Countdown to Coachella # 1

While it was certainly tough for me to figure out Nos 2-10 of the songs I really want to hear at Coachella, it certainly wasn't difficult for me to pick out # 1. With the other 9, I had to make some cuts (Jose Gonzales; Grizzly Bear; Lupe Fiasco; Ghostface/Amy Winehouse; Steven Marley; Silversun Pickups; Travis; The Frames; the Coup; the list goes on & on), but familiarity to those bands, for the most part, was why they snuck into my top 10... and while I'm very familiar with this band too, this could also very well be my favorite song of all time. You'll have to bear with me here because I was in the middle of reading a Chuck Klosterman book (Sex, Drugs & Cocoa Puffs... definitely pick this up) and had just finished up an episode of LOST when I thought about what I wanted to write about this song. Needless to say, my mind was a little scrambled, so I apologize in advance...Anyway though, this song is about life, and lives. It is not about the creation of life, nor is it a song about the destruction of life, but rather it is a song that can encapsulate (in my opinion) everything in between these two events in every person's life. I don't mean to generalize and throw my taste and opinions on to everyone, however, when listening to this song, try this: 1) turn up the volume; 2) close your eyes; 3) press play and 4) don't pay attention to anything else... I have no doubt that this song will affect you. For me, it conjures up memories of great experiences I have had in my past, and I think that hearing this song at Coachella will signify another great memory. This is a Wedding song; a Funeral song; a "Baby's first steps" song; a "I just won the lottery and I quit my F-ing job" song... Furthermore, this song has so many peaks & valleys, it is a metaphor for the emotional roller-coaster that life can sometimes be. And this song manages to accomplish all of this without a single word/lyric being sung. This is what makes this song, and this band, so incredibly powerful. No matter what language(s) you do or do not speak; no matter what religion, if any, you follow; no matter what political party you affiliate with; no matter what your favorite "genre" of music is, you will identify with this song. Dogs AND cats identify with this song. Red Sox fans AND Yankee fans identify with this song. This is music in some of it's truest, most artistic form. It is as complex as it is simple, and it is one of the reasons why I cannot live without music. This song does not save lives, but it certainly provides some nice background music.