Fred over at Occasional Fish snagged this meme, and thinking it was a pretty interesting experiment I decided to run with it. Here are the rules.

Go here and see what was on the top of the charts on the day you were born and every birthday thereafter. Learn just how astrologically-musically lame your life has been. If you want, add in your own favorite Hot 100 hit single of that year, wishing that your birthday had been cool enough to have that song be #1.

All right. I’ll bite. Of course, a lot of my answers wound up being the same as Fred’s – which is how I learned Fred and I were born somewhere around the same date a few years apart. So – show me how astrologically-musically lame my life has been.

• 1980: “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)” by Pink Floyd
  Favorite: “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)” by Pink Floyd


• 1981: “Rapture” by Blondie
  Favorite: “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield


• 1982: “I Love Rock n’ Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
  Favorite: Um, “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, I guess.


• 1983: “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson
  Favorite: “Down Under” by Men At Work.


• 1984: “Jump” by Van Halen
  Favorite: Oh, Come on. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.


• 1985: “One More Night” by Phil Collins
  Favorite: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears For Fears


• 1986: “Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco
  Favorite: “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel


• 1987: “Lean on Me” by Club Nouveau
  Favorite: “With Or Without You” by U2 (which has the same chord structure as “Numb” off of Zooropa. I always wanted to mash those two up)


• 1988: “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson
  Favorite: “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns n’ Roses


• 1989: “The Living Years” by Mike + The Mechanics
  Favorite: “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Bill Joel


• 1990: “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles
  Favorite: “Black Cat” by Janet Jackson


• 1991: “Coming Out of the Dark” by Gloria Estefan
  Favorite: “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” by PM Dawn


• 1992: “Save the Best for Last” by Vanessa Williams
  Favorite: I don’t think I can possibly answer anything but “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot


• 1993: “Informer” by Snow
  Favorite: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by UB40


• 1994: “The Sign” by Ace of Base
  Favorite: “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories


• 1995: “Take A Bow” by Madonna
  Favorite: “Kiss From a Rose” by Seal


• 1996: “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion (yeek!)
  Favorite: “How Do U Want It/California Love” by 2Pac and a whole buncha other folks


• 1997: “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” by Puff Daddy feat. Mase
  Favorite: Oy. Slim pickings that year. Ummm… I have to say… “Mmmbop” by Hanson.


• 1998: “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit’ It” by Will Smith
  Favorite: “One Week” by Barenaked Ladies


• 1999: “Believe” by Cher
  Favorite: “Smooth” by Santana feat. Rob Thomas


• 2000: “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child
  Favorite: “Maria Maria” by Santana feat. The Product G&B


• 2001: “Butterfly” by Crazy Town
  Favorite: “Ms. Jackson” by Outkast (“Forevah. Forevah-evah? Forevah-evah.”)


• 2002: “Ain’t It Funny” by Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule
  Favorite: “Lose Yourself” by Eminem


• 2003: “In Da Club” by 50 Cent
  Favorite: “Hey Ya!” by Outkast (horrible Grammy night performance notwithstanding)


• 2004: “Yeah!” by Usher feat. Lil John and Ludacris
  Favorite: Geez. Talk about slim years. So it’s “Hey Ya!” for a second year in a row.


• 2005: “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent feat. Olivia
  Favorite: “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani


• 2006: “So Sick” by Ne-Yo
  Favorite: Ehhh… “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira


• 2007: “Glamorous” by Fergie feat. Ludacris
  Favorite: No. I categorically refuse to pick one from this year. None of these songs are worth the headache.


• 2008: “Love in This Club” by Usher feat. Young Jeezy
  Favorite: “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry – and even then, I’m disappointed that it’s not Jill Sobule’s song.

Here’s what I notice. The pickings get slimmer and slimmer as time goes on, and I honestly don’t think it has anything to do with my taste – but rather with the fact that it was unusual in the 80’s for a song to last more than 2-3 weeks at the top of the charts, while by the late 90’s you’re having whole years with practically 4 songs each on the charts. Hey, radio – variety is the spice o’ life, donchaknow?

It’s been a long, looong time since I did the random 10. Here’s the deal – you know what song the lyrics came from? Drop the title and the artist in the comments. Partial credit available for partial guesses.

1. “Revenge is the method – whenever steppin’, keep a weapon close.”
2. ”(Theme From) The Monkees,” by The Monkees (guessed by Carl) – “We’re the young generation, and we’ve got something to say.”
3. “I learned a lot from Gene Kelly – when it pours it makes me sing.”
4. “I asked her the same blahzay blahzay, I got her digits and gave her my 1-800 beeper number.”
5. “And when we’re alone, seems there’s nothing to say – I bring up the topic, you push it away.”
6. “I’ve seen diamonds cut through harder men.”
7. “I wear shades when it’s sunny, sometimes I rock funny, I ain’t in it for the money.”
8. “Way, way down inside, honey, you need it.”
9. “Eat more fruit, plant more trees, learn to shoot, travel overseas…”
10. “Blam blam with the blammer. Smile, nephew, you’re on Candid Camera.”

