…and I were to make a playlist I could listen to over and over again, these are the songs I’d put in it: 

1.      Tonight, Not Again (Live) by Jason Mraz – Perfect song to start the set.  It starts off with catcalls and applause from the audience, which segues into this long electric guitar, percussion, horn and keyboard intro.  By the one-minute-and-forty-second mark, Jason enters with his acoustic guitar and soon enough, his resonant voice grips you and never lets go with his trademark adlibs and notes that seem to soar higher and higher as the song progresses.  The track finishes off well just short of eight minutes but it always feels a bit too short.  Ah, what fleeting bliss.  

2.      Toxic by Britney Spears – What the hell is a Britney song doing in this list???  Well I have no particular love for Britney, but I make no apologies for the fact that I love this song.  It’s a toss-up between this and Me Against The Music. 

3.      Dirty Dancing by the Black Eyed Peas – I had to choose a Black Eyed Peas song, and it was either this, Shut Up or Let’s Get Retarded.  Dirty Dancing won out. 

4.      A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton – You gotta love that piano intro.  It’s like a sign of great things to come (for the next four minutes at least).  Other Vanessa Carlton favorites are Ordinary Day, Pretty Baby and White Houses.  (Wait a minute – that’s basically all her releases.)

5.      Woman by Maroon 5 – This song is SOOOO SEXY.  It just makes you want to sink into that acid jazz groove, as if you were sitting in a dim, smoky room with that pervasive hint of sex in the air.  Ooohhlala. 

6.      Satisfaction by Benny Benassi – After settling into that sexy groove, this song will surely pick you up.  Makes me bounce (even on my seat) anytime.  Reminds me of Puerto Galera / Boracay / huge doses of alcohol / sweaty bodies, etc.   

7.      We Belong Together by Mariah Carey – All hail Queen Mariah.  After a well-publicized meltdown a few years back and a total of 15 years in the business, she proves she’s still the one to beat.  Her longevity and commercial success are simply impressive, do we still need a rundown?  Indeed, the world’s best-selling female artist of all time has nothing more to prove, but she nevertheless adds to her success with We Belong Together, her best track in a long long time.   

8.      The Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice – Haunting vocals, heartbreaking melody and lyrics, plus images of Natalie Portman walking down the crowded streets of New York in the movie Closer shot this song up my favorites list instantly.  Damien Rice’s other songs don’t disappoint either. 

9.      He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother by the AI4 Finalists – I’m an AI4 junkie, I admit, and this was really one of their better group songs.  I actually like the shorter live version better, but the recorded version ain’t half bad, especially with my favorite Bo Bice figuring very prominently on the track. 

10.  Agnus Dei (from Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings) by the King’s College Choir – One of the songs I wish I could sing with the choir, although this is a distant possibility considering the high level of difficulty of this piece.  I could imagine this song to be hell for the sopranos, especially starting the sixth minute. 

11.  I Can’t Make You Love Me by George Michael – I wish I had George Michael’s voice.  Really.  It’s sonorous and incredibly flexible.  I love how he sang this (much more than Bonnie Raitt did with the original), which is perhaps why I hated Constantine Maroulis’ dispassionate treatment of this song.  Ugh. 

12.  The Man I Was With You by Jimmy Bondoc – Many times I really miss singing with the band.  Sometimes when I hear a new song on the radio that I really like I just wish I could have sung it with them.  The Man I Was With You was one song we rehearsed so many times but never actually performed (because the guitarist couldn’t get it right).  Too bad, I could actually do a mean version of this (and Let Me Be The One).  Sorry, just had to get that out.  

13.  Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani – I’m just lovin’ this song right now.  Pharrell weaves his magic once again.  I still have to see though if I’ll still love it after a thousand spins. 

14.  Good Luck by Basement Jaxx feat. Lisa Kekaula – Taken off the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy soundtrack, this upbeat, powerful, get-this-party-started track is the perfect end to this playlist.  Makes you wanna lay down the iPod for a while and dance.