Monday, September 21, 2015

Youtube Culture: The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

Re-posted by Nicholas Stix

To those who will say, “Whaddaya expect? It’s Youtube,” I say, it could just as well be CNN, or a tenured professor.

The critic who compiled the list and created the excerpt upload doesn’t even know the difference between a song and a performance. For instance, he lists “Hurt” as a Johnny Cash song, but it isn’t. It’s by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

For my money, Cash’s video of “Hurt” is one of the most powerful music videos I’ve ever seen. However, a video is neither a song, nor a performance thereof, in the conventional sense. A song is great, based on its music and lyrics. A record or a performance is based on the quality of the song, its arrangement, the performances by the vocalists and musicians, and the sound quality. You can’t judge a song by the quality of a video! Then, all you’d need would be a great video guy.

However, a performance can open one’s ears to the greatness of a song: Frank Sinatra has accomplished this feat many times. Kern & Fields’ “The Way You Look Tonight,” as sung by Fred Astaire in Swing Time (1936), was already a standard, but when a slightly past his prime Sinatra sung it in 1962, he teased out possibilities in the song that had been beyond Astaire’s abilities.

However, in other cases, a great arrangement and performance can make a less-than-great song seem more than it is. The perfect case of this is Barth Howard’s schmalzfest, “Fly Me to the Moon.” In 1964, Sinatra sang “Moon,” backed by the Count Basie Orchestra, and a swinging arrangement by a young Quincy Jones that may be the greatest single set of charts ever written. Jones transformed the song.
 

I have greatly enjoyed listening to probably over 100 of the performances listed below, but the notion that these are the 500 greatest songs ever is obscene. I’d consider perhaps 17, which I’ve noted with an asterisk, for inclusion on such a list.

At least ten years ago, I wrote a list of my 100 favorite songs. Long ago, I mislaid it, but I can recall most of the top ten, to which I recently added Irving Berlin’s “Remember.”

“Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” (Kern & Hammerstein)
“Soliloquoy” (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
“‘Ol Man River” (Kern & Hammerstein)
“It Might as Well be Spring” (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
“Christmas Song” (Wells & Torme)
“Look to the Rainbow” (Lane & Harburg)
“Remember” (Berlin)
“Lush Life” (Strayhorn)

The top four songs on my list all have lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Hammerstein died of stomach cancer on August 23, 1960, and proved irreplaceable. Likewise for Richard Rodgers, George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, Lorenz Hart and Johnny Mercer.

Rock and roll, which began five or so years before Hammerstein’s death, ushered in the age of the amateur, which progressed to rap/hip-hop, which apparently has no bottom.
 


 

Harry Engel
6 months ago

Bornahorn’s 500 greatest songs (really enjoyed your list by the way):
Ranking, Song, Artist, Year

1 , Hey Jude, The Beatles, 1968

2, Stairway To Heaven, Led Zeppelin, 1971

3, Imagine, John Lennon, 1971

4, Jailhouse Rock, Elvis Presley, 1957

5, Like A Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan, 1965

6, Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen, 1975

7, What’s Going On?, Marvin Gaye, 1971

8, I Can’t Get No Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones , 1968

9, Love Me Tender, Elvis Presley, 1956

10, Billie Jean, Michael Jackson, 1983

11, Yesterday, The Beatles, 1965

12, Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry, 1958

13, Let It Be, The Beatles, 1970

14, Hound Dog, Elvis Presley, 1956

15 , Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys, 1966

16, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel, 1970

17, Purple Haze, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1967

18, American Pie, Don McLean, 1972*

19 , Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana, 1991

20, What’d I Say, Ray Charles, 1959

21, Born To Run, Bruce Springsteen, 1975

22, Stayin Alive, The Bee Gees, 1977

23 , Rock Around The Clock, Bill Haley & His Comets, 1954

24, Respect, Aretha Franklin, 1967*

25, A Day In The Life, The Beatles, 1967

26, Unchained Melody, The Righteous Brothers, 1965

27, Every Breath You Take, The Police, 1983

28, Light My Fire, The Doors, 1967

29, God Only Knows, The Beach Boys, 1966

30 , Oh, Pretty Woman, Roy Orbison, 1964

31, Piano Man, Billy Joel, 1973

32, Sympathy For The Devil, The Rolling Stones, 1968*

33, A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke, 1964

34, With Or Without You, U2, 1987

35, I Walk The Line, Johnny Cash, 1956

36, All Along The Watchtower, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1968

