Finding My Way, Painting Portraits, Feeling Alive & More... (My 10 Favorite P.O.D. Songs) Nov 14 '05    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line The 10 P.O.D. songs most dear to my heart. Whoa - 1/2 of the songs are from Satellite. Hear that, rock fans? That's a sign of a truly essential album! Wanna know something? 'Favorite' is a tricky word. Really. It can be misleading. It can be unbelievably confusing. Over the past several months, I've been careful to use that word less and less. I mean, why should I feel obligated to choose something over the other? Why can't I just shrug and say I like all colors (...except pukey-olive-green and violently bright pink), all cars (...that run and have good A/C), and all candy bars (...save Almond Joy - that junk is disgusting)? Ah, the questions that will likely always go unanswered... But as I sit here now, in jittery anticipation for rock band P.O.D.'s long-awaited EP to hit stores tomorrow, I want to reflect a bit on what they've already accomplished over the past 13 years. Even though I change my mind frequently on a lot of 'favorites', I feel pretty comfortable about how I stand with the absolute best of P.O.D. They've been serving up the goods in my stereo for a few years now - and even though dozens of their songs are powerful and do a fine job of standing out to me, a good chunk of them surpass the others. 10. "Sleeping Awake" - from the soundtrack of The Matrix: Reloaded. Everything about this song screamed of P.O.D.'s return. This was the band's first single sans former guitarist Marcos Curiel. Not only did it announce the addition of former Living Sacrifice guitarist Jason Truby, it announced that the band certainly hadn't lost their touch. As vocalist Sonny Sandoval's resonant cries of "Can anybody see me? / Can anybody hear me? / Can anybody feel me? / IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?!" hover over an explosive, hard-rocking backdrop, I find myself spellbound everytime. This fresh, innovative song is nothing short of amazing (and it makes for the most adorable-sounding cellphone ringtone ever - really). 9. "Run" - from Snuff The Punk. Let's take a trip down P.O.D. memory lane, shall we? "Run" may not have a perfectly polished groove, or an instantly memorable chorus - but big things come in small packages, because this crushing song simply delivers. It's powerful. It's striking. Sonny's cries are chilling and mindblowing. It deals with tough times...not being able to find a way out. Under ordinary circumstances, I'd probably laugh out loud at lyrics like "Nobody listens, so who can I tell? / My life is just a living hell", but it's so evident that Sonny is feeling every word he says - no listener can deny the authentic anguish of it all. 8. "Lie Down" - from The Fundamental Elements of Southtown. This song is wonderful on so many levels. Its structure is incredible. Fiercely rapped verses lead up to a lovely scream-fest of a chorus. Traa Daniels brings a heavy bassline that melts beautifully into Noah 'Wuv' Bernardo's crashing drums. Hearing this song live, in person was a trip-and-a-freaking-half. Energy is oozing out this song's every pore, making this is a sure fan favorite. 7. "Portrait" - from Satellite. Upon reflection, it's easy to say that this track is probably the heaviest one that P.O.D.'s massively successful 2001 release, Satellite, offered. The tempo is unpredictable - Marcos Curiel's wildly thrashing guitars are a true highlight. Sonny's coarse screams are plentiful in the passionate verses, only to give way to a mind-bogglingly GORGEOUS, melodic chorus: "Some people call You father / maybe you could set me free / These people hate each other / but You've always been there for me." This song is an absolute gem. 6. "Thinking About Forever" - from Satellite. Quite the contrast of the aforementioned song, "Thinking About Forever" is a peaceful, contemplative ballad that probably would have had huge success, were it a single. Sonny is spilling out his heart here, no surprise, but the topic is a most difficult one for him: the loss of his mother to leukemia in 1992. Over Latin-tinged guitar, he wonders: "Do I make you proud? / Mama, can you see me now? / Whatever's good in me, it's because you showed me how / To take love by the hand." A tearjerker of a song it certainly is, and the raw emotion only makes it all the more beautiful. 