# 12 songs that make me stop cold **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458 "2010-11-12T18:04:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/1 "2010-11-12T18:04:53Z")
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook with his own list, which then made me and other people reply with lists and memories. I thought it was kinda fun, so I posted my list of 12 songs and why they bring on the memories…too bad the list was only twelve. I could probably have gone to 25 before I had to stop and think about it. > [@](#): > > Okay, here’s a fun one. Don’t torture yourself thinking about it, but name quickly 12 songs that make you stop in your tracks and listen every time they come on. Songs you wouldn’t dream of flipping the dial on; that you love to hear, even the 100th time. It can be because it is an amazing song or it can be because it reminds you of a time in your life. Doesn’t matter the reason or genre. Here are the songs I posted with the reason why: 1. **Tombstone- Crowded House** \* When I joined the Army I really, really, didn’t want to leave home, but I needed a change and I had no immediate family or anyone to really keep me there. This song always seemed to be about that to me.\* 2. **Secret World- Peter Gabriel** \*Because it was the Wedding Song for my wife and I. \* 3. **Caroline’s Fingers- The Cocteau Twins** \*During my first tour in Germany (before I was married and hadn’t even met my wife) I dated a girl that this song reminds me of for some reason. I guess its because of the long walks we’d take or something. \* 4. **Bootzilla- Bootsy’s Rubber Band** Going way back, this was one of the songs I grew up with. Hell, I had the album. 5. **Hounds of Love- Kate Bush** _I have a lot of favorite Kate Bush songs, but this one reminds me of my freshman year in college. I liked it and used to play it on a jukebox in a bar my friends and I hung out in, and one of my buddies would laugh every time we went in there and say “Go play your Hounds of Love, man…we know you’re gonna do it.”._ 6. **Little Red Corvette- Prince** \*Because it reminds me of \*Petra. _She wasn’t a slut by any means, but I was so in love_ (unrequited) _with her back in the 80s that every song made me think of her. I guess I remember this one because it came on the radio the day I decided to really tell her how I felt._ (and chickened out ☹ ) 7. **I drink alone- George Thorogood** \*Funny to me because my buddy Scott and I would sing along with this song while drinking together which means we were not drinking alone. \* 8. **Wish you were here- Pink Floyd** \*My friend Scott and I had some rough times in the 80s, and we were (and still are) good friends. When I left town, we both used to mention this song whenever we spoke. Every time I hear it I’m reminded of the bond between us. He drives me crazy at times, but he’s my brother from another mother. \* 9. **Voyage to Atlantis- The Isley bros.** \*When this song came out it was always played at Family Cookouts for some reason. When I hear it, I think of the way things were back then in the late 70s and how much I miss all of the people I knew then that are no longer with us. \* **10. King of Rock- Run/DMC** \*I’ve just always liked this song. \* **11. Kiss me deadly- Lita Ford** \*My friend Annette got the nickname “Iron annie” from me because of this song. We were just friends but we went to the beach together one weekend and we must have heard this song 50 times on the radio. So much that she started singing it, which caused us to make jokes about her taking up a career as a female heavy metal singer. Its amusing to us because she’s seriously not the type. \* **12. Best of my love- The Emotions** Very old song. But being a"tween" when it came out, my friend Curt and I used to hear it all of the time while hanging out i his garage. It always makes me think of that for some reason. I dunno why, since we were oly then, the both of us, becoming interested in girls. We spent most of our time playing baseball and reading comic books. Anyone else got a list? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/2 "2010-11-12T18:37:57Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> Cafe Society. **twicks** , who always has a song in her heart ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/3 "2010-11-12T18:44:35Z")
