You’ve probably got a favorite number, right? Mine used to be 7, but I think I’m switching to 21.
I’ve always thought numbers had a lot of significance. For example, I was born on 12-12 in the year 66 (which is 12, if you add ’em up). For a long time I even thought I was born at 12, but I wasn’t. I was born at 21 minutes past the hour of 10 (and weirdly, my daughter was born in the 12 o’clock hour on 10-21). It’s become quite clear to me that in my family, the number 21 is one that keeps popping up over and over again in all the significant moments of our lives.
What I’m about to say isn’t going to sound like a coincidence, but it was, for a long time. It was something that nobody even realized for about 50 years. And then about 7 or 8 years ago, it started to dawn upon us that the number 21 seemed to be included in a lot of important events for at least the past 4 generations of my family.
My grandparents were married on April 21.
My parents got married on August 21.
My first marriage? September 21.
We figured it out, when my little sister got married, and chose to say her vows on the summer solstice. June 21.
I gave birth to my daughter on October 21 (totally naturally…about 21 minutes after midnight). Many years later, when the hormones kicked in and she started dating, that first date was January 21st.
Back in the 9th grade, the day I went on my first date with Eddie? November 21.
Five years ago, my dad called and left me a message asking if I was planning on ever returning the phone call of the guy who referred to himself as my junior high school sweetheart, because he’d called again, 27 years after our first date. It was June 21st.
And now I’m marrying that man.
Today, of course.
Because it’s the 21st.
So I’m a little busy at the moment, but not too busy to wax on about numbers and share some music with you on this amazing and wonderful day! Here’s 21 songs, all about numbers. Click on the playlist below to stream this Grooveshark Playlist!
- 1 Is The Loneliest Number – 3 Dog Night
- 2 Weeks – Grizzly Bear
- 3 Little Words – Bob Marley
- 4 Kicks – Kings of Leon
- 5 Bottles of Mambo – Yma Sumac
- 6 Cold Feet – Hugh Laurie
- 7 Days in Sunny June – Jamiroquai
- 8 Days On The Road – Aretha Franklin
- Love Potion #9 – The Clovers
- 10 Years Gone – Led Zeppelin
- 11 Days – David Byrne
- 12 Minutes To Go – Skatalites
- 13 – Elliot Smith
- 14 Rivers, 14 Floods – Beck
- 15 – Taylor Swift
- 16 Saltines – Jack White
- Sexy & 17 – Stray Cats
- 18 Wheels & A Dozen Roses – Kathy Mattea
- 19-2000 – Gorillaz
- 20 Flight Rock – Eddie Cochran
- 21 Things I Want In A Lover – Alanis Morrissette
Valerie Ing has been the Northern California Program Coordinator for Jefferson Public Radio in Redding for over a decade, and can often be found serving as Mistress of Ceremonies at the Cascade Theatre. For her, ultimate satisfaction comes from a perfect segue. She’s the mother of a teenage daughter and an adorable West Highland Terrier, and can’t imagine life without them or music.
She’s often spotted driving around town singing at the top of her lungs to new wave hits from the 80’s, but at work Valerie hosts the afternoon classical show Siskiyou Music Hall (at 90.9 FM in Shasta County or streaming at ijpr.org).
100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall (best I can do)
Congratulations! And don't forget, '88 Lines About 44 Women' from The Nails.
Amber, I love that song! Maybe readers can come up with the other 70-some songs so that we can have one for each number up to 100!!!! Probably starting with Taylor Swift's "22."
I'll jump to the middle:
"50 ways to leave your lover" (Paul Simon)
And let's never forget "76 Trombones".
Only 70-some to go!
PS: AJ, you outta be able to come up with a dozen or so.
Great! Can't seem to help myself now. Thanks a bunch!
"Opus 38" (and a bunch of others, Beethoven)
"Star 69" (REM)
"99 Miles From L.A." (Johnny Mathis)
Try this one on: Twenty One by The Cranberries ("No Need to Argue" album). This song popped into my head when I saw the name of this week's edition.
Awesome! Marc & I celebrate our 19th anniversary today. 21 is awesome. Congratulations 🙂
Route 66
Of course, Mark. Route 66 . . . first song into my head upon reading the theme. And Yma Sumac??? I'm impressed. I didn't think anyone under the age of, oh . . ., say . . . 100 or so would remember her.
26 Miles Across the Sea.- The Four Preps
and if you didn't already have 12 covered, there's the CW classic, One Dozen Roses.
Way to go, girl. Now you have us all thinking numbers.
Oh, and BTW . . . the very, very, very best to you for helping those of us living at the upper end of the life arc, that sometimes . . . sometimes . . . dreams do come true. Have the most memorable number of all, your wedding day!
xoxo to you both and all . . . AJ
The 12th of Never, Johnny Mathis, but you already have 12 covered)
16 Candles – The Crests (1958)
24 Hours a Day – Triumph
When I'm 64 – the Beatles
40 Day Dream, Edward Sharpe and the magnetic Zeros
O.K., i'm done!!