37, The Sound Of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel, 1965

38, Be My Baby, The Ronettes, 1963

39, Gimme Shelter, The Rolling Stones, 1969

40, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, The Platters, 1958

41, Beat It, Michael Jackson, 1982

42, Proud Mary, Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1969

43, Reach Out I’ll Be There, The Four Tops, 1966

44, Layla, Derek & The Dominoes, 1971

45 , I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Marvin Gaye, 1968*

46, I Get Around, The Beach Boys, 1964

47, All I Have To Do Is Dream, The Everly Brothers, 1958

48, Tutti Frutti, Little Richard, 1955

49, Hotel California, The Eagles, 1976

50 , Where Did Our Love Go?, The Supremes, 1964

51, Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay, Otis Redding, 1968*

52 , When Doves Cry, Prince, 1985

53, Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1970*

54, I Want To Hold Your Hand, The Beatles, 1963

55, Everybody’s Talkin, Harry Nilsson, 1969

56, Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), Eurythmics, 1983

57, Kashmir, Led Zeppelin, 1975

58, The Boxer, Simon & Garfunkel, 1969

59, London Calling, The Clash, 1979

60, Everyday, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, 1957

61, No Woman, No Cry, Bob Marley & The Wailers, 1974

62, Don’t Stop Belevin’, Journey, 1980

63, You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin’, The Righteous Brothers, 1964

64, Anarchy In the U.K., The Sex Pistols, 1976

65, Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd, 1980

66, Shout, The Isley Brothers, 1959

67, Your Song, Elton John, 1970

68, Lose Yourself, Eminem, 2002

69, Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley, 1955

70, You Really Got Me, The Kinks, 1964

71, Crazy, Patsy Cline, 1961*

72, Stand By Me, Ben E. King, 1961

73, Won’t Get Fooled Again, The Who, 1971

74, Blowin In The Wind, Bob Dylan, 1963

75, Superstition, Stevie Wonder, 1972

76, How Deep Is Your Love, The Bee Gees, 1977

77, Great Balls Of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1957

78, Mrs. Robinson, Simon & Garfunkel, 1968

79, Whole Lotta Love, Led Zeppelin, 1969

80, Let’s Stay Together, Al Green, 1972

81, Runaway, Del Shannon, 1961

82, Strawberry Fields Forever, The Beatles, 1967

83, I Got You (I Feel Good), James Brown, 1965

84, Dream On, Aerosmith, 1973

85, The Twist, Chubby Checker, 1960

86, 25 or 6 to 4, Chicago, 1970

87, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Elvis Presley, 1960

88, Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1969

89, La Bamba, Ritchie Valens, 1958

90, Free Bird, Lynard Skynard, 1973

91, Losing My Religion, R.E.M., 1991

92, Louie Louie, The Kingsmen, 1957

93, Somebody To Love, Jefferson Airplane, 1967

94, Ring Of Fire, Johnny Cash, 1963*

95, Aquarius, The 5th Dimension, 1969

96, Paranoid Android, Radiohead, 1997

97, When A Man Loves A Woman, Percy Sledge, 1966

98, Like A Virgin, Madonna, 1985

99, California Dreamin’, The Mamas & The Papas, 1965

100, Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley, 1956

101, Sherry, The Four Seasons,

102, For What It’s Worth, Buffalo Springfield, 1967

103, Master Of Puppets, Metallica,

104, My Girl, The Temptations, 1964

105, Born To Be Wild, Steppenwolf,

106, Another Brick In The Wall, Pink Floyd, 1979

107, Maybellene, Chuck Berry, 1955

108, The House Of The Rising Sun, The Animals, 1964

109, Earth Angel, The Penguins, 1954

110, River Deep Mountain High, Ike & Tina Turner, 1966

111, Runaround Sue, Dion, 1961

112, Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash, 1955

113, The Tracks Of My Tears, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, 1965

