Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Computer problems at work/#30 to #21....
We're experiencing some major computer issues at work as someone has infected our system with not one, but two, computer viruses. This has already resulted in two lost days and I've heard they may not be able to get things cleared up until the weekend. I hope the person who caused this problem is having a good laugh because if they discover who the culprit is I think he/she will be in some serious trouble.
Meanwhile, Xavier's basketball team will be in Philadelphia tonight attempting to do something they rarely are able to do; beat Temple in their gym. Xavier's losing streak at Temple isn't as bad as the 0-25 streak Dayton currently has going playing on Xavier's home floor but it seems like it's been that long. For whatever reason, Xavier goes to Philly and they have their worst shooting performance of the season. I'm sure the Owls defense has something to do with it but at some point you have to forget about the past and start a new trend. Is tonight the night? I hope so but I wouldn't bet on it.
I'll keep it short tonight and get right to the countdown. My brother has joined the fun and we now have three, top 100 lists going on at the same time - it's been a great discussion on music...
#30. Every Breath you Take - The Police. This could be titled 'The Stalker Song', I mean this guy is just not ready to let this woman go; she's destroyed his life and he can't think of anything but her - that's some serious infatuation! 'Synchronicity' was The Polices' most commercially successful and, in my opinion best album and this song (along with the video) was an instant classic - one of the top tunes of the 1980's.
#29. For Good - Idina Menzel and Kristina Chenowith (from the Broadway musical, Wicked). There are funnier, showier, show-stoppingier (and I know stoppingier is not a word) songs in Wicked but none of them hit your heart quite like, For Good. At the end of the play, the two witches sing about their friendship and how much they have meant to each other declaring, "Because I knew you, I have been changed for good." The more people you can say this about in your life, truly the richer your life must be. A true testament to what friendship is all about.
#28. Just the Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra. The Chairman of the Board in rare form, one of the all-time, great standards that I'm sure is played countless times every Saturday of the year during wedding receptions across the USA. Don't you wish you could have thought of these lines while dancing with your special, someone? Maybe someday.
#27. You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones. This is an epic song that was perfectly displayed in the movie, The Big Chill - everything about it is perfection. I love the use of the choir throughout the song and Jagger's vocals are as good as he's ever been. Plus the message IS spot on; you CAN'T always get what you want but if you try sometimes, you get what you NEED.
#26. Your Song - Elton John. The final Elton John on my top 100 list. Beautiful music, beautiful words. I think the ultimate compliment I could pay 'Your Song' is this; if I could take credit for any song and say I wrote it to give to my wife; this is the song I'd select... "How wonderful life is while you are in the world...."
#25. Purple Haze - The Jimi Hendrix Experience. I remember the night my sister, Vangela, bought the album; Are You Experienced. She was (and still is) 5 years older than me and we lived in Kettering at the time. She was probably around 14 years old, which would have made me 9. She asked me if I wanted to walk to Rikes Department Store (which was bought out years ago and is now Macys) with her to buy this album. Rikes was about a mile away. It was in the winter and snowing. Our mom told us we shouldn't go but we went, anyway - my sister had to have this album and it had to be that day. The snow turned into a blizzard, it took us forever to get to and from Rikes. I'm sure you'll recall the cover of the album had 3 guys on it, Hendrix and two white guys - all three had afro hair styles. It was like nothing I had ever seen. When we got home, she popped it on the stereo and it was also like nothing I had ever heard. That was my introduction to Purple Haze. Some 42 years later, it's still one of the great, pure rock songs ever made.
#24. I'll Be There - The Jackson Five. After pumping out 3 sugary #1 pop classics in 'I Want You Back' , 'ABC' and 'The Love You Save'; the Jacksons 4th and final #1 song as a group was quite a contrast. I'll Be There was a simple ballad about true devotion and wound up being the greatest hit of the Jackson Five's career and at the time, the biggest Motown single in history topping Marvin Gaye's 'Heard it Through the Grapevine'. Michael's brilliantly controlled vocals were even more astonishing when you realize he was only 12 years old at the time. Who could have imagined this kid would wind up the way he did.
#23. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin. Simply put, a ground breaking recording. Others have tried to duplicate the formula of this song but none have rivaled it. And I think the greatest compliment you can give this epic tune is the fact that people will say the following praise about every other musical act's top song - "This is their 'Stairway to Heaven". Pretty high praise, indeed.
