The End of 2023

     2023 was a year of 2 wildly different moods.  There was a sense of helplessness and a lack of hope and fear of lethal abuses of power on one side, but on the other, there were enjoyable recreational experiences; great sports and video game memories and wonderful music as well as statements made towards 2024.  I'm entering the next year with dread, but I do have things I'm looking forward to, and while I'm not sure where the road leads in a lot of areas, I am going to just have to live life and hope it stays at least mixed and I can find joy even in grief.

 

    Let's get over the first side.  There was a ton of senseless brutality in the world in 2023.  Russia is still attacking Ukraine in Putin's mad quest to rebuild the Soviet Union, Hamas abducted Israeli civilians and slaughtered children and those attending a music festival, giving Israel an excuse to start a genocide of Gaza civilians, Texas ordered a woman to keep an embryo's corpse inside her, which likely would kill her, SAG went on strike against the CEOs and Producers and got screwed over by the deal they made, in which AI can be used to rob them of work and scan people in certain kinds of work so as to keep them working against their will, SCOTUS ruled Businesses can discriminate against LGBTQ+ people, which made me think they will rule that killing them doesn't count as murder so long as you can recite Leviticus 20:13 from memory and Jack Smith brought cases against the obese fascist whose last name starts with "T" before them, which made me think they'd rule all his horrors, war crimes and crimes against humanity would fall under the realm of the First Amendment, thus saying the quiet part out loud, Republicans have exclusive rights Democrats do not have, and they include murder.  And don't get me started on the transphobia.  I honestly have a hard time comprehending how vicious it can get.

 

    It is little wonder, then, that my blood pressure has climbed significantly, and I feel almost constantly on edge.  But, shortly after this past year began, I was treated to a cover of Journey's "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" by Daughtry and Lzzy Hale.  Not long after that, I got Fire Emblem; Engage, in which I took Alear, a naive but kindhearted woman who is also a Manakete (capable of becoming a dragon, though she does not), and spent the game with characters like Marth (a noble, friendly hero voiced by Yuri Lowenthal), Yunaka (a hilarious, cute dagger-thrower voiced by Laura Post), Lucina (a hard-working heroine voiced by Alexis Tipton) and my old friend from Three Houses, Edelgard (an axe-wielding kind woman with strong convictions who can be hard on herself voiced by Tara Platt).  There was a lot of good music this year, like Miley Cyrus' "Endless Summer Vacation" album and "Used to Be Young," Dolly Parton's "Rockstar" and Brandi Carlile's "Closer to Fine" with her wife/partner Catherine and "Dear Insecurity" with Brandy Clark, as well as The Beatles' last single, "Now and Then."

 

    Also, while the Mariners didn't make the playoffs, the two games I saw had highlights and connections that will last for some time.  There was a game in July against the Blue Jays, where former Blue Jay Teoscar Hernandez hit a walk-off single that scored the deciding run, winning the game for Seattle.  The Blue Jays' first run came off the only home run I saw in person this season, Danny Jansen, who, in September, I saw a highlight clip of talking to George Springer's bat.  Whatever he said must've worked, because next at-bat, Springer got a double.  Julio Rodriguez robbed Fernando Tatis Jr. of a home run at the next game in August to our delight, and Logan Gilbert locked down the Padres with a career-best 12 strikeouts.  And while we weren't as invested in the playoffs around here as we were last year, I still saw that Bryce Harper hit a home run on his birthday.  He also shares his birthday with Sue Bird, formerly of the Seattle Storm, now retired.

 

    I have a pretty full plate of entertainment for the year ahead.  The first big thing is at the end of January, when I'm going to Anime Washington in Tacoma.  I have made arrangements to stay at my Aunt's house, and am so psyched for it, I have already placed, effectively, props for photos I want to take with the voice actors I want to meet in a reusable grocery bag that has Godzilla on it in the style of Metallica's "Ride The Lightning" album cover.  Namely, I have Edelgard and Byleth plushies for Tara Platt, a Wendy Marvell plushie for Brittney Karbowski and Yang and Blake figurines for Barbara Dunkelman and Arryn Zech.  In March, I have a ticket to see Petty or Not, a local tribute band to the works of Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks.  I saw a few videos on YouTube, and they do songs like "I Won't Back Down," "American Girl," "Runnin' Down A Dream," "The Chain," "Rhiannon," "Edge of Seventeen," "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and "Handle Me With Care" really well.  In April, I aim to see the Seattle Kraken play the San Jose Sharks and the Seattle Mariners play the Atlanta Braves, the in May, I'm planning on seeing the Mariners play the Kansas City Royals and then in August, I plan to see the Mariners play the Phillies.

