HIGH LIFE : Songs That Call Up Pleasant Memories

Be it a hard-drivin’ metal tune, a disco diversion, a schmaltzy ballad, a piece of pop rock fluff or a rap record, everyone has a favorite song--one that’s always on the lips or floating through the mind, bringing back pleasant memories.

Here are some responses to this week’s hot topic: “What’s your favorite song of all time?”

“ ‘Paradise City’ by Guns n’ Roses because it makes me feel good.”

--Greg Pinney, 17,

senior, Costa Mesa

“ ‘Make It Real’ by the Jets because it is our official 1988 summer leadership academy song and it will always remind me of this summer.”

Alice Ho, 15,

junior, Cypress

“ ‘Fallen Angel’ by Poison because it was a true story; it’s sentimental and realistic. I also like it because it has a good beat.”

Tammy Yang, 15,

junior, Cypress

“I have many, but ‘Lean on Me’ is special because it is Sheryl’s, my best friend, and my song.”

Keri Bogdanovich, 16,

junior, Cypress

“ ‘Great Balls of Fire’ by Jerry Lee Lewis.”

Rochelle Clark, 17,

senior, Dana Hills

“ ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ by U2.”

Chris Stevens, 17,

senior, Dana Hills

“ ‘Give a Little Love’ by Ziggy Marley.”

Caine Moss, 16,

senior, Dana Hills

“ ‘The End’ by the Doors.”

Richard Hartzell, 16,

senior, Dana Hills

“ ‘Sanitarium’ by Metallica and ‘Run to the Hills’ by Iron Maiden because they’re pure metal.”

--Jess Bair, 17,

senior, Edison

“ ‘A Funky Little Beat’ because when I met my friend, Rick Alvarez, 2 1/2 years ago, the song came out and we listened to the song when we went to Mexico. Also, Rick met Connie--the singer of ‘A Funky Little Beat’ and got her autograph in L.A.”

--Frank Vidales, 18,

senior, Edison

“ ‘The Banana Boat Song’ by Harry Belafonte because the lyrics are very interesting.”

--Julie Nitkin, 15,

junior, Edison

“ ‘Erotic City’ by Prince because of its sexy beat.”

--Amy Jensen, 15,

sophomore, Edison

“ ‘Do You Love Me’ by the Contours because Patrick Swayzee moved so good to it in the movie (‘Dirty Dancing’).”

--Suzanne Woodard, 17,

senior, Edison

“ ‘Bad’ by Michael Jackson because I like all his zippers and buttons.”

--Kelly Lewis, 14,

sophomore, Edison

“ ‘Parent’s Just Don’t Understand’ because all parents do the same thing.”

--Jeff Daniels, 16,

junior, Edison

“ ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin and ‘California Dreaming’ by the Mamas and Papas.” Brent Brague, 18,

senior, El Modena

“ ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ by Guns n’ Roses.”

Todd Sincock, 18,

senior, El Modena

“ ‘If You Leave’ by OMD.”

Shannon Vedomske, 15,

junior, El Toro

“ ‘Home Sweet Home’ by Motley Crue.”

Jennifer Bantle, 15,

junior, El Toro

“ ‘You Send Me’ by Sam Cooke.” Chris Wild, 16,

senior, Estancia

“ ‘Dead Man’s Party’ by Oingo Boingo.”

Brian Hudson, 16,

senior, Estancia

“ ‘A Girl Called Johnny’ by the Water Boys.”

Clayton Nelson, 17,

senior, Estancia

“ ‘The Banana Boat Song’ by Harry Belafonte.”

Laura Amrosell, 14,

freshman, Foothill

“ ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers or “Revolution” by the Beatles.”

Greg Amrosell, 15,

sophomore, Foothill

“ ‘Respect’ by Aretha Franklin.” Tara Suan, 15,

junior, Foothill

“ ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin.”

Robert Charton, 17,

senior, Foothill

“ ‘Fool in the Rain’ by Led Zeppelin or ‘Happy Birthday.’ ”

Hubert Lin, 17,

senior, Foothill

“ ‘Burning Up’ by Madonna.”

Curtis Kin, 17,

senior, Foothill

“ ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon.”

Joanne Lee, 16,

senior, Foothill

“ ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ by the Rolling Stones.”

Doug Silver, 17,

senior, Foothill

“ ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ by the Byrds.”

Anne Mary Ordway, 16,

junior, Foothill

“ ‘Rush Hour’ by Jane Wiedlin.

Read Johnson, 14,

freshman, Foothill

“ ‘Do You Love Me’ by the Contours.”

Karen Corwin, 13,

freshman, Foothill

“ ‘New Sensation’ by INXS.”

MaryBeth Brooks,

14, freshman,

Foothill

“ ‘The Gambler’ by Kenny Rogers.”

Tom Mize,

16, junior,

Fountain Valley

“ ‘Ant Music’ by Adam Ant because the sound reminds me of an old pirate tune.”

Chelsea Heneise,

15, sophomore,

Fountain Valley

“ ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ by Def Leppard.”

Valerie Smith, 15,

sophomore, Fountain Valley

“I don’t know, I have a lot of favorite songs. To name a few: “Wildflower” and “Sanctuary” by the Cult and “Mister Brownstone” by Guns n’ Roses.”

Nate Koval, 16,

junior, Fountain Valley

“ ‘Sylvia’ on the ‘Dirty Dancing’ soundtrack because it’s fun to sing.”

Stacey Campbell, 17,

senior, Fountain Valley

“ ‘My Heart’s So Blue’ by Erasure because it relates to a very special relationship.”

Melissa Martin, 15,

sophomore, Fountain Valley

“ ‘Blue Monday’ by New Order. When it was released in 1983, it was before its time. It is a great song overall.”

Deron Pease, 17,

senior, Fullerton

“ ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ by the Smiths because it’s a nice, mellow song that calms me down.”

Amy Carey, 13,

freshman, Fullerton

“ ‘I Still Believe’ by Michael W. Smith.”

John Doney, 14,

sophomore, Heritage

“ ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ by Rick Astley.”

David Berryman, 14,

sophomore, Heritage

“ ‘Dear Mr. Jesus’ because it (child abuse) happens so often in the real world.”

--Jacqui Zimmerman, 14,

freshman, Huntington Beach

“ ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees because it’s a jungle out there and I love guys that wear bell bottoms.”

--Stephanie Sundahl, 15,

sophomore, Huntington Beach

“ ‘Make It Real’ by the Jets. It reminds me of all our friends at the academy and it makes me happy inside. It also reminds me of the fishing trip.”

Jean Chen, 16,

junior, Kennedy

“ ‘Back in Black’ by ACDC because it gets me amped for dawn patrol. You know, surfing early in the morning.”

Tristram Miller, 17,

senior, Laguna Beach

Next Week’s Hot Topic: What’s the best book or play you’ve read since you’ve been in high school?

Hot Topic responses gathered by Chris Bergerud, Joanna Brooks, Tanya Diaz, Kristin Hardeman, Kathy Hills, Lynda Kim, Jason Loeb, Chi Mai, Stephanie McCurdy, Hai Pham, Dawn Stone, Tricia Wertner.