Anyone that knows me knows that music is almost always playing in the background of my life. This year I stumbled across a variety of new music that was played on a loop so much it’s sometimes hard to dictate what I’ve listened to the most. According to iTunes though, the following tracks are the 12 most played songs of 2010 and attached with them are the reasons why. (You may wonder why I picked 12 instead of 10 and the reason is that these songs in particular were played so many more times than all of the others that they all deserved recognition)
12. Kings of Leon – My Party (song actually ends at 4:08, but the video continues. You can stop though, there’s nothing after that)
This song was played a lot of repeat because it’s used in my current WIP’s soundtrack and might just be my favorite Kings of Leon song. In both drafts of my book it’s used during a Halloween Masquerade Ball/Bash. The original scene VS the new scene are extremely different, but the music was able to remain the same!
11. Arctic Monkeys – Old Yellow Bricks
This year I fell in-love with Arctic Monkeys in a big way and was even able to see them live in concert for my birthday. While it’s difficult to pick a favorite because they’re one of those rare bands where I actually like every song they’ve ever done, Old Yellow Bricks stands out over all of them like a shinning star. Plus, it’s just one of many Arctic Monkey songs featured on my books soundtrack so of course it was played many times on repeat for the books sake alone.
10. Nine Inch Nails – The Line Begins to Blur
While I definitely love NIN, the real reason this song was played so many times this year is because it’s played during a scene in my current WIP (that’s been re-written at least 6 times, but the song always remains the same) where Bryce and Teagan kiss for the first time, but it shouldn’t be happening. It’s one of the most painful & rewarding scenes for Bryce, but still, totally one of my favorites.
9. Paramore – All I Wanted
For those of you that don’t know, Teagan (in my current WIP) is a musician and the sound I most readily compare to her is Paramore so it’s a given that almost anything Paramore will be used while I’m writing, but this song in particular really rings true to the story because Teagan starts writing songs and showing them to Bryce before the band learns them. The thing is she doesn’t realize that the songs are about him until she’s playing them for him alone and this is one of those songs that I imagine her playing something like when she realizes it.
8. Rihanna – Rude Boy
This song is totally dirty, but I love it. Last winter I was completely swallowed whole by plot bunnies, one of which was a love story that involved a celebrity and a fan and this song was a central piece to their final night together. I also really loved dancing to this song last winter while drinking on Fridays with my fiancé, but that’s a whole different story (one of which I don’t really care to share – lol).
7. Yael Naim – Toxic (Yes, a Britney Spears cover)
I actually do like the Britney Spears version of this song, but Yael Naim’s version is so smooth and seductive which made it perfect for Teagan in my current WIP as she begins to realize her true feelings for Bryce and act on them.
6. Muse – Sunburn
This song made this list because A: I love Muse and B: It’s the intro to my books soundtrack. Oh, and I’m sort of in-love with the piano.
5. Kid Cudi – Heart of a Lion
During my encounter with the excess of plot bunnies last January this song was used for several of the stories that sprung themselves on me, particularly the celebrity/fan story though. In addition to that, I just liked the song. I’m not actually a fan of Cudi’s rapping, but his beats are really deep and cool and I like the way they make me want to move.
4. Kenna – Out of Control
I first found this song via a commercial (though I don’t remember what commercial now), but later found it on repeat along with song #10 (NIN) for the exact same scene. It just seemed like Bryce’s theme song for that chapter. The level of temptation that Teagan pushes him to is just too great and this song was perfect for it!
3. Local Natives – Wide Eyes
The number one song that aided me in successfully editing my WIP, this song lived on repeat alone for weeks on end. There are many other Local Native songs that make the cut for my current WIP’s soundtrack, but this one will forever be the grandest.
2. Statik Selektah – The Thrill is Gone (Instrumental)
1. Busta Rhymes – Decision (Instrumental)
I don’t even know what the real songs are, but Heath gave me a ton of beats he was interested in using for a mix tape last New Year and these had me writing a scene that is sadly no longer part of my WIP, but was epic in it’s day. It was something special and traumatic all at the same time between Bryce and Teagan and I worked on it for a solid week straight none stop. It’s a shame it didn’t make the cut to the final WIP, but it will always live in my memory.
Most of my LJ friends listen to music just as habitually as me, so what were your most played songs in 2010?
Peace – Sarah
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