86. What is Life by George Harrison

"What is Life" by George Harrison

Written by George Harrison
Produced by George Harrison and Phil Spector
Released on All Things Must Pass (November 27, 1970)
Released as single on February 15, 1971
Peaked at #10 on Billboard Hot 100
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My top 100 contains no Beatles songs, no Paul McCartney songs, and no John Lennon songs, but it does contain this one George Harrison song. I'm sorry if this offends anyone. (The list does include two Lennon/McCartney compositions covered by other artists, if that is any sort of consolation.) There were a couple of Beatles songs and a couple Lennon solo tunes I considered for the list, but ultimately, I ran out of space. It's just 100 songs.

As great as the Beatles were, and as much as I love a lot of their music, there wasn't one song of theirs that stood above the rest and merited inclusion here. That happened with a few other bands that I really love. Radiohead, the Allman Brothers, the Black Crowes, Bon Jovi, TV on the Radio, and the Beatles are great bands, who produced great albums, but ultimately none of them have that one song that I had to have on my list. (There are more bands I could mention here, that are missing from my list, but I can't list everyone.) Sometimes lists like this become less about what made the list and more about what is missing. I certainly feel that way about a number of songs and artists.

I was first introduced to George Harrison in the late 1980's when his cover of "Got My Mind Set on You" hit #1. I really hate that song, but it was everywhere, and the music video was played constantly on MTV. I don't know when I learned that Harrison had been in the Beatles, but it was certainly around this time. Eventually I found tunes of his that I actually liked, including quite a few of his Beatles compositions.

"What is Life" rocks. The opening guitar lick exudes fire and energy. While I'm not always a fan of Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" production, here it brings even more exuberance to a melody that is already pure joy and wants everyone else in the room to shout and sing and feel that joy too. It's impossible to hear this song and not want to get up and do something. I'm pumped right now just thinking about it.

Right now "What is Life" by George Harrison is (probably) my 86th favorite song of all time.

87. Ghostwhirl (feat. MF Doom) (Remix) by Jonathan Toth from Hoth

"Ghostwhirl (Remix)" by Jonathan Toth from Hoth feat. MF Doom

Written by Jonathan Getzchman and MF Doom
Produced by DJ Crucial
Released on Ghostwhirl (single) (2005)
Warning: Explicit Lyrics
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Jonathan Getzchman (aka Jonathan Toth from Hoth or J-Toth) went to my high school. He's older than me, so I didn't know him then, but I got to know him after college when he started rapping. I was introduced to him by two of his collaborators (who I did know in high school): an artist named Peter Seay (aka Calc2) and another rapper named Tucker Booth (aka Tucker Booth). After college, I spent most of the next five years as a camp counselor, working at a few different camps throughout the year in Missouri and Michigan. When I wasn't working, I would try to find time to come to St. Louis to visit friends and family. During many of those trips, I would end up attending one or more local hip hop shows with Calc2, Tucker Booth, and J-Toth. It was a fun time in my life.

I really enjoyed being around a ton of cool, talented, driven people trying to make a go of it as musicians and artists, and J-Toth was squarely in the middle of it all. He had his own home recording studio and record label called the Frozen Food Section. Quite a few artists used his studio and label to record and produce their records. It was all sweat, spit, and Pro-Tools.

Something that really set J-Toth apart was that he had real goals. He actually had a big poster made listing his goals like tracks on a CD. It sat right in the middle of his apartment/recording studio. One of those goals was to collaborate with quite possibly the biggest name in underground hip hop, MF Doom.

Looking back, it's hard to believe that J-Toth actually made it happen. This was a big deal, and not only did he make it happen, but he managed to produce a pretty darn good track out of it. It's a great song, and I feel strongly that I would feel that way even if I didn't know J-Toth. The original version of the song is on his Lovecycle album, which is a concept album about John's love life. While the album version is excellent, it's almost impossible to not enjoy DJ Crucial's remix more. (Using one of the most iconic guitar intros of all time as a sample is kind of unfair.) Jonathan Getzchman had a dream, made it a goal, put in the work, and made that dream a reality.

Right now "Ghostwhirl (Remix)" by Jonathan Toth from Hoth feat. MF Doom is (probably) my 87th favorite song of all time.

88. I Wonder by Chris Isaak

"I Wonder" by Chris Isaak

Written by Chris Issak
Produced by Erik Jacobsen
Released on Baja Sessions (October 8, 1996)
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I heard this song for the first time while watching the movie Tin Cup. Up until that point the only Chris Isaak song I knew was "Wicked Game" because of its somewhat scandalous music video that had enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV in the early 1990's. I loved "I Wonder" from the moment I heard it, and as a result, I will always associate it, for better or worse, with Tin Cup.