 

    I'm honestly very concerned and dreading this new year because it's an election year.  2016 and 2020 were just plain awful, let's face it, and we had to deal with the uprising of this cult in America that drags Jesus' name into the mud with its obsession with punishment, oftentimes, violent punishment.  I know we all can only do so much, but we must not let this win.  My anxiety and depression makes emotions more raw to me than to others, and I watched my parents divorce in a stressful, screaming, arguing meltdown.  I experienced the prototypical stage of this cult at the second main Church I have clear memories of, how you have to answer every question and conversation how they want to hear it, or you'll face a lecture.  That may not sound like much, but to me, it's a warning before they start hitting you to straighten you out.  That attitude then became the second-large political party in America's entire identity, and they are pursuing an ideal that is not God, is not Jesus, but is ultimately wrath and punishment and no consequence.  Voting is what we should do against this, and I am going to do my best to limit certain social media websites until after election day.

Christmas Update

 

              Christmas feels strange this year.  There’s no gift exchange with my Mom’s family, meaning I’m not searching Amazon for a $35-50 present based on their wishlist or what I know about them, for one thing.  For another, my brother and sister-in-law aren’t traveling up here because they have to take care of their baby.  Also, a war broke out a little over two months ago, meaning we’re all playing “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” in the hopes that Israel will stop bombing Gaza and Hamas will stop killing Israeli civilians.  Since both groups are blinded by rage and aggression, it’s only to make us feel like we’re doing something, because otherwise we do nothing and feel worse.  However, this has apparently caused more people to lash out.

 

              I’m seeing complaints at sports teams especially, which I haven’t typically seen around this time of year (other than the fact that teams and free agents have seemed unwilling to make deals with the Seattle Mariners without likely being unreasonable last year as well as this year).  This is troubling for me, because I want to dive into entertainment to ignore the pains of the world, especially since I can’t fix the war-torn areas of the world.  The SAG strike made that really hard, it was “resolved” with effectively SAG being screwed over by the corporations, CEOs and producers.  I am hopeful that as the years pass, nothing truly horrible happens to the actors I enjoy, but it’s difficult to think that.  This is part of the reason why I’m soured on the film industry right now, another is that WB is phasing out DVDs for BluRays, also, unscrupulous people succeed and relatively innocent people lose everything and generic action schlock is seeming to win out over well-crafted love letters.

 

              Due to that, I’m mostly hoping my Nintendo Switch will have some good entertainment going forward.  I am hoping to get Super Mario RPG and Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Christmas.  After those, I plan on getting Princess Peach Showtime next year, and I’m not sure beyond that, to be honest.  I do have several games I hope to finish, so hopefully I will do that over the next several years.  I also have plans to see 2 concerts at the Mt. Baker Theatre next year, Petty or Not and a Pride Anthems show.  I also have tickets to see the Seattle Kraken play the San Jose Sharks and the Seattle Mariners play the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals and Philadelphia Phillies.  I also have a ticket to the Anime Washington convention in Tacoma, where there will be several voice actors and actresses who have played important and memorable characters in my life, notably Tara Platt, Brittney Karbowski, Arryn Zech with Barbara Dunkelman and Ruby and Weiss' actresses, Yuri Lowenthal, Kate Higgins, Erika Harlacher, Elizabeth Maxwell and more.

A Christmas Short Fan Fiction

 Just something I came up with think about the new Edelgard, Byleth and other Christmas variants in Fire Emblem Heroes.

              Edelgard sighed as she saw the kids run.  They were going to get presents from Dimitri, it was easy for him to be popular, his views weren’t born in pain.  She twirled her spear, feeling sad.  “I don’t want to feel sad.” She thought.  “But the kids aren’t picking out my presents for the Winter Festival.  I suppose it isn’t a contest, but I want to hug and be hugged…like he is.”  She stuck the end of her spear in the snow, trying to hold back tears.

 

              Edelgard heard footsteps approach, turning to see Byleth, her professor, also in Winter Festival clothes like her and Dimitri both were.  “You okay?” asked Byleth.

 

              “I feel…alone…” muttered Edelgard.

 

              “Then I’ll stay here with you, it’s not good to be alone at the Winter Festival.” Smiled Byleth, putting her hand on Edelgard’s shoulder.  Edelgard smiled as turned to Byleth, her eyes damp with tears.

 

              “Merry Winter Festival, my teacher.” She said quietly, hugging Byleth.  She didn’t care who saw her, this was too important.  Byleth hugged her back and Edelgard kissed her on the cheek.  Byleth played with her antlers a little, making Edelgard chuckle.

 

              “Merry Winter Festival, El.” Replied Byleth.