At work, so no time for explanations, but here are mine: 1. The Divine Comedy - Tonight We Fly 2. R.E.M. - Nightswimming 3. Husker Du - Celebrated Summer 4. The Replacements - Unsatisfied 5. Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness (Live at the Monterey Pop Festival) 6. Gang Of Four - At Home He’s A Tourist 7. The Clash - Complete Control 8. The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows 9. The La’s - There She Goes 10. My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow 11. Aretha Franklin - I Say A Little Prayer 12. XTC - Mayor Of Simpleton ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/4 "2010-11-12T19:01:13Z")
OK, here we go, real fast, off the top of my head: She Blinded Me with Science, Thomas Dolby No One Is to Blame, Howard Jones Electric Avenue, Eddy Grant True Colors, Cyndi Lauper The Reflex, Duran Duran Relax, Frankie Goes to Hollywood American Pie, Don McLean One Night in Bangkok, Murray Head Whip It, Devo Lady Madonna, The Beatles Tragedy, The Bee Gees Something to Talk About, Bonnie Raitt I’m sure there are more that rank higher, but these came to mind first. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/5 "2010-11-12T19:06:05Z")
1. Rosalita – Bruce Springsteen 2. Statesboro Blues – Any version 3. Rhapsody in Blue – Any version 4. Sympathy for the Devil – Rolling Stones 5. Lola – Kinks 6. Summer '68 – Pink Floyd 7. Razzle Dazzle – Chicago (musical) 8. Toledo Surprise – The Drowsy Chaperone 9. Glad – Traffic 10. Abbey Road Medley – The Beatles 11. I Got a Line on You – Spirit 12. Legend of the USS Titanic – Jaime Brockett ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/6 "2010-11-12T19:25:31Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > 1. **Little Red Corvette- Prince** \*Because it reminds me of \*Petra. _She wasn’t a slut by any means, but I was so in love_ (unrequited) \*with her back in the 80s that every song made me think of her. She must have had one hell of a back. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/7 "2010-11-12T19:36:16Z")
Most have to do with the girls. Others have to do with music that just works to my ears. Many are a combination. The list is unordered except for a clear number one - which has it all - strong associations with a particular girl, a sound that blew my mind when I heard it, and the fact that it came along at a time in my life when I was essentially going through metamorphosis. 1. Burial - Archangel Darkstar - Aidy’s Girl’s a Computer Iron and Wine - The Trapeze Swinger Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Shampoo LCD Soundsystem - New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down Portishead - Glorybox Wilco - She’s a Jar The Knife - Heartbeats Yo La Tengo - Sugarcube The Smiths - I Know It’s Over Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea Aphex Twin - Windowlicker Compiling the list meant drudging up all sorts of memories! Sheesh! It’s interesting to think of what the difference between this list and a list of my current favorite songs would be. There may be one or two that would be on both, but I doubt it. I suspect that this is closer to an all-time favorite list, given the emotional grounding of most of the tracks (though that would still probably have some variations). ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/8 "2010-11-12T19:49:05Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > She must have had one hell of a back. Not really, though I haven’t seen her for years. But she is/was very attractive and sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/9 "2010-11-12T22:02:03Z")
[ul] [li]Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys[/li][li]Don’t Worry, Baby - The Beach Boys[/li][li]Penny Lane - The Beatles[/li][li]Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones[/li][li]Bonzo Goes to Bitburg - The Ramones[/li][li]Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana[/li][li]Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - J.S. Bach[/li][li]Ellens dritter Gesang (usually known as ‘Ave Maria’) - Schubert\*[/li][li]Für Elise - Beethoven[/li][li]Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry[/li][/ul] \*(I’m fairly certain this is, in fact, the one I mean. It’s the one you think of if you have only heard one Ave Maria being sung operatically.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/10 "2010-11-12T22:38:12Z")
