Whatever, "Dancing on My Own" is the most inspired recent addition to this list.
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:10 (two years ago) link
“Strange Fruit” is too low at 21.
x post
― stirmonster, Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:12 (two years ago) link
voted for “juicy”
― grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:15 (two years ago) link
"Strange Fruit" really sticks out because it's probably the only pre-'50s track on the whole 500.
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:20 (two years ago) link
Unless there's some Carter Family or Robert Johnson or early Hank.
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:21 (two years ago) link
There is some Hank.
― stirmonster, Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:24 (two years ago) link
Worst is probably Fleetwood Mac, Kinks or Radiohead
― the 45-year-old gaz coomber (Whiney G. Weingarten), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:26 (two years ago) link
Worst is Kanye.
Or "Imagine."
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:33 (two years ago) link
Worst for me is "Bohemian Rhapsody". I would pay a not insignificant sum if there was a way to block me from ever having to hear it again.
― stirmonster, Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:33 (two years ago) link
^I'll chip in if this method will block me from having to hear "Imagine" or "Hallelujah"! (admittedly the latter didn't make the Top 50)
― juristic person (morrisp), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:36 (two years ago) link
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, September 16, 2021 2:10 PM (twenty-nine minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
feel about this the way stirmonster does bohemian rapsody
― xheugy eddy (D-40), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:40 (two years ago) link
"Strange Fruit" is good, but wouldn't be in my top 10 Lady Day songs. I would also put probably a few dozen Beatles songs over "Strawberry Fields Forever". Even "Day in the Life" doesn't really work in any context other than as the closer on Sgt. Peppers. I guess I'm an unreconstructed rockist but this would probably be "Like a Rolling Stone" for me.
― o. nate, Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:42 (two years ago) link
solid number one.! voted hendrix, it was my #1 on the classic rock poll too
― brimstead, Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:44 (two years ago) link
Difference between worst and most overrated. "Crazy in Love" is a great song. The 16th greatest song of all time?..eh...
I'd choose "Royals". Good song. No business being where it is!
Leaning toward "Like a Rolling Stone" or "Superstition" for best.
― Indexed, Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:46 (two years ago) link
"Strange Fruit" is good, but wouldn't be in my top 10 Lady Day songs.
This is me with "Superstition." Doesn't mean I'm not still going to vote for it here.
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:47 (two years ago) link
"Strange Fruit” might not be the worst but is the most “look-at-how-woke-we-are” inclusion.
Wtf?
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:52 (two years ago) link
They're demonstrating their trendy political correctness by including an almost universally canonized anti-lynching song from 1939?
― Sequel to Sadness (Sund4r), Thursday, 16 September 2021 19:57 (two years ago) link
I can't speak for wokeness, but there is some element of trendiness to that song, which avoided all three previous versions of this list but now has a Kanye song, an Academy Award winning movie and ties to the Nina Simone renaissance
― the 45-year-old gaz coomber (Whiney G. Weingarten), Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:07 (two years ago) link
being mad at strange fruit's placement because of wokeness is an absolutely classic terrible post
― xheugy eddy (D-40), Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:09 (two years ago) link
100%!
Also Nina Simone renaissance
when was she ever not in vogue???
― stirmonster, Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:12 (two years ago) link
The last decade was like the Academy Award winning documentary, the botched biopic, the Watch the Throne sample, the Kanye sample, the Jay-Z sample the Kanye sample, Lauryn going to bat for her all the time, appearing in stuff like The Watchmen and then getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame like decades after she was eligible
― the 45-year-old gaz coomber (Whiney G. Weingarten), Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:21 (two years ago) link
― stirmonster, Thursday, September 16, 2021 3:33 PM (forty-six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
"Runaway"would probably get my vote for worst, but amen to this nonetheless.
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:22 (two years ago) link
its really funny how after all that Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" didn't even make the rolling stone list.