Struggle to be me

     Sleep eludes me, so I am writing.  I spent and am still spending, in some ways, a huge chunk of my life trying to fit in someone else's box.  Entertainers, internet users, fellow congregants, pastors...people who seem to have it together.  And all it does is make me mad because there is always some important to me thing they will dismiss and want me to give up.  Writing Samus and Zelda as a couple, the music I listen to, something religious or at least, part of religious rigamarole that has been there so long I can't imagine life without it.

 

      I fantasize about living in Fodlan, having a cozy place with Edelgard, Byleth, Lysithea, Annette and Caspar, where we play with cats, enjoy nature walks and eat comforting food and sing together.  I bought a ticket to Anime Washington, a convention in Tacoma, hoping to experience a taste of that with Tara Platt, Yuri Lowenthal, the women of Team RWBY, Brittney Karbowski and Erika Harlacher.  While only Platt is "of Fodlan," Fire Emblem Engage, Persona 4, RWBY, and the Fairy Tail and Demon Slayer games echo that small, uncomplicated comfort.  I don't know what a con is really like, but my brain hopes for a place where I can be me like that without feeling awkward or weird.

 

    I don't know what to say a lot of the time.  I am trying to be me, yet get support through social media, which treasures similarity and a lack of individuality.  I got likes for statements on an underrated entertainer I like and opinions on Godzilla Minus One, but I don't know how to get that in other topics.  There was little real sympathy for the half-decade since my Uncle died and also little support for things like "1975 was the best year of classic rock," "Miley Cyrus is a great rock singer, up there with Chris Cornell, Steven Tyler, Geoff Tate and Rob Halford," "SpaceGodzilla is my favorite of the Heisei Godzilla films," "My top Godzilla films would go 1-Godzilla; King of the Monsters 2019, 2-Godzilla vs. Mothra 1964, 3-Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla 1994 4-Shin Godzilla 2016 5-Gojira/Godzilla; King of the Monsters 1954, 6-Godzilla Minus One 2023, 7-Godzilla 1984, 8-Godzilla vs. Monster Zero 1965, 9-Godzilla vs. Biollante 1989, 10-Terror of MechaGodzilla 1975," "I like Sammy Hagar and Glenn Hughes and think they improved their bands," "'What has Rock and Roll Ever Done For You,' 'Wrecking Ball,' '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' 'Bygones,' 'Let it Be' and/or 'Free Bird' are my favorite tracks from Dolly Parton's 'Rockstar' album" and other such statements.  It is hard that no one else seems to put Annette and Edelgard together as friends in Three Houses when they were my game therapy while my mind was spinning from the insurrection, they showed an uncomplicated peace and hope that too many congregants in my past tried to destroy with legalism.  God and Jesus' spirit is found in the uncomplicated, the rest under the blanket, the willingness to shed tears due to an inability to fix the problem presented to you, the kindness shown in the small moments of sharing lunch and tea.  The other paths suggest coexistence with the legalism that hurt me and continues to do so, ordering people who are small compared to you into a predetermined box.

 

    It is hard for me to treasure my individuality when so many act different.  I am fed up with MLB's sportswriters posting nonsense and snark rather than important stories of optimism fans want to hear.  Daniel Kramer mentions Alex Rodriguez way too much to a city that doesn't like him because he didn't like it, and the Mariners are constantly underrated.  I have enough faith in the team to buy tickets to 3 games, playing the Braves, Royals and Phillies.  Granted, I want to see players on the other teams, but I am at the point that both teams should be enjoyable, rather than just one.  Or maybe the sport is at that point.  I also bought a ticket for a Mt. Baker Theatre concert of a Tom Petty/Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks tribute called "Petty or Not" in March, and will be seeing the venue's Pride Anthems in June to see if their tastes match up with mine.  I'm also going to see the Seattle Kraken play the San Jose Sharks, a team they clobbered 7-1 last month.  Still, I'm not sure if anyone else would be excited, and spending money now causes panic due to getting overdrawn too many times, thinking my Mom will lecture and scream at me for failing.  I can't buy MP3s without a sense of dread now, terrified by a misfire.  She's doing the best she can, but I get so mad at her sometimes because I can't explain my feelings right.  "I heard it on Spotify and liked it so I want more access to it in other places?"  "I know it is likely to be good because I know the artist and they don't make garbage?"  Does anyone else feel like they need to defend everything they do except grocery shopping and finding Edeleth, Annette and cat pictures? I keep hearing criticism on everything and it's making me angry and scared.  I'm starting to lash out in places, and I don't want to.  I don't know what it is to make decisions, confident they are right.

