My Top 25 Favorite Songs...According to iTunes.

So Lauren, what's your favorite song?

No offense, inquiring mind, but that's one of the dumbest questions you can ever ask me. Asking me what is my favorite song of all time, is like asking me what my favorite time of day to breathe is. It is simply a pointless question. I have songs I play depending on what I am doing or what mood I am in. I have a playlist for working out, meditating, praying, spontaneous dancing, etc. Some authors have a favorite book. Some chefs have a favorite spice or dish. I, as a songwriter, do not feel like I have a favorite song. Lo siento :(

BUT, I've decided for this post to put my music collection statistics on the line...online. On my iTunes, my default for music listening on my laptop, there is a playcount for each song. This means that when a song is completed in its entirety, or within 10 seconds to the end, it keeps count of how many times the song was played. There is an automatic playlist that iTunes creates based on one's top 25 most played songs. Sometimes I find myself checking this list on occasion and often becoming surprised at not only what is on the list but how many times I have played it. A lot of times it would be several songs from the same artist. Sometimes it will be recently downloaded songs that I play on heavy repeat for week and haven't listened to for a long time. Lately, I've been trying to diversify my high playcounts and give other songs I barely listen to some plays. However I somehow find myself listening to those heavily repeated songs when my shuffle comes around to them. I decided to list my top 25 most listened to songs according to iTunes in ascending order. I will be mentally inducting certain artists into my "iTunes Hall of Fame," based on their status in the Top25. I also will include, at the end of this post, 5 of my actual favorite songs of all time that don't get as much play.

Spoiler alert: my #1 most listened to song has nearly 60 plays more than the #2 song. Still trying to figure out how that happened lol!

#25 - What Goes Around (Comes Around) - Justin Timberlake (81 plays)
This was one of those songs that I loved from the first time I heard it. And I was ecstatic that JT released this song as a single. One of his best works truly.

#24 Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (83 plays)
Electronic-alternative dance mix with a fun artsy video inspired by Michael Jackson's Thriller. Dance, dance, dance till ya dead.

#23 S&M - Rihanna (83 plays)
I like it, like it. It's my guilty pleasure of the moment. The song, not the act. It's crazy catchy.

#22 Tattoo - The Alliance ft. Fabo (85 plays)
Everyone that really knows me knows that I love this stupid song. The beat is loud, Fabo is obnoxious, the lyrics are pretty dumb. But this crazy ode to body art somehow keeps sneaking itself back into my Top25. And even though I have yet to get inked, I will surely blast this song... whenever that occurs.

#21 Remember the Name - Fort Minor ft. Styles of Beyond (86 plays)
Yeah, I don't care if this song raps about work ethic. It's hot lol.

#20 Take It Off - Ke$ha (87 plays)
Addicting party song sampling the popular children's song "There's A Place in France." Say what you want about Ke-dolla sign-HA, but she knows how to make hits.

#19 The Ghost Inside - Broken Bells (93 plays)
First hearing this song at one of my summer jobs last year, I was introduced to Broken Bells. It sounds like a futuristic fusion of alternative rock with Gorillaz-esque vocals. Their debut, self-titled album is one of my favorite albums from last year.

#18 Little Girl - Sparklehorse ft. Julian Casablancas (94 plays)

I found this gem among last year's binge of indie rock and alternative music. Brainchild of the late Mark Linkous and Danger Mouse (1/2 of Broken Bells and Gnarls Barkley), Sparklehorse definitely does it for me with this laid-back alternative jam. Plus I like the lyrics.

#17 Postcards from Italy - Beirut (96 plays)

My discovery of the wonder that is Beirut was long overdue. In any of my moods, I can just put on a playlist of strictly their music and tune out to the world. Especially this song.

#16 L.E.S. Artistes - Santigold (102 plays)
Definitely one of the most peculiar music videos I have ever encountered. But one of the coolest songs I may have ever heard.

#15 Mount Wroclai (Idle Days) - Beirut (102 plays)
I'm surprised by the high playcount. Maybe because this song makes me feel like getting lost in middle-Europe and not wanting to be found. 

#14 Bamboo Banga - M.I.A. (104 plays)
I am a big fan of M.I.A. and her musical antics. Its a catchy mix of hip hop, world, alternative and electronic music. M.I.A. does the hybrid thing well.

#13 Billionaire - Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars (105 plays)
Last year's summer anthem that was put on heavy repeat as requested by all of my roommates and guests in my apartment. We were all pretty much addicted to this song, so freakin' bad.

#12 Round Round - Sugababes (107 plays)
Infectious pop anthem sampling "Tango Forte" by Dublex Inc. with an unexpected slow-jam of a bridge.

#11 Shining Down - Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos (108 plays) 

Lupe's lyrical mastery mixed with Matthew Santos' pleasant, yet in-your-face chorus. And a beat I picture the local cool kids free-styling on top of in an after-school rap battle.

#10 Joyful Noise - Flame ft. Lecrae and John Reilly (111 plays)
Hands down one of my favorite songs. Marries hip hop, rock, and gospel into a crazy loud anthem of dedication to the Most High. Amen to that.

#9 Reptilia - The Strokes (123 plays)
Did I really listen to this song that much? LOL. It's good stuff though. One of my favorite bands.

