Carrie--in 15 songs.

Coming up with only 15 songs that define who I am was a daunting task to say the least—narrowing it down to these weren’t easy…but these represent different parts of me and probably say more about who I am than I ever could…

Kings of Leon “Arizona”
One of my favorite songs ever by favorite band: KOL is the epitome of cool. This song immediately puts me at ease and makes me want to just close my eyes and let it wash over me. “King of the Rodeo” is another good choice because, like “Arizona”, it feels like it’s all mine (kind of like a book that changes you and you think no one else could possibly appreciate it the way you do), but this song soaks into my skin and warms me.
-----Listen to the bass line around 4:00—I couldn’t love it more!

Modest Mouse “Float On”
I adore Modest Mouse, and while “Dashboard” may be the most perfectly executed track ever, “Float On” takes risks that are equally successful. It is dear to my heart because it speaks of just knowing that everything that everything will work out fine, which is how I live. I haven’t decided it’s this means I’m naïve or faithful…
-----“A fake Jamaican took every last dime with that scam/ but it was worth it just to learn some slight of hand”

Jackson Browne “These Days”
This song is so simple, reflective and heartbreaking—it makes me stop and question myself…I have incredible memories of gathering with a group of friends for weekends at Magnolia Ridge plantation in south LA for “jam sessions”, and this is one of the songs we’d do: barefoot with a drink, amazing atmosphere…memories I wouldn’t trade.
-----“Don’t confront me with my failures/ I had not forgotten them”

Marc Broussard “Home”
Marc’s bayou funk/soul is far more sophisticated than it has any right to be—listening to him reminds me of my college years in Lafayette, which I still regard as a second home. The bayou and I have bonded. ;) His entire catalog is phenomenal, but this one…we’ve bonded, too.
-----“You don’t know nothin’ about this/ Take me ho-ooo-ooo-oooome”

Bill Withers “Lovely Day”
I absolutely love this song—I don’t care how I’m feeling, this song always elevates my mood. The beat gets me moving (and his voice gets me going ;) You can’t be in a bad mood listening to this song! This song plays in my head when I’m feeling good!
-----“Just one look at you/ and I know it’s gonna be/ a lovely day”

Nickel Creek “Jealous of the Moon”
This is one band I miss dearly (pray for a reunion!)…they could do no wrong in my eyes—they’re young, unbelievably talented and make it look completely effortless! This song speaks to the side of me that is so afraid of failure, I shy away from risks…I wish I weren’t able to identify with this song as much as I do…
-----“Staring down the stars/ jealous of the moon/ you wish you could fly/ but you’re staying where you are/ there's nothing you can do/ if you’re too scared to try”

Death Cab for Cutie “Soul Meets Body”
Even though I think the lyrics in this song are brilliant, it’s the music/instruments that resonate with me so much. (I especially love the breaks—1:22-1:26—that repeat throughout). I could listen to this all the time and never tire of it. For some reason it makes me feel hopeful and significant.
-----“So Brown Eyes, I'll hold you near/ cause you’re the only song I want to hear/ a melody softly soaring through my atmosphere”


John Mayer “3x5”
It’s safe to say that if John Mayer is performing it, I’m going to love it, but this one means the most to me—it’s all about enjoying the moment, being observant of the world around you, and not worrying about how it will look to anyone else…experiencing your surroundings to the fullest and creating lasting memories that aren’t staged for the sake of a scrapbook.
-----“You should have seen that sunrise/ with your own eyes/ it brought me back to life”

Badly Drawn Boy “I Love NYE”
This is the only completely instrumental song on my list. As much as I try not to be a romantic, this song plays in my head whenever I witness a romantic/sweet moment…it literally moves me to tears. (I feel like such a girl now…)
-----when it strikes back up at 2:08, and later when the music really swells (around 3:00), release the tears ;)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah “Over and Over (Lost & Found)”
This is one of the latest songs to completely capture my heart! The sound is so retro, it takes me back to being a child of the 80’s (good times), but it’s still modern at the same time. This song makes me feel like I’m floating, as weird as that sounds.
-----“Time has gotten by on alibis and wine”

Feist “I Feel It All”
This is the other new song to wrap itself around me! I have no idea why this feels like my anthem—it makes me feel strong and edgy…not a typically sexy song, but sexy nonetheless. I also have a habit of figuring out who someone borrowed from musically, and she is one of the more original and creative artists I’ve heard lately. She takes some risks in the song that really endear her to me (like the layering scales at 2:22)—I cannot tell you how I love this song…
-----“The truth lies.”

Indigo Girls “Closer to Fine”
I was gifted with Swamp Ophelia my sophomore year of high school and was in love with them from the first chords of “Fugitive”—I love how fearless they are to be unapologetically themselves, to use their talents to further their causes and to try to make a difference. This song is special because it speaks of the struggle to be at peace with myself and to just try to be a better person…
-----“The best thing you’ve ever done or me/ is to help me take life less seriously/ It’s only life after all”

The McGuire Sisters “Sincerely”
I was in my Mamaw Helen’s blue Cadillac with the windows down when I heard this song for the first time. It’s one of the earliest songs my sisters and I learned to sing in three part harmony. Years later, we sang it to her in the hospital when they thought she was too far gone, but she actually responded by moving her fingers. Knowing her, she was giving us “the finger.” ;)
-----that part “But I’ll never, never, never, never…Leee-eeet him gooo-oooo”? Owned.

Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys “Heartbeat”
This song draws me in and commands my full attention from the very beginning—I think I hear more layers every time I hear it! I still haven’t figured out why this song feels like it’s mine, but it does…maybe it’s because I like to think of myself as layered as the song. (I’m nothing but a human onion, in fact, we all are.)
-----“I’ll do what I want.”

The Beach Boys “God Only Knows”
My dad has always been a huge fan of theirs, so The Beach Boys play in my head when I’m looking at pictures from when I was little. (Actually, my earliest memory is standing in the seat by him with his arm around me as he was driving, singing “Help Me, Rhonda”.) Listening to their complex melodies and fun harmonies makes my heart feel lighter. The words and the layering of their voices at the end makes it one of my all-time favorites. It makes me thankful for the people God has blessed me with (like my framily)…
-----“God only knows what I’d be without you.”