114, A Whiter Shade Of Pale, Procul Harum, 1967

115, Wonderful World, Sam Cooke, 1960

116, Sunshine Of Your Love, Cream, 1968

117, Don’t Be Cruel, Elvis Presley, 1956

118, I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor, 1978

119, My Generation, The Who, 1965

120, Careless Whisper, George Michael & Wham!, 1984

121, Shake, Rattle, and Roll, Big Joe Turner, 1954

122, San Francisco, Scott McKenzie, 1967

123, You Keep Me Hangin’ On, The Supremes, 1966

124, Have You Ever Seen The Rain?, Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1971

125, That’ll Be The Day, Buddy Holly, 1957

126, Blueberry Hill, Fats Domino, 1956

127, Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Manfred Mann, 1964

128, The Times-They Are A Changing, Bob Dylan, 1965

129, The Weight, The Band, 1971*

130, Crying, Roy Orbison, 1961

131, Living For The City, Stevie Wonder, 1973

132, Open Arms, Journey, 1982

133, Cathy’s Clown, The Everly Brothers, 1960

134, Paint It Black, The Rolling Stones, 1966

135, Let’s Get It n, Marvin Gaye, 1973

136, Maggie May, Rod Stewart, 1971

137, You Light Up My Life, Debbey Boone, 1977

138, Family Affair, Sly & The Family Stone, 1971

139, Blue Suede Shoes, Carl Perkins, 1956

140, One , U2, 1992

141, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1968

142, Something, The Beatles, 1969

143, I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), The Four Tops, 1965

144, If You Leave Me Now, Chicago, 1976

145, Mannish Boy, Muddy Waters, 1955

146, She’s Not There, The Zombies, 1964

147, Your Cheatin’ Heart, Hank Williams, 1953

148, Back In Black, AC/DC, 1980

149, Under The Boardwalk, The Drifters, 1964

150, I Got You Babe, Sonny & Cher, 1965

151, Love Train, The O’ Jays, 1973

152, The End, The Doors, 1967

153, Baby Love, The Supremes, 1964

154, All Out of Love, Air Supply, 1980

155, You Can’t Always Get What You Want, The Rolling Stones,

156, Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin,

157, Born In The U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen, 1985

158, Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles,

159, Georgia On My Mind, Ray Charles,*

160, Crazy In Love, Beyonce ft. Jay-Z, 2003

161, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1969

162, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pink Floyd, 1975

163, Don’t Bring Me Down, Electric Light Orchestra,

164, Space Oddity, David Bowie, 1972

165, Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell,

166, Thriller, Michael Jackson, 1983

167, Turn! Turn! Turn!, The Byrds,

168, Iron Man, Black Sabbath,

169, Cupid, Sam Cooke,

170, Heart of Glass, Blondie,

171, Just The Way You Are, Billy Joel, 1977

172, The Message, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, 1982

173, Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell,*

174, Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag, James Brown, 1965

175, Lean On Me, Bill Withers, 1972

176, Dancing Queen, ABBA, 1976

177 , Yellow Submarine, The Beatles, 1966

178, I Want You Back, The Jackson 5, 1969

179, Hit The Road Jack, Ray Charles, 1961

180, December, 1963 (Oh What A Nite), The Four Seasons, 1975

181, Who’ll Stop The Rain, Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1970*

182, Sweet Child O’ Mine, Guns N’ Roses, 1987

183, In My Life, The Beatles, 1965

184, White Rabbit, Jefferson Airplane, 1967

185, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Aretha Franklin, 1967*

186, Everyday People, Sly & The Family Stone, 1968

187, The Greatest Love Of All, Whitney Houston, 1986

188, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Stevie Wonder, 1973

189, We Are The Champions, Queen, 1977

190, Glory Of Love, Peter Cetera, 1986

191, Never, Never Goona Give You Up, Barry White, 1973

192, Scarborough Fair, Simon & Garfunkel, 1967

193, Rapper’s Delight, The Sugarhill Gang, 1982

194, Dazed & Confused, Led Zeppelin, 1969

195, All By Myself, Eric Carmen, 1975

196, Blitzkrieg Bop, The Ramones, 1976

197, Only You, The Platters, 1954

198, The Letter, The Box Tops, 1967

199, Jungle Boogie, Kool & The Gang, 1973

200, Twist and Shout, The Beatles, 1964

201, Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head, B.J. Thomas, 1969

202, You Can’t Hurry Love, The Supremes, 1966

203, Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now), Phil Collins, 1984