Favorite Music YouTube playlists/Favorite Songs of 2023/New Top 50 Love Songs

 Hi, all,

It's near the end of 2023 and one of my favorite accomplishments this year was to re-make my classic rock playlists in YouTube, in fact, I plan to change my Spotify playlists to match these in the new year as a new project.  They've changed since I initially announced them, though there are not any more changes planned at this time (they tend to show up unexpected when I browse my music library, which I will need to again since I'm likely changing computers after Christmas, I couldn't write a story last night in Word because my keyboard's many problems took me out of the mood).  I plan to do 1980, 1981 and 1992 sometime next year, and maybe 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021, those are harder since some songs aren't available on streaming and some of the smaller years rely on more from less albums due to not having almost-unlimited access to music.  Anyway, here are my playlists, 1960s, 1975, 1977, 1989, 2019, 2022 and 2023, showing also my favorite songs of 2023.

1960s:
1.)    She Loves You-The Beatles
2.)    Rock and Roll Music (Live at Budokan)-The Beatles
3.)    She’s a Woman (Live at Budokan)-The Beatles
4.)    Crossroads-Cream
5.)    Down on the Corner-Creedence Clearwater Revival
6.)    Day Tripper-The Beatles
7.)    Yellow Submarine-The Beatles
8.)    Godzilla and Nagoya-Akira Ifukube
9.)    I Wanna Be Your Man-The Beatles
10.)    Honky Tonk Woman-The Rolling Stones
11.)    Jumpin’ Jack Flash-The Rolling Stones
12.)    And Your Bird Can Sing-The Beatles
13.)    For No One-The Beatles
14.)    Rain-The Beatles
15.)    Back in the USSR-The Beatles
16.)    Revolution-The Beatles
17.)    While My Guitar Gently Weeps-The Beatles
18.)    Helter Skelter-The Beatles
19.)    Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Maui)-Jimi Hendrix
20.)    In My Life-The Beatles
21.)    Ticket to Ride-The Beatles
22.)    You Shook Me-Jeff Beck
23.)    Johnny B. Goode-Johnny Winter
24.)    Foxy Lady (Maui)-Jimi Hendrix
25.)    Fire (Hollywood Bowl)-Jimi Hendrix
26.)    You Shook Me-Led Zeppelin
27.)    How Many More Times-Led Zeppelin
28.)    Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You-Led Zeppelin
29.)    Hey Joe-Robert Plant
30.)    Whole Lotta Love-Led Zeppelin
31.)    Midnight Rambler-The Rolling Stones
32.)    Happenings Ten Years Time Ago-The Yardbirds
33.)    Drinking Muddy Water-The Yardbirds
34.)    SWLABR-Cream
35.)    My Generation-The Who
36.)    Fortunate Son-Creedence Clearwater Revival
37.)    I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (Trident Recording Session)-The Beatles
38.)    The Long and Winding Road-The Beatles
39.)    Don’t Let Me Down-The Beatles
40.)    Dig A Pony-The Beatles
41.)    Octopus’s Garden-The Beatles
42.)    I Want You (She’s So Heavy)-The Beatles
43.)    Here Comes The Sun-The Beatles
44.)    Little Miss Strange-Jimi Hendrix
45.)    Foxy Lady (Live)-Jimi Hendrix
46.)    Voodoo Child (Slight Return)/Sunshine of Your Love (Live)-Jimi Hendrix
47.)    Blue Suede Shoes-John Lennon

1975:

1.)    Saturday Night Special-Lynyrd Skynyrd
2.)    Railroad Song-Lynyrd Skynyrd
3.)    I’m a Country Boy-Lynyrd Skynyrd
4.)    Am I Losing-Lynyrd Skynyrd
5.)    Stormbringer (Live, Graz)-Deep Purple
6.)    Comin’ Home-Deep Purple
7.)    Gettin’ Tighter-Deep Purple
8.)    Love Child-Deep Purple
9.)    You Keep On Moving-Deep Purple
10.)    Lady Luck-Deep Purple
11.)    Wild Dogs-Tommy Bolin
12.)    Homeward Strut-Tommy Bolin/Deep Purple
13.)    Landslide-Fleetwood Mac
14.)    Rhiannon-Fleetwood Mac
15.)    Over My Head-Fleetwood Mac
16.)    Why (Live)-Fleetwood Mac
17.)    In My Time of Dying-Led Zeppelin
18.)    Ten Years Gone-Led Zeppelin
19.)    Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds-Elton John
20.)    Philadelphia Freedom-Elton John
21.)    Stand By Me-John Lennon
22.)    Godzilla Arrives-Akira Ifukube
23.)    Man on the Silver Mountain-Rainbow
24.)    Magic Man-Heart
25.)    Crazy On You-Heart
26.)    Anthem-Rush
27.)    Bastille Day-Rush
28.)    Walk This Way-Aerosmith
29.)    Baby, I Love Your Way-Peter Frampton
30.)    Show Me The Way-Peter Frampton
31.)    I Ain’t The One (Old Grey Whistle Test)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
32.)    I Got The Same Old Blues-Lynyrd Skynyrd
33.)    Every Mother’s Son-Lynyrd Skynyrd
34.)    Gimme Three Steps (Live in Cardiff)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
35.)    Hole in the Sky-Black Sabbath
36.)    Snowblind (Don Kirshner)-Black Sabbath
37.)    War Pigs (Don Kirshner)-Black Sabbath
38.)    Paranoid (Don Kirshner)-Black Sabbath
39.)    Santa Claus is Coming to Town-Bruce Springsteen
40.)    Free Bird (Live, Winterland)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
41.)    Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen
42.)    Sweet Home Alabama (Live in Cardiff)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
43.)    Free Bird (Old Grey Whistle Test)-Lynyrd Skynyrd