Tall Cool Woman in a Black Dress, Hollies My Sharona, The Knack Born In The USA, Springsteen ROCK in the USA, Mellencamp Stairway To Heaven, Led Zep Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, CSN&Y What’s Goin’ On, 4 Non Blondes Start Me Up, Stones Sultans of Swing, Dire Straits King of Pain, Police I’m Not In Love, 10cc Holding Back The Tears, Simply Red ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/11 "2010-11-12T23:45:00Z")
All these are permanently fused in my head with my Dad (and his stereo system) & our family’s living room: Long Tall Woman in a Black Dress – The Hollies medley: Themes from \*Star Wars \*-- Meco Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan the “Nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah, nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah, hey-ayy-ayy, GOOOOD-BYE!” song (dunno what it’s called, obviously, or who did it) – ??? Probably my favorite song from childhood: Love Rollercoaster – The Ohio Players most emblematic song from junior high: She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby most emblematic songs from senior high: Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds Alone Again Or (cover) – The Damned undergrad years: Crosseyed & Painless – Talking Heads Poor Skeleton Steps Out – XTC 90’s & oughts: My Star – Madder Rose Hate This & I’ll Love You – Muse ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/12 "2010-11-13T00:04:13Z")
Cowboy Junkies – [Sweet Jane](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHRFZFmEq9o) OK, that’s just one. But still. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/13 "2010-11-13T02:33:07Z")
> [@The\_Scrivener](#): > > All these are permanently fused in my head with my Dad (and his stereo system) & our family’s living room: > > Long Tall Woman in a Black Dress – The Hollies > medley: Themes from \*Star Wars \*-- Meco > Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan > the “Nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah, nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah, hey-ayy-ayy, GOOOOD-BYE!” song (dunno what it’s called, obviously, or who did it) – ??? > **[Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Na_Na_Hey_Hey_Kiss_Him_Goodbye)** > > "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" is a 1969 song written and recorded by Paul Leka, Gary DeCarlo, and Dale Frashuer, attributed to a then-fictitious band Steam. It was released under the Mercury subsidiary label Fontana and became a number-one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1969, and remained on the charts in early 1970.\[failed verification\] > Paul Leka, Gary DeCarlo and Dale Frashuer wrote a blues shuffle version of the song in the early 1960s when they were members of a doo-wop gro... ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/14 "2010-11-13T03:27:35Z")
Just going to punch them in as they come to me: Abbey Road medley - The Beatles The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot Tumbling Dice - The Rolling Stones Layla - Derek and the Dominos Levon - Elton John Make Me Smile - Chicago Sweet Baby James - James Taylor My Sweet Lord - George Harrison After the Gold Rush - Neil Young Maggie May - Rod Stewart Cold, Cold Heart - Hank Williams Good Vibrations - Beach Boys mmm ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/15 "2010-11-13T04:11:45Z")
in no particular order 1. Smoke on the Water - I remember the song from the best summer of my youth. 2. Someone Save My Life Tonight - Playing the first time I got laid 3. The Anniversary Song - Was Mom’s favorite 4. Freebird - Prom Night 5. Rhapsody in Blue - Another one of Mom’s favorites 6. Stay - Another time I got laid as a young man was after a Jackson Browne concert 7. Time Warp - I lost much of my naive-tee as a 18 year old college freshman when I got shanghaied out of bed at 2 am to watch this movie 8. I’m Turning Japanese - Introduced me to a counter culture at the 688 Club in Atlanta. 9. O Holy Night - it aint xmas until I hear this song. 10. Nutcracker Suite - ditto 11. Peter and the Wolf - Loved this classic when I was child 12. I’m a Ramblin Wreck from Ga Tech - Hmm wonder why? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/16 "2010-11-13T04:22:34Z")