#8 Soar - Christina Aguilera (124 plays)

First heard this song off of "The Pursuit of Happyness" trailer and I was in love with it ever since. One of my absolute favorite songs. If I ever have the pleasure of meeting Ms. Aguilera, I might have some choice words for the diva as to why this song was not released as a single off her album "Stripped."

#7 Carry Out - Timbaland ft. Justin Timberlake (128 plays)

Awesome Timbaland beat with more food puns than any song could possibly order up. Add in one Justin Timberlake and you've got a savory and sexy hit.

#6 11th Dimension - Julian Casablancas (132 plays)
Retro fun. Lyrics used for many a Facebook status of mine. Great song.

#5 Find Your Love - Drake (139 plays)
Another one of those songs I was surprised ended up so high in playcount. What can I say? Drake unexpectedly impressed me with this one.

#4 Nantes - Beirut (143 plays)

This song is absolutely gorgeous. Beirut is gold.

#3 One Foot In - Sugababes (175 plays)

Reminds me of a song that would have be released in the mid 90s. Urban-influenced tune coming from the young British girl-group's debut album "One Touch," the band's best album in my opinion.

#2 O...Saya - A.R. Rahman ft. M.I.A. (181 plays)

I know if I had to make an official list of my favorite songs of all-time, this song would definitely be in the top 3. You may recognize this energetic medley as the Oscar-nominated opening theme to the 2009 mega-hit Slumdog Millionaire. 

#1 Hole in the Head - Sugababes (242 plays)
*sigh* Here we go. I really don't know why I've listened to this song so frickin much. But I can try to come up with some kind of explanation. The ska-influenced groove, the dance-pop edge, the girl-power vibe. Yeah I don't know. Obviously it's my favorite song... from the group. Yeah I admit it lol.

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*Genre Results: 36% pop/r&b, 32%alternative/rock, 20% hip-hop/rap, 12% electronic/other

**iTunes Hall of Fame: Sugababes, Beirut, Julian Casablancas (The Strokes), M.I.A., Danger Mouse (Broken Bells/Sparklehorse), Justin Timberlake

***Honorable Mentions: Bruno Mars, Santigold, The Strokes, Broken Bells, Lupe Fiasco, Lecrae, Timbaland, Mike Shinoda (Fort Minor/Linkin Park)

****Bubbling Under the Top25: "The High Road" Broken Bells, "Liquor Store Blues" Bruno Mars ft. Damian Marley, "Overload" Sugababes, "Technologic" Daft Punk, "The Catalyst" Linkin Park

Actual screenshot of "Top 25 Most Played" songs on iTunes as of April 17, 2011.
(click to enlarge)

*Results compiled from calculating genre percentages in the Top25.
** iTunes Hall of Famers are artists that appeared more than once in the Top25.
*** Honorable mentions are artists that appear on the Top25 with other songs with significant playcount.
****Bubbling Under songs are the next 5 songs with the highest playcount number not in the Top25.

So after these obviously scientific findings, I am still reluctant to title any song as my absolute favorite; no matter if it has even 300 plays more than the next highest counted song. However, I know of at least five of my favorite songs of all time and I will list their counts as well.

Fallin' - Alicia Keys (4 plays) 
The gorgeous debut single of the amazing Ms. Keys is my absolute favorite song of my favorite album of hers. And I am glad to say that I can play this diddy on piano. Snaps for me.

Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers (8 plays)

The Chili Peppers were the first rock band I remembered getting into. My dad was a huge fan of theirs; and I believe that influence grew into my love for rock. "Under the Bridge" is a legendary anthem and an amazing testament in rock history.

Spice Up Your Life - Spice Girls (21 plays)
I'm not ashamed to say that I used to be the self-proclaimed biggest Spice Girls fan. I was obsessed with those crazy Brits and their music. This was one of the first songs I heard from them and the beat is addicting as hell. And if you honestly actually asked me what was my favorite song when I was 10, I would have said this one without much hesitation. Those girls are a part of my childhood that I will always cherish.

The Mummers Dance - Loreena McKennitt (71 plays)

Judging by all aformentioned artists, I bet you didn't expect a celtic/folk tune. Or judging from my randomness, maybe you did. Anyways, Story Time!: I used to dance ballet and jazz when I was younger. I used to dance to this particular majestic song all of the time. I had acquired a low-quality recording of the song that I would listen to often at my young age. It took TEN YEARS for me to gather enough sense to try to decipher the lyrics from the recording, and google the song. After much investigation, I found the song title and the artist. It was like finding a missing puzzle piece to a nearly completed puzzle...ok not really. But I was pretty happy. I got two of Loreena's albums a while later and resurrected my love for dancing.

Aint No Sunshine - by pretty much anyone. (Bill Withers version - 4 plays)

This is one of those songs that is pretty difficult to mess up a cover. Mainly because it's such a gorgeous song. But of course the best version was the original by Bill Withers. Soulful, moving, 2 minutes and 6 seconds of amazingness. If I had to recommend covers, check out Soul for Real, the Jacksons, and my absolute favorite cover Eva Cassidy. 

So...

I challenge anyone with iTunes or another music library service with a playcount to see what your most listened to songs are. It's interesting to see what music we put on repeat without even realizing it. I challenge you as music lovers and fans to also give the songs you haven't heard in forever some attention. You may discover or rediscover some of your favorite stuff. With that being said, happy listening!

♪♫ ♪♫ ♪,

~L~