I am a pathetic creature.

I have known for quite some time that my taste in music, much like my taste in men, is nothing to brag about. Luckily, I have friends who invest more time in finding noteworthy music than I waste on this blog. And fortunately enough, those same friends are willing to let me leech off of their great finds. [If you have no interest in the music I listen to or from whom I have acquired it, skip the next paragraph.]

My older brother has exposed me to Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Tool, Free Dominguez, Incubus, the Crystal Method, and Snake River Conspiracy, among numerous other industrial/rock/techno bands. From my older step-brother, I've taken more Tool, Mindless Self-Indulgence, and System of a Down. From my little sister, the Spill Canvas, Coldplay, Blink 182, and Tracy Chapman. From Curtis, Marilyn Manson, Juno Reactor, and John Powell. From Bethany (who leeched from Justin and Liz), Ani Difranco, Elliot Smith, Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, the Postal Service, Nellie McKay, Mike Doughty, and Rufus Wainwright. From Dev, Luna Halo, Loreena McKennitt, Helium Vola (I think--I can't really remember), and Lacuna Coil. From Steve, Broken Spindles. From Jim, Fatboy Slim (rhyme unintentional). Then there are always the bands that no one really pushes on you, they just appear somehow: Dave Matthews Band, Linkin Park, Alanis Morisette, Broken Social Scene, Damien Rice, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Norah Jones, and RX Bandits.

Anyway, now that you have a general idea of what is in my iTunes library, I'll get to the point. My senior year of high school, I began collecting music like none other. You might say it filled the procrastination time in my schedule that this blog now occupies. I created playlists based on mood and genre because I have a habit of liking only one or two songs by any given artist. I've also been known to acquire several CDs at once, but get so addicted to the first one I listen to that I never really even give the others a chance. But once again I've lost track of the point.

I still have the CDs I burned my senior year from the mood- and genre-based playlists. My roommate and I enjoy listening to "Old Old Pop" in the morning, which basically means a bunch of old Michael Jackson with some Mariah Carey and George Michael thrown in for good measure. However, the other day I pulled out "Slow/Sad" for some calm, nap time music. I hadn't listened to the CD in years, and I really didn't remember what was on it.

Ladies and gentlemen, please, feel free to laugh as you read the following playlist. I have offered a list of men I dated as proof of my poor taste in men, and I now bring you proof of my poor taste in music.

[Allow me to explain the color code. Songs that I contend were a part of the sappy pop repertoire of every girl in my age group (Read: I liked them and probably still do, but would prefer not to admit it so as to maintain some sense of dignity as a consumer of music). Songs of which I am so ashamed that I must be repressing memories of ever liking them. Songs I still listen to and would defend. Songs I honestly don't remember ever liking enough to put them on a CD.]

1. K-Ci & Jojo, This Very Moment
2. Blessid Union of Souls, I Believe
3. Blessid Union of Souls, Light in Your Eyes
4. Blessid Union of Souls, Standing at the Edge of the Earth
5. Boyz II Men, Color of Love
6. DJ Sammy, Heaven
7. K-Ci & Jojo, Now and Forever
8. K-Ci & Jojo, Down for Life
9. K-Ci & Jojo, Crazy
10. Amanda Perez, (God Send Me an) Angel
11. Peabo Bryson, If Ever You're in My Arms Again
12. Righteous Brothers, Unchained Melody
13. Rufus Wainwright, Hallelujah
14. The Temptations, My Girl
15. Toni Braxton, Unbreak My Heart
16. Whitney Houston, Exhale (Shoop Shoop)
17. Daniel Bedingfield, If You're Not the One
18. The Fugees, Killing Me Softly
19. The Verve Pipe, Freshman