1977:

1.)    That Smell-Lynyrd Skynyrd
2.)    You Got That Right-Lynyrd Skynyrd
3.)    Let There Be Rock-AC/DC
4.)    Whole Lotta Rosie-AC/DC
5.)    Godzilla-Blue Oyster Cult
6.)    Golden Age of Leather-Blue Oyster Cult
7.)    Barracuda-Heart
8.)    Love Alive-Heart
9.)    Kick it Out-Heart
10.)    Stairway to Heaven (Live)-Heart
11.)    Don’t Stop-Fleetwood Mac
12.)    The Chain-Fleetwood Mac
13.)    Gold Dust Woman-Fleetwood Mac
14.)    Gold Dust Woman-Waylon Jennings
15.)    Rhiannon (Live)-Fleetwood Mac
16.)    Landslide (Live)-Fleetwood Mac
17.)    Over My Head (Live)-Fleetwood Mac
18.)    Gold Dust Woman (Live)-Fleetwood Mac
19.)    The Chain (Live)-Fleetwood Mac
20.)    Wild Thing (Live)-The Runaways
21.)    Wasted-The Runaways
22.)    Closer to the Heart-Rush
23.)    Crime of Passion-Rick Wakeman
24.)    Judas Iscariot-Rick Wakeman
25.)    Layla (Hammersmith Odeon)-Eric Clapton
26.)    We Will Rock You-Queen
27.)    We Are The Champions-Queen
28.)    Sheer Heart Attack-Queen
29.)    Mistreated (Live)-Rainbow
30.)    Catch the Rainbow (Live)-Rainbow
31.)    Long Live Rock N Roll (Live)-Rainbow
32.)    Sinner-Judas Priest
33.)    Diamonds and Rust-Judas Priest
34.)    Last Rose of Summer-Judas Priest
35.)    Starbreaker-Judas Priest
36.)    Dissident Aggressor-Judas Priest
37.)    Over the Hills and Far Away-Led Zeppelin
38.)    Ten Years Gone-Led Zeppelin
39.)    Achilles Last Stand-Led Zeppelin
40.)    Stairway to Heaven (Live)-Led Zeppelin
41.)    That Smell (Live)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
42.)    Ain’t No Good Life (Live)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
43.)    Free Bird (Live, Oakland)-Lynyrd Skynyrd
44.)    Dixie-Lynyrd Skynyrd

1989:

1.)    House of fire-Alice Cooper
2.)    Trash-Alice Cooper
3.)    Hell is Living Without You-Alice Cooper
4.)    Red Tide-Rush
5.)    Flying High Again-Ozzy Osbourne
6.)    Bloodbath in Paradise-Ozzy Osbourne
7.)    Shot in the Dark-Ozzy Osbourne
8.)    Suicide Solution-Ozzy Osbourne
9.)    Purple Haze-Ozzy Osbourne
10.)    Kitten’s Got Claws-Whitesnake
11.)    Cheap ‘N Nasty-Whitesnake
12.)    Judgment Day-Whitesnake
13.)    Fool for Your Loving-Whitesnake
14.)    What It Takes-Aerosmith
15.)    18 and Life-Skid Row
16.)    Led Clones-Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne
17.)    I Won’t Back Down-Tom Petty
18.)    Cheer Down-George Harrison
19.)    Whole Lotta Trouble-Stevie Nicks
20.)    Rockin’ in the free world-Neil Young
21.)    I’ll Be There for You-Bon Jovi
22.)    You Give Love A Bad Name-Bon Jovi
23.)    Wanted Dead or Alive-Bon Jovi
24.)    The Boys Are Back in Town-Bon Jovi
25.)    Hands All Over-Soundgarden
26.)    Gun-Soundgarden
27.)    Loud Love-Soundgarden
28.)    Negative Creep-Nirvana
29.)    5150-van Halen
30.)    Why Can’t This Be Love-van Halen
31.)    Heaven-Warrant
32.)    Love Song-Tesla
33.)    I Want It All-Queen
34.)    Yume no Naka e-Yuki Saito
35.)    Rock Candy-Lee Aaron
36.)    Valley of the Kings-Blue Murder
37.)    Let My People Go-Bloodgood
38.)    Top of the Mountain-Bloodgood
39.)    I Will Be Here-Steven Curtis Chapman