― xheugy eddy (D-40), Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:24 (two years ago) link
which to be clear i'm totally ok with, but it kind of goes against all the people telling me this list is supposed to be a measure of the temperature today rather than some historical narrative
― xheugy eddy (D-40), Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:25 (two years ago) link
I am oblivious to most of those things except for the documentary & the botched biopic but it has always felt to me she has been iconic and very present my whole life, with perhaps the odd heightened boost here and there.
― stirmonster, Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:26 (two years ago) link
the Academy Award winning documentary
Nominated.
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:28 (two years ago) link
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/how-nina-simone-captivated-a-new-generation-203955/
― the 45-year-old gaz coomber (Whiney G. Weingarten), Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:35 (two years ago) link
Not arguing against the notion that Nina is still cresting. That's what these updates are kind of all about tho.
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:38 (two years ago) link
Must be right if it's in Rolling Stone. LOL
Maybe it is different in the UK to the USA? She was always bigger and had more hit records here.
― stirmonster, Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:39 (two years ago) link
this is "Dreams" for me
― Bee OK, Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:45 (two years ago) link
I scrolled through this too fast and thought Daddy Yankee was the Damn Yankees and was like "man no wonder everyone is pissed about this list"
― chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:49 (two years ago) link
I love or at least like about 40 out of these 50, but at the moment "My Girl" has the strongest claim, for me, of being one of humanity's finest achievements.
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Thursday, September 16, 2021 1:24 PM (three hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
yes
― J. Sam, Thursday, 16 September 2021 20:59 (two years ago) link
Listening to a playlist of the list on random and getting a few pleasant surprises here and there, like Marshall Jefferson "Move That Body."
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 16 September 2021 21:04 (two years ago) link
did it make the list? I didn't even scroll thru the thing.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 September 2021 21:14 (two years ago) link
I'm devastated Noel's "Silent Morning" and Sylvester-Patrick Cowley's "Do You Wanna Funk" didn't make the list, apparently.
― brimstead, Thursday, 16 September 2021 21:25 (two years ago) link
xps RS makes it impossible to scroll thru the whole thing ... a Spotify playlist of the purported full list has it on it
― i carry the torch for disco inauthenticity (Eric H.), Thursday, 16 September 2021 21:33 (two years ago) link
You can also see the full list in one place here: http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=149454#p149454
― jaymc, Thursday, 16 September 2021 22:21 (two years ago) link
326 Rilo Kiley, 'Portions for Foxes' 2004324 Billy Joel, 'Scenes From an Italian Restaurant' 1977
!!
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Thursday, 16 September 2021 22:28 (two years ago) link
that rilo kiley track showing up is maybe the most 'huh?' pick
― ufo, Thursday, 16 September 2021 22:45 (two years ago) link
Seven nation army really? That stupid riff
― calstars, Thursday, 16 September 2021 22:48 (two years ago) link
I really have to stretch to find a song I'm not at least a little bit tired of. Probably Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg or Lauryn Hill.
― clemenza, Thursday, 16 September 2021 23:02 (two years ago) link
Meant to say that I played about two minutes each of the Top 10 for a grade 6 class today (three minutes for Sam Cooke--played a Malcolm X clip). And held my breath during a clean version of Missy Elliott, because clean to the uploader doesn't necessarily mean clean in a school setting. Stuff I miss about having my own class.
― clemenza, Thursday, 16 September 2021 23:05 (two years ago) link
One guy really surprised me by asking if the J5's "I Want You Back" was on the list. Evidently should have been give a vote.
― clemenza, Thursday, 16 September 2021 23:07 (two years ago) link
"given"
"fremme neppa ventte" is INAPPROPRIATE for the classroom, Mr Clemenza! Please take the rest of the week off -unpaid!
― you had me at "giallo" (Neanderthal), Thursday, 16 September 2021 23:07 (two years ago) link
I'm fired!
