Best song of all time?
I’m getting old. According to a survey conducted by Triple J Radio, 500,000 ‘music lovers’ have voted Nirvana’s strange mix of grunge, punk & heavy metal the best song of all time - and I couldn’t disagree more.
Best song of all time? Give me a break, I know Nirvana are/were popular for a short while in the 90s recession – mainly because of their depressing lyrics and anti-social messages - but musically what they put out was crap and nothing more than a poor copy of Led Zeppelin crossed with Sex Pistols with a bit of Aerosmith thrown in for good measure – and I don’t rate any of those bands’ music either. Nirvana’s music even depressed their lead singer Kurt Cobain so much he blew his own head off about ten years ago. Well I guess he’d been doing that to everyone else so why not?
Anyway, here are the ‘Top 10 best songs of all time’ according to the survey. My ‘Top 10′ follows – you might notice a strong bias towards the 60s but, after all, that’s when most of the ‘good music’ was made :
Triple J Hottest 100 Of All Time, the top 10
- Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
- Rage Against the Machine – Killing In The Name
- Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah
- Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
- Radiohead – Paranoid Android
- Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
- Jeff Buckley – Last Goodbye
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge
- Foo Fighters – Everlong
- Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven
See what I mean? This is clearly a ‘Gen X’ list, i.e. compiled by those who had the misfortune to be born ‘after it was all over’. I also think it’s a bit strange how they’ve listed the artists 1st. and the songs 2nd. I thought it was about the songs?
Here’s my top 10 (feel free to give yours):
- Hey Jude – The Beatles (how could you not have them at no. 1 let alone leave The Beatles out of the top 10?)
- (I can’t get no) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones (how could any credible survey not list this in the top 10?)
- Roadhouse Blues – The Doors (Nirvana are crap compared to the original ’alternative’ band)
- (Ain’t nobody ever gonna steal my) Jelly Roll – Taj Mahal (You’d have to be a real Taj fan to even know this song)
- Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan (the greatest singer/songwriter ever)
- It’s A Man’s World – James Brown (how could you not include any soul music in the top 10?)
- My Generation – The Who (this song defined ALL generations)
- Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding (well, simply the greatest soloist ever)
- All Along The Watch Tower - Bob Dylan’s original or Jimi Hendrix’s cover (as good as each other)
- Respect – Aretha Franklin (voice of the century, although Otis Redding’s original was just as good)
Contact: ray@grevilleagardens.com
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Raymond, the lack of a mention of Don McLean in that lot makes it all rather pointless.
Ray, I see you’ve read my Twitter comment on the JJJ 100 about Gen X. What a croc. Did Taj Mahal sing “”You don’t miss your water”? Loved that song.
What is it with Jeff Buckley anyway?
I’ll have a think about mine but I know it will include “My girl”.
Ray Ray Ray. You are getting old. Here’s a top 12 to provoke some talkin:
1. Penny Lane — The Beatles
2. Waterloo Sunset — The Kinks*
3. Little Wing — Jimi Hendrix
4. A Big Day In the North — Black Grape
5. You Turn Me On I’m a Radio — Joni Mitchell
6. Flame Trees — Cold Chisel
7. Suddenly I See — KT Tunstall
8. Invitation to the Blues — Tom Waits
9. Flame — Bob Evans
10 Statesboro Blues — Allman Brothers
11 Don’t Wanna Know ’bout Evil — John Martyn/Beth Orton
12 Mario’s Cafe — Saint Etienne
* Paul Keating’s all-time fave also, he once said.
Nirvana “Smells Like Team Spirit” is a fantastic song.
If you like banging your head mindlessly against a wall.
JB, I defy you to recite one line from it without looking it up. It’s incoherent screaming gibberish.
Btw, it’s “teen” spirit, isn’t it?
Probably been adopted by a footy club. Best place for it.
Poor JB, he missed out on the 60s.
It is, yes, sorry. But I seriously rate the song and the band. Go buy the MTV unplugged concert (or download it) and you will be surprised at how great this band was without the “incoherent screaming gibberish”.
