I've been thinking about this subject for awhile. How do you objectify genius? To be honest, the idea of Top 10 lists are inherently unfair, and agonizing to the creator. It would be hard enough to come up with the Top 10 Rock Songs of 1975, let alone of all-time. But in the end, it's not really the list it matters. It's the process of determining it, the focus given to great music, and the discussion that inevitably results from it. That's why Top 10 lists are so much fun...
Anyways, with such a broad topic, I had to do this in steps. It satisfied my OCD tendencies and made for a more dramatic selection. But first, a few ground rules:
1. No more than 2 songs from any band or individual artist could make the Top-10. There are a couple bands whose music I could reasonably use to fill up the Top 10 on their own. But I wanted to have some semblance of diversity, hence the limit.
2. The list must be true "rock" songs. No stretching to include blues, jazz, techno, etc. Other genres deserve a list of their own.
3. The list is my Top 10, not the Top 10, so while I encourage other viewpoints, understand that this is no more than opinion. The list is a healthy combination of some songs I consider to be the greatest, and some which are just my favorites. Any true music lover understands that there is a difference.
So without further ado, let's start trimming down the list:
Step 1: The Contenders
I had to start somewhere, so I basically sat down and thought "What songs could possibly be on this list?" Actually, I thought of artists first, since they were easier to form into a concise list. Then for each artist I listed their songs which could potentially be worthy for inclusion.
When I was done I had about 50. I figured the next step would be to cut the list in half, which I did. Here are the 25 that didn't make the cut, presented in alphabetical order:
Step 2: The Final Cut
Surprisingly, this wasn't as hard a cut as I expected. It seemed like at least 8 of the Top 10 just stood out as obvious choices, so I only had to think hard about a couple songs. Here are the 15 that didn't make the list, again in alphabetical order:
Step 3: Rearranging Greatness
This was, far and away, the hardest part. How do you quantify your love for a song? I'm going to be honest and say all of these rankings were gut feelings. While I gave bonus points for lyrics, groundbreaking technique, or influence on future artists, mostly I judged based on the feelings elicited when I think about or hear these songs. Here we go...
Some of the best things about music are the memories that come to mind when you hear a great song. Sometimes, an image and a song become so intertwined that you can't think of one without the other. This is the case with "Tiny Dancer". I would venture to say that anyone who has seen Almost Famous understands what I'm getting at here. There is a phenomenal scene where a band, riding cross-country on its tourbus along with their groupies and a young reporter, reach a new level of understanding and camaraderie while singing "Tiny Dancer" together. It's an amazing scene that makes me smile anytime I think about it. Now "Dancer" is a good enough song on its own to make this list, but this association only serves to solidify its place. The unforgettable piano chords, the slow progression into a well-layered melody, and some of Elton John's best lyrics. It's a perfect example that rock and roll doesn't have to be about thundering drums and electric guitar played at breakneck speed - just great music with power and meaning.
In complete contrast to the above, "Fade to Black" is a perfect example that rock and roll at its best is about thundering drums and breakneck guitar. This song, along with song #5 on this list, are the only two songs that have completely blown me away with amazement when I first heard them. In fact, not having listened to Metallica in my youth, I didn't hear this song for the first time until about a year ago. But wow, what an experience! Though I don't necessarily like the suicidal anguish buried within the lyrics, I can appreciate their darkness and candor. What's amazing, however, is that the song itself feels like a suicide. The slow, almost ominious opening guitar riffs, steadily picking up in speed, until they eventually spiral out of control in a fit of unprecedented chaos. At about the halfway point of the song, when Hammett takes off the gloves and starts abusing the guitar, it just blows my mind every time. Who knew that one man's suicidal tendencies could lead to such a beautiful song?
This song is actually pretty simple musically, but it's catchy and unforgettable, with an engaging chorus, which gives it staying power. The most important thing about this song, however, is the quality of the lyrics. Not only are they lengthy, but they are saturated with meaning and nostalgia, a cultural landmark of their time. McLean sings about the passing of Buddy Holly, and the death of "real" music, with such passion and vigor, layering subtlety after subtlety into his 6 verses. They chronicle the musical progression (or downfall?) of the sixties and seventies as well as any encyclopedia or website ever will. Musical scholars and fans have debated the true meaning of this song since its creation - is he really singing about Buddy Holly, or is it a reflection on religion, or is it a critique of the government? The debate continues, and McLean, for his part, has wisely decided not to answer questions about it. Though that truth remains a mystery, the fact that "American Pie" is an unforgettable and irreplacable piece of American music history is a truth that cannot be denied.
When you finish reading this list, you'll probably say that this entry answers the question "Which one of these is not like the others?" Truth be told, it is the only song in this list from the last 20 years, so naturally it's going to stick out. So why does this song stick out over all the rest of the songs that have been created during my lifetime? The simple answer is because it's my favorite. Weezer has always been one of my favorite bands, not because they are musical geniuses, or operatic singers, or lyrical visionaries, but simply because they are a very good band who knows how to create fun, catchy songs. For my money, there is no better example than "Say It Ain't So". It stands above the rest because it is fueled with a classiness that is lacking from most of Weezer's discography. While it contains plenty of Weezer's trademark Oh yeah's and All right's, they are counterbalanced by some very thoughtful lyrics. The catchy chorus is present, but is outdone by the slow progression of the guitar into some classic riffs, some weepy and some authoritative. I can't help but sing along in enjoyment, and when it hits the musical interlude, I just close my eyes and soak in the lovely sounds of the guitar. It's the best song by one of the best bands in modern rock history.
