I've done it.

I love music.

In a way, that's a really stupid statement. Who doesn't love music? I have never come across anyone who doesn't like some kind of music.

Let's be real. Music makes us dance, makes us cry, makes us sing along, or makes us laugh. It improves our day, pumps us up for something, helps us relate, and gets us through work-outs. For some people, music enhances life. For others, music is life.

I love music. Really love it. As a child, I thought I'd be a world-famous singer. I got in trouble for singing all the time. I took piano lessons for a number of years. I played percussion in band. I took choir until college, then refused to try out for a group because I convinced myself I wouldn't make it. I still regret that.

However, the way I love music seems to differ from a lot of people. Most people love music for the lyrics. They analyze lyrics, relate to them, find them clever (especially in the case of rap music). Some people love songs because they believe the artist is describing exactly how they've felt at one point or another.

Don't get me wrong. I do, too. John Mayer has the uncanny ability to read my mind, then put my thoughts into infinitely more eloquent words than I ever could. However, the real reason I love music is the music itself.

When I hear a song for the first time, I don't even hear the words. I hear the layers. I hear the bass, the beat, the melody on top. I hear the harmonies and create my own. I love songs with complexity, catchy beats, melodies that build, and impressive instrumentals. I can sing along with a song, have all the words memorized, and still have no idea what I'm saying when I sing it. In fact, some of my favorite songs aren't even in English or don't have lyrics at all.

So, in my unlimited free time, I came up with what I think are my Top Ten Favorite Songs.

Before I share them with you, please keep the following things in mind:

- My list of favorite songs changes all the time.
- My list of favorite songs is VERY different from my list of current favorite songs. Perhaps I will share that sometime.
- A few of the songs on my list aren't complex at all. I still love them.
- I am positive that I missed a couple that should be on here. Oops.
- These are not in order.

1. "Imagine" by John Lennon - This is probably my favorite song ever written. Incredibly simple music with a hard-hitting, emotional message. John Lennon at his best.

2. "Crash" by Dave Matthews Band - For years, I hated myself for loving my favorite band's most popular song. I wanted to claim an obscure DMB song as my favorite in a pathetic attempt to seem like a "hardcore" fan. Then, I realized something. "Crash" is DMB's most popular song because it's phenomenal. The music, which starts out quiet, soft, and repetitive, is gorgeous and the song slowly, gently builds like a wave into a chill-inducing, tremendous finale. I lose myself to the music every single time I hear it.

3. "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones - This song makes me cry. Plain and simple. Completely contradicting myself, the lyrics really resonate with me and when you couple them with that music, I'm sobbing.

4. "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd - In high school, I put this song on repeat to help me sleep. It's simultaneously soothing and sexy. That guitar riff at the end? You don't need to be intoxicated to enjoy that.

5. "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye - Speaking of sexy... Marvin Gaye defined swag. So soulful it hurts. If a guy turned this on and danced with me, I'm his. Forever.

6. "Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland)" by The Who - Another incredible build-up. The first time I heard the piano drop on the electronic intro music was one of the most mind-blowing musical moments of my life.

7. "Because" by The Beatles - Harmonies until I die. Again, the lyrics mystify me, but I don't care. It's haunting and beautiful - with or without the background music.

8. "Con Te Partiro" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman - Another beautiful song. I can't separate this song from my image of the gorgeous Bellagio fountains. Italian makes for some beautiful sound combinations. Do I even need to mention the talent of Andrea Bocelli? He might be the voice of God himself.

9. "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie - The unmistakable bass line (thanks a lot, Vanilla Ice) paired with the piano and beat? Then, add in the majesty of Freddie Mercury and the creepiness of David Bowie? Classic. I get the chills every single time I hear, "This is our last dance. This is ourselves under pressure," at the end.

10. "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve - I had a really hard time narrowing this list down to ten songs, but eventually decided this song made the cut. I've always loved music, but this song seemed to find me at the perfect time in my adolescence. Again, it's the layers. The violin on the beat with the melody. So poetic and so true.

So, what is YOUR favorite song? If you can't choose one, I'd love to hear five. ;)