Dr. William E. Cullinan, Dean of the College of Health Sciences
Spring 2015 course: Gross anatomy for biomedical sciences
“Viva La Vida” by Coldplay
I have always been fascinated by the merger of rock/pop songs with heavy orchestration, dating back to the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.” But this song takes it to a completely new level, with multiple interwoven submelodies and a very cool medieval sounding bell punctuating the chorus. Good stuff!
“There She Goes” by The La’s
Classic, melodic guitar riff, haunting vocal echoes. I danced to this tune with my very young daughter (but now MU alumus) just before she went to bed every night between ages 1-3, so I have to go with this one.
“You Get What You Give” by New Radicals
Impossible not to feel good while hearing this upbeat song. I often play this one at high volume for clinical human anatomy class of 250 nervous students (held in fall semester) just prior to big exams. Seems to put everyone in a better mood and reduce anxiety.
Dr. Erik Janners, Director of Music
Spring 2015 courses: The History of Italian Music; conducting the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensembles
Currently I am listening to “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis. The cool jazz movement was started in the 1950s by Miles Davis, and this album is the epitome of that musical style – very mellow, relaxed yet intense.
I also listen to Gordon Goodwin a lot – a current big band arranger. His album “Swingin’ for the Fences” is a great example of his work.
Finally, I am very interested in the music of Radiohead right now, as a number of their songs have been arranged for jazz band and we are playing a couple here at Marquette. Currently the Marquette jazz bands are working on “Paranoid Android.”
Dr. Deirdre Dempsey, Associate Professor of Theology
Spring 2015 courses: Intro to Theology and an independent study in Syriac
Laura Nyro’s 1968 album, “Eli and the Thirteenth Confession” and her 1969 album, “New York Tendaberry”
I was introduced to Nyro’s music in the mid ’70s, when I was in college; listening to those albums reminds me of the friends who introduced me to new music! Nyro wrote lots of songs that were performed by other musicians—Three Dog Night, the Fifth Dimension, Peter, Paul and Mary—but I like listening to her perform her own material. Great musician, great voice!
“Arms of a Woman” by Amos Lee
Great voice, great guitar, really sad song. I first heard Amos Lee when I went to a concert at the Warner Theatre in DC with one of my sisters, one of my nieces and my sister-in-law. Listening to this song reminds me of that very pleasant evening!
“God Will” by Lyle Lovett
I like the theology: “So who says he’ll forgive you, and says that he’ll miss you, and dream of your sweet memory? God does, but I don’t, God will, but I won’t, and that’s the difference between God and me.”
Mr. Nick Oschman, Graduate Student Instructor
Spring 2015 courses: Theory of Ethics
“The Mariner’s Revenge Song” by the Decemberists
In general, the Decemberists are great at storytelling and transporting the listener to another time and place. Add revenge, pirates and a human eating whale, and I can’t get enough of this song.
“Magic” by B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo
I’m a big Weezer fan, and the simplicity, fun and cocky swagger of this song is just infectious.
“In a Sweater Poorly Knit” by MewithoutYou
Between the literary allusions, Aaron Weiss’s haunting mournful voice, and the clever wordplay, this song is just about perfect.
Dr. Pamela Hill Nettleton, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies
Spring 2015 courses: Magazine Capstone, Media In Society
“My Indian Red” by Danny Barker and “My Indian Red” by Dr. John
The song is about the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans. My friend, Eric Overmyer, one of the executive producers of HBO’s brilliant series “Treme,” set in post-Katrina New Orleans, introduced me to both of these versions. Eric is passionate about New Orleans, and I feel like I’m back there when I hear these.
The unaccompanied Bach cello suites played by Steven Isserlis
Steven is a friend, earned a Grammy nomination for this, and has spectacular hair. What more could you want from a cellist?
“Electric Guitar” by Chris Rea
A blues slide guitarist with a subterranean voice and wicked smart lyrics.
Dr. Gerry Canavan, Assistant Professor of English
Spring 2015 courses: Cultural Preservation, Magic and Literature, Video Game Culture
“Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen
I grew up in Jersey, so worshipping Springsteen is in my DNA. I could fill up the whole list with Springsteen songs, and I’m very tempted to, but I’ll limit myself to just this one, which is the very best song in the world. Seek out the “Live from Winterland” version from 1978 if you want a great live version, or check out the “Wing for Wheels” version from the Main Point show in 1975 for its strange but great first draft. If I ever get a time machine, that’s where I’m headed.
“This Time Tomorrow” by The Kinks
Perhaps it won’t shock you that a 35-year-old man whose favorite song is 40 years old also likes a 45-year-old song. But I love British Invasion pop, love The Kinks in particular, and love this Kinks song the very best of all. Bonus points for its tremendous appearance in the opening scene of Wes Anderson’s “The Darjeeling Limited,” which I think about every time I hear it.
“Woke Up New” by The Mountain Goats
I figured I needed to have *something* in here from the last decade, even if this from 2006 is coming in just under the wire. I got my Ph.D from Duke in Durham, North Carolina, where John Darnielle is a local legend. For a year or so in the heart of grad school, I’d say I listened to almost nothing else. Just like a Counting Crows song will immediately zap me back to high school and They Might Be Giants whisk me back to college, listening to The Mountain Goats always brings me right back to Durham. I’d love that part of it, even if I didn’t love their songs.
President Lovell’s Running Playlist
“Mr. Brightside” by The Killers
“Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand
“Ceremony” by New Order
“Somebody Told Me” by The Killers
“Bizarre Love Triangle” by New Order
“Out of My League” by the Fitz & The Tantrums
I enjoy these songs when I run because they are up-tempo and help increase my running cadence. In addition, I have been a fan of mainstream alternative music since the ’80s.