The Top Ten Songs of All Time
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
by Steven Rogers
Music having been such a big part of my life, I thought it fitting that I lend some of my "expertise" to those who are either just discovering great music or are looking to build a collection of masterpieces. I always see lists of the top 10 or 100 music hits of all time but these lists are always lacking. Even those by the musical geniuses at Rolling Stone never seem right because who can rank the top pieces of art. Who can say that Picasso is better than Da Vinci? They are both masters, and for what they did there is no better. Music is no different. How can I, a mere lover of music, judge the masters that have taught me so much? It is for this reason I have decided to give a list of the top ten songs of all time, but I will not can not rank one above the others so they are all number one! I have chosen these songs not because of their popularity now or even at the time they were written but for their longevity and relevance to people of all generations and genres. Musical fads come and go quickly so to find a song that can last through the years is a rare treat. With all that said, let's get down to business.
- God Only Knows- The Beach Boys
This is a song by the written by Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The song was one of the first commercial pop songs to use the word 'God' in its title. The song was also far more technical than anything the Beach Boys, or arguably any group, had ever attempted before - particularly the complicated melodic structure and vocal harmonies. Brian Wilson also used many unorthodox instruments for the genre, including the harpsichord and French horns that are heard in the song's famous introduction.
Imagine- John Lennon
Written in 1971, Imagine was "just what John believed - that we are all one country, one world, one people. He wanted to get that idea out according to Ono his wife. It is a beautiful song that just seems to touch every person who hears it. Recently it was sung on the new show "Glee" on FOX. I have to admit that even today almost 40 years after it's original release it can still bring a crowd to its knees.
Over the Rainbow- Judy Garland
This is a classic ballad song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by Judy Garland in that movie. Over time it would become Garland's signature song. It was almost left off the movie because of it's slow pace. Can you imagine The Wizard of Oz without it? Since it release in 1938, it has been rerecorded by everyone from I srael Kamakawiwo'ole to Frank Sinatra to Les Paul. It is one of the most memorable songs in history.
Purple Rain- Prince
This is a power ballad by Prince and The Revolution. It is the title track from the 1984 album of the same name, which in turn is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name . The song is a staple of Prince's live performances. He has played it on nearly every tour since 1984. At Super Bowl XLI's halftime show, in which he was the featured performer, "Purple Rain" was featured as the last song of his set and was, appropriately, played during a downpour at the stadium, which combined with the purple stage lighting created the song's signature image. Prince performed the song as the opening of a medley of his hits with Beyonce at the 2004 Grammy Awards, and also at the 2006 Brit Awards. I would bet that you would be hard pressed to walk in to a Karaoke bar anywhere in the world and not hear this great song.
Let It Be- The Beatles
The first recording of "Let It Be" took place in 1969. McCartney said he had the idea of Let It Be after a dream he had about his mother during the tense period surrounding the sessions for The Beatles (the White Album). McCartney explained that his mother-who died of cancer when McCartney was fourteen-was the inspiration for the Mother Mary lyric. McCartney later said, "It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing 'Let It Be'." He also said in a later interview about the dream that his mother had told him, "It will be all right, just let it be." Those feelings really come through the song, and the guitar solo in the middle of the song speaks volumes to the playing ability of George Harrison.
American Pie-Don McLean
Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, is an abstract story surrounding "The Day the Music Died" - the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr.), as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson. What else can I say about this tune. It is pure and simple poetry put to music. There are not many song that can take you on an emotional roller coster like this one can.
Hotel California- The Eagles
"Don Henley and Glenn wrote most of the words. All of us kind of drove into LA at night. Nobody was from California, and if you drive into LA at night... you can just see this glow on the horizon of lights, and the images that start running through your head of Hollywood and all the dreams that you have, and so it was kind of about that... what we started writing the song about. Coming into LA..." Don Feder-
Do You Feel Like We Do- Peter Frampton
this is a song written by Peter Frampton, which was originally released on his 1975 album Frampton and as a single, but gained its highest popularity as a song from his 1976 live album Frampton Comes Alive!. The song reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his biggest hit until "I'm in You" in 1977. The song was one of Frampton's earliest to feature the talk box effect, which would become one of his signature sounds. Anyone who would argue about this song being on this list has never heard it. I recommend listening to this song from beginning to end with the volume knob all the way up lying down on the carpet with your eyes closed. Trust me it is with it.
Sweet Home Alabama- Lynard Skynard
As much as I hate to do it, I have to include this song. It was recorded in 1974 and remains a staple of rock music everywhere. It was a very controversial song when it was released. The final line of the song indicates that it may be against racial discrimination: "Montgomery's [indistinct word] but it's got the answer." This is a reference to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which led to a Supreme Court decision declaring Alabama's racial segregation laws for buses unconstitutional. Steve Ferris of Mr. Mister told me a while back that the riff was "so simple yet so catchey" and he is right. I just wish that I had written it!
Stairway to Heaven- Led Zeppelin
This is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was composed by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for the band's fourth unnamed studio album, In the early 1980s, some Christian evangelists in the US alleged that hidden messages were contained in many popular rock songs through a technique called backward masking. One example of such hidden messages that was often prominently cited was in "Stairway to Heaven." The alleged message, which occurs during the middle section of the song ("If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now...") when played backwards, was purported to contain the Satanic references "Here's to my sweet Satan" and "I sing because I live with Satan". The band denied this saying simply that their record players only went one way.
So there you have it my list of the best songs ever recorded. If you haven't heard them all they are well worth you time to hear. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. If you have any addition to the list I would love to hear them as well.
Steven is a self proclaimed right wing Christian extremist. He is a former Marine and currently work in the laboratory of a cancer research and treatment facility. He is the father of three and is referred to as genius by his wife (mostly as a sarcastic term of endearment!)
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