2019:
1.)    Joy Invincible-Switchfoot
2.)    Prodigal Soul-Switchfoot
3.)    The Strength to Let Go-Switchfoot
4.)    We’re Gonna Be All Right-Switchfoot
5.)    You’re the One I Want-Switchfoot
6.)    Victim of Love-Don Felder
7.)    American Rock and Roll-Don Felder
8.)    Limelight-Don Felder
9.)    Rock You-Don Felder
10.)    Shut Up and Kiss Me-Whitesnake
11.)    Well I Never-Whitesnake
12.)    After All-Whitesnake
13.)    Free Man-Sammy Hagar & The Circle
14.)    Roadhouse Blues-Sammy Hagar, Joe Bonamassa, Robby Krieger
15.)    Hotel California-Don Felder, Orianthi
16.)    The Storm-Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow
17.)    I Think Your Time’s Come-Billy Ray Cyrus, Don Von Tress
18.)    Chevys and Fords-Billy Ray Cyrus, Johnny McGuire
19.)    Don’t Call Me Angel-Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Lana del Rey
20.)    A Hand for Mrs. Claus-Idina Menzel, Ariana Grande
21.)    Nobody-Ariana Grande, Chaka Khan
22.)    Good As Hell-Lizzo, Ariana Grande
23.)    My heart belongs to daddy-Ariana Grande
24.)    No tears left to cry-Ariana Grande
25.)    Say Hello 2 Heaven-Miley Cyrus, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard
26.)    Mother’s Daughter-Miley Cyrus
27.)    The Most-Miley Cyrus
28.)    Black Dog-Miley Cyrus
29.)    Comfortably Numb-Miley Cyrus
30.)    Slide Away-Miley Cyrus
31.)    Elevator Girl-BabyMetal
32.)    DISTORTION-BabyMetal
33.)    Kagerou-BabyMetal
34.)    I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (Trident Recording Session)-The Beatles
35.)    The Thrill Is Gone-Jeff Goldblum, Miley Cyrus
36.)    The Key to Coexistence-Bear McCreary
37.)    Goodbye, Old Friend-Bear McCreary
38.)    Battle in Boston-Bear McCreary
39.)    King of the Monsters-Bear McCreary
40.)    Godzilla-Bear McCreary, Serj Tankian
41.)    Edge of Dawn-AmaLee
42.)    Blind Dogs (Artist’s Den)-Soundgarden
43.)    Fell On Black Days (Artist’s Den)-Soundgarden
44.)    Rusty Cage (Artist’s Den)-Soundgarden
45.)    4th of July (Artist’s Den)-Soundgarden
46.)    Outshined (Artist’s Den)-Soundgarden
47.)    Far Away Places-Toni Cornell
48.)    Beware of Darkness-Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile
49.)    If She Ever Leaves Me-The Highwomen
50.)    Crowded Table-The Highwomen
51.)    The Chain-The Highwomen
52.)    The Chain-Evanescence
53.)    I Want to Know What Love Is (Live)-Foreigner
54.)    Take What You Want-Post Malone, Ozzy Osbourne, Travis Scott
55.)    God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Rob Halford
56.)    Away in a Manger-Rob Halford
57.)    The First Noel-Rob Halford
58.)    Protected By The Light-Rob Halford