I have now posted the answers for Last Week’s 10. Let’s move on to this week’s, shall we?

1. “Russian Lullaby,” by Jerry Garcia & Dave Grusman – “Where the lovely Volga flows, there’s a lonely Russian rose”
2. “Back in the U.S.S.R.” by The Beatles (guessed by Fred) – “Flew in from Miami Beach B.O.A.C.”
3. “Confessions Part III,” by Weird Al Yankovic – “I killed your goldfish accidentally – just replaced it with another one.”
4. “Last Train to Clarksville,” by The Monkees – “We’ll have time for coffee-flavored kisses and a bit of conversation.”
5. “Cuddly Toy,” by Harry Nilsson – “I never told you that I loved no other – you must have dreamed it in your sleep.”
6. “Fragile Heart,” by Jewel – “But I need to believe that we, at least, will have some dignity.”
7. “Life Less Ordinary,” by Carbon Leaf – “By the way, I do know why you stayed away – I will keep tongue-tied next time.”
8. “Right Hand Man,” by Joan Osborne (Guessed by Fred) – “Let me use your toothbrush – have you got a clean shirt?”
9. “The Golden Vanity,” by Peter, Paul, & Mary (title guessed by Sarah) – “Wi’ his brace and auger in her side, he bored holes three.”
10. “I Can’t Decide,” by Scissor Sisters – “Oh, I could throw you in the lake or feed you poison birthday cake – I won’t deny I’m gonna miss you when you’re gone.

The answers to the last weekly 10 are now posted! Does anybody actually bother to check those?

Here’s this week’s 10. For those who came in late, here’s the deal. I set my mp3 player to shuffle and post 10 lines. If you know the artist and the title, drop it in the comments. Partial credit is awarded for guessing the artist. If the song is heavily covered, credit is given for identifying at least one artist who has performed it or the original artist.

1. “Incense and Peppermints,” by Strawberry Alarm Clock [guessed by Thud] – “Beatniks and politics – nothing is new.”
2. “Anyone Can See I Love You,” by Marilyn Monroe – “The way I hold your hand and smile in your direction, tells the world my heart is full of nothing but affection.”
3. “Time,” by Pink Floyd [guessed by Thud] – “No one told you when to run – you missed the starting gun.”
4. “Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon,” by Queen – “I’ll be back again before it’s time for sunnydown.”
5. “It’s All Too Much,” by The Beatles – “Floating down the stream of time from life to life with me…”
6. “Cocaine Blues,” by Johnny Cash – “If you’ve got a warrant, just read it to me.”
7. “The Ballad of Serenity (Theme From Firefly)” [song guessed by Fred] by Sonny Rhodes – “Burn the land and boil the sea, you can’t take the sky from me.”
8. “Imagine,” by John Lennon [guessed by Carl] – “I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.”
9. “I’m All Bloody Inside,” by Liam Lynch – “If you want to get to know me, then I suggest you start on the outside.”
10. “All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)” by Peter Frampton – “Don’t stand alone, you might turn to stone – I wish there was a pill for that.”

And for your viewing pleasure – Jonathan Coulton: Unplugged.

It’s time for another radom 10! The answers to the last 10 are now posted.

So you know the rules. I post 10 lyrics. You know the artist and the title, drop it in the comments. Partial credit will be awarded. If it’s a song that has been covered, just name any of the artists who have done it.

1. “I Beg Your Pardon,” by Kon Kan – “You say that you do, but I think it’s you just don’t care – why do I feel you’re using me?”
2. “Pirate Jenny,” by Nina Simone (from Threepenny Opera) – “But I’m counting your heads as I make up the beds!”
3. “The Workout,” by Utada – “I was talking with a born-again Christian – ‘So what’s it like to start life all over?’”
4. “Ohio,” by Bowling For Soup – “I really like Drew Carey and I’d love to see the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.”
5. “The World Before Later On,” by They Might Be Giants – “Where’s the fount of acquired wisdom that eludes me now?”
6. “Humble Me,” by Norah Jones – “Heard you kicked the bottle and helped to build the church.”
7. “Fiddle With Volume,” by Lady Sovereign – “Where’s my debit card? NOBODY MOVE!”
8. “Once Upon a Time in the Projects,” by Ice Cube – “First he tried to wrap me up, slap me up, rough me up – they couldn’t do it so they cuffed me up.”
9. “Zombie Me,” by No More Kings – “Now I speak with all the eloquence of livestock.”
10. “You Never Give Me Your Money,” by The Beatles [artist guessed by Thud – “All the money’s gone, nowhere to go.”
11. “Dear God,” by Sarah Maclachlan – “Sorry to disturb you, but I feel that I should be heard loud and clear.”

No Lips

Add to My Profile | More Videos