Summary. The July 2009 Heart Songs selections [available on iTunes] include a mix of uplifting and inspirational songs. The music video for the song “If Today Was Your Last Day” is available on our site.

iTunes Song Listing. The complete list of songs for this month are posted below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.

Summary. The June 2009 Heart Songs selections [available on iTunes] include a mix of songs from musicians and groups made popular in the 1960s. The title song for this month is The Times They Are A-Changin’ by Bob Dylan.

Commentary. There are 71 songs for this month’s selections. The songs are listed in alphabetical order by artist: Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin, The Mamas & The Papas, Scott McKenzie, The Who, and The Youngbloods.

Listen and Lyrics. For the first time in the history of the Heart Songs series, music and lyrics will be available for selected songs online so you can listen and read the lyrics.

• Forever Young
• Mr. Tambourine Man
• The Times They Are A-Changin’ by Bob Dylan

iTunes Song Listing. The complete list of songs for this month are posted below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.

Summary. The May 2009 Heart Songs selections [available on iTunes] include a mix of genres.

Commentary. There are 60 songs for this month’s selections. The first song, Against the Wind by Moya Brennan has a nice vocal and instrumental melody with a forward moving rhythm. Alone by Kim Sozzi is a nice techno trance dance song about love. By the Way by Jenna Drey is another upbeat techno trance pop love song. Carolina on My Mind and Copperline are two songs this month by James Taylor from the Bridges School collection. Confused, Figure Me Out, and Situation are three songs by Jami Ross who is similar to Avril Lavign, Aly and AJ, Hayden Panettiere, Hilary Duff, Kelly Clarkson, and Krystal Meyers. There are three songs by Kenny Loggins this month: Danny’s Song, A Love Song, and Meet Me Half Way. This months’ selections includ five songs from the soundrack to the movie Slumdog Millionaire: Dreams On Fire, Latika’s Theme, O… Saya, and Jai Ho (two versions). There are two similar balads about love: Footprints In the Sand by Leona Lewis, and Forever and a Day by Jewel. The rest of the selections this month are love songs, techno songs, inspirational, and pop songs.

Listing. The complete list of songs for this month are posted below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.

Summary. The April 2009 Heart Songs selections [available on iTunes] include mostly acoustic music. The tracks are listed below. The songs are presented in alphabetical order by title.

1. Andina by Antonio Pinto on the album Lord of War (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2. By My Side by Gilmer McCormick, Peggy Gordon & Company on the album Godspell – A Musical Based Upon the Gospel According to St. Matthew
3. The Deeper I Fall by Vaughan Penn on the album Transcendence
4. Lord of War by Antonio Pinto on the album Lord of War (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
5. More Than Meets the Eyes by Vaughan Penn on the album Transcendence
6. Sand In My Shoes by Dido on the album Life for Rent
7. To a Wild Rose, Op 51, No 1 by Valery Lloyd -Watts on the album Sweetheart Serenade
8. White Flag by Dido on the album Life for Rent

The complete list of songs for this month are posted below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.

Summary. This month’s Heart Songs selections [on iTunes] include acoustic music and some new music. The tracks are explained below. The songs are presented in alphabetical order by title.

Tracks 1, 3, and 4 are some upbeat and unique melodies by Chairlift that include very nice vocals. Thanks to Stephen Phillips for forwarding the Evident Utensil video by Chairlift.

Tracks 2, 6, 13, and 14 are soothing acoustic melodies and vocals of Sufjan Stevens.

Track 5 is Ghost by Indigo Girls. The song was featured on 14 February 2009 in a theater performance that included Jason Grubbe.

Track 7 is It Ends Tonight by The All-American Rejects. This was a song suggested by the iTunes store when purchasing music by Chairlift.

Track 8 is Just Stand Up! by Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Natasha Bedingfield, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Keyshia Cole, LeAnn Rimes, Ashanti, Ciara, and Mariah Carey. An amazing list of artists. This is a very uplifting, motivational, and hopeful song. The song was produced as part of a cancer awareness initiative, but speaks a universal message of overcoming challenging situations. This was a song suggested by the iTunes store when purchasing music by Chairlift.

Tracks 9 and 10 are two variations of the song Kids by MGMT (The Management).

Track 11 is Pockets by Strange Arrangement. I met their lead keyboard player, Joe Hettinga, on 12 February, outside of Java Juice in Iowa City.

Track 12 is Realize by Colbie Caillat. It’s a song of hope and inspiration for relationships. This was a song suggested by the iTunes store when purchasing music by Chairlift.

Track 15 is Viva la Vida by Coldplay. This was a song suggested by the iTunes store when purchasing music by Chairlift.

The complete list of songs for this month are shown below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.

Summary. This month’s Heart Songs selections [on iTunes] are mostly folk music by Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin, and Tracy Chapman. The songs are sorted by the artists’ first name.

Track 2 is an interesting rendition of the Beatles song All You Need is Love. It is performed by: Aqua, Ars Canto G. Verdi, Caetano Veloso, Cambodian And Tibetan Children’s Choir, Enrique Iglesias, Eurythmics, George Michael, Irene Grandi, José Molina, Luciano Pavarotti, Orchestra Sinfonica Italiana, Savage Garden, Skunk Anansie, Tracy Chapman & Zucch. Isn’t that an amazing gathering of musicians!

Track 3 is Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode. It’s the soundtrack to a video about Barack Obama that depicts him as a Messianic figure. Because the song is copyrighted, the video is now on YouTube without a soundtrack. But you can play this song and watch the video to get the full effect.

Tracks 12-17 are selected songs composed and performed by Gregory Johnson. Not me, but another Gregory Johnson who plays music similar to what I might play if I were as talented as he is! These are ambience futuristic songs.

The complete list of songs for this month are shown below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.

Summary. This month’s Heart Songs selections are mostly inspirational music – except for the first song (Apologize by Timbaland), the second song (As If by Sara Evans), and track eleven, (It Won’t Be Like This for Long by Darius Rucker).

The complete list of songs for this month are shown below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.

Summary. Similar to last month’s selections, this month’s Heart Songs selections are a collection of songs about love, life, and relationships.

The complete list of songs for this month are shown below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.

Summary. This month’s Heart Songs selections are a collection of songs about love, life, and relationships — except for the first song, Roll Tide by Hanz Zimmer from the movie Crimson Tide (Amazon | iTunes). You can see the complete selection of songs at the bottom of this page. The instrumental selection Roll Tide accompanied the scene in the anti-war movie Crimson Tide where the older seasoned graying hawkish military sub captain (Capt. Frank Ramsey played by Gene Hackman) admits defeat and error as he hands the reigns of power to the young executive officer – an underdog idealist diplomatic well educated anti-war African American Harvard graduate (Lt. Commander Ron Hunter played by Denzel Washington). In the end of the film, just before the end credits roll, the senior captain walks off, realizing he is at the end of his own career. This song was selected by the RNC/GOP to be played at the conclusion of John McCain’s 2008 Presidential Concession Speech. [Read More]

The complete list of songs for this month are shown below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.

Summary. This month’s Heart Songs selections are a collection of world music songs from the Buddha Lounge series. The complete list of songs for this month are shown below (requires the free Adobe Flash Player to view). The listing below provides links to songs, artists, and albums available on iTunes. There are 30-second previews of songs on iTunes.