodeo” from Lindsey Buckingham’s new album, “Monster Ballads” by Josh Ritter, Guster’s “The Captain”, and “Ice Age” from Pete Yorn’s Nightcrawler. It’s been a phenomenal year for new Go-To songs, and I have an hour commute, so it’s important!

By carrie on December 2, 2006

i’m so glad to see someone mention lindsey buckingham! that song is my favorite off his new album.

my go-to song is anything off the rumours album, and my go-to move is singing all the harmony & instrumental parts. :D

By Amber on December 4, 2006

wamp wamp! yes, that one...but I can’t get enough of Loose Fur’s “Stupid as the Sun” right now. So lively, so gritty, and to top it off with O’Rourke’s voice. Yesssssss.

By gcamden on December 15, 2006

Ben Folds Five - Uncle Walter (Ben Folds Five)
Willie Nelson - Can I Sleep in Your Arms
Ray Charles - Hard Times (Birth of Soul box)
Al Green - Tired of Being Alone

I have a lot, but those are 4 of my all-time go-tos.

Signature go-to move: “playing” the drum grooves with my fingers on the steering wheel and air drumming any fills while my wife cringes.

I find that the closer a singer’s vocal timbre is to mine, the more I link into singing along. Anyone else have this experience?

By Virgil Cane on January 23, 2007

I listened to Anytime by My Morning Jacket three times on the way to work today. I even sat in my car for about 30 seconds after I parked to let it finish.