I've decided to share 22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I wish I could express fully what each of them mean to me. Since I can't, I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥

I'm going to share randomly based on what I've been listening to lately. In this post: Apoptygma Berzerk, Azure Ray, & Angie Aparo (they only happen to have A-names, heh). Apoptygma Berzerk is a new love -- Ben liked them so I bought him several of their CDs for Christmas, and I fell in love myself. For the first time in at least 3 years we share a musical love! it's wonderful ♥ Our new song (replacing "Nothing Else Matters") is "In This Together" -- the lyrics fit us so well. Azure Ray is a fairly new love as well -- I had loved the few songs I'd heard but only recently found them at the used CD store. They have a really stripped-down sound, which is unusual for me to like -- I think perhaps the complexity of their lyrics balances the simplicity of their music. They're from Georgia, as is Angie Aparo! Who is an old love of mine, from way back in my high school days. I actually love him MORE now than I did before, perhaps because I have grown into a deeper understanding of his lyrics.




Belenen's favorites -- January 2008 mix ((megaupload mirror))




the links with ** afterwards have full song downloads -- most are 30 second samples.

---

Apoptygma Berzerk


Apoptygma Berzerk -- Mourn**
Why are you always hiding?
Why are you always mourning?
-

Apoptygma Berzerk -- Suffer In Silence
I never heard a word, a word of what you said
Too busy being selfish, I never learned the rules of life
It's time to confess, and look you in the eyes
I need you to forgive, and make this tragic feeling go away
-

Apoptygma Berzerk -- Unicorn
you run your fingers through my hair
and tell me it's worthwhile...
you see, see what can't be seen
you repair the damage done to me
-

Apoptygma Berzerk -- Kathy's Song (Come Lie Next to Me)
come lie next to me
-

Apoptygma Berzerk -- In This Together
And in your troubled eyes I see
Someone who carried me somehow
Like footprints in the sand
You've been behind me all along
We got it wrong from the start
Now it's you and me
Let's get it on
Don't you see it's you and me against the world

we're in this together...
You and me
One on one forever
-

Apoptygma Berzerk -- You Keep Me from Breaking Apart
I am only here because of you
and because you never left me behind
saying thanks in my own way
I say it with a song that soon will fade away
you keep me from breaking apart
you understand the chaos in my head
only you understand every word I say
you restore my soul and erase all hurt
the hurt that only you can take away
you keep me from breaking apart
-

Apoptygma Berzerk -- Love to Blame
We've gone a long way while learning
Still our hearts kept on burning
-

Apoptygma Berzerk -- Lost In Translation
Fragile you are
And yet the strongest by far
Who's to save us now that you've turned weak?
I can see it in your eyes
I can feel it in my gut
Now we've really reached the point of no return

We've both been traumatised
We were all a part of the revolution
We called the truth a lie
Too much got lost
In translation

From my heart to your ears
Transforming words to tears
As vibrations of a string becomes a sound
I realise we're frail
Burned out and pale
Do you think we'll ever learn to love again?
-

---

Azure Ray


Azure Ray -- Sleep
And so i'm reaching out for the one
And so i've learned the meaning of the sun
And all this like a message comes to shift my point of view
And watching through my own light
As it tints the shade of you
-

Azure Ray -- Displaced**
Am i making something worthwhile out of this place
Am i making something worthwhile out of this chase
I am displaced
I am displaced
-

Azure Ray -- The New Year
We pried open my window
And let the summer rush in
And we laughed with the new air
Now i lay and watch the green leaves
Dance and whisper sweet breath
A promise of a new year

Ooooh
On this day
Ooooh
On this day
We were born into the new year

And after the winter broke
We held hands and we ran
And we agreed that it had been a long one
-

Azure Ray -- How You Remember**
And you tread on the water
When you know you can touch the bottom now
It's the southern way, said your mother,
" Stay in shallow, shallow water
Don't touch the ground. "
But then a slithering, sliding form
catches you before you reach the shore.
And as he strikes, full of venom,
you reach out towards the trouble.
You've got him now, but how?
And you thrust him to the sky.
Arms raised high, you make a Y.
There is no fear, there is no pain inside.
As you twist and writhe...
This is how you remember yourself.
This is how you remember yourself.
Arms raised high, needing no help.
This is how you remember yourself.