#22. (What's so Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding - Elvis Costello. Just a great tune, with thought provoking lyrics and a simple question that no one seems to be able to answer. Costello had some great 'punk/new wave' hits in his career but he was right on the money with this song.
#21. Hey Jude - The Beatles. My dad was not much of a Beatles fan but I remember the day we were riding in his car, 'Hey Jude' came on the radio and he sang along once the song reached the 'na-na-na-na-nana-na' part. At the end of the 7+ minute track, he proclaimed, 'That's the best song they've ever done.' Now our dad never, ever sang and a music critic he was not but he was pretty much, spot on with his assessment of 'Hey Jude'. I do have a few more Beatles songs listed higher but it would be hard to argue with anyone that 'Hey, Jude' wasn't their 'Stairway to Heaven'. In fact, 'Stairway to Heaven' may have been Led Zeppelin's, 'Hey Jude'.
Only one more post before we hit the Top Ten - #20 through #11 will be up tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, Xavier's basketball team will be in Philadelphia tonight attempting to do something they rarely are able to do; beat Temple in their gym. Xavier's losing streak at Temple isn't as bad as the 0-25 streak Dayton currently has going playing on Xavier's home floor but it seems like it's been that long. For whatever reason, Xavier goes to Philly and they have their worst shooting performance of the season. I'm sure the Owls defense has something to do with it but at some point you have to forget about the past and start a new trend. Is tonight the night? I hope so but I wouldn't bet on it.
I'll keep it short tonight and get right to the countdown. My brother has joined the fun and we now have three, top 100 lists going on at the same time - it's been a great discussion on music...
#30. Every Breath you Take - The Police. This could be titled 'The Stalker Song', I mean this guy is just not ready to let this woman go; she's destroyed his life and he can't think of anything but her - that's some serious infatuation! 'Synchronicity' was The Polices' most commercially successful and, in my opinion best album and this song (along with the video) was an instant classic - one of the top tunes of the 1980's.
#29. For Good - Idina Menzel and Kristina Chenowith (from the Broadway musical, Wicked). There are funnier, showier, show-stoppingier (and I know stoppingier is not a word) songs in Wicked but none of them hit your heart quite like, For Good. At the end of the play, the two witches sing about their friendship and how much they have meant to each other declaring, "Because I knew you, I have been changed for good." The more people you can say this about in your life, truly the richer your life must be. A true testament to what friendship is all about.
#28. Just the Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra. The Chairman of the Board in rare form, one of the all-time, great standards that I'm sure is played countless times every Saturday of the year during wedding receptions across the USA. Don't you wish you could have thought of these lines while dancing with your special, someone? Maybe someday.
#27. You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones. This is an epic song that was perfectly displayed in the movie, The Big Chill - everything about it is perfection. I love the use of the choir throughout the song and Jagger's vocals are as good as he's ever been. Plus the message IS spot on; you CAN'T always get what you want but if you try sometimes, you get what you NEED.
#26. Your Song - Elton John. The final Elton John on my top 100 list. Beautiful music, beautiful words. I think the ultimate compliment I could pay 'Your Song' is this; if I could take credit for any song and say I wrote it to give to my wife; this is the song I'd select... "How wonderful life is while you are in the world...."
#25. Purple Haze - The Jimi Hendrix Experience. I remember the night my sister, Vangela, bought the album; Are You Experienced. She was (and still is) 5 years older than me and we lived in Kettering at the time. She was probably around 14 years old, which would have made me 9. She asked me if I wanted to walk to Rikes Department Store (which was bought out years ago and is now Macys) with her to buy this album. Rikes was about a mile away. It was in the winter and snowing. Our mom told us we shouldn't go but we went, anyway - my sister had to have this album and it had to be that day. The snow turned into a blizzard, it took us forever to get to and from Rikes. I'm sure you'll recall the cover of the album had 3 guys on it, Hendrix and two white guys - all three had afro hair styles. It was like nothing I had ever seen. When we got home, she popped it on the stereo and it was also like nothing I had ever heard. That was my introduction to Purple Haze. Some 42 years later, it's still one of the great, pure rock songs ever made.