I really enjoyed Tin Cup the first few times I saw it. It features peak Kevin Costner and some noteworthy supporting players. Kevin Costner's character, Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy, is a near perfect film character: He's easy to love and just as easy to hate. He is the noble loser, who has grown comfortable with the fact that the world doesn't really need him anymore. We are given the illusion that maybe he could have been and maybe still can breakthrough and find greatness, but just when it looks like he actually managed to change and find salvation, we are given one of the most devastatingly satisfying losses in sports movie history. McAvoy's near capture of the US Open is magical. Many moments like that are directed and portrayed in a way that force me to want to look away. Not here. Here I cannot help but watch McAvoy's unraveling. 

Tin Cup has a problem though. As great as Costner's McAvoy is, the female lead, Dr. Molly Griswold, played by Rene Russo, is the absolute worst type of female character. The sad thing is, I wasn't able to figure this out on my own. A friend who was watching the movie with me had to wake me up to it. Tin Cup is a movie was made by men, about men, and for men. Dr. Molly Griswold is the biggest wet-blanket love interest ever written. We are given the briefest moment of hope when her character is first introduced, that she will be the strong woman that McAvoy needs to turn his life around and finally realize the potential that is locked up inside of himself. After that first brief interaction, however, it is just as quickly revealed that she is the most helpless and love-lost woman of them all. Of course she is in love with a jerk but can't see it. Of course she lets herself get talked into an ethically compromising "professional" relationship with another man. Of course she needs a man to help her find meaningful success both personally and professionally. It's shameful.

Everything is centered around Roy. He never has to change. The final sequence fits right in with who he is and will always be. He cannot literally or figuratively lay up, even when it is clearly the best path to victory. We, as viewers, get to bask in his inability to change and his need to prove himself as he stoically throws away personal glory. Molly just gets to be the weak woman who finally finds empowerment through her man.

Tin Cup is not a unique movie. There are probably thousands of female characters in all types of media who fit this mold. Dr. Molly Griswold is just another woman who can't see that her significant other is a jerk, when it is obvious to everyone else. She's just another woman who finally lets go of her inhibitions because she finds the right man. She's just another woman trying to help others put their lives in order, when she's the one whose life is a mess.

If you think I might be off base in my critique of Tin Cup (I'm not), give it a watch (or a re-watch) and let me know what you find out.

Of course, the only reason I care so much about this movie is because of the song. "I Wonder" is fantastic, in the movie and anywhere else it chooses to be heard. Chris Isaak wrote a perfect song. It manages to be both sad and hopeful. Isaak's lyrics and melody paint a picture of pain and regret. Will things ever be the same? Will they ever be as good as they once were? Sometimes we can only wonder and hope and pray. I'm not sure how he found that perfect lyrical balance, but he did. Then he wrapped those lyrics in a melody that is just as hopeful and just as sad.

Right now "I Wonder" by Chris Isaak is (probably) my 88th favorite song of all time.

89. Sweet Thing by Van Morrison

"Sweet Thing" by Van Morrison

Written by Van Morrison
Produced by Lewis Merenstein
Released on Astral Weeks (November 29, 1968)
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Today I'm going to share some gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I am grateful for my family. My family is spread out across the country, but they have always opened their doors and arms to me. I love my family.

I am grateful for my friends. I don't always do the best job keeping in touch with all of my friends, but I am eternally grateful to the people who have welcomed me into their lives throughout the years. I cherish the time I have been able to spend with each of you, and I am already looking forward to next time, whenever that might be.

I am grateful for my students, both present and past. I have learned so much from you. Hopefully you have learned something too.

I am especially grateful for the international students I have had over the years. You have helped me to gain a greater awareness to the wide world around me. I have appreciated the chance to see how our differences make us stronger, and that we are all truly one great human family.

I am grateful for the opportunity to work with so many fantastic people. It is hard for me to imagine a better group of colleagues than those who work with me now. Thank you for putting up with me and for helping me when I need it. It is humbling to be surrounded by so many brilliant educators.

I am grateful for basketball and the opportunity to coach. I am nearing a decade of coaching, which is hard to believe. Seeing my students grow and overcome adversity on the court is a true privilege.

I am grateful for music and all the beauty that people have shared with the world through their music. Any music that has helped someone experience something sublime is special, regardless of whether I enjoy it or not.

And finally, I am grateful for my pillow: can't get a good night's sleep without it.

I am also grateful for Van Morrison, for writing and recording "Sweet Thing." I don't have much to say about it besides that it is wonderful. It is certainly my favorite Van Morrison song. Critics and popular radio stations might choose other songs of his first, but for me this is his finest work.

"Sweet Thing" by Van Morrison is (probably) my 89th favorite song of all time.