“I feel stupid and contagious Here we are now Entertain us”.
Mind you, my favourate band is Guns and Roses. I think “Sweet Child of Mine” should have been in the top ten. I also love the Beatles stuff and I agree on “Waterloo Sunset” which is just magic.
The fact is that most generations don’t understand the music of others. Remember, your parents thought that all you were listening to as a kid was noise!
As an item of interest, Levi’s use music in their ads. The music they use is the music their target audience were listening to at 21 or so. This is apparently an individuals “peak” time for listening to and following music.
I’d rather listen to Eric Clapton – amplified or unplugged, you can understand him. And can he play or what? Another great from the 60s who has stood the test of time and is still going strong (he didn’t blow his head off either!)
Btw, I reckon the Kinks had better songs than ‘Waterloo Sunset’.
He is amazing and still going. Saw him in the George Harrision tribute concert and he was great.
Despite our musical differences, I think we can agree that there has been little good music come out since the 1990’s ended!
Correction, JB: There has been little good music come out since the
1990’s1960s ended!My list – not claiming they’re the hottest, but favourites
1. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
2. My Girl – Temptations
3. Substitute – The Who
4. Visions of Johanna – Bob Dylan
5. Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel
6. My Sharona – The Knack
7. Catch the Wind – Donovan
8. Throw Your Arms Around Me – Hunters and Collectors
9. Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann (Paul Jones – sexiest voice of the century)
10. Geronimo – The Shadows
11. Massachusetts – Bee Gees
12. Orange Blossom Special – Johnny Cash
13. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Any More – Walker Bros
15. Hey Jude/Something – Beatles
16. The Streak – Ray Stevens (deathless favourite)
Probably be a different list tomorrow – who can choose so few? However Stairway to Heaven would NEVER be on it.
Yeah Rox I’d struggle to list a Top 200 without changing it five minutes later. Apart from Penny Lane and Waterloo Sunset (which really are my top two) the other ten just happened to be on the first ten CDs I picked up!
I think Nirvana were a great band Ray, but Teen Spirit greatest ever? Hmm. Well, not for me. Maybe somewhere in the top 50.
Want my comments on those, Rox? Well, you’re going to get them! :
1. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen Zzzzzzzzz… Cohen sends me to sleep, not a patch on Dylan
2. My Girl – Temptations Agree, but were the Temptations the original artists?
3. Substitute – The Who Absolutely agree
4. Visions of Johanna – Bob Dylan Not my favourite Dylan song by a long shot but Dylan has to be in the top 10
5. Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel Yeah, a classic
6. My Sharona – The Knack No. A one-hit, gimmicky wonder. No class
7. Catch the Wind – Donovan Hmm, I liked Donovan but don’t rate his work that high
8. Throw Your Arms Around Me – Hunters and Collectors Maybe in the Aussie top 10 but not world classs
9. Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann (Paul Jones – sexiest voice of the century) Well, their first hit ‘Do wa diddy diddy dum de do’ was better
10. Geronimo – The Shadows Er, Cliff’s backing band!! Good grief
11. Massachusetts – Bee Gees Yeah, I can’t really disagree with that. I liked ‘To love somebody’ better. Most wrongly maligned band ever. Real talent, very Beatles-like
12. Orange Blossom Special – Johnny Cash Nah, can’t have C&W in the ‘best ever’ no matter how good he was
13. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Any More – Walker Bros Pretty good, but way down my list
15. Hey Jude/Something – Beatles Oh, you got them in!
16. The Streak – Ray Stevens (deathless favourite) Please delete
What about the Stones?
Here’s another three surprise packets:
14. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_7Kp_TapA4
15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt5MWCwFhCI
16. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWrNCCx2p5U
I just checked it, Rox. ‘My girl’ WAS first recorded by The Temptations (in 1964) but it was written by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles … that’s what confused me.
That wasn’t in any particular order – how could I? Yep, agree with the Bee Gees substitute.
The Shadows one was more a representation – I they’re pretty much the only group whose instrumentals I liked.
