We are loud people in a loud culture.Our movies are loud, our commercials are loud–our clothes, our conversations. We can’t help the fact that we go to eleven.

It’s no wonder that our music, which is best played loud, is often self-referential in this context. So toin it up, here come the loud songs:

“Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud),” James Brown.

“Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothin’,” Living Colour.

“Man, It’s So Loud In Here,” They Might Be Giants.

“The Loudest Sound,” The Cure.

“I Love It Loud,” KISS.

“Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound,” The Mars Volta.

“Everything Louder Than Everything Else,” Meatloaf.

“Live Fast Die Loud,” Beasto Blanco.

So what songs did I miss? Speak up loud and clear. I’m listening.