― clemenza, Thursday, 16 September 2021 23:08 (two years ago) link
I would love to have had you as my 6th grade teacher. Instead I got the harsh Sister Julianna
didn't ever see the Fight the Power video before now
― Dan S, Thursday, 16 September 2021 23:14 (two years ago) link
Our French teacher played us "Je t'aime... moi non plus" in class, and blew our minds
― juristic person (morrisp), Thursday, 16 September 2021 23:17 (two years ago) link
I was a little nervous about "Fight the Power," too, but I think "never meant shit to me" is all there is, right (which came later in the song anyway). With "Hey Ya," I played the actual video and was more wary of the visuals with some of the women (and the lawn jockey imagery was potentially a problem, although a little too esoteric for grade 6s; I did flash back to playing Culture Club on a remote job last spring and having blackface pop up.) "Je t'aime"? Wow--don't think I'd risk that
― clemenza, Thursday, 16 September 2021 23:21 (two years ago) link
500 songs. Some we like, some we had to add begrudgingly for clicks.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 8 October 2021 19:26 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzdEd1dZJjA
― edited to reflect developments which occurred (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Saturday, 9 October 2021 06:05 (two years ago) link
At the risk of being flagged, I'll link here to the Top 50 that I contributed to Scott Woods's ongoing roundup on rockcritics.com. Much more canonical than some of the lists that have been collected thus far (including clemenza's), but less canonical than others, I guess:
https://rockcritics.com/2021/10/12/top-50-favourite-songs-jeremy-fairall/
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Tuesday, 12 October 2021 19:02 (two years ago) link
Good list.
― o. nate, Tuesday, 12 October 2021 20:16 (two years ago) link
8. “No Easy Way Down,” Dusty Springfield (1969)33. “Move With Me,” Neneh Cherry (1992)
hell yeah
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 12 October 2021 20:20 (two years ago) link
Thanks! I made several drafts before finalizing, and those two songs were never not on my list.
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Tuesday, 12 October 2021 23:43 (two years ago) link
"Inverness" is a nice pick if you only have one Scott Miller song.
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 13 October 2021 01:49 (two years ago) link
Questlove's new list-based Music Is History sounds promising (comments & song excerpts):In his new book, Roots co-founder Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson starts in 1971 and moves year-by-year through his life, writing about memories, turning points and the songs he listened to.stream/download/transcript (Fresh Air)https://www.npr.org/2021/10/12/1045247409/questlove-spins-the-soundtrack-of-his-life-in-music-is-history
― dow, Wednesday, 13 October 2021 16:36 (two years ago) link
Bashing "Strange Fruit" because of someone else's alleged motivations in posting it is some of that ol' classick reductive ilx religion---to say the least---
― dow, Wednesday, 13 October 2021 16:40 (two years ago) link
Aaand I took the bait, sry
― dow, Wednesday, 13 October 2021 16:41 (two years ago) link
But by that logic, any artist on here who's ever been subject of a documentary etc. could be exculded; hell whole list could be dismissed because it's pantheon-sucking trend-molesting Rolling Stone
― dow, Wednesday, 13 October 2021 16:45 (two years ago) link
This will seem weird, but it's meant to address an obvious problem.
I mentioned above that Scott Woods has been posting Top 50s on rockcritics.com--not an answer to the Rolling Stone list, but prompted by it and kind of related. Anyway, Scott's running into the same problem I encountered putting out a fanzine in the '90s where we rated hit singles: it's one male contributor after another. At the time, I was able to recruit a few female contributors, but it wasn't easy. The world has changed a lot in 25 years, but it in this regard, time seems to have stood still: females evidently aren't that big on rating or listing pop songs.
So this is a recruitment list, meant for ILM's female posters: if you'd like to put together a Top 50, with or without a short intro/comments, Scott will post it.
https://rockcritics.com/
― clemenza, Friday, 15 October 2021 17:29 (two years ago) link
Ladies, please make unpaid content for us
― licorice in the front, pizza in the rear (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 15 October 2021 18:03 (two years ago) link
females evidently aren't that big on rating or listing pop songs submitting free work with no discernable benefit beyond peacocking the breadth and depth of your performatively diverse and eclectic tastes
― licorice in the front, pizza in the rear (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 15 October 2021 18:08 (two years ago) link
"Unpaid content"--if you use language like that, I suspect you and I are from different universes. I've been doing this for 35 years, and I could take all the money I've made and go buy a few pizzas.
