“I’ve got an iPod like a pirate ship. I’ll sail the seas with 50,000 songs I’ve never heard.” That’s maybe my favorite song lyric ever. It’s from Very Busy People by The Limousines in 2011. This post however is not about good music. This post is about my own very private shame. We all have an iPod/iPhone loaded with music. It is our private sanctuary where we go to melt away our stress and change our mood. Sometimes though, our sanctuary holds secrets. There are so many other deeply personal things in my life that I’d rather admit to, but I dug deep, for you. At the end, I want each and every one of you who reads this to put in the comments one song that’s in your music collection that you’d be embarrassed to admit to in front of others whose respect you want.
10. Relax: Frankie Goes to Hollywood, 1984: If someone had pointed a gun at my head at least I’d have an excuse for this one, but still…how can you not sing along? Contrary to rumors, I do not have a Frankie Say Relax t-shirt.
9. Counting Blue Cars: Dishwalla, 1995: I have no idea why I downloaded this piece of crap. Whenever it comes on I listen to about 30 seconds before moving on. And yet…I haven’t deleted it.
8. Turning Japanese: The Vapors, 1980: This was the first song I ever heard/saw on MTV. Yeah, us old people remember when MTV played music. Once this came on when my son was in the car and he said something like, “Oh my God. That is the most racist song I’ve ever heard.” It’s horrible and it’s still on my iPod.
7. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Original TV theme): Will Smith, 1990: That’s right. I liked the show and the song so much that I downloaded the full length version. Fortunately I don’t yet have that song Carlton used to dance to.
6. Da Da Da: Trio, 1980: The song is from 1980, but I didn’t know it until the 90’s when Volkswagen used this song in a commercial. It got stuck in my head and I looked it up late one night…
5. Get It On (Bang a Gong): The Power Station, 1985: I tried to think what I could say to explain this. I’ve got nothing.
4. Can’t Hold Us: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, 2012: Sorry. I saw them on the New Years’ Eve show that year and got caught up in the hype.
3. Take Off: Bob and Doug Mackenzie: 1981: The song was garbage, but cut me a little slack because Geddy Lee from Rush is in it.
2. I Wear My Sunglasses at Night: Corey Hart, 1984: Sometimes you never forget songs you thought were cool when you were a kid.
And the most embarrassing song on my iPod is…drumroll please…
1. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) Rupert Holmes, 1979: One of the worst songs in the history of planet Earth, but recently the soundtrack from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy revived it and I downloaded it. Screw it. I’ll sing along in my car if I want.
Admittedly, there are probably a couple more songs on my iPod I should be embarrassed by but am not. (Gangnam Style and something about Charlie Sheen) Ok, I fessed up. Now tell me in the comments one song from your personal shame list. Don’t worry, it will stay here. What happens at #ThePhilFactor stays at The Phil Factor. Please share on Facebook, Twitter or re-blog if you want your friends to join in the fun. Have a great Tuesday! ~Phil