#24. I'll Be There - The Jackson Five. After pumping out 3 sugary #1 pop classics in 'I Want You Back' , 'ABC' and 'The Love You Save'; the Jacksons 4th and final #1 song as a group was quite a contrast. I'll Be There was a simple ballad about true devotion and wound up being the greatest hit of the Jackson Five's career and at the time, the biggest Motown single in history topping Marvin Gaye's 'Heard it Through the Grapevine'. Michael's brilliantly controlled vocals were even more astonishing when you realize he was only 12 years old at the time. Who could have imagined this kid would wind up the way he did.
#23. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin. Simply put, a ground breaking recording. Others have tried to duplicate the formula of this song but none have rivaled it. And I think the greatest compliment you can give this epic tune is the fact that people will say the following praise about every other musical act's top song - "This is their 'Stairway to Heaven". Pretty high praise, indeed.
#22. (What's so Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding - Elvis Costello. Just a great tune, with thought provoking lyrics and a simple question that no one seems to be able to answer. Costello had some great 'punk/new wave' hits in his career but he was right on the money with this song.
#21. Hey Jude - The Beatles. My dad was not much of a Beatles fan but I remember the day we were riding in his car, 'Hey Jude' came on the radio and he sang along once the song reached the 'na-na-na-na-nana-na' part. At the end of the 7+ minute track, he proclaimed, 'That's the best song they've ever done.' Now our dad never, ever sang and a music critic he was not but he was pretty much, spot on with his assessment of 'Hey Jude'. I do have a few more Beatles songs listed higher but it would be hard to argue with anyone that 'Hey, Jude' wasn't their 'Stairway to Heaven'. In fact, 'Stairway to Heaven' may have been Led Zeppelin's, 'Hey Jude'.
Only one more post before we hit the Top Ten - #20 through #11 will be up tomorrow night.
# posted by Vince Hopkins @ 4:49 PM 
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We're starting to get a good deal of overlap as we enter the top 30...
30-21:
#30 Bold As Love - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - I didn't really get into Jimi Hendrix until this past year and I have to say that I was missing out. This song was the title song (kindof) of Hendrix's "Axis: Bold As Love" album. The guitar in it is beyond incredible
#29 Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind - When I was a kid I can remember my dad playing three songs that I really liked. They were the first three songs that I ever learned every word to. One was Buffalo Solidier by a pot smoking rastafarian, another appears at #17 on my list, and the third was this song about crystal meth. A good start to my music listening career.
#28 Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) - Jay-Z - I typically don't like songs that sample other songs but this hit by Jay Z is a glaring exception.
#27 The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy) - Simon & Garfunkel - This is a very simple, mellow tune that I wish was 5 minutes longer
#26 Return To Pooh Corner - Kenny Loggins
#25 Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John - When I first saw this song performed live, I had the chills almost the entire time. It was his first song of his classics set and it blew me away
#24 Bust A Move - Young MC - There were a few predecessors to what is known now as hip hop/rap (Grandmaster Flash, Sugar Hill Gang, etc.). While I love and appreciate their work, I don't think any of them got it just right until Young MC came along with "Bust A Move"
#23 Little Red Corvette - Prince - There's nothing better than Prince's vocals as he sings, "and the ride is so smoooth, you must be a limousine!"
#22 You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon - This song wins my award for best music video. Chevy Chase is hilarious lip synching as Simon looks confused as hell
#21 I Want You Back - Jackson 5 - As is custom with Michael Jackson during his stint with his brothers, he just lets his vocals loose at the end of this song. It is pretty unreal.
30-21:
#30 Bold As Love - The Jimi Hendrix Experience - I didn't really get into Jimi Hendrix until this past year and I have to say that I was missing out. This song was the title song (kindof) of Hendrix's "Axis: Bold As Love" album. The guitar in it is beyond incredible
#29 Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind - When I was a kid I can remember my dad playing three songs that I really liked. They were the first three songs that I ever learned every word to. One was Buffalo Solidier by a pot smoking rastafarian, another appears at #17 on my list, and the third was this song about crystal meth. A good start to my music listening career.
#28 Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) - Jay-Z - I typically don't like songs that sample other songs but this hit by Jay Z is a glaring exception.
#27 The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feeling Groovy) - Simon & Garfunkel - This is a very simple, mellow tune that I wish was 5 minutes longer
#26 Return To Pooh Corner - Kenny Loggins
#25 Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John - When I first saw this song performed live, I had the chills almost the entire time. It was his first song of his classics set and it blew me away
#24 Bust A Move - Young MC - There were a few predecessors to what is known now as hip hop/rap (Grandmaster Flash, Sugar Hill Gang, etc.). While I love and appreciate their work, I don't think any of them got it just right until Young MC came along with "Bust A Move"
#23 Little Red Corvette - Prince - There's nothing better than Prince's vocals as he sings, "and the ride is so smoooth, you must be a limousine!"