2022:
1.)    Crazy Angels-Carrie Underwood
2.)    Hate My Heart-Carrie Underwood
3.)    Poor Everybody Else-Carrie Underwood
4.)    Mama, I’m Coming Home-Carrie Underwood
5.)    Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love-Sammy Hagar and the Circle
6.)    Queen of the Reich-Geoff Tate
7.)    Naturally Wild-Ray Wylie Hubbard, Lzzy Hale, John 5
8.)    Burn-The Dead Daisies
9.)    Born to fly-The Dead Daisies
10.)    Heart of Glass-Miley Cyrus
11.)    The Climb-Miley Cyrus
12.)    Wrecking Ball X Nothing Compares 2 U-Miley Cyrus
13.)    WTf Do I Know-Miley Cyrus
14.)    Nothing Breaks Like A Heart-Miley Cyrus
15.)    Fly on the Wall-Miley Cyrus
16.)    Dub Love-Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt
17.)    The Story (SNL)-Brandi Carlile
18.)    Space Oddity/Creep-Brandi Carlile
19.)    Alone-Brandi Carlile and Lucius
20.)    Space Oddity (in the Canyon Haze)-Brandi Carlile
21.)    Her Body is Bible-FLETCHER
22.)    Becky’s So Hot-FLETCHER
23.)    I Hate Myself for Loving You (Live)-Joan Jett
24.)    Patient Number 9-Ozzy Osbourne, Jeff Beck
25.)    Immortal-Ozzy Osbourne, Mike McCready
26.)    Parasite-Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde
27.)    Mr. Darkness-Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde
28.)    Degradation Rules-Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi
29.)    Darkside Blues-Ozzy Osbourne
30.)    Live and Let Die (Live 5/16/1991)-Guns N Roses
31.)    I Was Only Joking/Patience (Live 5/16/1991)-Guns N Roses
32.)    Don’t Cry (Live 5/16/1991)-Guns N Roses
33.)    Mama Kin (Live 6/6/1991)-Guns N Roses, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry
34.)    Train Kept A-Rollin’ (Live 6/6/1991)-Guns N Roses, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry
35.)    Photograph-Def Leppard, Dave Grohl, Miley Cyrus
36.)    YYZ, Overture, Working Man-Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Dave Grohl, Chad Smith
37.)    Every Beginning Ends-Noah Cyrus, Ben Gibbard
38.)    Noah (Stand Still)-Noah Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus
39.)    Set for Life-Noah Cyrus
40.)    Separate Ways-Eva Under Fire
41.)    Kindness-Steven Curtis Chapman
42.)    A Desperate Benediction (Peace on Earth)-Steven Curtis Chapman
43.)    Foxy Lady (1969)-Jimi Hendrix
44.)    Voodoo Child (Slight Return)/Sunshine of Your Love (Live)-Jimi Hendrix
45.)    Scrappy Little Christmas Tree-Switchfoot
46.)    O Come, O Come Emmanuel-Lindsey Stirling
47.)    Mary, Did You Know-CJ Grimmark
48.)    Silent Night-CJ Grimmark
49.)    Where’m I Gonna Live (Caribbean version)-Billy Ray Cyrus
50.)    Silent Night-Billy Ray Cyrus, FIREROSE
51.)    Midnight Sky-Miley Cyrus, FLETCHER

2023 favorites:
1.)    Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)-Daughtry feat. Lzzy Hale
2.)    I Finally Do-Erika Harlacher
3.)    Peace Like a River-Dionne Warwick, Dolly Parton
4.)    This is Why-Paramore
5.)    The News-Paramore
6.)    Die for You-The Weeknd, Ariana Grande
7.)    Way Back to the Bone (Live 5/16/1992)-Trapeze
8.)    Coast to Coast (Live 5/16/1992)-Trapeze
9.)    Midnight Flyer (Live 5/16/1992)-Trapeze
10.)    Sorry (Not Sorry) (Rock version)-Demi Lovato, Slash
11.)    FLOWERS-Miley Cyrus
12.)    Thousand Miles-Miley Cyrus, Brandi Carlile
13.)    Used to be Young-Miley Cyrus
14.)    She Don’t Know (Live)-Carrie Underwood
15.)    Crazy Angels (Live)-Carrie Underwood
16.)    Poor Everybody Else (Live)-Carrie Underwood
17.)    Welcome to the Jungle-Carrie Underwood
18.)    Out of that Truck-Carrie Underwood
19.)    Give Her That-Carrie Underwood
20.)    Take Me Out-Carrie Underwood
21.)    Ace of Spades-Carrie Underwood
22.)    Man on the Silver Mountain-Paul Gilbert
23.)    Lady Evil-Paul Gilbert
24.)    All-Star Jam-Metal Hall of fame All-Stars
25.)    Divine Attack Shingeki-BabyMetal
26.)    METALI!-BabyMetal, Tom Morello
27.)    Peaches-Jack Black
28.)    Need Each Other-Revolution Saints
29.)    Set Yourself Free-Revolution Saints
30.)    Meant to live (Our version)-Switchfoot
31.)    Heart Wants What It Wants-Bebe Rexha
32.)    Seasons-Bebe Rexha, Dolly Parton
33.)    Peaches (Bowsette Version)-Cristina Vee
34.)    This is the Song-Duff McKagan
35.)    Hope-Duff McKagan, Slash
36.)    Dear Insecurity-Brandy Clark, Brandi Carlile
37.)    Closer to fine-Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile
38.)    Rest-Foo Fighters
39.)    Torn Into Lies-Joel Hoekstra’s 13
40.)    Adrift-Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson
41.)    If Only-Laura Bailey, Janina Gavankar
42.)    If Only (Reprise)-Janina Gavankar
43.)    Adrift (Clever version)-Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson
44.)    Challenging a Queen (Clever version)-Laura Bailey, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
45.)    It’s Time (Compassionate version)-Laura Bailey, Janina Gavankar, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Ashley Johnson
46.)    Adrift (Reprise)-Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson
47.)    Perhaps-Guns N Roses
48.)    Simple Man-Firefall
49.)    I Put A Spell On You (Hu Tao version)-Brianna Knickerbocker
50.)    Total Eclipse of the Heart-Doro, Rob Halford
51.)    Now and Then-The Beatles
52.)    Godzilla -1.0 Godzilla Suite I-Naoki Sato
53.)    Godzilla -1.0 Godzilla Suite II-Naoki Sato
54.)    Fire (Hollywood Bowl)-Jimi Hendrix
55.)    Bring Me To Life (Demo Remastered)-Evanescence
56.)    Depth Charge-Leopold Ross
57.)    Critters-Leopold Ross
58.)    Christmas isn’t Christmas-Bon Jovi
59.)    Carol of the Bells-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
60.)    O Holy Night/O Come All Ye Faithful-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
61.)    World on fire-Dolly Parton
62.)    Magic Man-Dolly Parton, Ann Wilson, Howard Leese
63.)    What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done for You-Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, Waddy Watchel
64.)    Purple Rain-Dolly Parton
65.)    Baby, I Love Your Way-Dolly Parton, Peter Frampton
66.)    I Hate Myself for Loving You-Dolly Parton, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
67.)    Wrecking Ball-Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus
68.)    I Can’t Get No Satisfaction-Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, P!nk
69.)    Heart of Glass-Dolly Parton, Debbie Harry
70.)    Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me-Dolly Parton, Elton John
71.)    Bygones-Dolly Parton, Rob Halford, John 5, Nikki Sixx
72.)    Let it Be-Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton, Mick Fleetwood
73.)    Free Bird-Dolly Parton, Ronnie van Zant, Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle

This was a good year, some above are performances only available on YouTube, but it lays a good blueprint for what I liked overall this year.  I don't plan on making one for next year yet, but we'll see.  I also updated my top 50 love songs and will update it in the new year, as well.  I plan to spend December mostly resting from what feels like years of nonstop work and only picking up as much as I can handle in the new year so I can spend more time in peace and fun and less stressing out about everything.

Top 50 Love Songs:
1.)    Heart of Gold-Neil Young*
2.)    Heart of Gold (Live 1972)-Neil Young*
3.)    Heart of Gold-Johnny Cash
4.)    Malibu-Miley Cyrus
5.)    Jet City Woman-Queensryche
6.)    Never Thought I’d fall in Love with you-Billy Ray Cyrus
7.)    Whole Lotta Love-Sammy Hagar and the Circle
8.)    Whole Lotta Love-Led Zeppelin
9.)    Something-The Beatles
10.)    Whole Lotta Love-Zepparella
11.)    Something (Live)-Paul McCartney
12.)    Jealous Guy-John Lennon
13.)    Bmblb-Casey Lee Williams
14.)    I finally do-Erika Harlacher
15.)    Without You (Southern Rain)-Billy Ray Cyrus
16.)    Love Reign Down-Black Label Society
17.)    Open Arms-Journey
18.)    Faithfully-Journey
19.)    Sweet Child O’Mine-Guns N Roses
20.)    Is This Love-Whitesnake
21.)    Treasure-Casey Lee Williams
22.)    If She Ever Leaves Me-The Highwomen
23.)    Whole Lotta Love-Santana and Chris Cornell
24.)    Love Song-Tesla
25.)    She’s Not Him-Miley Cyrus
26.)    Her Body is Bible-FLETCHER
27.)    Good-Hearted Woman-Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson
28.)    Becky’s So Hot-FLETCHER
29.)    Yesterday-The Beatles
30.)    Oh! Darling-The Beatles
31.)    Six O’Clock-Ringo Starr
32.)    Photograph-Ringo Starr
33.)    Stand By Me-John Lennon
34.)    Fat Bottomed Girls-Queen
35.)    Heaven-Warrant
36.)    Why Can’t This Be Love-Sammy Hagar
37.)    Mama, I’m Coming Home-Ozzy Osbourne
38.)    BWU-Tegan and Sara
39.)    U-Turn-Tegan and Sara
40.)    Just Like Starting Over-John Lennon
41.)    I’m Yours-Ringo Starr
42.)    Woman-John Lennon
43.)    Worthy (Bmblb Part II)-Casey Lee Williams
44.)    Anastasia-Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
45.)    Give My Heart To You-Billy Ray Cyrus
46.)    See You On The Other Side-Ozzy Osbourne
47.)    Mama I’m Coming Home-Carrie Underwood*
48.)    I’ll Be There for you-Bon Jovi
49.)    Crimson and Clover-Joan Jett, Dave Grohl, Miley Cyrus
50.)    After All-Whitesnake
*-Not on Spotify