ABBA, "Happy New Year"

Happy New Year! It's now 2010! But no matter what year it is, let's count our blessings that the '70s will always be around--and they continue to give us fantastic videos like this one:

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, "Spanish Flea"

Does it get any cooler than Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass? If it does, I don't want to know about it.

Cake, "No Phone"

In Portland, when it rains, it drizzles--because it always rains here. But when it snows, it pours. And when it pours, phone calls pour into local TV newsrooms with all sorts of information and questions--many of which are filtered through a person like me.

And so I sit here with a beer, happy to temporarily escape the phones, and grateful that I'm home and warm (and not still stuck in the snow!)

Janet Jackson, "Escapade"

The latchkey kid that I was, I had some extra time in the mornings before school to watch MTV. Most mornings were spent watching many of the same videos as the day before, including The B-52s' "Roam" and Tom Petty's "Free Fallin.'" Also in the mix was this gem from Janet Jackson. It makes no more sense now than it did when I was 10, but at least it brings back some good memories:

Badfinger, "Day After Day"

Do you ever feel like songs are following you on the radio? Like, no matter which station you switch it to, it's always on? For some reason, Badfinger's "Day After Day" has been that one for me lately. I suppose I hear other songs pretty frequently--unfortunately, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" comes to mind--but I don't mind listening to this one over and over:

Asia, "Heat Of The Moment"

I can appreciate that Asia chooses to illustrate the "heat of the moment" by showing things that are on fire or that are heat-related, including simply the word 'heat.' ¡Muy caliente!

Alvin & The Chipmunks, "Don't Be Late"

In case you haven't heard this song three million times already this season, here you go. Also, now seeing the video, Alvin seems very angry in his request for a hula hoop.

Star Wars Cast, Christmas Special

This is best enjoyed when one is drinking a barrel of heavily-spiked egg nog around a table full of wookies. Happy Holidays!

Karen Carpenter, Christmas Medley

Have a Merry Christmas--especially if it involves playing a flute inside a dryer, singing in an oven, or being hypnotized by a menacing elf-man hiding in a closet!

Mark Gormley, "Little Wings"

This guy is one hot mess. And the intro into the video, where the dissolve turns into a bird: Money. The production value of this is second only to the musical quality... and that's really saying something.

Also, let it be known that Justin's List won't have a few postings for a few days. We're recovering from a near-lethal overdose of Eggnog and Mannheim Steamroller. So thanks for your patience as we make a last-ditch effort to avoid getting a lump of coal in our stocking this year...

Dan Hill, "Can't We Try"

"Can't we try? Please look into my creepy eyes and give me one more chance! The lady in the red dress with the enormous wristlet gave me a glowing intro--and didn't you hear my awesome keyboarding? Ah, come on, girl..."

Alphaville, "Forever Young"

Sit back and let the blue diamond take you places that only Alphaville can: Into a very dramatic and musical futuristic pre-Renaissance child pit that eventually leads to a much brighter diamond.

Thanks to this suggestion from a good college friend, Brody, who works at my childhood classic rock station, 101 the Fox in Kansas City, and whose job allows him to listen to awesome music all day long. With a job like that, you're bound to stay... forever young.

"King Herod's Song" From "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Jesus has a birthday coming up in a few weeks, so I thought a great gift would be one of the stranger scenes in an already odd-and-awesomely-'70s musical about the Birthday Boy himself:

Muse, "Uprising"

Things always seem manageable until giant evil teddy bears start ravaging your city...

Coldplay, "Don't Panic"

This song definitely makes my list of Best First Songs On First Albums. I also have to give the guys credit for releasing their first album, Parachutes, on my 21st birthday.

The Ramblers, "I'm Only A Poor Little Sparrow"

Here's what happens when the children in "Another Brick In the Wall, Part II" eat their meat, get some pudding... then chase it with a couple of dozen Nitrazepam:

Vanilla Ice, "Ice Ice Baby"

Temps have reached their lowest levels in Portland in more than a decade, and the rest of the nation is also experiencing a winter wonderland--so I couldn't think of a more fitting song. Like Vanilla Ice himself, it's dangerously cool right now, so be careful out there. And try to warm yourself up by thinking of taking a stroll on A1A...Beach Front Avenue, rolling in your 5.0, with the "girlies on standby waiting just to say hi," and the like.

P.S. I've met Vanilla Ice and he's a very nice man.

Mr. President, "Coco Jamboo"

Not sure what's happening here, but the guy who shirtlessly starts off the video seems to get a shirt on by the end. Conversely, the lady eventually loses her shirt. Does "Coco Jamboo" translate into another language as "Shirtless Paradox"?

It's worth noting that this group hit it big after Macarena's success.

David Hasselhoff, "Crazy For You"

I love that much of the music in this song is the same as the Village People's "YMCA," and I can also appreciate that he's driving on curvy roads without wearing a helmet and that he's riding a roller coaster operated entirely by a wiener dog. It's those kinds of decisions that eventually lead to shirtlessly eating cheeseburgers while lying down on the floor.

Jet, "Last Chance"

As far as first albums/first songs go, this is a good one. There are a lot of songs on Jet's debut album that overshadow "Last Chance." But not many modern bands put out an album with a great first song like this:

Deee-Lite, "Groove Is In The Heart"

Every one of these outfits is a winner.

Arthur Conley, "Sweet Soul Music"

If you think this song sounds a lot like the music of Sam Cooke, that's because it is. But he recorded it after Sam passed away, and even though you can't replace someone like him--at least imitation is the sincerest form of flattery:

The Wurzels, "I Am A Cider Drinker"

These guys look like they have been deeply, deeply drinking their cider. And now that you've seen this video, you'll know how to prepare yourself if someone claiming to be a Wurzel offers you some cider.

Poison, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"

This one is dedicated to tonight's Civil War--the annual meeting between the football teams of the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. It's always a heated rivalry, but this year it's bigger than ever because the winner goes to the Rose Bowl. And thus, every rose has its thorn.

As Poison shows us here, nothing comes easy--especially if it involves crawling on a stage in your Guess jeans or playing guitar in a sleeveless shirt:

Meat Loaf, "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad"

Meat Loaf, like his delicious dinner namesake, is best enjoyed while watching "Fight Club" with a side of mashed potatoes.

Tony Orlando & Dawn, "Knock Three Times"

Knock four times if you're being held against your will in the attic.

Oh, and don't mind the scrolling words at the bottom of the screen; they go away pretty quickly so that you may go back to enjoying Tony Orlando's chest hair.