204, More Than A Feeling, Boston, 1976

205, Walk On By, Dionne Warwick, 1964

206, Good Golly Miss Molly, Little Richard, 1958

207, Ain’t No Sunshine, Bill Withers, 1972

208, Baba O’ Reilly, The Who, 1971

209, All Shook Up, Elvis Presley, 1957

210, Dust In The Wind, Kansas, 1978

211, I Saw Her Standing There, The Beatles, 1963

212, Michael (Rode The Boat Ashore), The Highwaymen, 1961

213, I Feel Love, Donna Summer, 1977

214, You’ve Got A Friend, James Taylor, 1971

215, Cecilia, Simon & Garfunkel, 1970

216, I Fall To Pieces , Patsy Cline, 1961

217, Hey Ya!, OutKast, 2003

218, Can’t Help Falling In Love, Elvis Presley, 1961

219, Black Dog, Led Zeppelin, 1971

220, Up On The Roof, The Drifters, 1963

221, Drift Away, Dobie Gray, 1973

222, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Frankie Valli, 1967

223, Surfin USA, The Beach Boys, 1963

224, Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley, 1994

225, Take A Chance On Me, ABBA, 1978

226, Get Together, The Youngbloods, 1969

227, Enter Sandman, Metallica, 1991

228, Waterloo Sunset, The Kinks, 1967

229, I’ll Be There (I’ll be around), The Spinners, 1972

230, Hard To Say I’m Sorry, Chicago, 1982

231, Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley, 1969

232, Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Jim Croce, 1973

233, There’s A Kind Of Hush, Herman’s Hermits, 1967

234, Call Me, Blondie, 1980

235, It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World, James Brown, 1966

236, Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac, 1977

237, Heroes, David Bowie, 1977

238, Dancing In The Street, Martha & The Vandellas, 1964

239, Groovin’, The Young Rascals, 1967

240, Yakety Yak, The Coasters, 1958

241, People Get Ready, The Impressions, 1965

242, All My Friends, LCD Soundsystem, 2007

243, Happy Together, The Turtles, 1963

244, Paranoid , Black Sabbath, 1970

245, What The World Needs Now Is Love, Jackie DeShannon, 1965

246, Break On Through (To The Other Side), The Doors, 1967

247, I Only Have Eyes For You, The Flamingoes, 1957

248, Down On The Corner, Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1970

249, Sealed With A Kiss, Brian Hyland, 1962

250, Come On Eileen, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, 1982

251, It’s Now Or Never, Elvis Presley, 1960

252, Revolution, The Beatles, 1968

253, Honky Tonk Woman, The Rolling Stones, 1969

254, Wake Up Little Susie, The Everly Brothers, 1957

255, Redemption Song, Bob Marley & The wailers, 1980

256, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Neil Sedka, 1962

257, El Condor Pasa, Simon & Garfunkel, 1970

258, Old Time Rock & Roll, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, 1978

259, They Long To Be Close To You, The Carpenters, 1970

260, Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, Steam, 1969

261, Help!, The Beatles, 1965*

262, Mr. Tambourine Man, The Byrds, 1965

263, Laugh, Laugh, The Beau Brummels, 1964

264, Good Times, Chic, 1979

265, Monday, Monday, The Mamas & The Papas, 1966

266, I Say A Little Prayer, Aretha Franklin, 1968

267, Peggy Sue, Buddy Holly, 1957

268, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Bonnie Tyler, 1983

269, I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash, 1972

270, Wild Thing, The Troggs, 1966

271, Just Like Heaven, The Cure, 1987

272, Y.M.C.A., The Village People, 1978

273, Green Onions, Booker T. & The MG’s, 1962

274, Can’t Buy Me Love, The Beatles, 1964

275, What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted, Jimmy Ruffun, 1975

