ILM POLLS THE 20TH CENTURY'S BEST TRACKS ››› YOUR RESULTS THREAD ‹‹‹

I don't get voting for a single movement of a larger work/putting pop songs and classical pieces on the same level.

Wasn't feeling this section of the list so much but am definitely happy to see something from the early section of the century place.

I do! Clair De Lune was my #1.

"Outdoor Miner"--did Robert Pollard listen to that song about 150 million times after teaching his 4th graders and before basketball and beer, or what?

This is 3 consecutive songs that I voted for, at #9 (Clair De Lune), #27 (Into the Groove) and #55 (Search and Destroy). Awesome.

Also, I believe this is the first track with a 1st place vote to show up, though there were a total of 71 first place votes handed out. I suspect that my first place voted song may not be in the top 125 at all.

I don't get voting for a single movement of a larger work

This is the argument I had with Dan. Would you vote for Dark Side of the Moon when all you really meant to vote for was "Money"? Nope. And if you want to vote for Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety, wait for an album poll.

I don't get voting for a single movement of a larger work/putting pop songs and classical pieces on the same level.

As for the second part, I get that it's problematic but it's certainly possible to enjoy classical pieces with non-classical (i.e. "popular") ears - and that's the approach I take when contextualising Debussy's appearance here. Something like a Morricone soundtrack is somewhere in between worlds, for example.

Speaking of which I hope Morricone shows up. I know I voted for one of his noms.

99% of people who have heard "Clair de lune" have not heard the rest of the suite so why wouldn't you just consider "Clair de lune" on its own

I have to admit I more or less overlooked the classical ones here, but if there is one classical work from the 20th century that deserves to be in the list, then "Clair De Lune" is it.

Note that the video link is of Ravel's "cover version". Debussy composed the piece for solo piano while it was orchestrated by Ravel. I prefer the Ravel version though (and... oh.... and Tomita's synth version ;) )

xp

because it means treating classical music like it was pop music (ignore me, I don't really want to talk about this)

I didn't realize that about Ravel. I too prefer the full orchestrated version.

82. PRINCE & THE REVOLUTION "Kiss" (1986) [1,308 points, 14 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-PekYHpdrs

fo' real? does this mean 4 Prince songs in the top 125, or no Little Red Corvette?

'Clair de Lune', hell the 4 pieces on the Suite Bergamasque for the matter are pretty much composed as a collection of pop songs.

ILM <3 Prince 4 EVA

but if there is one classical work from the 20th century that deserves to be in the list, then "Clair De Lune" is it.
Was "Rhapsody In Blue" on the list?

^ Yes.

81. THE SMITHS "How Soon Is Now?" (1985) [1,311 points, 14 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR41KvzcyLY

1984...1985...whatever.

Not so excited about this one.

I can't remember whether or not I voted for The Smiths (I don't think I did), but it would've been this track.

yes! happy to see how soon is now well and truly inside the top 100.

i've had relatively good returns today so far. voted for al green, wire (my #2), debussy and now the smiths. i have another smiths song that i ranked even higher. i wonder if it will chart.

voted for this one--not the best Smiths song but that guitar is incredible.

i can't really think of a madonna song i like better than 'in the groove', so if she had to place somewhere i'm happy enough with that choice.

80. MY BLOODY VALENTINE "Soon" (1991) [1,313 points, 11 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-RzGkDPioM

Hopla! Voted "Only Shallow" but happy to see you here.

thing got male/gay/smart/indie suddenly

ha! in my mind I always reference the reverb-soaked guitar intro of 'how soon is now' with 'kiss'... then comes MBV and tells em both how it's properly done.

^^^ relieved this didn't place higher

xps

I would take Sometimes, I Only Said, and Shallow over Soon, but I'm OK with this.

yeah, all three of these songs rely on cool guitar sounds

xxxp I mean

10/100 songs in my ballot so far.... hope I can crank it up to 30 by the end of the countdown:

Claude Debussy — Clair de Lune (Suite Bergamasque)
Iggy and The Stooges — Search and Destroy
Kraftwerk — Computer Love
Miles Davis — Shhh/Peaceful
My Bloody Valentine — Soon
Pixies — Debaser
Prince and The Revolution — Kiss
Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire — Theme from "Dr. Who"
Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto — Girl From Ipanema
Stereolab — Jenny Ondioline

haha this is ILM showing its colors now for sure...

I thought there would be quite a few Prince songs in this list but I can only really see When Doves Cry being higher than Kiss. Maybe Sign 'O' The Times?

I only voted for one Smiths song that will hopefully appear higher up. How Soon Is Now is a great song but it wouldn't be in my top ten favourite Smiths songs.

This next one is a sample source for quite a few other songs...

79. LED ZEPPELIN "When the Levee Breaks" (1971) [1,313 points, 13 votes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlPjlFQQ3fs

Damn I was gonna guess "Between the Sheets"

I've had 8 of my songs show up so far, though only one of my top 20.

Only two Prince songs I really care about are 'Strawberry Beret' and 'Kiss'. The former wasn't nominated so went with the latter. Wouldn't be surprised if this is the last we see of him on the poll. After all 'Kiss' won his singles poll they did over two years ago.

Little Red Corvette!!!!!!

Oh yeah I voted for this one as well! Can we get a little bit of krautrock or new wave next please?

Oh yeah I voted for this one as well! Can we get a little bit of krautrock or new wave next please?

This will prove to be hilarious in a few minutes.

haha levee was my #84, so that matches up kind of nicely. amazing song and very deserving.

xp: I knew it! :D

I didn't vote for any Led Zeppelin, since I thought the choices nominated was a very poor set. This was the best of the nominees though.

I'm not the biggest Zep fan but voted for this because of the drums and the guitar segment just before the vocals. It manages to be propulsive and lazy at the same time. Now that I'm listening closely the instrumentation in the middle is also really good. There's a ton going on.

Can't believe no-one nommed "Strawberry Beret".