And I left out Scott McKenzie – the voice of the sixties with San Francisco (or Old-Time Movie), and the Beach Boys, and Bob Seger and….
Notice how few women there are? Wonder why?
The Streak stays. My Sharona may have no class, but it’s a great rock song.
There were no women in JJJ’s top 100 either. I had Aretha in my top 10 and I think Tina Turner would make my top 100 for something. But I can’t think of any others.
I liked Roberta Flack’s “Killing me softly with his song”, cos it referred to Don McLean.
OK, JR, I’ll put them at #99 and #100.
Nowhere in living memory is there any mention of your charitable nature, Ray. Is there a reason?
Ok.. my 2 cents here
1. Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits
2. Time – Pink Floyd
3. The Wall – Pink Floyd
4. Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams
5. Money for Nothing – Dire Straits
6. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
7. Nights in White Satin – Moody Blues
8. Let It Be – Beatles
9. Highway Star – Deep Purple
10. Sound of Silence – Simon and Garfunkel
Not bad, Vijay, but #4 doesn’t cut it with me.
Yeah I missed out the sixties and am Gen X. My top 10 (and a top 10 is very difficult)
1. Ocean Colour Scene ”Get Blown Away”
2. Guns and Roses “Rocket Queen”
3. Beatles “Cry Baby Cry”
4. Pink Floyd “Comfortably Numb”
5. Dire Straits “Private Investigation”
5. Beatles “A Day in the Life”
6. Nine Inch Nails “Hurt”
7. Kinks “Waterloo Sunset”
8. Oasis “Live Forever”
9. Powder Finger “A Song Called Everything”
10. Guns and Roses “Coma”
Beatles “Cry Baby Cry” ???
What ???
I’ve never heard of it.
Hard to keep it down to just 10 but need to restrain myself and in no particular order:
1. Cinammon Girl – Neil Young
2. When you Dance – Neil Young
3. Old Man – Neil Young
4. Hey Hey My My / Rust Never Sleeps – Neil Young
5. Pardon My Heart – Neil Young
6. Like a Hurricane – Neil Young
7. Southern Man – Neil Young
8. Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World – Neil Young
9. Down By the River – Neil Young
10. Harvest – Neil Young
I could give the next 10 but only by special request
I like him too but …..
Not sure if it comes through but I reckon Neil Young is pretty unbelievably good.
I thought about doing my real top 10 but it would do my head in and when you don’t have a lot of neurons to play around with ……..
What about Helpless, Baldrick?
Some friends and I thrashed out some more last night but I can’t remember most of them, fortunateley, or we’d be here all year.
Ray, if I had to put a Stones song in it would be possibly Out of Time, but I preferred the Chris Farlowe version.
Tipping tonight boys.
Rox I saw Chris Farlowe in Germany last year with the Hamburg Blues Band in Bavaria. Farlowe is in his mid to late 60’s and was still belting out big tunes.
As to Helpless, as I said I could put in at least one other top 10 of Young’s ditties, mostly with Crazy Horse.
Reading his biography “Shaky” at the moment, a big and fascinating read. Not too many artists that have gone through nearly 4 decades and so many transformations but always returning to his roots, country folk and raw and loud rock and roll.
It appears that Young and Dylan are mutual survivors and close peers.
The Stones have a multitude of candidates “Sympathy for the Devil”, “Brown Sugar”, zilliions of them, where do you stop?
Oh no, not tipping time again! Can I take a leave pass? I’ve got a sick note
Oh no, not tipping time again! Can I take a leave pass?
No. Don’t ‘throw the towel in’ just because Geelong has. You have a duty.
QUOTE: “Not too many artists that have gone through nearly 4 decades and so many transformations but always returning to his roots, country folk and raw and loud rock and roll.”
Are you sure you’re not reading Don McLean’s bio, Baldrick?
I notice hardly any of you are commenting about ‘the winner’, Nirvana’s song. Have you played the video? What did you think of it? How about that ‘dancing’ in the audience – is that what they call ‘head banging’? Looks like it.
Cry Baby Cry is on the White Album.
