"Another One Bites the Dust" - Queen

You can argue about the shorts, but nobody can argue about the song--and that says something.

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"Fratelli D'Italia"

This is the Italian national anthem. It's Sousa meets Vivaldi meets Liberace with pagan lyrics. We had to sing this daily after the Star-Spangled Banner when I was a kid in American school in Sicily, so maybe the appeal is mostly nostalgic, but really, isn't it catchy?

"Jenny and the Ess-Dog" - Stephen Malkmus

My favorite of all the Malkmus/Pavement tracks, for a reason that is hard to explain, except to say that is at once realistic, trite, poignant, poppy, grungy, and catchy; a top-shelf sing-a-long for sure.

"Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley's rendition of this song will provoke the following reactions: you will pine for more romance, cry, cream your panties, cry some more, wish you cared about the bible, and envy you didn't do this first. You will listen to it at least twice more, right away. It's also a standard in poignant season finales.

"Heart Of Saturday Night" - Tom Waits

Lonely, sweet, lovely...pretty standard for Mr. Waits.



(P.S. Bonus: Weird stand-up intro in this video--good for some outlook, but really, listen to this song from the album for best results.)

"Undone - The Sweater Song" - Weezer

Brilliant, hypnotic song about a slice of teen life.

**click here for Spike Jonze's video**

(all the embeddable videos blew--sorry)
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"Girlfriend In A Coma" - The Smiths

It's like a Simon and Garfunkel ska vibe with absurd lyrics and Morrissey. Duh.

"Little Johnny Jewel" - Television

The perfect song for the stumbling drunk to shake and slosh to with fervor; the fifteen-minute version is the best.

"The Model" - Belle & Sebastian

There is never a wrong moment for this song to come on; I will always switch gears and flawlessly sing along with my eyes closed, imagining myself a wee Scot with a story to tell.

"Waitin' for My Man" - Velvet Underground

Rough and ready, this little number grabs you by the collar and lets you go when she feels like it; a tough call, but probably my favorite from the Velvets.

"Getting Nasty" - Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm

An instrumental gem that'll tickle everywhere ya got and practically clap your hands for ya.


(Yes, this was later sampled by Jurassic 5 on "Concrete Schoolyard," off their self-titled EP)

"Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" - Paul Simon

Windows rolled down, volume cranked up, breeze in your hair, sun in the sky, lose your voice to it kinda song.

"In The Air Tonight" - Phil Collins

Arguably the best drum entrance in history.

"The Very Thought Of You" - Nat King Cole

Oh, you want to have sex with that girl? Hand her a glass of champagne, put this on the record player, twirl her around a few times, and make sure the sheets are clean.

"Your Song" - Elton John

A love song just don't get no better, babe.

"Stand By Me" - Ben E. King

Thumping bass line, devastating lyrics.

"If You Want Me to Stay" - Sly & The Family Stone

The bass line sends shivers down my spine and turns my body into a bowl of hot'n'heavy, ass-shaking Jell-O; recognize, yo--Sly in the house!