Top 40 Intro
Click here to read the Foreword to this project, written by the immensely talented, Hallie Bertling.
40 days from tomorrow I will be 40 years old. I’m weirdly ok with it. I really enjoyed my 30s and feel like I’m just getting started. So much of my teens and 20s were frustrating. That was a stretch of doubt, failure, and heartbreak. Things started breaking right in my 30s and now I feel confident, successful and fulfilled. Finally comfortable in my own skin. I love my wife and kids. I’m excited and challenged by my career. Have a little money. Feel good physically. What’s not to enjoy? But that’s not to say that I haven’t been feeling the reality of the mid-life angst. So cliché but it’s a thing. Just simple math. If you’re lucky to hit 80, then this is halftime. That can’t help but get you thinking. The benefit to that cold dose of truth is that I know what’s important now. Silly stuff brushes right past me (except for fantasy football losses, of course). I know what I care about and what hills I’m willing to die on. That’s empowering and less exhausting.
I think the biggest “fear” I face with getting older and - let’s be honest - eventually dying, is the concept of legacy. How will people remember me? Dear God, WILL people remember me? I went to a funeral a while back and they played a bunch of generic and sad songs and showed some photos and all I can think about was, “Is that what that person would have wanted? Did this service describe who he was?” Then I went to my grandmother’s funeral in August of 2018. Nana was my favorite human on the planet when I was growing up. She made everything fun. She lightened every mood. She taught me to not sweat the small stuff and try to find a way to enjoy every dumb, boring activity every dumb, boring day. She had her funeral planned out. She had every song and moment detailed and then at the bottom of her notes, she wrote “And keep it quick. Everyone’s got better things to do.” So THAT'S where I get it from. While I’m not planning out my funeral here, it got me thinking about being "known." We let people see what we want them to see. We let some in further than others but only God knows the person we are when we’re alone in the car. The thoughts we have but never express. The little songs or games you make up to pass a stretch of time. As I turn 40, I want people to know me better. I want to get to know people better. As I thought about it that further, I couldn’t get past the concept of songs. For not being musically inclined, I love music. I love how a song can tell a story on its own or emphasis a moment in a movie or TV show. A perfectly crafted soundtrack can convey as much of a story as the acting or directing. So here’s the plan: Each day for the next 40 days (starting tomorrow) I’m going to post a song that has meant something to me over the past 40 years.
My own Top 40.
These are songs that represent a specific time of life for me, or a specific person, or a specific story. I will include my favorite line from each track and any interesting facts/tie-ins about the song I stumble across along the way. I will also post some of the other songs from that genre that I enjoy as well. The order (if there is any) will start somewhat chronological and then wind down with my block of personal favorites. No rankings. I surprised myself as I made this list. Some songs that I thought would obviously be included eventually missed the cut (see below). It took me close to a year to complete because I wanted to let the list keep evolving as it took shape. Some songs sound different at certain times of the year so it was good to let it breathe throughout the months. It was also interesting to have certain songs mean more during different emotional seasons as well. I wouldn't listen to some of these tracks for months on end and then play them endlessly on repeat during specific challenges or celebrations. If that's not the power of music, I don't know what is. My ultimate rule was that it had to not only mean something deeply personal to me but it had to let you get to know me better as well. It’s been a fun project. After being creative for many years, I haven't done anything really "artistic" in a while (my boss told me "You're welcome" when I mentioned this to him) so this was a fun outlet again. Though it wasn't what I had planned when I started, this has weirdly turned into a backdoor memoir - even though I'm not famous and nobody asked for one. But I'm glad it did. It was cathartic to get a lot of these stories and thoughts down in writing. I’m looking forward to rolling these out and hearing back from all of you. What do you think of my choices? What are the songs that have meant the most to you? What are the songs that will let me get to know you better? Please feel free to share. MISSED THE CUT Here are the songs that I still can't believe didn't make the ultimate list. These are great songs and some of my favorites to listen to but, as you will see in the coming days and weeks, the tracks that did make the cut contain some sort of deeply personal reason, memory, and/or connection. The official list starts tomorrow. These can tide you over until then.
American Pie - Don McLean
40 days from tomorrow I will be 40 years old. I’m weirdly ok with it. I really enjoyed my 30s and feel like I’m just getting started. So much of my teens and 20s were frustrating. That was a stretch of doubt, failure, and heartbreak. Things started breaking right in my 30s and now I feel confident, successful and fulfilled. Finally comfortable in my own skin. I love my wife and kids. I’m excited and challenged by my career. Have a little money. Feel good physically. What’s not to enjoy? But that’s not to say that I haven’t been feeling the reality of the mid-life angst. So cliché but it’s a thing. Just simple math. If you’re lucky to hit 80, then this is halftime. That can’t help but get you thinking. The benefit to that cold dose of truth is that I know what’s important now. Silly stuff brushes right past me (except for fantasy football losses, of course). I know what I care about and what hills I’m willing to die on. That’s empowering and less exhausting.