― clemenza, Friday, 15 October 2021 18:19 (two years ago) link
A few pizzas does sound pretty good tbh
― licorice in the front, pizza in the rear (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 15 October 2021 18:20 (two years ago) link
JFC
― brimstead, Friday, 15 October 2021 18:21 (two years ago) link
People should be paid for their writing, but if it's just a ballot or list of 50 favorite songs and nothing else, I'm not sure I'd expect much compensation - maybe a free record I guess. If you offered real pay for an accompanying essay (assuming it's worthy of publication), that would be a nice incentive.
― birdistheword, Friday, 15 October 2021 18:26 (two years ago) link
People should of course be paid when writing for venues that make (or at least attempt to make) money. Really and truly, this is not any different than the polls that go on here. (And it's not even a poll, just a bunch of a lists.) Rockcritics.com is a fan site that has been around for 20 years. I'd have to check with Scott, but I am 99% sure it generates 0% revenue.
― clemenza, Friday, 15 October 2021 18:31 (two years ago) link
Do you have to be a Rock Critic to contribute(?)
― juristic person (morrisp), Friday, 15 October 2021 18:38 (two years ago) link
I'm actually not against what you're doing at all - all you're asking for is lists. If I ran a publication, I'd pay for an article, whether it was pitched to me or if I assigned it to someone, but if I got a list of 50 songs put on my desk, regardless of how much time or thought is put into it, it's still a list of 50 songs. I don't think Sight & Sound or Pazz & Jop give any monetary compensations for any of the thousands of ballots they've sent out for their esteemed polls, and though they don't require comments, people frequently give them.
― birdistheword, Friday, 15 October 2021 18:42 (two years ago) link
Pazz & Jop used to pay a tiny bit, then they stopped a few years ago. For what it's worth, this is to help a friend--it's his site.
(xpost) Here's the very first iteration of rockcritics.com, going back to 2000. It's changed over the years, but I think the right answer is "no."
https://web.archive.org/web/20000823130535/http://www.rockcritics.com/
― clemenza, Friday, 15 October 2021 18:44 (two years ago) link
Pazz & Jop used to pay a tiny bit, then they stopped a few years ago.
Wow, I stand corrected. When you say stopped, do you mean because the Voice (before it was re-animated) closed shop?
― birdistheword, Friday, 15 October 2021 18:49 (two years ago) link
we'd get paid for blurbs too
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 15 October 2021 18:49 (two years ago) link
No, this was before they went under. It wasn't much, believe me--$10 per printed P&J comment?
― clemenza, Friday, 15 October 2021 18:50 (two years ago) link
I might be able to submit one! Not really sure if I have that unique of a perspective and I suck at blurbs since I’m not a writer or a native english speaker but yeah… I could maybe give it a try. I have probably such a list more or less curated by now.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Friday, 15 October 2021 18:55 (two years ago) link
Please do! If you look at the short intros that are there, I think you'll find them as informal as humanly possible.
― clemenza, Friday, 15 October 2021 18:57 (two years ago) link
In that case, I definitely prefer a free record (as long as I get to choose)!
― birdistheword, Friday, 15 October 2021 19:01 (two years ago) link
Thanks to this thread, I dreamt someone gave me a pizza. I didn't have to provide any lists in exchange though.
― Halfway there but for you, Saturday, 16 October 2021 14:19 (two years ago) link
ILX'ors cryptosicko and Kevin J. Bozelka have their lists up there.
― clemenza, Saturday, 16 October 2021 15:13 (two years ago) link
I've discovered the Tammys' "Egyptian Shumba" (1964) off KJB's list.
― clemenza, Saturday, 16 October 2021 15:15 (two years ago) link