I don't love all music, but the music I like, I love.
A couple of years ago a friend of mine celebrated his 40th birthday by posting his top 100 songs of all time to his Facebook page. I thought this was pretty cool, and I immediately started to think about what songs would end up on my list for my 40th birthday
I went deep. I listened to literally every song in my collection. I scoured Spotify. I listened to other people's lists. I wanted to make sure that I had not missed or forgotten something. I had fun listening to music because listening to music is fun. I did not have nearly as much fun making the list. It is nearly impossible to rank songs. It is also really hard to limit it to just 100. There are about 35 more songs I really wanted to include on the list.
I have not yet completed my 40th trip around the sun, but my list is done. Well, that's a lie. No rational person could possibly say "this is my absolute, definitive list of my 100 favorite songs." Tastes change. New songs are discovered or produced. I will never be totally sure if this list is really my top 100. There are multiple songs that will not be on this list that were at one time in my life my favorite song: "I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown; "Fight for Your Right" by Beastie Boys; "Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi; "Life Goes On" by Poison; "Highway Chile" by Jimi Hendrix; "Alive" by Pearl Jam, for instance. I still like those songs, but there was a time and a place for them. Tastes do change.
So between now and July 23, 2020, I will be writing about the songs on my list. I do not know whether I will write about each song. I do not know what I will write about each song. I imagine most of these will actually be about me and less about the song itself. I am using this as an opportunity to share with anyone who wants to read, some stories about my favorite music and about my life. Stay for as much as you would like, or come back this summer to see the whole list.
Before I get to the list, here are a few fun facts about the top 100:
All the songs on my list were released between 1963 and 2009. Apparently I have not listened to music for the last 10 years.
Eight songs released in 1970 are on my list making it the most represented year. 35 songs were released in the 1970's making it my favorite decade. Clearly I listen to too much KSHE 95.
45 of the songs were released before I was born.
I will probably cheat and include a 101st song.
Led Zeppelin has three songs on the list. Nine other bands made it on the list twice.
Ten of the songs are covers or songs written entirely by someone other than the recording artist.
Three songs are over ten minutes in length. The longest song on the list clocks in at 11:04. The shortest song on the list is only 1 minute and 25 seconds long. The median song length is 4:23, while the longer songs push the mean length up to 4:42.
One song was originally released on a movie soundtrack.
Only two albums have multiple songs on my list.
Five of the songs are live versions.
Four of the songs were released posthumously.
Nine songs are labeled explicit by Spotify. (I would label a few other songs explicit too, but I guess standards have changed.)
So between now and July 23, 2020, I will be writing about the songs on my list. I do not know whether I will write about each song. I do not know what I will write about each song. I imagine most of these will actually be about me and less about the song itself. I am using this as an opportunity to share with anyone who wants to read, some stories about my favorite music and about my life. Stay for as much as you would like, or come back this summer to see the whole list.
Before I get to the list, here are a few fun facts about the top 100:
All the songs on my list were released between 1963 and 2009. Apparently I have not listened to music for the last 10 years.
Eight songs released in 1970 are on my list making it the most represented year. 35 songs were released in the 1970's making it my favorite decade. Clearly I listen to too much KSHE 95.
45 of the songs were released before I was born.
I will probably cheat and include a 101st song.
Led Zeppelin has three songs on the list. Nine other bands made it on the list twice.
Ten of the songs are covers or songs written entirely by someone other than the recording artist.
Three songs are over ten minutes in length. The longest song on the list clocks in at 11:04. The shortest song on the list is only 1 minute and 25 seconds long. The median song length is 4:23, while the longer songs push the mean length up to 4:42.
One song was originally released on a movie soundtrack.
Only two albums have multiple songs on my list.
Five of the songs are live versions.
Four of the songs were released posthumously.
Nine songs are labeled explicit by Spotify. (I would label a few other songs explicit too, but I guess standards have changed.)
Anyway, let's get this started!
Here is a link to the list (which will be updated with each song as I write about them).
My Top 100 Songs
Here is a link to the list (which will be updated with each song as I write about them).
My Top 100 Songs
very well written, and I love the humor, which is to be expected from you!
ReplyDeleteNice! This is such a fun project.
ReplyDelete