276, Loser, Beck, 1994

277, Don’t Worry Baby, The Beach Boys, 1964

278, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper, 1983

279, All The Young Dudes, Moot The Hopple, 1972

280, Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd, 1975

281, At The Hop, Danny & The Juniors, 1957

282, You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party!, Beastie Boys, 1987

283, Joy To The World, Three Dog Night, 1971

284, Grease, Frankie Valli, 1978

285, You Shook Me All Night Long, AC/DC, 1980

286, Always On My Mind, Willie Nelson, 1982

287, My Sharona, The Knack, 1979

288, Those Were The Days, Mary Hopkin, 1968

289, Funkytown, Lipps Inc., 1980

290, Morning Has Broken, Cat Stevens, 1972

291, Rock With You, Michael Jackson, 1979

292, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division, 1980

293, Love and Happiness, Al Green, 1977

294, Smoke On The Water, Deep Purple, 1972

295, She’s Always A Woman, Billy Joel, 1977

296, Big Girls Don’t Cry, The Four Seasons, 1962

297, Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes, 1981

298, California Love, 2Pac ft. Dr.Dre, 1996

299, And I Love Her, The Beatles, 1964

300, Shout , Tears For Fears, 1984

301, 99 Problems, Jay-Z, 2004

302, It’s A Heartache, Bonnie Tyler, 1977

303, Walk This Way, Aerosmith, 1975

304, Summer Breeze, Seals & Crofts, 1972

305, Ace Of Spades, Motorhead, 1980

306, The Great Pretender, The Platters, 1955

307, Sharp Dressed Man, ZZ Top, 1983

308, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John, 1973

309, Take Me Out , Franz Ferdinand, 2004

310, King Of The road, Roger Miller, 1965

311, Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On, Jerry Lee Lewis, 1957

