Question Of The Week: What's Your Favorite Song?
We'll take it easy on you this week, and ask what should be a simple question to answer...
What's your favorite song?
Don't think about it too much, the first answer is usually the right one. That one song that moves you. The one that comes on the radio and you'll turn it up, stop what you're doing, and listen to it until the last note is played. The song that takes you back or reminds you of something special.
Have you got it? Good. Now let us know!
Why is it such a great song? Any sentimental value? What were you doing the first time you heard it? Can you play it? Let us know why it's special to YOU. Share your stories, and we'll post your replies here next week. There are NO wrong answers...
What's your favorite song?
Your Answers
What's your favorite song?
Name: Mary Jane C.
Location: Jackson, MI
"It's a tie - two current favorite fiddle tunes played across the strings, both are best in the key of G, but the key of D is okay, too:
1. Monkey on a Dog Cart learned with Jack and Mary Giger from a Neil Gaston tape.
2. Dog Chased a Possum Up a White Oak Tree learned from Jack and Mary Giger."
Name: Dollie D
Location: Danville, KY
"Rick Thum's HD version of Wild Rose of the Mountain. It was one of the first real songs I learned to play on my HD once I progressed beyond the basics of learning the notes, etc. It's a fun song to play, runs up and down the treble bridge and over the bass bridge. If I could tap my toes at the same time as I hammer, I would!"
Name: Mac S.
Location: W.H., CT
"At this time I have no favorite song. I improvise mostly now and relate more to sound and feel of the music I'm playing, my audience,are they listening, dancing,enjoying. I listen to musical phrases, how they sound and feel, not to duplicate but get ideas. Sometimes I get stuck on a certain feel/sound and I need to break away with happy accidents or discoveries."
Name: Richard Ash (from Folkcraft)
Location: Woodburn, IN
"Depends on my mood. On the day of the week. On the season. If I had to narrow down the choices, the tune would probably have lots of meaning. So: a great melody, lyrics, a backstory for the lyrics (which narrows it down to a movie or Broadway tune, usually), lush harmonies (which unfortunately rules out the vast majority of folk tunes). Maybe even a personal connection to the song, so that it brings back memories from earlier in my life. If I had to pick one tune, and only one, I would choose "What I Did For Love" by Marvin Hamlisch. This song is from his 1975 Broadway musical "A Chorus Line". I saw the stage production live in New York once, and was generally unmoved (perhaps because I've done a LOT of auditions, and that's what the show is about), but this particular song has always stood out above the rest."
Name: Yvonne M
Location: Eldridge,ND
"Right now, my top favorite is Blue Christmas and I was a teenager the first time I heard it, sung by the late,great Elvis Presley. I play it on the piano and can't seem to get enough of it during the Christmas Season!"
Name: JLT
Location: Sacramento CA
"Just one song? Shoot, I could name a hundred. But I'll say George Harrison's Here Comes the Sun. It almost always puts me in a better mood, especially on days like this (when Sacramento is expecting its worst storm in years). Can I play it? Sort of. Not very well, though. But like a lot of other songs (notably Urge for Going), I still haven't found its limits."
Name: Mike L.
Location: Chesnee, S.C.
"Mine is not a song in particular, but the song of the Mountain Dulcimer. Reason why, I heard an old timer playing a mountain dulcimer this past summer up in Cades Cove Tenn. I fell in love with the sound. I now have completed two kits and have another on the way. I'd like to say thanks to Nicholas for all the help and info he has provided."
Name: Larry M.
Location: Warsaw, IN
"RIVER A great number that I learned to play, early in my journey with the dulcimer! I have this piece stored in my memory bank, and I do play it, almost every time I pick up my dulcimer. First heard it with our dulcimer group, which meets once a month, and we play it in our meetings every once in a while, along with the new ones we get exposed to monthly."
Name: Carl W
Location: Demotte In
"Favorite song - Have many - One of them is I'll be all smiles tonight Music/Lyrics written in 1879 by T.B. Ranson - Like many country/folk songs it tells a story that a lot of us can relate to or identify with - Over the years has been recorded by many artists - to name a few - Kitty Wells - Carter Family - Louvin Brothers - Martina McBride - Johnny Cash - Lulu Belle Scotty -Mac Wiseman - You hear it once in awhile on classic country radio or go to You Tube for the artist of your choice It is one of my favorite songs I play on the mountain dulcimer."
Name: Cindy B. - Twins at Play
Location: Marshall County, IN and surrounding area
"It is virtually impossible to answer a question like this. Music touches the spirit and heart in ineffable ways and because of that quality, selecting just one piece misses, I think, the incredible power and beauty that music is. I have pieces that I will listen to, or play, over and over during certain events or times or moods, but I can't put my finger on, nor do I really want to, just one piece. I admit that I am drawn to a certain style more frequently than others - something about a lilting 6/8 rhythm really catches me, the key of E-flat major or c-minor appeals to me, the lovely, lovely interweaving strands of polyphony can bring me to tears, a piece of vocal music where the text and melody just weave together so seamlessly that they seem made for each other - all of these and more, I listen to and love. But just one favourite? No, I can't select. So I guess I will say, whichever one I happen to be playing/listening to at the moment."