#22 You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon - This song wins my award for best music video. Chevy Chase is hilarious lip synching as Simon looks confused as hell
#21 I Want You Back - Jackson 5 - As is custom with Michael Jackson during his stint with his brothers, he just lets his vocals loose at the end of this song. It is pretty unreal.
I just realized I have nothing from the Police. That may be a miss. They had some great stuff.
I'm a big fan of Elvis Costello.... I may have erred on his omission as well.
Judd hits a homer with You Can Call me Al... Feelin' Groovy and Bust A Move... I've tried to memorize the lyrics and it's just too much... a lot of rhymin'... Still... a solid effort.... and because I don't want to shut Judd out just yetr... he wins the round... and trails 5-3.
I'm a big fan of Elvis Costello.... I may have erred on his omission as well.
Judd hits a homer with You Can Call me Al... Feelin' Groovy and Bust A Move... I've tried to memorize the lyrics and it's just too much... a lot of rhymin'... Still... a solid effort.... and because I don't want to shut Judd out just yetr... he wins the round... and trails 5-3.
Now for Rich's 30 - 21....
30 Rapper's Delight (Sugarhill Gang) This is the song that started it all. Others may have made rap mainstream… but this is the song that made rap. The original version is 14 and a half minutes long. And whenever I listen to it… I’m honestly bummed when it ends… This isn’t a song that talks about growing up on the mean streets… it’s just a fun party song… but we do learn that our friend Big Bank Hank can bust a lady friend out with his super sperm… that Superman can’t satisfy a gal with his little worm… that Wonder Mike is someone whom the ladies fight for his delight… and that if your girl is acting up, you simply take her friend. Words to live by.
29 And Your Bird Can Sing (The Beatles) The Beatles were the best band ever. Hands down. I think the songs that were written by John Lennon are usually a little more interesting than the McCartney songs… but that the melodies of the McCartney songs are usually better. That said… this is a Lennon song. I tried to pick songs from different stopping points in their career… and this is one from when they really started to make their songs mean more than just “I like a girl…”
28 Jailhouse Rock (Elvis) Elvis was the king, and you have to include him in a top 100… you just have to. He had a lot of great songs, but this is my favorite.
27 Light My Fire (The Doors) I never had a chance to see the Doors live in concert…. Mainly because Morrison died when I was 6…. I’ve always liked their sound… they were one of those bands that I suspect was even better in concert. Their best songs followed the same formula…. A cool opening verse and chorus… followed by a bitchin’ 4 or 5 minute organ solo… followed by a strong close. Riders on the Storm and The End were also cut from the same cloth… but Light My Fire is probably my favorite.
26 Sara Smile (Hall and Oates) Hall and Oates were best when they let Darryl Hall show off his amazing voice… which is why I love this song. He’s in control… there’s a lot of soulful low notes… and then that amazing high note at the end.
25 New Kid in Town (The Eagles) Vince already hit this one earlier in his countdown, but it’s just a great song. A commentary on fame and how it affects those around you. The heart of the song is the line “They will never forget you ‘til somebody new comes along…”
24 Piano Man (Billy Joel) Billy Joel What’s it like to play piano is a small dive while you try to break into the music business? This song is what it’s like. He’s not out to change the world… he’s just out to share the story. It reminds me of what it was like working at the Cork N Cleaver…. Where odd and interesting people that you’d never meet in your daily routine would roll in and out of the bar area. The Stroh’s guy… big Dave Wells…. Mike Lewis… People that had great stories and were just fascinating in their odd ordinary ways. The song also has a killer piano line… I really like the song.
23 Man in the Mirror (Michael Jackson) Much has been written about the gloved one… his multiple surgeries in an attempt to turn him into a middle aged white guy… his preference for the intimate company of little boys… his bazaar and strange habits. Lost in all that is the simple fact that he was an amazing singer… dancer and songwriter. I think the message in this song is great… I love that he uses a choir… and I think his vocals are strong. Jacko has done some great work… I think this is his Stairway To Heaven.