312, Take Me Home, Country Roads, John Denver, 1971

313, Africa, Toto, 1982

314, Walk Away Renee, The left Banke, 1966

315, Creep, Radiohead, 1993

316, Desperado, The eagles, 1973

317, Come As You Are, Nirvana, 1992

318, That’s All Right, Elvis Presley, 1954

319, Lola, The Kinks, 1970

320, Woman In Love, Barbra Streisand, 1980

321, Sweet Emotion, Aerosmith, 1975

322, Come Softly To Me, The Fleetwoods, 1959

323, She Loves You, The Beatles, 1963

324, Nights In White Satin, The Moody Blues, 1967*

325, Take Good Care Of My Baby, Bobby Vee, 1961

326, A Little Respect, Erasure, 1988

327, Bye Bye Love, The Everly Brothers, 1957

328, Wicked Game, Chris Issaak, 1991

329, Crazy Train, Ozzy Osbourne, 1980

330, In The Still Of The Night, The Five Satins, 1956

331, Tequila, The Champs, 1958

332, Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles, 1969

333, Play That Funky Music, Wild Cherry, 1976

334, Cherish, The Association, 1966

335, Livin On A Prayer, Bon Jovi, 1986

336, Low Rider , WAR, 1975

337, Saturday In The Park, Chicago, 1972

338, The Thrill Is Gone, B.B. King, 1969

339, Sailing, Christopher Cross, 1979

340, Wooly Bully, Sam the Sham & The Pharohs, 1965

341, Riders On The Storm, The Doors, 1971

342, Rebellion (Lies), Arcade Fire, 2005

343, Smokestack Lightning, Howlin Wolf, 1955

344, More Than A Woman, The Bee Gees, 1977

345, A Hard Day’s Night, The Beatles, 1964*

346, Without You, Harry Nilsson, 1971

347, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, U2, 1987

348, Hey Joe, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1966

349, Summer In The City, The Lovin Spoonful, 1966

350, Time , Pink Floyd, 1973

351, Please, Please, Please, James Brown, 1956

352, California Girls, The Beach Boys, 1965

353, Enjoy The Silence, Depeche Mode, 1990

354, Day-O (Bananna Boat Song), Harry Belafonte, 1956*

355, Land Down Under, Men At Work, 1981

356, We Are Family, Sister Sledge, 1979

357, Rockin Robin, Bobby Day, 1958

358, The Crying Game, Boy George, 1992

359, Planet Rock, Afrika Bambatta & The Soul Sonic Force, 1984

360, Good Lovin, The Young Rascals, 1966

361, One, Metallica, 1988

362, Never My Love, The Association, 1967

363, School’s Out, Alice Cooper, 1972

364, Jolene, Dolly Parton, 1973

365, For Once In My Life, Stevie Wonder, 1968

366, What A Fool Believes, The Doobie Brothers, 1979

367, Mad World, Gary Jules, 2001

368, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Tokens, 1961

369, That’s The Way (I Like It), KC & The Sunshine Band, 1975

370, Don’t You Want Me, The Human League, 1981

371, I’m A Believer, The Monkees, 1966

372, You Are So Beautiful, Joe Cocker, 1975

373, Mystery Train, Elvis Presley, 1955

374, Dance To The Music, Sly & The Family Stone, 1968

375, Alone Again, Gilbert O’ Sullivan, 1972

376, Bad To The Bone, George Thorogood, 1982

377, I’ll Be There, The Jackson 5, 1970

378, Disco Inferno, The Trammps, 1976

379, Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, 1955

380, Bus Stop, The Hollies, 1966

381, Horse With No Name, America, 1972

382, Tears Of A Clown, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, 1970

