Q101: 2002

How did we get here?

2002 (Or, the year that Q101 was a glorious companion on all those trips to and from JJC)

5. “Get Over It” – OK Go

Aren't you such a catch? / What a prize, got a body like a battle axe / Love that perfect frown, honest eyes / We ought to buy you a Cadillac

Ohhh, there’s so very much to say about this song, which probably helped it crack my top 5.  Long before these guys became famous for playing on treadmills, there was “Get Over It.”  There was some spirited discussion between myself and my best friend Tom over what exactly a battle axe body was.  I’m still not sure I know.  It means she has blades growing out of her skin, right?  This song will also forever be associated with the discovery of Matt’s (my other best friend) girlfriend and (now) wife.  Tom drafted a contract to verify the female’s existence and I reviewed it.  It was also somehow decided that I needed to get the female’s number so a thorough line of questioning could be administered.  This all ties back to OK Go because “Get Over It” was stuck in our heads and Tom continually hounded me to “get get get the number.”  Matt and Shannon have been happily married for years now.  I guess he gets the last laugh.  Me?  Well, some of us are better suited for writing little-read blogs.

4. “Crawling In The Dark” – Hoobastank

Help me carry on, assure me it's okay / To use my heart and not my eyes to navigate the darkness / Will the ending be ever coming suddenly? / Will I ever get to see the ending to my story?

I don’t have a ton to say about this one.  It’s a good song to get you pumped up.  It’s better than “The Reason.”  The song was featured in a Mountain Dew commercial, which is a product I enjoy on occasion.  Dave’s health tip of the day:  changing nothing else in your diet except cutting out pop, or severely limiting it, will go a long way towards losing weight.  It worked for me.  I guess I could focus on the lyrics.  Um, yeah, will I get to see the ending to my story or is this as good as it gets?  I’m a pretty patient guy but even I’ve got my limits…

3. “Here Is Gone” – The Goo Goo Dolls

I'm not the one who broke you / I'm not the one you should fear / We got to move you, darlin' / I thought I lost you somewhere / But you were never really ever there at all

For years, this was my favorite Goo Goo Dolls song among many favorites.  It has lost its place perched atop that list but it obviously still ranks pretty high.  The Gutterflower album was a strong offering from one of my top artists.  Musically, I’m a huge fan of those sinewy guitar riffs.  Lyrically, it’s a song I can readily identify with.  When I’m left wondering where I lost it in my pursuit of someone, “Here Is Gone” can provide some soothing justification.  It’s a lot easier to convince myself that I never had a real chance.   

2. “Blurry” – Puddle Of Mudd

Everyone is changing / There's no one left that's real / To make up your own ending / And let me know just how you feel  

Puddle of Mudd is a band that I had higher hopes for back in the early 2000s.  They gave us a few other popular songs but the bar was simply raised too high with the Come Clean album.  Nonetheless, “Blurry” is an enjoyable song with an attractive opening.  Fun fact:  this song is about lead singer Wes Scantlin’s longing for his son.  Interestingly enough, that’s also his kid in the video.

1. “Sweetness” – Jimmy Eat World

I was spinning free, woah / With a little sweet and simple numbing me / Stumble till you crawl, woah / Sinking into sweet uncertainty

Cool.  Mandie and I shared the same top song for 2002.  I dare anybody not to sing along with this catchy tune when it comes on.  Jimmy Eat World is another of my favorite groups and Bleed American is obviously a fantastic album all the way around.  I was a custodial engineer cleaning schools for the Peotone School District for several summers in high school and college.  With all due respect to Applied Systems, it’s still probably the best job I’ve ever had.  I could write a hundred stories about the antics we pulled and the memories I have from that job.  One of them is of Jason Thomas pushing a broom at 5:30 AM.  I was half awake but I remember “Sweetness” blaring out of our little stereo and Ja bouncing along to the beat.  Go ahead.  Sing it back, woooooaaaaaaaaaaaaah.