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I’m about to rip off two of David Israel’s popular running features, On Music and Tuesday Turnip. Apologies in advance.
Some friends of mine are working with internet radio station LuxuriaMusic to compile a list of the best songs for getting you “in the mood.” This started a discussion about lists ranking the best songs of all-time, which I’m going to carry over to the blog (dancing into David’s “On Music” territory).
Rolling Stone came out with The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time issue in 2004. 
Here’s their Top Ten:
1. “Like a Rolling Stone,” Bob Dylan
2. “Satisfaction,” The Rolling Stones
3. “Imagine,” John Lennon
4. “What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye
5. “Respect,” Aretha Franklin
6. “Good Vibrations,” The Beach Boys
7. “Johnny B. Goode,” Chuck Berry
8. “Hey Jude,” The Beatles
9. “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Nirvana
10. “What’d I Say,” Ray Charles
But you don’t need to publish a rock magazine to make your own list. By typing “greatest songs of all time” into Google – part two of this two-part homage to David Israel – I found plenty more.
• 100 Years…100 Songs: America’s Best Movie Music (AFI)
1. “Over the Rainbow,” The Wizard of Oz
2. “As Time Goes By,” Casablanca
3. “Singin’ in the Rain,” Singin’ in the Rain
4. “Moon River,” Breakfast at Tiffany’s
5. “White Christmas,” Holiday Inn
• Virgin Radio (UK) Top 500
1. “Chasing Cars,” Snow Patrol
2. “Iris,” The Goo Goo Dolls
3. “One,” U2
4. “Wonderwall,” Oasis
5. “I Predict A Riot,” Kaiser Chiefs
• The Rock Czar’s Top 100 Indie Rock Songs
1. “Float On,” Modest Mouse
2. “Slow Hands,” Interpol
3. “Take Me Out,” Franz Ferdinand
4. “Neighborhood #1,” The Arcade Fire
5. “Time is Running Out,” Muse
• HearYa, an indie music blog, has its Top 100 Indie Songs of All Time (all songs were originally released on an indie label)
1. “Live Wire,” Motley Crue
2. “Lake of Fire,” Meat Puppets
3. “Sitting Still,” R.E.M.
4. “Spirit Walker,” The Cult
5. “I Will Dare,” The Replacements
• One Hit Wonder Central’s Top 100 One Hit Wonders
1. “Into the Night,” Benny Mardones
2. “Tighter, Tighter,” Alive and Kicking
3. “I Wanna Be Rich,” Calloway
4. “House of the Rising Sun,” Frijid Pink
5. “Sh-Boom,” The Chords
(these rankings will change based on what people are searching on their site)
• Australasian Performing Right Association’s Top 100 New Zealand Songs of All Time
1. “Nature,” Fourmyula
2. “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” Crowded House
3. “Loyal,” Dave Dobbyn
4. “Counting The Beat,” Swingers
5. “Six Months In A Leaky Boat,” Split Enz
(Do we have any readers from New Zealand? Let us know. We’ve got some Kiwi-centric stuff in the works.)
• Finally, Alaska Jim has the ultimate list of these kinds of lists. He pointed me to Spin Magazine’s Top 100 Most Representative Funk Songs (”Sex Machine” by James Brown is #1), the Top 300 Songs 1998-2004 (”Everybody Here Wants You” by Jeff Buckley) and Kylie Minogue’s Top 75 (”Breathe” takes top honors).
So, if you want to share your favorite chart, we’d love to hear it. Or go contribute to the one LuxuriaMusic is putting together.
This may be a small thing, but in the case of “Float On” by Modest Mouse being a number one indie rock song, I think it should be written as: Modest Mouse’s cover of “Float on” by the Floaters.
You may sing it well, but give a little credit where it’s due. Anyone else heard the Floaters latest song?
Yeah, me either…
posted by Emily on 9-26-2007 at 2:58 pm
Kiwi reader!
posted by Rob on 9-26-2007 at 3:03 pm
An homage to me? Gosh darn… I’m blushing. These lists are pretty fun. But how can Rolling Stone put the words “of all time” in there without including Puccini? He wrote a few hit songs in his day. Maybe they don’t realize that aria is song in Italian. Hmmm.
My top 10 varies with my moods but at least two songs are always in there somewhere: “Roundabout” by Yes (even tho the lyrics are uninspired) and “Rose Parade” by Elliott Smith. Also, the theme song from Friends…har har (oh admit it already… you love it too.)
posted by David on 9-26-2007 at 3:20 pm
Well I’m feeling pretty hip, since I have copies of the top 5 indie rock songs (according to the Rock Czar list). Of course, these lists (especially the Rolling Stone one) are generally bull crap, but still.
