NPR has an article, You Are What You Hear: What Your Favorite Music Says About You, that I thought would be nice to play along with.

Problem is, of course, that often these things depend upon both mood, and what’s happening in my life. I’m quite sure that if I answered this last month, some of the answers would be significantly different from what I’ll come up with today.

What was the first song you ever bought?
Prince’s Purple Rain soundtrack. That one’s easy and wouldn’t change.

What song always gets you dancing?
There are many here (and several that are out now that may make this list; only time will tell): Fishbone Housework, Mighty Mighty Bosstones The Impression that I Get, Moby South Side, The Guild (Do You Wanna) Date My Avatar, The Proclaimers I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), They Might Be Giants Birdhouse in Your Soul, Tina Turner What You Get Is What You See, Cracker Lonesome Johnny Blues, Nickel Creek The Fox.

These are songs that I turn to time and again when I need to cheer up, or cheer me up when I hear them. Which I realize is not quite the same thing.

What song takes you back to your childhood?
Pete Seeger’s Guantanamera (from his Live at Carnegie Hall recording. That whole LP, really. I think Brian & I listened to it endlessly.) AND Fat’s Waller’s Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood Mama)

What is your perfect love song?
Storybook Love from The Princess Bride

What song would you want at your funeral?
Taliesin Orchestra’s version of Fanfare for the Common Man if it can’t be that specific, than the Quaker hymn, Simple Gifts

Time for an encore. One last song that makes you, you.
Bob Mould’s Sunspots from Workbook.