22 Lose Yourself (Eminem) Nervous energy…. Fear of failure and a desperate desire to get out of a crappy living environment. Wrap those emotions around a strong guitar riff… an incredible beat… and a white guy rapping to it all and you have Lose Yourself. This is Eminem’s best work and it’s a song that absolutely captures a feeling and a mood that we’ve all felt at one point or another…
21 Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters (Elton John) Elton’s been on the countdown a couple of time already, this is his highest reaching tune. It’s just a neat song with great vocals. It captures a mood.
30 Rapper's Delight (Sugarhill Gang) This is the song that started it all. Others may have made rap mainstream… but this is the song that made rap. The original version is 14 and a half minutes long. And whenever I listen to it… I’m honestly bummed when it ends… This isn’t a song that talks about growing up on the mean streets… it’s just a fun party song… but we do learn that our friend Big Bank Hank can bust a lady friend out with his super sperm… that Superman can’t satisfy a gal with his little worm… that Wonder Mike is someone whom the ladies fight for his delight… and that if your girl is acting up, you simply take her friend. Words to live by.
29 And Your Bird Can Sing (The Beatles) The Beatles were the best band ever. Hands down. I think the songs that were written by John Lennon are usually a little more interesting than the McCartney songs… but that the melodies of the McCartney songs are usually better. That said… this is a Lennon song. I tried to pick songs from different stopping points in their career… and this is one from when they really started to make their songs mean more than just “I like a girl…”
28 Jailhouse Rock (Elvis) Elvis was the king, and you have to include him in a top 100… you just have to. He had a lot of great songs, but this is my favorite.
27 Light My Fire (The Doors) I never had a chance to see the Doors live in concert…. Mainly because Morrison died when I was 6…. I’ve always liked their sound… they were one of those bands that I suspect was even better in concert. Their best songs followed the same formula…. A cool opening verse and chorus… followed by a bitchin’ 4 or 5 minute organ solo… followed by a strong close. Riders on the Storm and The End were also cut from the same cloth… but Light My Fire is probably my favorite.
26 Sara Smile (Hall and Oates) Hall and Oates were best when they let Darryl Hall show off his amazing voice… which is why I love this song. He’s in control… there’s a lot of soulful low notes… and then that amazing high note at the end.
25 New Kid in Town (The Eagles) Vince already hit this one earlier in his countdown, but it’s just a great song. A commentary on fame and how it affects those around you. The heart of the song is the line “They will never forget you ‘til somebody new comes along…”
24 Piano Man (Billy Joel) Billy Joel What’s it like to play piano is a small dive while you try to break into the music business? This song is what it’s like. He’s not out to change the world… he’s just out to share the story. It reminds me of what it was like working at the Cork N Cleaver…. Where odd and interesting people that you’d never meet in your daily routine would roll in and out of the bar area. The Stroh’s guy… big Dave Wells…. Mike Lewis… People that had great stories and were just fascinating in their odd ordinary ways. The song also has a killer piano line… I really like the song.
23 Man in the Mirror (Michael Jackson) Much has been written about the gloved one… his multiple surgeries in an attempt to turn him into a middle aged white guy… his preference for the intimate company of little boys… his bazaar and strange habits. Lost in all that is the simple fact that he was an amazing singer… dancer and songwriter. I think the message in this song is great… I love that he uses a choir… and I think his vocals are strong. Jacko has done some great work… I think this is his Stairway To Heaven.
22 Lose Yourself (Eminem) Nervous energy…. Fear of failure and a desperate desire to get out of a crappy living environment. Wrap those emotions around a strong guitar riff… an incredible beat… and a white guy rapping to it all and you have Lose Yourself. This is Eminem’s best work and it’s a song that absolutely captures a feeling and a mood that we’ve all felt at one point or another…
21 Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters (Elton John) Elton’s been on the countdown a couple of time already, this is his highest reaching tune. It’s just a neat song with great vocals. It captures a mood.
Uncle Rich, you've done your best make my top 20 appear all over your countdown.. great choices. I love rappers delight, light my fire, and piano man. #'s 21 and 20 are not done yet..
Binks has 4 songs that I previously ranked. I think the biggest omission on my list is that I have no rap but being a bit older than Rich and a lot older than Judd I think that's a generational thing. I do think Bust a Move is a classic and can remember the first time I ever heard Rappers Delight - let's just say you knew you were hearing something different. Look for my next installment later tonight.
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