90. Changes by Black Sabbath

"Changes" by Black Sabbath

Music by Black Sabbath (Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward)
Lyrics by Geezer Butler
Produced by Black Sabbath and Patrick Meehan
Released on Vol. 4 (September 25, 1972)
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I first got turned onto "Changes" through this YouTube video of Charles Bradley covering it live in studio. It's a cool video of a soul singer doing a song by a prototypically metal band. While Black Sabbath are the Godfathers of Heavy Metal, "Changes" is not heavy metal. As a ballad, it's actually closer to soul. The first time I listened to Black Sabbath's version, I'm not sure I knew what to think. Why did the band who invented heavy metal, put down their guitars and produce a piano ballad?

Before I go any further into why this song is on my top 100 list, I feel the need to say something. I don't like Ozzy Osbourne. His solo work is terrible (with the exception of "Crazy Train"). I can't listen to his voice for too long before it starts to grate on me, but he is a founding member of one of the greatest bands of all time. I don't know much about how he contributed to their songwriting process (their bassist Geezer Butler wrote almost all their lyrics), but Black Sabbath wrote and recorded some amazing, timeless music. The power of the music they produced is so massive and compelling, that I ended up with two of their songs my top 100, despite what I just said about Ozzy. (The other song of theirs on my list is much more emblematic of their general oeuvre.)

As important as Black Sabbath is as a band in the greater history of rock music, and as much as Ozzy Osbourne annoys me, I'm not sure that either of those things has much to do with why this song is currently one of the 100 favorite songs.  "Changes" just speaks to me. It is a break up song. It's lyrics are simple, sad, and true. Sometimes simple, sad, and true is all a song or poem needs.

I also think that "Changes" is a great example of a fantastic song that was made into an imperfect record. While the song is fantastic (as Charles Bradley displayed), Black Sabbath's record is flawed. The piano part could swing just a bit more. The strings might be a little over the top. Someone other than Ozzy could be singing. Even with all of those apparent flaws, when this song comes on my playlist, I still find myself happy to listen. The song itself is good enough, that it can overcome a lack of vision and execution in the recording studio.

I love this song. I may not love if forever, but right now I do. If I remade this list tomorrow, I'm not sure that this song would still be on it. Right now, though, when I listen to it, it still feels great. I still love it.

Right now "Changes" by Black Sabbbath is (probably) my 90th favorite song of all time.

91. Two Weeks by Grizzly Bear

"Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear

Written by Ed Droste, Daniel Rossen, Chris Taylor, Christopher Bear
Produced by Chris Taylor
Released on Veckatimest (May 26, 2009)
Released as single on June 1, 2009
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Released in 2009, "Two Weeks" is the most recently produced song on my top 100 list. Growing up, I never expected to be out of touch with popular music. Even when I was getting into classic rock, I still listened to and was aware of new music that was out there. Sometimes it was just to scoff at it. Sometimes there was cool stuff that I liked. Now, I simply don't really care. How did this happen?

My parents were both fans of music. My dad grew up listening to the great swing bands of his youth and continued listening to jazz throughout his early adulthood. When I started playing the saxophone in elementary school, he told me about his favorite alto player, Paul Desmond, who famously played for the Dave Brubeck Quartet. My dad loved the Time Out album (released in 1959). Even his love of jazz had its limits though. When I played in the jazz band at Lindenwood, he got really annoyed that my band director only had us playing more modern stuff. He even went so far as to donate charts to the university for some swing classics. I'm pretty sure his musical tastes never ventured very far out of the 1950s.

My mom is a little different. She was in high school when the Beatles played on The Ed Sullivan Show. At the time, my mom was attending a boarding school, so all the girls were down in the dorm living room watching on the communal TV. The way my mom told it, once the Beatles started playing, just like the girls in the audience, most of the girls in the dorm started screaming. My mom was not one of those girls. She actually wanted to hear the music, so she tried to tell the other girls to be quiet. Her efforts unfortunately were fruitless.

My mom continued listening to music into the late sixties and seventies. She was more aware than my dad of what was happening in music when I was growing up. I remember her being the one to tell me when we were living in New Jersey that Bon Jovi and Whitney Houston were both from New Jersey too. She at least had a finger to the pulse. She certainly wasn't listening to the same stuff I was, but she was still finding music she enjoyed. Even now, she loves supporting local jazz artists and inspirational music, including the work of my amazing sister (her step daughter) Julia Wade. Keep up the great work sis!

As I got older, my tastes evolved, and I continued looking for more music. Whether it was something new or something old that I had missed, the search never seemed to stop. There was too much beauty and artistry to ignore. I kept buying CDs and mp3s and cultivating playlists. But then, sometime around the time I turned 30, it stopped mattering as much. I had my collection, and it seemed like it was enough. Sure I would buy some music occasionally, but it was often stuff that I had wanted previously, but just hadn't bought yet; just rounding out my collection. Not much new music.