Let’s see how many I get thru. No particular order. [ul][li]_Crazy on You_, by Heart. It was playing at a party, and it was the first time I asked a girl I didn’t know to dance, and she agreed. [/li][li]\*Christ is Risen! Alleluia! \*That song is Easter to me, and once a year, I pretend I can sing and try to hit the high note. Rejoice! He is risen![/li][li]_Up on Cripple Creek_ - Credence Clearwater Revival. My last three days of college, I met a girl and we spent the whole three days together. And we went to see The Last Waltz. Jena was her name. I never saw her again.[/li][li]_Trumpet Voluntaire._ They played when my wife came down the aisle to marry me. My God, is that woman beautiful![/li][li]_You’re So Vain_, Carly Simon. The No Secrets album was playing at my first high school party where there were no grown-ups around.[/li][li]_Nothing Compares 2 U,_ Sinead O’Connor. Because of someone in my life who died, who was probably the person I loved the most for the first part of my life. [/li][li]_You’re Beautiful_, James Blount. That’s my daughter’s song. Hers and mine.[/li][li][O Holy Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jr-2eyRtV4), Celine Dion. Christmas Eve. [/ul][/li] I’ll probably think of others as soon as I hit Submit. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/17 "2010-11-13T05:59:59Z")
Why, thanks for asking! 1. Bad Romance - Lady Gaga. Makes me feel like I’m in a speeding car. 2. Mary’s Boy Child - Boney M. One of the few things I like about Christmas. So beautiful it brings tears to my eyes. 3. Good Rockin’ At Midnight - The Honeydrippers (Robert Plant) - it’s just…swingin’! 4. Voices - Vangelis. Rather majestic, I love the way it builds and builds 5. You Shook Me All Night Long - we used to sing this in the car at the top of our lungs, on the way to track meets. 6. Weapon of Choice - Fatboy Slim. Hey! Christopher Walken flying! 7. Mad World - Adam Lambert. Just f’ing beautiful. 8. Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes. Was there ever another song like this? Otherwordly. 9. Remember The Time - Michael Jackson. Hard to pick just one by Michael Jackson, but I think this is kind of romantic. 10. Every Little Thing I Do - Soul For Real. Because it makes me feel like I was young and carefree and on summer vacation. 11. Real Wild Child - Iggy Pop. Because I get weary of feeling old and dull and depressed and tired, and this charges me up a bit. 12. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Annie Lenox. Because I have watched the youtube video about a hundred times and will watch it a hundred more, because it is knock-you-out beautiful. And there’s a hurdy-gurdy! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/18 "2010-11-13T13:43:49Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > [Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Na_Na_Hey_Hey_Kiss_Him_Goodbye) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/19 "2010-11-13T16:30:30Z")
In the spirit of the OP, and with evidence from my YouTube Favorites: [Allman Brothers / Stormy Monday](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gDhR1R3S0s) [Jose Feliciano - The Thrill is Gone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKgM6OMRqZ0) [Henry Mancini – The Brothers Go To Mothers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0oNLU4PSxE) [Bernard Herrmann - Taxi Driver (theme)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4aK-YsPeU) [Frank Sinatra I’ve Got You Under My Skin LP. .](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xNR1tMN6IE) [Streetcar Named Desire - Main Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FaDve3_SIU) [ROSEMARY CLOONEY SONGS: Hey There](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU_Gj51Uk6k) [Deacon Blues - Steely Dan - Rhodes (lol) piano…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=febAAjgrPys) [Leroy Anderson: Serenata](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyJYKMd2GNI) [Michael Jackson **Best Ever** Billie Jean Live Moonwalk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p4RS0Lsh58) [Ahmad Jamal: Poinciana](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWqzToTmkvg) [Blue in Green by. Miles Davis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoPL7BExSQU) …and that’s just the FIRST twelve…others have already mentioned another dozen or so. Good Thread! ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458/20 "2010-11-13T17:09:21Z")
Pink Floyd = Shine on you crazy diamond Genesis - Firth of Fifth Marillion - Kayleigh Kate Bush - The man with the child in his eyes Peter Gabriel - San Jacinto Queen - Killer queen Dire Straits - Private investigation 10CC - I’m not in love Simon and Garfunkel - Sound of silence Eagles - Desperado Carpenters - This masquerade Santana - Samba pa ti [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-songs-that-make-me-stop-cold/560458.md?page=2)