Yeah I missed out the sixties and am Gen X
So you missed out on the “Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n Roll”, JB?
Actually, apart from the Rock ‘n Roll it was a myth that the 60s included a lot of sex & drugs. Sex was mainly in our minds and as for drugs, well it just wasn’t anywhere near as widespread as today and in fact extremely hard to find. There was a bit of MJ, LSD & ‘pep pills’ in some circles (mainly at the Unis) but 95% of people never came across the stuff.
Whoever said, “If you can remember the 60s you weren’t really there” wasn’t there himself. It was was pretty tame. Fun, but tame. The music was the biggest part of it – that and the anti-Vietnam protests.
It’s not a memorable one then. I thought I knew all the Beatles songs, JB.
its magic. Song by John. I like it anyway.
Don’t make me do that again Ray. Dreary and repetitive. Yes, I think that’s head-banging. On a par with interpretive dance.
The singer (Cobain) was a ‘head banger’ too – he blew it right off.
And the civil rights movement, the Kenndy and King assassinations, flower power and the peace movement, the rise of feminism and a general swing to the left politically, the counterculture, the moon landing, the breaking up of colonialism, Vatican II, the Saints winning the premiership in 1966.
I thought it was a giant of a decade.
Almost nailed it, Rox. Except you forgot Don McLean.
Most of that stuff you’re referring to happened overseas, Rox, a world away. I was really referring to what took place in OZ and (apart from the Saints in 66, and yes, I WAS there) there wasn’t a lot.
Well, there wasn’t as much as has been made out. The music venues were something else though.
Yeah, I loved it too but politically it was still very conservative with the Libs staying in power until 1972. Well, we couldn’t vote until then, remember?
I think JR’s a Don McLean fan. I didn’t like McLeans, I preferred Colgate.
Nice try jr, except American Pie came out in 1971, and nobody had heard of him before then. Full marks for trying though.
“Most of that stuff you’re referring to happened overseas, Rox, a world away.”
In Tasmania we had radios and TVs Ray. It sort of kept us up to date – and most of the good music was a world away too, but look at the impact it had. You’re right in saying that music pretty well defined the sixties.
Remember Ipana?
Ipana? Bucky Beaver? Unfortunately I do remember that.
My point was though, Rox, that it wasn’t all “sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll” as it’s been portrayed. It was mainly just the music. And I mean the local music too, that was pretty outstanding in those days (maybe not in Tassie though).
There was a cultural shift of course but mostly that was in the way we thought. And mostly that was influenced by what we saw on TV and heard on the radio.
Anyway, you must check out ‘Trevor’. See latest post. (He’s a Bombers man)
I’m already acquainted with Trev’s blog. It’s genius.
10 Statesboro Blues — Allman Brothers
Bertus, I just noticed this. Statesboro Blues is actually a Taj Mahal song, or at least he did the original (in about 1968 I believe).
Taj was an unheralded blues legend who left the industry for about 20 years (when disco and stuff like Michael Jackson took over) but made a return in the 90s when people finally realised how good he is/was.
I saw him live at The Mercury Lounge @ Crown Casino about 2001 and he just blew your socks off.
Nowhere in living memory is there any mention of your charitable nature, Ray. Is there a reason?
I just noticed that comment too, JR.
The answer is, I don’t make a big deal about my “charitable” side. Like Paul McCartney (who gives plenty anonymously), I’m not after any kudos or thanks for the good I might choose to do. In my experience, those who let it be known that they’re “real generous, caring and all-round good guys” are generally not.
Raymond, I was referring to your gracious offer to put RF and DMc @ 99 and 100.
As for remembering consumables, I give you brylcream, a little dab’ll do ya!
Rox, here in Aus he might not be remembered until the 70s but his tapestry album (no, nothing like Carol King’s) was definitely part of the 60s.
Remember Perry Como’s “And I love you so”? Don wrote that and it was part of the tapestry album.
The guy goes back so far that Buddy Holly taught him to play guitar and Pete Seeger gave him his first paid performing job.
JR, I realise that – I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to self grandise.
