Top 10 songs of 2010

Every year since 2006 I have been keeping track of the number of plays each song on my iPod gets. At the end of each year, I turn the top 40 songs into a playlist. Last year and this year's list got burned to a CD so I can play them for Ben when he gets older.

This brings me to another topic. There are so many songs on my iPod with curses in them, it's ridiculous. I initially noticed this when I made a playlist for his birthday party. It wasn't a big deal, I found enough songs for a 3 hour party. But now that I pick him up from the sitter's house 4 days a week, I play a lot music for him, so it's becoming an issue.

Ben tries to sing along. He dances and most recently we taught him how to fist pump, so he does that too. He's not talking yet, but I'm afraid he'll hear an F-Bomb or other curse words in one of the songs and repeat it. So anytime a song with curse words come on, I skip to the next one. I do a lot of skipping.

Oh also...there are sometimes curse words in other languages in music. Here's a tip. If you don't know what the words mean, don't post them as your Facebook status. (a la - Girls, Girls Girls - Jay-Z: see below)

Anyway, here is my top 10 of 2010 for your enjoyment. What songs are in your top 10?

10. New York State of Mind - Billy Joel
If you're from NY, you have to like Billy Joel. I think there's something in the water.




9. Say Goodbye - Dave Matthews Band
DMB is awesome. This is one of my favorite songs by them. I still can't believe I've never seen him in concert. How is that possible?




8. Fix You - Coldplay
I used to think Coldplay was stupid, but then I saw them in concert and now I think they are awesome. This song is great.




7. New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
Another song about New York. Yankees fan or not, you grow up in NY, you know this song. It was played at my wedding and a lot this year in my car and office.




6. Girls, Girls, Girls - Jay-Z
I love girls, girls, girls, girls...I wanted to enter to this song at the wedding reception, but it was quickly vetoed. Still a great song though.




5. I Can Transform Ya - Chris Brown
Personally, I think Chris Brown is an a-hole. But he still makes good music. this was on my running playlist. It will get your energy up quickly.




4. Wonderwall - Oasis
Another favorite from the 90s. Funny story, I didn't like this song when it first came out. It took me a few months. Then I really got into their songs.




3. Mo Money, Mo Problems - Notorious B.I.G.
This song never gets old. Great since the 90s.




2. Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance
This has been one of my favorite songs since it came out in 2006. It has been #1 in 2006, 2007, 2008. #2 in 2009 and #3 this year.




1. Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Yet ANOTHER song about NY. I loved this song since the first time they performed it at the MTV awards.




Honorable Mention: You're The Best - Joe Esposito
That's right. The fight theme from The Karate Kid. I put it on my running playlist. It made me laugh everytime it came on and kept me running again when I was thinking about stopping. Doubt me? Try it. You'll laugh, then pick it up a notch.

Happy St. Patrick's Day Revisited

I know I still haven't finished our NY Vacation review or Easter, but I had to get this post out of my head. It's been rattling around there for almost a month.

I think I'm a 1/4 Irish. Well, that's what I tell evereyone I am, so let's go with that. That makes Ben 1/8 Irish. On St. Patrick's Day, he got to enjoy the smell of sauerkraut having sex with a dirty diaper on a garbage barge. Yes, that's what I think Cornedbeef and Cabbage smells like. I love the cornedbeef, but ugh, I think cabbage is the most disgusting thing in all the land.

I got to thinking, what other Irish delights does Ben have to look forward to? Here is my short list:

1. Michael Flatley , Lord of the Dance - His backup dancers are pretty hot too. The first girl I remember having a crush on in was in the 2nd grade in Brooklyn. Her name was Melissa Rutledge. She took Irish dancing. That doesn't add much to the post, but I thought I would add it in here anyway.
2. Lucky Charms cereal - They're magically delicious.
3. Conan O'Brien - The guy is a genius. I've watched him since 94 and I think he's partly responsible for my crazy sense of humor.

But the most important and exciting thing about being Irish and St. Patrick's Day is the Irish music. I'm not talking about songs like Danny Boy or When Irish Eye are Smiling. I'm talking about the best Irish song of all time....

That's right my friends...Jump Around by House of Pain!

Baby Making Music

So when you hear the term "baby making music" what do you think of? Maybe some Marvin Gaye or Boyz II Men, perhaps some Alicia Keys? Well those are all good answers, but I'm not talking about that kind of baby making. C'mon, we're 8 months pregnant here, been there, done that. I'm talking about the music that's played during delivery. THAT kind of baby making music.

During our tour of Winnie Palmer, they said the delivery rooms have ipod jacks and DVD players. Since I can't imagine watching a movie during delivery, I immediately thought about music. I wondered what kind of music gets played in the delivery room. I picture most people playing soothing music like Yanni, Enya or Enigma. I'm sure there are others who want Metallica, AC/DC or Lynyrd Skynyrd. I'm willing to bet that nurses give each other "the look" when certain songs come on. I'd love to ask what some of the more outrageous songs they've heard during delivery are, but I'm sure I'll be a little pre-occupied with my son being born to remember. So, what will we play?

