It took me back to Elementary School. I had to have been in Kindergarten or 1^st grade. There was a talent show, I believe. The details surrounding the event are a little hazy. It was definitely a variety show of some sort. I remember this blonde girl who was probably in 5^th or 6^th grade (she seemed SO much older than me at the time) was going to do a dance performance to this slow sad song. It was beautiful, though. I fell in love with the song at the time — so so 80’s, but that’s ok. The dancer had this gorgeous baby blue costume that was so sparkly and soft and fluid. I could have watched her dance forever. The song was Don’t Cry Out Loud by good old Melissa Manchester – remember her?

Thanks to this memory hitting me hard,  I am adding my top most memorable songs from Elementary School to The Music Challenge. Enjoy.

78. Melissa Machester, Don’t Cry Out Loud (1978)

These next songs were sung by my entire grade at one of those end-of-year concerts the music program has to put on. The theme was Disney and my class was given The Little Mermaid. I remember belting out these two particularly.

79. The Little Mermaid, Under The Sea (1989)

80. The Little Mermaid, Kiss The Girl (1989)

I don’t know what possessed me really, but I tried out for choir in the 5^th grade and made it. In their defense, I think they did accept everyone who wanted to join. I somehow did make the elite Double Ten as an alternate, however. The Double Ten were the top twenty singers of the entire choir. They did special performances and competitions if I recall correctly like singing Christmas ditties at the Concord Mall. Granted, there were usually only 25 or so people in choir in all, so making the Double Ten as an alternate probably shouldn’t be as celebrated as the flattering success that it was in my mind. I think our choir director must have had a thing for Bette Midler because we were given Wind Beneath My Wings and this supposedly optimistic one as well …

81. Bette Midler, From A Distance(1990)

Another song stuck in my mind from those choir days is Take These Wings. Once it’s in there, you can’t get it out.

82. Take These Wings(19??)

And last but not least … Can they even play songs like this in school these days???

83. The Cat Came Back (wicked old folk song)

My younger sister and I have discussed this topic at great length over the years. It’s almost like a game. When we go, what should our funeral song be? What would be a great funeral song for the people we know? (although that version of the game can get a little mean – funny as hell, but a little mean).

You can actually go several ways with the funeral song question. I’ve decided to add my go-tos to The Music Challenge list as the following songs always make me think of death and funerals when I hear them. Not that I’ve ever heard a one of them at an actual funeral. In fact, I’m used to hearing rather slow and melancholic hymns, but the bottom line is, when these songs flash across the radio, I have had the thought “THAT would be a GREAT funeral song for…”

Here are my funeral song additions to the list:

16. A horrifically sad sentimental ditty that has your family and peers bawling like babies.

Sarah McLauchlan, I Will Remember (1999)

Don’t be this dead person. It’s bad enough hearing it on every SPCA commercial.

17. Something more subdued yet reflective creating just enough sniffles in the crowd that denotes your life literally brought the audience to tears but not in an Old Yeller way, more like in a Free Willy kind of way.

Billy Joel, The River Of Dreams (1993)

Love this one.

18. A song that sums up your life. Something that really speaks to the time you spent on this Earth.

Tennessee Ernie Ford, Sixteen Tons (1955)

Sums it up for most people …

19. Something celebratory.

Blues Brothers and Ray Charles, Shake a Tail Feather (1980)

Because how awesome would it be to have people grooving at your wake?

20. An inspirational ode to the people of the world.

Louis Armstrong, What A Wonderful World (1967)

A bit of a tear jerker, but such a great song to go out on.

21. The cruel route (if you hated everyone around you).

Bette Midler, The Wind Beneath My Wings (1988)

Yeah. You really hate people if you play this one.

22. The honest route (if everyone around you hated you).

Meredith Brooks, Bitch (1997)

Not kidding. This one is a frequent flyer on Younger Sister’s and my funeral song list for other people…

23. The cheap laugh.

Monty Python, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life (1979)

Don’t you want your family and friends to smile at least a little bit?

24. My current favorite and possibly the one I will claim as my very own funeral song one day (far far away from today) – a fun one. I know funerals and fun don’t typically mix, but after all of my years, I’ve realized, funerals are for the living. Might as well remind them they are alive. (and that I had pretty damn good taste in music to boot)

James Brown, I Got You (I Feel Good) (1965)

26. And though I absolutely love the man, I already have Clifford’s funeral song picked out.

Johnny Cash, Ring of Fire (1963)

That’s not morbid, right?