Btw, if Don’s a Holly & Seeger protege, that gives him a lot of cred in my opinion. Pity he never lived up to it !!!
(Btw #2, Bob Dylan was also a Seeger protege)
Ray – I just like the Allman’s version of Statesboro Blues. Taj Mahal would have been great to see live.
As a thought for a future thread, what about Top Five All-Time Worst Movies?
1. Plan 9 from Outer Space
2. Date Movie
3. Transformers (I paid money to see 2 and 3. Good money)
4. Alien 3
5. Seks and the City
I think this might be the rebirth of blogging!
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Two Thousand Weeks – walked out of that one
The Star Wars one with Jarjar Binks
He’s Just Not that Into You
What Dreams may Come
What? “Careful with that axe Eugene” from Pink Floyd didn’t make the top 100? What’s the world coming to?
Hi Ralph & welcome.
Pink Floyd? Music to get stoned by in my opinion.
Nooooooooooooooooooo
the top ten are:
1. Feel – Robbie Williams
2. Learning to Fly – Pink Floyd
3. Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson
4. Flame Trees – Cold Chisel
5. Beds are Burning – Midnight Oil
6. Wicked Game – Chris Isaak
7. If I were a Boy – Beyonce
8. Be – Jessica Simpson
9. Will You Be There – Michael Jackson
10. To the Moon & Back – Savage Garden
the next best are:
11. Enter Sandman – Metallica
12. Paradise City – Guns n Roses
13. Living on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
14. Bloody Sunday – U2
15. Hello – Lionel Ritchie
16. Dancing Queen – Abba
17. Bohemian Raposidy – Queen
18. Little Red Corvet – Prince
19. Land Down Under – Men at Work
20. Reckless – Australian Crawl
Good stuff, Mandy, but not enough 60s there for my liking.
But some good Aussie stuff.
I’d go with Cold Chisel’s ‘Flame Trees’ & Midnight Oils ‘Beds are burning’, although I think the Oils had better songs – like just about the whole rest of the Diesel & Dust album.
I can’t have ANYTHING by Aussie Crawl though. What about: The EasyBeats (you could name half a dozen) and then there’s Thorpey !!!
Thorpey or Dawn Fraser or Shane Gould all good at Australian Crawl
Wrong Thorpey. I’m talking about the dead one, Billy.
“I’ll sing my song and I’ll be gone……”
Ray…..Don’t think you’re the music type….Leave the scrutiny of music up to the people who know music
What’s wrong Mono, don’t you like people having tastes & opinions that are not the same as yours? Why don’t YOU leave opinions to those who have them and live and let live?
Everyone who likes music is a “music type”, surely?
“Mono” could be one of our lovely ‘Save Bright’ retrogrades, Rox. A chap called Lee (a local ‘musician’) was one of their most vocal spokespersons, but I’ve heard Lee’s idea of music and ………….. !
And I love Lee’s idea of music. Best music on the old wireless for mine is “roots and all” on JJJ, Salty Dog etc. And therein lies the point about subjective taste.
Baldrick, I discovered Blues & Roots music back in the 1960s and I’ve heard many people try to emulate it and fail miserably. Enough said, huh?
Top Ten (In My Opinion)
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
2. Sweet Child O Mine – Guns N’ Roses
3. Radiohead – Creep
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge
5. Lynyrd Skynyrd- Freebird
6. Metallica – One
7. Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower
8. Khe Sahn – Cold Chisel
9. Back In Black – Ac/Dc
10. Fools Gold – Stone Roses
I’m a long time nirvana fan that’s why i put smells like teen spirit as number 1, but i do agree it probably shouldn’t be……
If you like Lynard Skynard you obviously have taste, but I just can’t see the Nirvana thing. Unless it’s some sort of symbolic thing for a generation – like My Generation for the sixties.
And not one Bay City Rollers ditty in there? No Bucks Fizz or Milli Vanilli? Sacrilege !
I want Wham !
Choose Life! Ray.
I used to want one of those Tshirts. Though the life they chose was a bit erk.