Ms.Tseng

“During COVID 19, you will see me walking my dog, enjoying a cup of hot tea with my dog lying beside me, painting paint by numbers, listening to music, and video chatting with friends.”

Song #1 Title: Take Me Home, Country Roads Artist: Composer: Bill Banoff, Taffy Nivert, John Denver Date(s): Jan 1971 Genre: Country Why does this song make your list? This one is for my dad. He used to have this on a record player (does any of you still know what a record player is?) and sang along to it. Back then, I couldn’t speak English so I couldn’t understand the meaning of the lyrics, only the melody stuck with me. Later, this song appeared in one of my favorite Studio Ghibli Film.

Song #2 Title Hotel California Artist: Eagles Composer: Don Felder, Don Henley, Glenn Frey Date(s): Feb. 22, 1976 Genre: Soft Rock Why does this song make your list? This one is for my father yet again. Could you tell who influences my music taste by now? He owned this record and played on the record player a lot when I was a child. I would try to mimic him and the song without knowing really the meaning of the lyrics.

Song #3 Title I Want it That Way Artist: Backstreet Boys Composer: Andreas Carlsson, Max Martin Date(s): April 12, 1999 Genre: Pop Why does this song make your list? This one is for my mom. She was into Backstreet Boys at the time and we bought the CD. She would put in the CD player in our living room so that everyone can listen to it. (again, how many of you know what a CD player is?)

Song #4 Title Fly me to the Moon Artist: Kaye Ballard Composer: Bart Howard Date(s): 1954 Genre: Jazz Why does this song make your list? Believe it or not, this is the first Jazz piece that I remembered listening to. I played in Delta Youth Orchestra back in high school and they had jazzy theme for one of the concerts. This was included in the program and I couldn’t help but sing along with the singer.

Song #5 Title 君が好きだと叫びたい Artist BAAD Composer: Date(s)December 1st 1991 Genre J-Pop Why does this song make your list? This one is for my sister. She and I love a very famous and classic anime of all time “Slam Dunk”. This is its opening theme song. We started play basketball and joined the basketball team after watching this anime series.

Ms. Sparrow-Ng

During COVID19 you can find me walking or running with my dogs (2 meters away from anyone) doing yoga, on FaceTime with friends, and playing a tune on my saxophone at 7 pm every night.

Song #1 Title Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows Artist Leslie Gore Composer Marvin Hamlish/Howard Liebling Date(s) 1963 - Lesile Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts Genre Pop Why does this song make your list?

This one is for Mom. Her playing the while my brother and I sang along was a big part of our childhood. This was one of our favorites. Until the recent Uber commercial, I had never heard the original.

Song #2 Title Artist Charles Composer /Stuart Gorell Date(s) composed 1930, 1960 Album - The Genius Hits the Road Genre Soul/Jazz Why does this song make your list?

This one is for Dad. A person of strong musical opinions, he believes the music for this song should have been burned after recorded it (now you know where I get it from). This was the music for the father/daughter dance at my wedding.

Song #3 Title Closer to the Heart Artist Rush Composer Alex Lifeson/Geddy Lee Date(s) 1977 Album - A Farewell to Kings Genre Rock Why does this song make your list?

This one is for my brother. As a drummer, Neil Peart (RIP) is one of his heros, and he loves the band Rush. Of course because we were siblings, I naturally disliked whatever he loved. As I grew as a musician I couldn't deny the genius of this great Canadian band, and was converted.

Song #4 Title Water Boy Artist Don Shirley Trio Composer traditional African-American Spiritual Date(s) 1961 Album - Don Shirley Trio Genre Jazz/Classical crossover Why does this song make your list?

Long before the movie Green Book, we listened to the music of Don Shirley. It was probably the album we listened to most at home. When I played this music for my band teacher, he said it if this was what I was listening to as a young child, it explained a lot about me as a musician.

Song #5 Title Joy to the World Artist Three Dog Night Composer Hoyt Axton Date(s) 1970 Album - Naturally Genre Rock Why does this song make your list?

This is the Sparrow Family anthem!