If someone asked for my opinion of the greatest albums of each decade from the 60s on, I could at least come up with decent answers for each of the decades up until our current decade. I'm not even sure I could name 10 albums from the 2010s. There are a handful of albums from the first few years  of the decade, but after that only "Awaken, My Love!" by Childish Gambino has made any sort of impact on me. I've become my father. I'm content with the music I like, and that's about all I need.

What happened to me? How did I become this shell of a music lover? Will I ever care about new music again? Every passing year I feel like I can relate more and more to Abe Simpson's classic quote:

I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you.

So here I am, writing about my favorite songs, and everything is old. Only 17 out of my top 100 were released after the oldest student I am currently teaching was born, and (of course) that number can only get smaller.

But this song, "Two Weeks" is fantastic, regardless of when it was released. It has magical harmonies and a chill vibe. Grizzly Bear are a bit avant-garde, and I haven't found much more from them that I like, but "Two Weeks" is simply awesome.

Right now "Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear is (probably) my 91st favorite song of all time.

92. Ozzie Guillen by Serengeti

"Ozzie Guillen" by Serengeti

Written by David Cohen
Produced by Midas Wells
Released on Dennehy (2006)
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I first met Serengeti sometime around 2004 or 2005. He had just played a show at the Hi-Pointe in St. Louis. I went with a few of my friends who were more familiar with him than I was. One of them had played me a bootlegged version of his song "Dennehy," which was both hilarious and excellent.

After the show, outside the venue, I was talking with Midas Wells, one of Serengeti's collaborators. I mentioned how much I loved "Dennehy." He was like, cool, I produced that. Then he mentioned that he had produced an entire album for Serengeti. I said cool. He handed me Noticeably Negro. I handed him 15 bucks. Everyone went home happy.

Come to think of it, I'm not sure that I actually met Serengeti that night. I'm starting to wonder if I ever talked to him. I definitely met Midas Wells, but I'm not sure if Serengeti was there when we talked. I might have been introduced to him before the show, but I'm not sure.

At that time, I was spending most of the year in Michigan, so when I was in St. Louis, I was spending as much time as I could with my best friend. What he was spending a lot of his time doing was live art at local hip-hop shows. He was doing this primarily for a couple of guys we had gone to high school with, who were now trying to make it as rappers. It was a fun time, and a scene I never would have expected to get heavily involved with. I met a bunch of really cool people, got to hang out back stage a few times, and listened to some really cool local music and occasionally some not so good local music. Serengeti, even though he was from Chicago, had collaborated with some of these local guys I was getting to know. This is why I think I met him at some point, but because neither of us were living full-time in St. Louis then, I might not have.

Here's what I do remember. At the time of that show of his that I went to see, "Dennehy" had not yet been officially released, but it had been passed around a ton. When Serengeti was doing his set, in between songs, people in the crowd kept yelling for "Dennehy." I could tell he didn't really want to, or at least hadn't planned to. Finally towards the end of his set, once it seemed that everyone in that tight crowd was chanting for it, he did went ahead and signaled for his DJ to play the track. The crowd went bananas and Serengeti started rapping. At one point, as I'm rapping along, I realized that he couldn't remember all the lyrics. I swear he started looking at me, expecting me to help him with the lyrics, but I didn't know all the words either. It was kind of a disaster, but it didn't really matter. The people heard "Dennehy," everyone loved it too much to care, and we all went home happy.

I don't love everything that Serengeti has released. His Noticeably Negro album, that I mentioned earlier, was good, and had a couple songs that I liked, but overall it was not quite my style. When he finally released a Dennehy album, I was excited and picked it up. It too is hit and miss, but has more stuff I like including a few more songs where Serengeti puts on his 'Kenny' persona like he did for "Dennehy." Kenny is basically one of those guys from the old SNL Super-Fan skits: a mustached, brat-eating Chicago sports fan. Apparently that guy also loves the movies of the great Brian Dennehy. I'm not sure I would have put that together, but now that I think about it, it makes pretty good sense.

"Ozzie Guillen" takes that Kenny character to the next level. I love the laid back beat and the flow of the story. I love that in the wake of the White Sox' World Series triumph, he can't help but scream Ozzie Guillen's name. I love that he drinks O'Doul's, and I love that he loves his wife. It's a happy song and a funny song and it makes me smile when I hear it. It also reminds me of a crazy time in my life when I was an underground St. Louis hip hop super-fan.

Right now "Ozzie Guillen" by Serengeti is (probably) my 92nd favorite song of all time.