And as for the top songs for getting “in the mood”? The number 1 most sex-ful song in the history of music is absolutely “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails.
posted by Sara on 9-26-2007 at 4:31 pm
Kiwi reader here. What, no Flight of the Conchords in the top 5?
posted by josh on 9-26-2007 at 4:57 pm
top songs for getting in the mood-
time of the season - the zombies
anything by portishead
NIN is a good one as well
posted by ac on 9-26-2007 at 5:19 pm
The Rolling Stone list is crap to me, but I was glad to see Dusty Springfield and Jeff Buckley on there. Otherwise, it’s all down to personal taste. I don’t like Led Zeppelin, so I hate seeing so many of their songs on there. And why the hell was 96 Tears on there? I do like to read these lists though. I’d throw some Squeeze on there, but wouldn’t expect it to stick at Rolling Stone….
posted by Kitty on 9-26-2007 at 6:23 pm
Is it just me, or is Nirvana totally overrated??? Don’t get me wrong, I love Dave Grohl….but Kurt Cobain was right when he said that it was better to burn out than fade away…because that’s what would’ve happened to him. Like I said, just my opinion.
posted by Sonja on 9-26-2007 at 7:50 pm
I agree with David–if you’re going for best music “of all time,” you definitely will have to include some of the opera and classical singers/musicians. Honestly, they had some pretty big hits in their day. Not that some of us don’t still like them. :)
I’m from Texas, but I like Flight of the Conchords, too! Also, I agree that Nirvana is overrated…
posted by Amber on 9-26-2007 at 8:31 pm
With the exception of Nirvana, the top 10 of the Rolling Stone list looks more like a best of the 60’s compilation than best of all time.
I like Nirvana quite abit, but now that I think about it, Nirvana really looks out of place in that list.
I guess since Billboard didn’t start really tracking music until 1955, it makes sense.
posted by Dan on 9-26-2007 at 8:56 pm
To Emily: You must be thinking of a different song. The Modest Mouse song Float On is a Modest Mouse song, not a cover.
posted by Aimee D on 9-26-2007 at 9:07 pm
Where is Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies?
posted by FISHLEGBOOTS on 9-26-2007 at 11:15 pm
Based on the list posted, I have to ask “in the mood for *what*?” “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Satisfaction” and “Johnny B. Goode” seem like the type of songs that would get you in the mood for dancing, and I don’t mean horizontally.
In terms of songs that make you feel frisky, I tend to lean towards “Love is the Drug” by Roxy Music, “Here I Am, Come and Take Me” by Al Green, “It’s Ecstasy (When You Lay Down Next to Me)” by Barry White, and “Moving in Stereo” by the Cars.
posted by Kara on 9-26-2007 at 11:30 pm
Uh, that first indie list is a little odd, seeing as “Float On” was released on a MAJOR LABEL and is therefore not an independent at all. I immediately discounted anything on that list after #1… especially because that is not even close to one of the best Modest Mouse songs. Come on!
I’m also pretty sure that most, if not all, of the bands from the rock czar list are also on major labels. What a joke.
posted by Suzanne on 9-27-2007 at 12:08 am
LOVE to see that Jeff Buckley was on somebody’s list. In my opinion, more of a tragic loss than Kobain was…
posted by Yerg on 9-27-2007 at 5:39 am
Suzanne, I agree about the Rock Czar list. I mean, seven or so songs by The Killers and no Pavement? Or Cat Power? Or Yo La Tengo? Or Stone Roses? Or anything released on Sub Pop? How are The Killers indie? Or Franz Ferdinand? Or any band that is on Epic or Island?
For what it’s worth, I think the lists are made from one person’s personal playlist. And apparently, that person doesn’t know what “indie” means.
posted by Amanda on 9-27-2007 at 10:13 am
Kiwi also.
posted by Lance on 9-27-2007 at 12:20 pm
I put together a list of the top 10 driving albums of all time because picking individual songs can be a brutal task for any music junkie.
posted by Jon on 9-27-2007 at 12:47 pm
@kara: the songs you were referring to were from Rolling Stone’s Top Songs of All Time - you have to click on the LuxuriaMusic link to get to the “in the mood” list
@everyone: I think VH1 countdowns are always good for lists like this - 1 Hit Wonders, etc
posted by sd on 9-27-2007 at 12:48 pm
ps - im in love with FoTC - it’s a very recent obsession, but I can’t wait for a blog about them, if that’s what you’re hinting at!
posted by sd on 9-27-2007 at 12:48 pm
I actually like the rock czar’s list a lot even though it doesn’t have many “true” indie bands. All of the bands listed were once indie but sold out at some point. I am sure that all of the “true” indie bands out right now would love to be in their positions. There’s nothing wrong with making a lot of money in my opinion. Even if they did all sell out, they still make great music. The Rock Czar’s other lists represent a different musical taste, one that we should appreciate. Although my favorite list out of all of these would be the virgin radio UK list solely because it has Oasis in the top 5. :-)
posted by phil on 9-27-2007 at 7:51 pm
Another Kiwi reader!
posted by Adrienne on 10-1-2007 at 1:56 pm
I never once uttered the words “sold out” in my comment - you totally missed my point. The point that I was making was that it’s a little incongruous to make a “top indie songs” list and then proceed to list nothing but bands that are on major labels. I couldn’t care less that Modest Mouse is on a major label; I still love them. But that wasn’t my point.
I knew someone would bring that crap up… way to misunderstand me.
posted by Suzanne on 10-4-2007 at 6:56 pm
Kia Ora from NZ.
posted by floydigus on 10-18-2007 at 5:01 am