Local publication The Orlando Weekly ran an article asking various people in the community to list a couple of their favorite songs from Orlando artists and bands during the past 15 years. They capped it at 50 songs. This would have been my contribution if I had been asked. It's my pick of fifteen memorable songs and a brief list of honorable mentions. Use my list in addition to their list as well as your own. I've included a podcast of each song I have listed below. Let's dig in! In no particular order:

1. "Take Me To The Circus"-- Doris Delay (2005)
It is impossible to choose just one song. Doris Delay have so many hits it's a wonder they are not world famous. Songs like "Plants and Animals" "Devil Song" "Woolworth's" "Chocolate Garden" "Brilliant Boy" "We Got Caught In A Cloud" and "A Perfect 9" are near genius works on any level. There has not been an another band anywhere near as brilliant as Doris Delay was in this town. There should be a statue made of Dominic Humerickhouse in his honor.

2. "City Girl" -- Pistis (1999)
A beloved song matched equally by their popularity and sincerity. Josh and Rence are truly two of the nicest musicians this city has ever known. In some circles this song united a scene.

3. "Bodman Bunny" -- Courtneys (2006)
Such a simple dynamic pop song. The two Courtneys gals may look and act like cutie indie gals but their razor wire sharp wit and a tendency towards the macabre made this violent song just one of the cutest things ever. You can still see girls dancing in their underwear to this on Youtube while drinking Crystal Light.

4. "Coffin" -- For Ex-Lovers Only (2006)
It took four years for this gem of a song to come out. Portland label Magic Marker had the sense to get this song (and band) out to the world earlier this year. For Ex-Lovers Only, named appropriately after a Black Tambourine song, quietly crafted quite a few pop masterpieces totally under the radar of everyone. These guys held back only by their modesty.

5. "Hatelust" -- Gray Before My Eyes (1996)
Sure there's the recorded version of this song on their first 7" release but to experience this song in the flesh was a beast of it's own. It's hardcore fury was only fueled by it's silent rage.

6. "We're Not Doing Anything Musically" -- Star Phase 23 (1997)
You may not have heard of this space rock band that quietly came and left us in the late 1990's. Making use of space and everything in between they shoegazed through their credo "We're Not Doing Anything Musically" as though they believed it. Hardly. Definitely the cities best shoegaze band.

7. "Meatballs and Spaghetti" -- Awesome and the Ass Kickers (2008)
Just one listen and you know you will remember this the rest of your life. That's what makes a catchy song catchy. I'm ready. Are you?

8. "Jerry Lucas" -- New Roman Times (2000-2001)
A song about the Hall of Fame basketball player Jerry Lucas who is also famous for memorizing the first 500 pages of the Manhattan phone book in the early 1970's.

9. "Any Other Way" -- Saving Twilight (2005)
Geannie Friedman will always be considered the indie pop queen of Orlando. Just about every underground musician has played in one incarnation of her band over the years. This song she traded in her usual acoustic "quiet" sound for something totally noisy. Truly her finest moment.

10. "Kiss Without The Makeup" -- The Hot Six (2001)
I shouldn't count my one of my old bands but I will. This wasn't our best song by a long shot but this is the song people still talk about, well, because it don't make no sense at all. This will always be my favorite Phil Longo band.

11. "Girls In School" -- Shit Eagle (2006)
From the bedroom of Shawn Lloyd came this scorcher of a tune that's punk, noise and for some reason sped up too fast. On purpose.

12. "Rock City Rebel" -- The Fashion (2005)
This song is religion. It's a fist pumping feverish anthem delivered with a wink and nod. Johnny Neverland was onto something. All the early recordings were golden - even if they didn't use real drums.

13. "Switchblade" -- Jeanie and the Tits (2007)
This girl punk quartet wrote a song about themselves based upon the movie Switchblade Sisters. They considered themselves bad ass in a town of few (if any) all-girl bands. No tuff guys allowed and they'll fight you if you don't agree.

14. "Whenever You Want" -- Rad Kids (2006) **
Of all of Derek Duncan's bandsI liked Rad Kids the best. That moniker served more or less served as an outlet for him to record some poppy songs that his punk rock bands (Fashion Fashion and the Image Boys, Derek Lyn Plastic) couldn't. "Whenever You Want" and "Give It Up" were paired together on their one and only 7" and were chock full catchy California-style pop perfection. You can call it punky pop or poppy punk. Either way these two songs are winners.

15. "Scorpio Jaguar" -- Fantasie (2004)
No Orlando list is complete without Fred Mullins, Jenny Hathaway and Johnny Wells. Fantasie went to the extremes in style, sound, and performance. It's a romp in the back seat with the devil. You aren't getting away. Not that you'd want to. They've got their finger on you.

Honorable Mentions:
"Something Real" -- The Four Shames
"Just For Today" -- The Chicago Bears *
"Laser Ray" -- The Elks
"Red Shoes" -- Brad Leo and the Administration
"We Agreed No Leader" -- Florida Arson Project
"Back To You" -- One Minute Revolution
"Bad Motherfucker" -- Slippery Slopes
"The Emperor" -- Mumpsy
"Become a Rockstar...Guy" -- Happy Valley
"Titanium Balls" -- Gut Ruckus
"1989" -- Sound The Alarm
The Harp Project and Franco had standout songs but I could not locate my copies to remember the titles.

Covers worthy of mention:
"Part of Growing Up" (The Tammys) -- Garbo's Daughter (2009) ***
"Pump It Up" (Elvis Costello) -- Fashion Dive
"Where Have All the Good Times Gone?" (The Kinks) -- The Bang Bang Bang Society

I made a quick no-frills podcast of the thirteen songs plus one honorable mention for download. It's one big file. Nothing fancy. It is available here. If it doesn't work check back tomorrow. I am having trouble uploading.

* included as bonus track at the very end.
** is not included on podcast but you can hear it on their Myspace.
*** watch it here.