And you know you can't keep this steady pose,
you must release him somehow.
But as you loosen your hold.
The fight you felt, it is old.
It's over now.
His body, lifeless and cold,
you throw him down.
And you raise your arms up to the sky.
Raised high, you make a Y.
There is no fear, there is no pain inside.
As the sun still shines on these drying lines...
This is how you remember yourself.
This is how you remember yourself.
Arms raised to heaven, needing no help.
This is how you remember yourself.
-

Azure Ray -- New Resolution
don't undermine,
my new resolution.
just to find,
A different light, a new direction.

move on, move on, there's no point in waiting.
-

Azure Ray -- If You Fall
Let's talk and we'll fill the air with imagery that lasts forever
So this is love that's a lovely thought
You have to care for it to keep it together
If you fall will you get up
You're stuck in a dream will you wake up
And if you fell in love will you hold on to it
And if it's cold will you stay warm
You drift too far will you swim towards the shore
And if you fell in love will you hold on to it
Let's sing and we'll fill the air with melodies that blend together
You speak so sweet with words so delicate
A glass i hope will never shatter
-

Azure Ray -- Dragonfly
Will you step to the edge
Move on in the dark
Let a new man have your old heart

You could spend your whole life putting blocks back in place
With each trembling hand covering up the face
That seeks high places
Greedy dragonfly
So show a new man your old smile
-

Azure Ray -- These White Lights Will Bend To Make Blue**
You said don't let love break you down
Well just show me how and let me never be broken

Tomorrow a new point of view
These white lights will bend to make blue
Now this can all look new to you

The music plays all day long
And sorrow looks beautiful
And lovers seem mystical
-

---

Angie Aparo


Angie Aparo -- Green Into Gold**
I am a cutting tool
I am a killing fool
And one day you, you're gonna be mine

I am a burning ash
I am burning for cash
And one day you, you're gonna be mine
I am a dirt machine
And I will wipe clean
This jungle vine
I'll rip her from the sky
There'll be no more timber line

We are
Turning green into gold
We are
Ripping roots from the soil

I am the wall of pain
And I will damn the rain
And one day you, you're gonna be mine
I am a dirt machine
And I will wipe clean
This jungle vine
I'll rip her from the sky
-

Angie Aparo -- Memphis City Rain
I am a song
I been here all along
I'll be here when the hatred's gone
Hey can you recognize me
I am the light of the sun

And if you come with me
And if you let it be (on my way back home)
And sing my melody
Then it don't have to wash away
In a memphis city rain

For the world a long time awaiting
For the hatred now to be fading
For the love to give

I am a song
But I'm not the one
They use to march their guns
And every child knows me
I am the light of the son
-

Angie Aparo -- Wonderland**
Take a piece of the sky
Make it rain cherry wine
Give her love
Give her life
Give her mine

She's a child
Young and willing
In a world that's unforgiving
That in time
Takes all the living from your soul

I stand in the night with a silver sword
Killing her demons beating them off her door
Sleep baby don't you cry
Daddy's got a worn out lullaby
And I'd live forever dark and damned
To see you spend one minute, girl... in Wonderland

She can run
Free forever
Still our blood... blood runs us together
And I'll be there
If she runs home
For worse or better

I know you like Adam knew Eve
Every tear you cry is a tear that I will bleed
Sleep baby don't you cry
Daddy's got a worn out lullaby
And I'd live forever dark and damned
To see you spend one minute, girl... in Wonderland
-

Angie Aparo -- Free Man**
Hey wouldn't you wanna know
Everywhere that river flows to right now
I can show you how
'Cause someday you might wanna go
Someday you got nothing to show
For all your pain
For all your chains
I ain't saying it's the only way
But wouldn't you like to know

How if feels to live
Like a free man
To give
When there's nothing in your hand
Run like only the river can
Like a free man

You've only so many roads to choose
Sooner or later the ones you use
They all look the same
Someday you might feel the need
Someday when you're tired of bleeding
For someone else
You're gonna want it for yourself
I ain't saying it's the only way
But wouldn't you like to know
-

Angie Aparo -- Swell
Only Virginia so very kind
All of her anyway that you desire
Only Virginia so crucified
And all of her dying keeps her alive

And swell
Made up for everyone else
Happy and horribly well
The girl with her soul on a shelf

Only Virginia knows how to bleed
All of her giving never comes free
Only Virginia so desperately
Wanting the whole world watching her misery

Hello misunderstood so go the lonely
Tracing your ashes to wood
So go the lonely
And you are the only
-

---

Mazzy Star

Mazzy Star -- Into Dust
still falling
breathless and on
again

like two strangers
turning into dust
-


p.s. I spent hours and hours on this post, so if you download and/or enjoyed reading it, please comment (so that I'll know if it is worth doing again). ♥