Diane Birch Shares Stories Behind Her Favorite Songs

Diane Birch is today's guest blogger for AOL Radio, sharing her favorite songs, a gamut of '70s and '80s classics, among other decades. With a recent debut album, 2009's 'Bible Belt,' the singer-songwriter showed us she can tackle soulful blues, heartfelt gospel, Motown stompers and folk rock. The Joni Mitchell look-alike reveals a song list full self-reflection -- praising the piano melodies of Elton John, funk disco of Prince, and even a track by America's favorite fab four. Here are Birch's favorite songs!

It's really difficult to narrow down my favorite songs of all time, especially since I go through many phases and moods. But these ones never fail to put a smile on my face or a genuine tear in my eye. Every one of these songs has been at the forefront of certain situations or experiences I've had, so when I hear them they always take me back to some place -- whether it's a happy one or a sad one.

10) Prince: 'I Wanna Be Your Lover'

This track makes me feel like it's summer no matter when it is. Those drums, those short, repetitive funky guitar chords and Prince's frantic passion makes this track impossible to listen to without making the 'funk face'

9) Peter Murphy: 'A Strange Kind of Love'

Peter Murphy has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard and his songwriting has always impressed me greatly. This track in particular really showcases the haunting depth of his voice and the beautiful melodic aspect of his songs. I used to listen to this song over and over again in my room on headphones and would press them into my ears so hard until they ached. I just wanted to be as close to the song as possible.

Listen to a pre-radio show of 'A Strange Kind of Love,' featuring Trent Reznor, Jeordie White, Peter Murphy and Atticus Ross.

8) Fleetwood Mac: 'Dreams'

This whole album is perfect to me, but this song in particular stands out and really shoots me straight in the heart. I love everything about it; and Stevie Nicks' voice is like velvet.

7) Elton John: 'Tiny Dancer'

No matter where I am or what I'm doing, this track puts a smile on my face and in a way, encapsulates in one song the brilliance of Elton John's melodies and Bernie Taupin's lyrics. I think that of all their songs this one has the most affect on me.

6) Crosby, Stills Nash & Young: 'Helpless'

This song always makes me happy and sad at the same time. Neil Young's voice is so pure and beautiful and the melody is just really magical. The slow movement, restraint and build of this track never ceases to move me.

Listen to Neil Young sing 'Helpless' Live:

5) The Beatles: 'Yesterday'

When I was a kid I had no knowledge of pop music since my parents only listened to classical, opera and church hymns. My Dad, however, had this one CD of orchestral arrangements of more contemporary songs. 'Yesterday' happened to be on there, and little did I know it was a Beatles' song until years later. It was always one of my favorites and I used to ask my parents to play it over and over.

Listen to a 1965 live version of 'Yesterday':

4) Michael McDonald: 'I Keep Forgettin''

To me, this is one of the funkiest songs ever. In particular, the opening keyboard line has to be one of my favorite riffs of all time.

3) Pink Floyd: 'Us and Them'

My first boyfriend was obsessed with Pink Floyd and it no doubt rubbed off on me. We used to drive around in my Honda Civic blasting this track for hours. The guy turned out to be a real asshole but the song is still one of my favorites -- and thankfully I've freed myself from the nostalgia so I can listen to it in peace.

2) Hall & Oates: 'She's Gone'

I started listening to this song, in particular, when I first signed my record deal. It really had everything I wanted to hear in a song. Mystery, the build, the release, it's just so bittersweet!

1) The Cure: 'Charlotte Sometimes'

Every time I've ever listened to this song it's been on repeat. For whatever reason, I connected to this song, in particular, when I was a rebellious teenager...the loneliness and sadness I heard in the song, in a way, comforted those feelings in me.