Fountain Music: The Songs that Inspire You (and Me)

Posted // 2012-09-01 - So, your friends always scoff at your record collection and your proclivities for turning to gaudy radio -- well, it’s time to show them up and “Inspire a Generation” by choosing music to be played at a water fountain at The Gateway.

In celebration of the London 2012 Olympics -- albeit a few weeks late -- The Gateway Shopping Center is asking shoppers to help pick a playlist to be synchronized with the Olympic Fountain there.

Curious curators can submit songs for consideration until Sept. 17 on The Gateway’s Facebook page. Post song titles, artist and a short description of why the song inspires them.

Some examples thus far include:

Bubby Lords picked “Look at Me Now” by Chris Brown -- and gave no explanation why.

Robyn Greco Connelly suggested “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day: “It seems so fitting as a reminder of those who won and maybe fell just a bit short. It inspires me everytime I hear it. Makes me realize that with perseverance even if I am walking alone ... and some of my dreams may fall around me, I should keep going moving towards my next dream. Many of the athletes that square was built for walked alone ... moved forward and kept going. And those that built that fountain, that brick walkway ... had a dream, a desire, a passion many thought would fail, but it succeeded ... and stands as a reminder dreams can and do come true.”

After Sept. 17, the list will be narrowed down and posted for voting, which ends Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. The new songbook will be announced the following week.

“The fountain will be choreographed to the final songs. Those who suggested the winning songs will have their names engraved on bricks to be laid around the Olympic Fountain and awarded with a $100 gift card,” a press release stated.

Here are a couple of my own submissions:

Jimmy Buffett’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise”

This is the song that really got me into hamburgers, and for that I am forever grateful. Paradises aren’t so bad, either.

Beck’s “Debra”

This song inspires me to strip tease on a pool table while singing along when I’m really good and wasted on tequila.

Dope’s “Die MF Die”

I listen to this song everyday that I’m at the office. It’s how I’m so muthafuckin' hard!

What are the songs that inspire you?