5. "Alive" - from Satellite. This is arguably P.O.D.'s biggest hit to date. The reasons are immediately obvious: the lyrics have a universal appeal and can apply to countless situations ("Everyday is a new day / I'm thankful for every breath I take"), the soaring chorus is untouchable, and the top-notch guitar work ebbs and flows like no other. From the zesty aggro-CRRRRUNCH of the opening riff to the more passive moments of this mega-hit, "Alive" is fantastic. [sentimental cheese time] When I'm feeling crummy, I crank this song up and I'm instantly reminded of all the little things that I should be grateful for. [/sentimental cheese time] 4. "The Messenjah" - from Satellite. This song is so, so very perfect. Its haunting, slow introduction flows effortlessly into a super-loud flurry of guitars within a matter of seconds. Nothing seems too choppy, nothing seems forced or predictable - everything works to P.O.D.'s advantage. The highlights are difficult to pick out, that's for sure, but the lyrics are hard-hitting to say the least: "This I pledge, and I'll take it to my death / I'll make my life down for You and die over again / I and I am not ashamed of the Most High / even if I die tonight, if I die tonight!" 3. "Southtown" - from The Fundamental Elements of Southtown. This is a defiantly-screamed, aggressive anthem for P.O.D. fans. It showcases precisely what P.O.D. does best: combine aggressive vocal work with aggressive guitar work, speedy drumming and heavy bass...all while not eliminating melody the slightest bit. Granted, the fun, in-your-face lyrics may not be the most beautiful, heartfelt stuff P.O.D. has ever done - but, by no means does that prevent "Southtown" from being one of P.O.D.'s finest works to date. It's hooky, it's heavy, it's intense, and it singlehandedly put P.O.D. on the map, catching the attention of millions of hard rock lovers worldwide. 2. "Anything Right" - from Satellite. The obvious reason why I adore this song so much? It features a guest vocal appearance from Christian Lindskog of Blindside. This song opened a whole new musical dimension for me, back when I first heard it in the summer of 2002. Through this song I discovered Blindside - and countless obsessive, high-pitched shrieks would soon follow. Onto the song's sound, now -- it starts off with peaceful, soothing violins, only to spontaneously burst into a chuggy, high-voltage mix of THUDDING guitars. Sonny and Christian's dualing screams are mind-blowing. All of the lyrics are top-notch and I relate to them so much that it's scary, but I must say I'm most partial to Sonny's sarcastic cries of "In your mind, I'm just blind / you're right all of the time / If I think for myself, I guess I'm way out of line / I'm not who you are, I'm so sorry!" I feel that this is one of the most underrated P.O.D. songs ever, so I'm here insisting that it's, well, flawless...and deserves all the possible credit in the known universe. :) ...and Sheila's very favorite P.O.D. song issss: 1. "Find My Way" - from Payable on Death. Where to begin? Where on earth should I even begin? Okay. So this song is superior to all other P.O.D. songs for reasons that I can't even put into understandable words. I'd probably just be spouting gibberish for a few full minutes if I even attempted to explain. Realistically speaking, though, "Find My Way" is a masterpiece in every way. Not only does it have a great groove and Wuv's most impressive drumming, I'd say, without the slightest glimpse of hesitation, that it serves as the best showcase of Mr. Sonny Sandoval's wonderful voice. If this song offers even the slightest glimpse of what we'll see Sonny doing on the band's forthcoming record Testify, other hard-rock and metal frontmen better watch their backs. The pleading, sorrowful, confused atmosphere of the verses is lovely, but the booming chorus is what really injects the song with life: "I've still got a ways to go / So far away from me / Inside, I always knew / I'd find my way to you!" I feel that the lyrics can be just as easily interpreted in a romantic way as in a religious way, so 10 points for universal lyrical appeal. A hard-rocking, emotional tune, this one. :) I've ranted and raved (mostly raved), and I'm finally finished. Yup, yup - these are the 10 P.O.D. songs that 'get' to me the most. This just may have equally difficult as thinking up my 10 favorite Blindside songs. These songs are the ones that I could listen to for hours on end. The ones I'll still be listening to a decade from now. If you ask me, I say that all the hard-rock-goodness isn't stopping here. Nope, it's not over yet. In fact, I feel comfortable saying quite the opposite: At this point in P.O.D.'s career, I predict that only more beautiful songs will follow. And I, for one, cannot wait.

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