Recently my daughter shared a tweet (or TikTok, or whatever social platform she was on) by somebody who wrote something along the lines of “what’s the greatest song ever recorded and why is it ‘Upside Down‘ by Jack Johnson?”
I get where that person is coming from. That song, from the soundtrack of 2006’s animated Curious George, is a blast of pure happiness. I could listen to it every day.
But I’ve never listened to anything else by Johnson, with the exception of a brief dalliance with his debut album, 2001’s Brushfire Fairytales.
I’d probably like his music if I gave it a chance. I’ve liked everything of his that I’ve heard so far. He’s been called his generation’s Jimmy Buffett, and lord knows I love me some Jimmy Buffett (there’s a guy who probably should have landed a song on my top 25).
So I was very intrigued to hear ‘If I Had Eyes,’ a Jack Johnson song Madison chose for her list of all-time favorites.
Having now heard it, I can’t say I get why this is favorite song material on its face, so I’m curious to hear the back story from Madison. I like the vibe, as I expected I would, but it’s no ‘Upside Down!’
If I had eyes in the back of my head
I would have told you that
You looked good
As I walked away
If you could have tried to trust the hand that fed
You would’ve never been hungry
But you never really be
The more of this or less of this or is there any difference
Or are we just holding onto the things we don’t have anymore
[Chorus]
Sometimes time doesn’t heal
No, not at all
Just stand still
While we fall
In or out of love again I doubt I’m going to win you back
When you got eyes like that
It won’t let me in
Always looking out
[Backing vocals and claps]
[Verse 2]
Lot of people spend their time just floating
We were victims together but lonely
You got hungry eyes that just can’t look forward
Can’t give them enough but we just can’t start over
Building with bent nails we’re
Falling but holding, I don’t want to take up anymore of your time
Time, time, time
[Chorus]
Sometimes time doesn’t heal
No, not at all
Just stand still
While we fall
In or out of love again I doubt I’m going to win you back
When you got eyes like that
It won’t let me in
Always looking out
[Outro]
Always looking
Always looking
Always looking
Always looking out
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m not sure I have much of a back story for this one 😂 I just love Jack Johnson. I’ve listened to a ton by him and knew I wanted him to be on my list. “Upside Down” is pure joy and definitely one of my favorites. I love “Mudfootball,” “Bubble Toes,” “Better Together,” “Banana Pancakes,” and “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing.” As well as a bunch of others. But this one has always stuck around as a song I add from him on multiple playlists and it works for any mood I’m in. So it’s an all time fave. It’s also one of my very favorite starts to a song. So I guess there’s my defense :p
The song isn’t posted 😦 but I know this one quite well. JJ is a family staple and one of my three go to artists when I need music to center and relax me heading into or home from a stressful day. I had “Banana Pancakes” on an iteration of my list, but I’m not sure if it made the final 35. 🙂 It should have.
Meanwhile, I wish Daniel (one of my other two go to artists, along with James Taylor) would chime in one of these days. He managed to stretch the rules to find a way to get two Buffet songs in his top 25. 😜
I too count myself as a fan of Jack Johnson, though probably not as much as Maddie. All of the songs Maddie mentioned are winners. For pure mellow exuberance along the lines of “Upside Down” I would probably pick “Banana Pancakes.” So, for your listening pleasure: