Friday, 31 July 2009

• What's your favorite drinking song?

  Everyone knows that the proper mixture of the right music matched with the right drink makes for an incredible night of drinking. Music is often a pretty huge factor in our decisions of where to drink and with whom: no matter how cool that club may be, none of us wants to pay a $20 door charge just to listen to T-Pain all night. For many of us, the choice of what we're drinking depends on the music we're listening to. If we're in a quiet mood, we'll probably slowly drink something strong like a glass of scotch or maybe even a bottle of wine. Do you really think the music you listen to over a bottle of Chianti is the same music you'll want to hear when ripping shots of Southern Comfort and lime? I shudder at the thought.
  
  

  
  

  Just read Beowulf or any Irish folktale: drunk people love singing.
  

  
  Here are some of my favorite drinking songs, along with the best drink pairing:    
  
  

  1. Shots
  
  "Hot Soft Light" -- The Hold Steady
  

  
  

  
  

  
  There are few rushes better than knocking back a Jagerbomb while blasting this tune by the Hold Steady. Hell, it goes well with almost any kind of wild drinking. A song about wild drug addictions and blacked-out adventures that end up in a court room, this song is the perfect track to kick off your night.
  
  

  2. Beer
  
  "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" -- The Pogues
  
  
  

  
  As soon as this song kicks in, you know you're open to a night of bootin' and rallyin'. It's an accordion-filled romp of drunken Irish gibberish with an infectiously good-natured feel. Listening to this song gets me ready for some ice-cold brews--and also, strangely enough, for hunting something with my bare hands.
  
  

  3. Cocktails
  
  "Sultans of Swing" -- Dire Straits
  
  
  

  
  Let's be fair: this song is perfect for any occasion, from partying to weddings to divorces to berit. There's something totally bad ass about Mark Knopfler OBE singing a track about how cool he and his friends are while kicking out some of the nastiest pseudo-Flamenco riffs in the history of rock and/or roll--tremolo picking plus sixteenth notes equals total badass. I listen to this song with almost any drink, but most often I blast it when pregaming with a gin-and-tonic or a rum-and-Red Bull. Just saying.
  
  

  4. The Last Drink of the Night
  
  "Ol' 55" -- Tom Waits
  
  
  

  
  Disclaimer: This song is best utilized when everyone present is familiar with it. It's a good song to mellow out to, when you and a bunch of your friends are back in the apartment with the lights turned as low as possible because anything higher is unbearably bright. By the time the chorus kicks in, you'll find yourself belting it out, drink in hand. Just hope the room isn't spinning too much while you sing!
  
  Just an afterthought: despite everything I've just said, the best music to drink to is obviously early Bruce Springsteen music. Is there anything more fun than screaming yourself hoarse to "Born to Run" or "Thunder Road?" Yeah. I didn't think so.
  
  Those are my picks, Mancouch. What about you? What's your favorite song to drink to?
  

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