Hi,
Music really has an uncanny way of tapping into emotions no matter the language, I even listen to Japanese songs.
I like all sorts of music, but my favourite is definitely orchestral soundtracks, and musicals such as those in the theatre or Disney films. I think they show off real talent, as apposed to the music you hear on the radio today which, well if you listen to it through normal headphones and focus on it, sounds more like background music and I don't know if it's just me, but it doesn't seem to build to a satisfying chrischendo. So many theatre songs have that buildup, and lately I've even been listening to Theme Park music, such as those found in Efteling Holland. I also love video game soundtracks such as SoulCalibur (my favourite soundtrack is probably soulcalibur 3, with 2 being a very close second or maybe even joint first when it comes to that series), and if you want to go a bit further affield, I'd recommend another game soundtrack, Bravely Default, for something really upbeat and powerful that mixes a bunch of different styles. There's also stuff like the Final Fantasy Piano Collections which are just brilliant.
Moving on to musicals, I've got too many musical songs to list, but I sing a lot. The song I always pick as my last song for an event or holiday, is a song called For Good from the musical Wicked. It's actually become a song that means a lot to me, so much so that whenever I've sung it recently, I've ended up crying mid song.
Also, I think the oldies are just better when it comes to pop music. Keep in mind, I'm a 90's kid really, but I'm finding loads of appreciation for the 60's, 70's and 80's.
If you hear older wrap songs like Wrapper's Delight by sugar hill gang, it's a double digit long in terms of minutes, absolute feast for the senses with the pumping bass and the lyrics which are utterly hilarious at times, and this is in the 70's, the funniest line, by far, is, I'm gonna freak you here, gonna freak you there, gonna freak you out of the atmosphere I was laughing so hard when I heard that line, thinking what on Earth have I stumbled on here, and it's just so much fun.
Another great wrap is Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, whichever version you listen to whether that's the tv or extended version. Both just as good.
But if you listen to something like Lady Gaga, well, I dunno. There's just something about it where the music itself seems to lack heart, and it seems to be a lot more about the look these days, and not just standalone songs. It's like the industry is dying.
Another contrast, I heard a song the other day by reo speedwagon. It's called Can't Fight this feeling anymore. It's a rock ballad that actually made me cry, it's got beautiful lyrics and I was only introduced to it the other day by my Dad.
When I sing, I actually end up singing mostly Disney or musicals. I've done stuff like Be Our Guest from the 90's version of Beauty and The Beast, Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid, and even branching out into stuff like Stars from Les Misérables. Recently I have learned the song My Way by Frank Sinatra, and I used it as my final song while at a karaoke bar on holiday for my last night. When I got to the midpoint, I actually ended up crying so much so that the host had to join in to lend me support, and that let me compose myself and we both sung until the end, at which point I just burst into tears and actually got hugged by the host, and many many thank yous were said. I've been told that out of the thousands of people the staff in that bar meet, they now think I am going to be one of the most memorable, which made me feel very surprised and happy indeed.
I just feel very happy when singing, and when I go on stage, I'm actually there to enjoy myself, I'm not interested in competing, if even just one other person likes what I do, then that's good enough for me and I've done what I wanted to do.