I’ve been wanting to do an easy post after a couple of heavy ones, so here’s one which has been a lot of fun to think about. It’s the soundtrack to my life – my ultimate playlist. It features two songs from every year since I’ve been born, one pop song and one rock/group song; my kind of music. 
I knew there’d be a lot of songs to choose from, so this isn’t really a list of my favourite songs; instead it’s a list of the songs I can remember playing for significant moments in my life, or I’m told were around for ones I can’t remember (apparently I was walking to Into the Groove).
The list’s below and I put them all together over at Project Playlist as well; there are a few Australian singers some people might not have heard before – I definitely recommend Pete Murray and Missy Higgins. And if you’re wondering, I treat Project Playlist as a radio-library; I go there if I want to hear a new song, but once I’ve heard it I’ll buy it from iTunes. So that’s my way around any legalities. 
1984
Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springstein
Here Comes the Rain Again – Eurythmics
1985
Into the Groove – Madonna
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
1986
True Colors – Cyndi Lauper
Livin on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
1987
I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
1988
Heaven Is A Place On Earth – Belinda Carlisle
Never Tear Us Apart – INXS
1989
Like A Prayer – Madonna
Sweet Child o’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
1990
Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor
Janie’s Got a Gun – Aerosmith
1991
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You – Bryan Adams
Fall at Your Feet – Crowded House
1992
Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
Even Better Than The Real Thing – U2
1993
I’d Do Anything for Love (but I Won’t Do That) – Meat Loaf
Everybody Hurts – R.E.M.
1994
Chains – Tina Arena
Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden
1995
Hand in My Pocket – Alanis Morissette
Where the Wild Roses Grow – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds feat. Kylie Minogue
1996
Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
Wonderwall – Oasis
1997
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
1998
Crush – Jennifer Paige
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
1999
I Try – Macy Gray
Ana’s Song (Open Fire) – Silverchair
2000
Graduation (Friends Forever) – Vitamin C
Beautiful Day – U2
2001
Thank You – Dido
Yellow – Coldplay
2002
A Thousand Miles – Vanessa Carlton
The Greatest View – Silverchair
2003
Crazy In Love – Beyonce & Jay-Z
Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
2004
So Beautiful – Pete Murray
Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
2005
The Sound of White – Missy Higgins
Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day
2006
SexyBack – Justin Timberlake
When You Were Young – The Killers
2007
Rehab – Amy Winehouse
How Far We’ve Come – Matchbox Twenty
sulz
/ October 19, 2007that was some trip down memory lane! is that simple minds song the theme song for the breakfast club?
sexyback huh? someone’s discovered his sensual side last year… ?
CJ: Oh it brings back some great memories! I always think I can’t remember that far back, but when I think of music I often think of moments in my life as well… so it’s a nice way of remembering.
And I’m pretty sure Don’t You (Forget About Me) was for The Breakfast Club… I know Billy Idol was actually asked to record it first but turned it down. He did a cover years later.
And I quite like JT… it’s a fun song. Plus it shows I meant no bad blood to Timbaland!
Netty Gritty
/ October 19, 2007oh god, you either have a veeeeeeeeeeeery good memory or did a heavy research for a light post. how can you remember all the years?????????
i have listened to most of the songs and god, sinead o connor’s nothing compares 2 U will always be a fave! she is totally something else. NOBODY COMPARES TO HER!
CJ: I have a pretty good memory, so I knew most of them… I tend to remember things as moments and there’s often a song around when you’ve had your heart broken or fallen in love; makes it easier to remember. But I also have an iPod that’s chock-full of songs, so I just had a listen… brought back some memories.
Oh Nothing Compares 2 U is a real classic; whenever it comes on the radio or TV, it just makes me want to sit and listen. Plus it’s written by Prince, so how could you go wrong?
Biyang Hansen
/ October 19, 2007I’m in for Where The Wild Roses Grow and Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing. Gotta be my two favorites of your list – but there sure are a couple more classics in it
CJ: Thanks Biyang! I love Nick Cave and Aerosmith and Where the Wild Roses Grow is one of my favourite songs of all time, so I had to find some way to slide it in there!
I was spoilt for choice, really; so many classics, so little space…