I've been thinking about it for a while, but now that there are only 30 days left, it's time for action. Allison is almost 36 weeks along, so she can really go anytime. That means it's time to get that playlist created. I'll side with the first group of people I mentioned. I'll take some Enya, Enigma or a Cirque de Solei soundtrack. Allison really likes Coldplay, Billy Joel and Brian Mcknight, so maybe some of that music should be on the playlist too.

Then I think to myself, while soothing, will that music get her pumped enough to give her that extra boost of adrenaline to push Baby C out? I'm going to list a few songs that should be on this playlist and you tell me yay or nay.

First up, Salt-n-Pepa - Push It. If there is a better song out there for delivering a baby, I don't know what it is. Just look at some of the lyrics "ooohh, ahhh, ssss, Push it!" and "Ooh baby, baby...baby, baby!" Are you kidding me? The video for this song should have been Salt, Pepa or Spinderella giving birth, but those black spandex pants and yellow jackets were pretty hot too. I won't insult you by putting a clip of "Push It" below, I truly hope everyone reading this blog knows that song. However, this song was in one of my favorite commercials and THAT is the clip below. Enjoy.


Next up are three songs that made movie montage magic. The first of the 3 is not as popular as the others, but it's just as good if not better. This song was on my running playlist when I ran my last 5K and it's just awesome. You'll recognize it as the fight theme from The Karate Kid. It's Joe Esposito - You're The Best. Now before you make that face...hear me out. My job as Allison's birthing partner is to encourage and support her. Let her know that she's doing a good job. What is better than the best? Nothing! So if this song comes on, it's 3 minutes of Allison being told she's the best around...nothing's ever gonna bring her down!


The next two, both by Survivor, both from Rocky movies. You guessed it Burning Heart and Eye of the Tiger. I dare you to listen to these songs and not get hyped! "In the warriors code theres no surrender, Though his body says stop, his spirit cries - never!" C'mon people! This is the perfect song! How many times have you heard the stories of women giving birth saying "No, I cant do it any more. I don't want to do it any more, can't he just stay in there?" It's perfect. Plus, I can just say 2 words to Allison, look her deep in her eyes and say "Warrior's Code" LOL I'm pretty sure if I say that, she's start swinging on me, so it's a good thing I just watched that Rocky montage.


And Eye of the Tiger. I don't need to say anything more about this song than Rocky 3. I think all of you know this song too, but I had to put it on here anyway.


This is an odd one, but watch this clip and if you don't get goosebumps, call 911 because you may be dead. The Chicago Bulls intro. My cousin Ray had this at his wedding. It was really cool. It's more of an introduction song than a delivery song, so maybe we can play it for visitors. Can you picture it...AAAAANNNNDDD NNNOOOOOWWWWW, from Central Florida..Baaaaaaaby CCCCCCC!!!! I don't know if I should do the smoke & strobe light, but the rest would be cool.


Let me try to regain my composure and be serious for a minute. I think songs like Europe-The Final Countdown, Queen - We are the Champions, Kanye West - Stronger, most songs by the Black Eyed Peas and the songs listed above have a place in the delivery room. Allison will probably kill me if any of those songs are actually played during delivery, but she'll be in labor, delivering Baby C and most likely already pissed at me. So what's a guy to do? (this is a good peak inside my mind. This is what runs through my head all day and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Scared yet???) By the end of this weekend I plan to have the playlist completed. The goal is to have Allison relaxed and focused during delivery and hopefully the music helps.

Since we are talking about music, can I tell you guys a secret? I've already started a playlist for Baby C. I have a piano tribute to Metallica and My Chemical Romance. Lullabye versions of Greenday, Nirvana, No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica and The Beatles. I still want to add some kid favorites and classical music, but I haven't had the time. That's another task for this weekend.

Some Pix from the 4th

I just remembered I took some pix of Baby C on the 4th of July that I haven't posted yet. My parents and Uncle Carlo came down from NY for a visit and these pix just slipped my mind.

First up, Baby C vs. a fire breathing dragon.
For those of you that don't recognize it, this is the Disney Electrical Water Pageant. The show came out in 1971 and I seriously don't think they've done anything to it except replace a few light bulbs here and there. It's very corny, but something about Disney & being on vacation...people love it.


Next up, Baby C shows his patriotism.
Disney had some odd musical selections for their 4th of July fireworks and the water pageant. I love watching 4th of July fireworks shows for 2 reasons. 1) the fireworks 2) the patriotic music.

I can't pick one favorite, but here is a list of my top few songs:

• God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood
• America, The Beautiful - Ray Charles
• What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
• National Anthem
• America - Neil Diamond
• Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen

The culinary highlight of the weekend was a toss-up. It was either Allison's homemade pasta (w/ homemade sauce & meatballs), Allison's homemade sloppy Joe's or Allison's homemade ice cream cake. My vote...The ice cream cake. I couldn't have too much of it because of all the chocolate, but this cake was possibly the best dessert she's ever made. If you've ever had any of her desserts, you'll know how huge of a statement that is.


Seriously, Allison outdid herself. Pregnant, she was in the kitchen working up 3 masterpieces. great job!