Machinehead, Bush - Uh, duh. Actually, the lyrics are quite nifty, and a heck of a lot deeper than people might give the title credit for. I think it really captures the position Gippal is in internally; he wants to believe the things he has lived through haven't affected him, he wants to pretend he doesn't feel as betrayed as he does, and he's struggled so much with his heritage that he's had to find his own way to get through -- in this case, 'bleeding through a tourniquet smile' and living with his 'machinehead' -- which is both good and bad. As for the Al Bhed/Machine Faction, and the technological battle of progression they now wage inside Spira? For our love, for our fear, for our rise against the years and years and years...
Dangerous Game, Three Doors Down - His feelings on his in-game relationship with the Crimson Squad. Is obviously heavily indicative of the Den of Woe and Mi'ihen Incidents, as well as the political turmoil. Still, despite the sound of bullets flying through the air and the duty he knows he has to fulfill, he keeps almost begging them to remember their friendship. It is quite eerily reminiscent of our poor members of the Squad, and is almost a perfect play-by-play.
Big Machine, The Goo Goo Dolls - Again, sort of a no-brainer to give to Gippal. He even has that Johnny Rezeznik feel to him. <3 This sums up his outlook on life, the general feel to him, and has quite a bit of his possible feelings toward the Crimson Squad. Few characters in the X-series can strike the balance of ecstasy, loyalty, joy, seriousness, and sorrow that this song so accurately portrays. It happens to fit my favorite ship as well...and okay, I'm amused that the chorus involves the protagonist being blind.
Times Like These, Foo Fighters - Gippal, pure and simple. His feelings of progress, new beginnings, burning brightness, and the general Gippal attitude of "let's get over it and move on". Also contains a hint at a possible indecision he might have held for the two years between X and X-2: whether to attempt to contact the former Crimson Squad or stay in his sheltered niche, where at least he can "watch his own back" and he knows his own people.
The Best Things, Filter - This song was suggested to me by a friend, and I can see it quite easily fitting into Gippal's life at various points in time, particularly in more bitter, post-Squad moments. Several factors in his life held him back when he 'had a green light': being an Al Bhed yet yearning to become a Crusader; making it into the Crimson Squad tryouts, only to be attacked and almost killed in the Den of Woe; believing that despite this he was accepted to the Squad, only to be shot at; and certain that he'd at least have his friends, then discovering a rather rude (and possibly fatal) betrayal. It wouldn't be unusual that despite his smiling facade, he truly came to believe that the best things in life just may not be for him. Besides, it's quite a catchy rock song.
Tequila, The Champs - TE~QUI~LA! Okay, I just like the mental image of Gippal pouring tequila shots for everyone while singing along. Shut up. Logically, tequila is a famed Mexican drink known for the 'devil may care, throw your hair back and down the thing' attitude people tend to adopt while drinking it. Gippal is from the desert, the Al Bhed have been likened to Hispanic cultures because of this, and he already has the attitude down pat. Tequila is so his drink, and this is so his song. ;D