Call me Casey Kasem, if you will.

I feel that if you want to get to know someone, you can get pretty far by listening to the music they like. For me, it speaks volumes when a person doesn't have any chispa, or passion, for music. In the last two years, music has been a tool for evil, in the form of bumping techno or 80s music coming from my neighbor's house at all hours, and for good. The good outweighs, of course. Volunteers share music and share the experience. I taught kids songwriting and dancing, and the music brought us together. You want to make connections with people when you don't speak their language so well, quite la pena and belt out some popular spanish song, and they won't let you forget about it for the next two years.

I can get lost in music, and one of the perks of going back to the US, is that I will have even more music to absorb. But these are the top 26 songs that will always and forever be ingrained in my mind as Peace Corps, 2010-12. I should note, however, that these are the ones that I actually like. The list of songs that I had beaten into my brain against my will over and over again (this includes Bob Seger's Down on Mainstreet, UB40s Red, Red Wine, and a random Techno song called "its my life") will have to wait until I can manage to listen to them again and rank my hatred.

So let us begin.

Calle 13. Anyone who knows me, knows that I've been a total nerd for Calle 13 since 2008.
Due to their sheer, amazing talent, they top the list en general. But since this is a list of top songs, not top groups, I’ve picked the most fitting 4 tracks. But they will always win... hands down.

1 La Perla. Part of my “Buenos Dias El Cocalito” playlist, along with several songs on this list, got me through my time in Ahuachapan. Every morning….

2  La Jirafa. Ditto. Also, great video.

3  Latinoamerica. Just. Amazing. While romanticized, sometimes you need a romanticized version of your world. Perfect.

4 La Vuelta al Mundo.  If I were to get a “tatuaje de calle 13” it would be from this song.
si quieres cambio verdadero, pues, camina distinto. Yet, I already have a tattoo I'm not crazy about, entonces, that probably won't happen. Probably. Maybe.

This makes the list most especially because it’s all about trading your boring life for a life of love, sand, uncertainty and vagando around the world, following your heart. If you don’t speak Spanish, you’re missing out, tragically.  This seems like just the right place to switch gears. I’ll hesitantly leave 13^th street for #5 en adelante.

5 Blood. The Middle East. I listened to this song (along with Miike Snow's Animal, which didn't quite make the list) over and over and over during the flights to El Salvador. I cannot listen to it without thinking about how that felt. Literally flying into the unknown, with 25 dollars in my pocket, and knowing there was no going back. Sounds pretty sentimental, and while I don’t get sentimental about it now, this song touches the heartstrings, a little.

6  El y Ella. Ricardo Arjona. Personally, I really don't care for Ricardo Arjona… and even this song is so cheesy. It only makes the list because this song is my first two months in El Salvador, in Istepeque Spanish classes.  Besides, what would a girl love better at the start of her PC life than a song about a gringo and a latina falling in love against all odds? Yeah, know better now. Horrid song, worse idea.

Not every song feels like a snuggie. I aprovechar’ed aplenty the fact that my community members don’t speak english, to vent my frustration through music. That'd be the next 2 songs.

7 F**k You. Cee Lo. Again, on the “good morning El Cocalito” playlist. Not coming to my meeting? Talking smack behind my back? Well… let me passive aggressively put this song you can't understand on at a medium volume every morning… TAKE THAT.

8  99 Problems, Jay-Z. I had at least 99. At least. 

9 Bold as Love Jimmi Hendrix.  Just around my 1.5 year mark, Jeremy French sent me a 2 disc care package. One called “rebirth” for when I’m up, and one called, morbidly enough, “suicide” for when I just need to do a little wallowing. This one is a gem of an upper.

10 Yes we Can, Pt 1. Lee Dorsey. This is just a good funky, song. Some lessons those bichos could definitely write down.

11 Cuando me Enamoro. Enrique Iglesias y Juan Luis Guerra. I know it’s from a telenovela, but what a sweet song. I can’t hear it without thinking of my camp kids at Lago Coatepeque. The best.

12  Corazon sin Cara. Prince Royce. If you’re going to listen to “bachata-esque” music, you can’t go wrong with Royce. He's way better than Aventura. I'll say it. Even though the message, which is very much like Bruno Mars’ “Just the way you are,” is ridiculous, it totally works. Awee, sweet.

13 No Me Doy por Vencido. Luis Fonsi. A song about never giving up. In Spanish. Cheesy goodness. When the chorus comes, you can’t help but pump your fist to the sky. Also, sang this all the time on the guitar with my kiddos. Good memories.

14  Thank You. Sly and the Family Stone. Because sometimes you gotta dance it out, alone in your room.

15  Middle Distance Runner. Sea Wolf.  Moody and sweet, but sweet in a backhanded way. Makes me take a realistic look into the future at my re-entry into the dating world. Pfft. Men.

16  Safe Travels. Peter and the Wolf. Announced the unofficial PCES Danny Sanny song, way back when we all lived in Istepeque.

17 45-46 was my number. Toots and the Maytals. Another JFrench reborn special.

18 Santa Monica. Everclear. Recently remembered that I’ve harbored a love for Everclear ever since I was a tween, and I’m glad I did. Art Alexakis, my fellow Oregonian, has no idea how well this song fits the Salvo life. Need to get out of your head? Leave your site, go to the beach, and get sucked out by that crazy Salvadoran riptide. Done and done.

19 Mariposa Tracionera. Mana. This song makes me crack up, and blush. This song goes on the list for Dr. Curly, PhD.  Gotta ride the tide, man.

20 Malanina. Havana Mambo. It’s a little goofy, but as a gringa chick in ES, you gotta put up with a lot of machista b.s. Sometimes you just have to own it.

21  I Gotta Feeling. Black Eyed Peas. Not a BEP fan by any means, but COED/RH 2010-12 had the last best swearing party. This was the song. Put it on, we’ll bring the house down.

22 The Greatest Sum. The Avett Brothers. Almost any Avett Brothers song could apply to this list, especially if I had written it in my first year. Pretty sure they made it on my Cocalito Hammock Recommendation list. As it is, the Avetts need to make an appearance, and this song is the best representative.

23 Old Before YourTime. Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs. I would be very mistaken to leave Ray off any list of mine. Jolene almost took the list, but this song is so beautiful, and just hits the spot.

24 Alejate de Mi. Camilla. As my BFF Milena says, They’re so ugly, but their songs are so pretty. 

It’s kind of true, and while it’s pure latin pop, that’s alright by me.

25 Single Ladies. Beyonce. Best Swearing in pre-party ever. Mr. Kennedy and I TORE THE ALAMO UP. :)

26 Sloop John B. The Beach Boys. Because sometimes all you need to do to get through those rough patches is harmonize to the line “let me go home.”

Here I leave you with a bonus # 27. Gotta bring it full circle.