383, Downtown, Petula Clark, 1964

384, I Can’t Live Without My Radio, LL Cool J, 1985

385, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, 1972

386, Tainted Love, Soft Cell, 1981

387, Daydream Believer, The Monkees, 1967

388, Soul Man, Sam & Dave, 1967

389, At Seventeen, Janis Ian, 1975

390, Jump, Van Halen, 1983

391, Teddy Bear , Elvis Presley, 1957

392, Clocks, Coldplay, 2003

393, Changes, David Bowie, 1972

394, Gimmie Some Lovin, Spencer Davis Group, 1966

395, Beginnings, Chicago, 1969

396, Dream a Little Dream Of Me, The Mamas and The Papas, 1968

397, You Sexy Thing, Hot Chocolate, 1975

398, Norwegian Wood, The Beatles, 1965

399, No Diggity, Blackstreet, 1996

400, If You Want To Be happy, Jimmy Soul, 1963

401, Welcome To The Jungle, Guns N Roses, 1987

402, Higher and Higher, Jackie Wilson, 1967

403, With A Little Help From My Friends, Joe Cocker, 1968

404, Papa Was A Rollin Stone, The Temptations, 1972

405, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, The Beach Boys, 1965

406, It’s My Party, Lesley Gore, 1963

407, Take On Me, A-Ha, 1985

408, Roll Over Beethoven, Chuck Berry, 1957

409, Time Of The Season, The Zombies, 1968

410, Evil Woman, Electric Light Orchestra, 1975

411, Paper Planes, M.I.A., 2008

412, Kiss Is On My List, Hall & Oates, 1981

413, Theme From Shaft, Issac Hayes, 1971

414, Hello, Goodbye, The Beatles, 1967

415, Hot Stuff, Donna Summer, 1979

416, Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison, 1967

417, 1999, Prince, 1982

418, Killing Me Softly With His Song, Roberta Flack, 1973*

419, Blue Suede Shoes, Elvis Presley, 1956

420, Tired Of Being Alone, Al Green, 1971

421, I Can See For Miles, The Who, 1967

422, Baby I Need Your Loving, The Four Tops, 1964

423, Dedicated To The One I Love, The Mamas & The Papas, 1967

424, Sabotage, Beastie Boys, 1994

425, Sexual Healing, Marvin Gaye, 1982

426, We Will Rock You, Queen, 1977

427, Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel), Billy Joel, 1993

428, Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealer’s Wheel, 1973

429, God Save The Queen, The Sex Pistols, 1977

430, My Boyfriend’s Back, The Angels, 1963

431, Bizarre Love triangle, New Order, 1986

432, I’m Not In Love, 10cc, 1975

433, Heartbreaker, Led Zeppelin, 1969

434, Ooh Baby Baby, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, 1965

435, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Iron Butterfly, 1968

436, I Just Called To Say I Love You, Stevie Wonder, 1984

437, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, The Beatles, 1968

438, Longer, Dan Fogelberg, 1979

439, Nuthin But A G Thang, Dr.Dre, 1993

440, Angel, Sarah McLachlan, 1998

441, Highway To Hell, AC/DC, 1979

442, My Lovin’ (You’re Never Goona Get It), En Vogue, 1992

443, Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochran, 1958

444, Rapture, Blondie, 1981

445, Gloria, Them, 1965

446, Hurt, Johnny Cash, 2003

447, She Blinded Me With Science , Thomas Dolby, 1982

448, Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, 2006

449, All Apologies, Nirvana, 1993

450, Homeward Bound, Simon & Garfunkel, 1966

451, Paradse City, Guns N’ Roses, 1987

452, Stop! In the Name Of Love, The Supremes, 1965

453, Indian Reservation, Paul Revere & The Raiders, 1971

454, Lookin’ Out My Back door, Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1970

455, Windy, The Association, 1967

456, Get On Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine), James Brown, 1970

457, She’s Got A Way, Billy Joel, 1971

458, He’s So Fine, The Chiffons, 1962

459, Tell It Like It Is, Aaron Neville, 1967

460, People Are Strange, The Doors, 1967

461, Le freak, Chic, 1979

462, In Your Eyes, Peter Gabriel, 1962

463, Night Fever, The Bee Gees, 1978

464, Rhythm Of The rain, The Cascades, 1962

465, Wonderwall, Oasis, 1995

466, Chain Of Fools, Aretha Franklin, 1967

467, Be-Bop-A Lula, Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps, 1956

468, Karma Chamaleon, Culture Club, 1983

469, 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, Paul Simon, 1975

470, Jumpin Jack Flash, The Rolling Stones, 1969

471, The Tide Is High, Blondie, 1980

472, Do Ya think I’m Sexy?, Rod Stewart, 1978

473, Live and Let Die, Paul McCartney & wings, 1973

474, Dreams, Fleetwood Mac, 1977

475, The Shoop Shoop Song, Betty Everett, 1964

476, Super Freak, Rick James, 1981

477, I Got A Woman, Ray Charles, 1954

478, I Love The Nightlife, Alicia Bridges, 1978

479, Thunder Road , Bruce Springsteen, 1975

480, I Feel Fine, The Beatles, 1964

481, Seven Nation Army, The white stripes, 2003

482, You Don’t Own Me, Lesley gore, 1963

483, You’ll Never find Another Love like Mine, Lou Rawls, 1975

484, Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms, 1957

485, Get a job, The silhoettes, 1957

486, Closer, Nine Inch nails, 1994

487, Sweet Home Alabama, Lynard Skynard, 1974

488, I Write The Songs, Barry Manilow, 1975

489, People Are People, Depeche Mode, 1983

490, Lust For life, Iggy Pop, 1977

491, Rag Doll, The four Seasons, 1964

492, Ziggy Stardust, David Bowie, 1972

493, Love Her Madly, The Doors, 1971

494, Take me To The River, Al Green, 1974

495, In Da Club, 50 Cent, 2002

496, Boom Boom, John Lee Hooker, 1962

497, All Right Now, Free, 1971

498, Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin, 1971

499, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, The Beatles, 1968

500, Barbra Ann, Beach Boys, 1965

 

[By Harry Engel, the commenter who compiled the list, based on the video.]

A few statistics of note:

1967 is the most represented year, with 32 songs.

The oldest song is Your Cheatin Heart by Hank Williams from 1953

The most recent sing is Paper Planes by M.I.A. from 2009

The Beatles appear 24 times on the list

Simon & Garfunkel appear eight times on the list, but no songs from the solo careers of Paul Simon, or Art Garfunkel made the list.

The Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, and Led Zeppelin appear seven times each
Al Green appears four times, Bruce Springsteen appears three times. In the case of these two, the songs Bornahorn picked were the same as the ones that Rolling Stone picked in 2004.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

A lot of great stuff on the list but some bizarre choices also. How does only one Van Morrison song make the list? There should be at least as many of his as the Beatles or Stones. How does Debby Boone's You light up my Life or Dan Fogelberg's Longer make the list? A song should at least be a good song, not utter crap. One glaring omission is the Crusaders "Street Life". One of the greatest songs of all time and a jazz/pop tour de force. Plus I would have put Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" higher, it's just too influential not too. Jerry pdx