I think the biggest “fear” I face with getting older and - let’s be honest - eventually dying, is the concept of legacy. How will people remember me? Dear God, WILL people remember me? I went to a funeral a while back and they played a bunch of generic and sad songs and showed some photos and all I can think about was, “Is that what that person would have wanted? Did this service describe who he was?” Then I went to my grandmother’s funeral in August of 2018. Nana was my favorite human on the planet when I was growing up. She made everything fun. She lightened every mood. She taught me to not sweat the small stuff and try to find a way to enjoy every dumb, boring activity every dumb, boring day. She had her funeral planned out. She had every song and moment detailed and then at the bottom of her notes, she wrote “And keep it quick. Everyone’s got better things to do.” So THAT'S where I get it from. While I’m not planning out my funeral here, it got me thinking about being "known." We let people see what we want them to see. We let some in further than others but only God knows the person we are when we’re alone in the car. The thoughts we have but never express. The little songs or games you make up to pass a stretch of time. As I turn 40, I want people to know me better. I want to get to know people better. As I thought about it that further, I couldn’t get past the concept of songs. For not being musically inclined, I love music. I love how a song can tell a story on its own or emphasis a moment in a movie or TV show. A perfectly crafted soundtrack can convey as much of a story as the acting or directing. So here’s the plan: Each day for the next 40 days (starting tomorrow) I’m going to post a song that has meant something to me over the past 40 years.
My own Top 40.
These are songs that represent a specific time of life for me, or a specific person, or a specific story. I will include my favorite line from each track and any interesting facts/tie-ins about the song I stumble across along the way. I will also post some of the other songs from that genre that I enjoy as well. The order (if there is any) will start somewhat chronological and then wind down with my block of personal favorites. No rankings. I surprised myself as I made this list. Some songs that I thought would obviously be included eventually missed the cut (see below). It took me close to a year to complete because I wanted to let the list keep evolving as it took shape. Some songs sound different at certain times of the year so it was good to let it breathe throughout the months. It was also interesting to have certain songs mean more during different emotional seasons as well. I wouldn't listen to some of these tracks for months on end and then play them endlessly on repeat during specific challenges or celebrations. If that's not the power of music, I don't know what is. My ultimate rule was that it had to not only mean something deeply personal to me but it had to let you get to know me better as well. It’s been a fun project. After being creative for many years, I haven't done anything really "artistic" in a while (my boss told me "You're welcome" when I mentioned this to him) so this was a fun outlet again. Though it wasn't what I had planned when I started, this has weirdly turned into a backdoor memoir - even though I'm not famous and nobody asked for one. But I'm glad it did. It was cathartic to get a lot of these stories and thoughts down in writing. I’m looking forward to rolling these out and hearing back from all of you. What do you think of my choices? What are the songs that have meant the most to you? What are the songs that will let me get to know you better? Please feel free to share. MISSED THE CUT Here are the songs that I still can't believe didn't make the ultimate list. These are great songs and some of my favorites to listen to but, as you will see in the coming days and weeks, the tracks that did make the cut contain some sort of deeply personal reason, memory, and/or connection. The official list starts tomorrow. These can tide you over until then.
American Pie - Don McLean
If I'm turning 40 in 1971 then this song would definitely be on the list. The farewell anthem to the 50s and 60s probably meant a lot to a lot of people that were growing up at that time. I just don't have the connection to it other than I love it as a jam song.
Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money
Blazing 80s track. So fun. Got all the Josh Mahler check-marks: 80s tune? Check! Roaring sax? Check! 50s callbacks? Check! I just don't have a story or memory to go with it so here it rests.
The Michael Jackson Catalog
Feels crazy to not have a song from The King of Pop on my list but I would be forcing it and faking it if I did. My favorites from him include Bad, Beat It, Man in the Mirror, Remember the Time, Black or White, and Want You Back from his days with the Jackson 5.
My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
I tried so hard to get this song on the list just for this verse: Headed for city lights, climbed the ladder up to fortune and fame / Worked my fingers to the bone made myself a name / Funny I seemed to find that no matter how the years unwind / Still I reminisce 'bout the girl I miss and the love I left behind. But I just couldn't make it work so I had to get it on the record here.
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel
This song was on the official list until October and then came off - one of the very last changes to be made. As much as I love this tune, I just couldn't come up with a story tell along with it. Had to go. You will notice there are quite a few Billy Joel songs on the list - even I was surprised at how many. But as I let the list grow and develop over time, the inclusions were unmistakable. It was a pleasant revelation how influential his music has been on me.
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
If anyone knows me, they know The Killers are my favorite band (more on that to come). So it must seem sacrilegious to not include their biggest hit. It's weird. I love "Brightside" and respect it as the band's all-time classic and it is a fun party track. But it's always lived on the surface for me. There were more songs just from The Killers alone that I had more trouble leaving off the list, including...
Miss Atomic Bomb - The Killers
This is the one that hurts. I think when I look back at the list in a few years, this omission is going to feel egregious. I love this song. I freaking love everything about it. I love that my favorite band had the stones to do a direct sequel to their biggest hit ("Mr." and "Miss," get it?) and sneak in "Brightside's" riff in the middle of the track. I love the odd and half animated music video - and yes, I WILL be the old man if Sum ever leaves me or passes away first. I got my fantasy baseball team name from this song (more on that later). I tried and tried and tried to get it on the list (as late as December I was trying to figure it out) but it just never worked. If I ever add to this list, this song is next one in.
Miss Atomic Bomb - The Killers
This is the one that hurts. I think when I look back at the list in a few years, this omission is going to feel egregious. I love this song. I freaking love everything about it. I love that my favorite band had the stones to do a direct sequel to their biggest hit ("Mr." and "Miss," get it?) and sneak in "Brightside's" riff in the middle of the track. I love the odd and half animated music video - and yes, I WILL be the old man if Sum ever leaves me or passes away first. I got my fantasy baseball team name from this song (more on that later). I tried and tried and tried to get it on the list (as late as December I was trying to figure it out) but it just never worked. If I ever add to this list, this song is next one in.
Shocked by the Killers omissions...Excited to see what made it
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this project, Josh! What a great creative idea! I will also be 40 this year so I’m sure nostalgia will set in. Carl and I look forward to following you the next 40 days.
ReplyDelete