I have only really gotten into Skynyrd's music in the last couple of years - at which point I realized what I was missing. The band is well known for some of their catchy songs like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Don't Ask Me No Questions", but they have been responsible for some of the greatest music ever created, in addition to being the indisputable Kings of Southern Rock. One of my favorite songs of theirs is this lesser-known anti-drug song. Leave it to a hard-hitting, rough-around-the-edges rock band to turn out of the most straightforward, heartfelt and beautiful songs about drugs. But the thing I love most about this song are the sweet melodies of the dual-lead guitars and the passionate sounds of Van Zant's voice, which might as well be an instrument of its own. It's a very tight-sounding, heavy-rocking song that lifts my spirits whenever I hear it.
Ahh yes, the song that really opened my eyes to true music and made me realize just how amazing Led Zeppelin was. I distinctly remember the first time I heard this song, and I couldn't help thinking "How in the world are those guys doing that with a guitar?" and "This song was made 30 years ago, so why has nobody after them sounded so amazing?" The answer to both of these questions is simple: Led Zeppelin is the greatest band that ever lived and will never be surpassed in skill and influence by anyone in hard rock and roll. This song is so intense - Page's guitar going at ninety miles per hour, Gonzo's authoritative drum beat, Jones' tight bass line, and Plant's wailing lyrics make this an absolute classic. If you've never heard it, pick it up and educate yourself. Just don't be surprised if it changes your mind completely about music.
Simply put, this is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. The thing that gets me is that it inspires such strong feelings of nostalgia - I mean, the guy is singing about his own adolescence and tough development, and I feel like I was there with him all the way. The other interesting thing about this song is how much it has grown on me. When I first heard it, I didn't even think it was Seger's best song, originally preferring "Against The Wind. But the more I heard it, the more it affected me, and the more I loved it. What makes it even more great is that it brings me back to the days of my own youth (though it wasn't that long ago). The lyrics are so well-written, you can just feel Seger's anguish and pain, the tough lessons he's learned, and how he yearns for the past. The music is simple, with soft guitar and a steady drum beat, but he takes it up a notch in the final chorus when his background singers kick in, the piano plays over top of the guitar, and he croons about how he remembers his own "night moves". It's a poignant, anthemic song for anyone who ever loved or lost as an awkward youth.
Two songs from the same album in my Top 5... wow. What can I say about this song that hasn't already been said? Nothing, except for what it means to me personally. To be honest, I have no idea what it's about - it probably runs 1-2 with "American Pie" as the most discussed and disputed set of lyrics. What I do know is that it's probably the most well-layered and complex song ever made. Zeppelin is so great because each member of the band does their part to perfection, and that's probably best heard in "Stairway". What I love is that the song itself is a stairway - there are two distinct "ramp-up" points where the band takes things up a notch - about 4 minutes in, when Gonzo comes to life and the guitars become more forceful, and then again at about 7 minutes when everyone explodes into a surreal fury. I don't have to know what this song is about to know that it is one of the prime examples of rock and roll and such talent will probably never be duplicated again. If I had to pick a "greatest" song ever made, this would be it. But since my list is one of "favorites", it happens to get slightly beat out by two other classics...
This entry, and the one before it, are probably the most common entries in Top 10 lists, and are the two staples of classic rock radio. I feel sorta trendy listing them, but I'm not going to go against what I love, and I firmly believe that they receive so much attention because they are so ridiculously good. "Free Bird" is one of those songs that contains it all - lovely, profound lyrics, a slow progression of guitar and drums, all capped off by a lengthy and brutal guitar solo which probably ranks as the single greatest of all time. I love how the song just fades out at the end - when you play in a frenzy like thunder from the heavens for about four minutes straight, there's really no way to bring it back down to a normal closing - all you can do is fade away. What Skynyrd created here was 9 minutes of music that is greater on its own than most artists' entire discographies.
Where do I start? How about the opening force of the guitar chord, followed by a half-minute of ominous synthesizer that would probably sound cheesy in a song by a lesser band? How about the beautiful singing of Roger Daltrey, in his most forceful and powerful performance? How about the satirical yet profound lyrics, a musical commentary on the inevitable change in government that never results in any meaningful change for the people? All of these make this song great, but I think what I love the most are the final minute of Townshend's synthesizers late in the song, overlayed towards the end by Keith Moon's pounding drums, and capped off by Daltrey's piercing "Yeah!". I love it because you can feel how much the band is into this song, how much they believe it, how they have invested a little bit of themselves into it. This song is alive. It ranks up there with Stairway as one of the best layered pieces of music ever made. I can't really put into words what separates it from the others in the Top 3, though I will admit that the separation is not very big at all. It's fun, it's serious, and it's really rocking. I think it is perhaps the quintessential example of what rock and roll is, and that's why it tops the list for me.
Well, there is is. I'd love to hear your comments, or some of your own Top 10 rock songs. Show me where I've gone wrong!
Posted by sdishman at February 26, 2005 6:35 PMTrackBack URL for this entry:
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