Acclaimed Music Top 5000 Songs

Next up:
624) "Yonkers" by Tyler, The Creator (2011)
623) "Ne me quitte pas" by Jacques Brel (1959)
622) "Bloodbuzz Ohio" by The National (2010)
621) "Cars" by Gary Numan (1979)
620) "Substitute" by The Who (1966)
619) California Girls" by The Beach Boys (1965)
618) "Rock and Roll" by Led Zeppelin (1971)
617) "Making Plans for Nigel" by XTC (1979)
616) "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton (1953)
615) "He's A Rebel" by The Crystals (1962)
614) "Money" by Pink Floyd (1973)
613) "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star (1993)
612) "My Sharona" by The Knack (1979)
611) "Hurricane" by Bob Dylan (1975)
610) "Like A Woman" by Bob Dylan (1966)
609) "Knockin' At Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan (1973)
608) "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" by Melle Mel (1983)
607) "On the Dark End of the Street" by James Carr (1967)
606) "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper (1983)
605) "Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley (1994)
604) "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" by Ian Drury & The Blockheads (1977)
603) "Buddy Holly" by Weezer (1994)
602) "Boom Boom" by John Lee Hooker (1962)
601) "Livin' On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi (1986)
600) "Ray of Light" by Madonna (1998)

Thoughts:
a) another hundred down - onward to the 500s!
b) Coincidentally, three Dylan songs popped up in a row - all great ones (though I would personally rank "Like A Women" above "Hurricane" then lastly "Knockin'")
c) For my entire life I have thought "White Lines" was Grandmaster Flash with Melle Mel doing the rapping. Apparently Sugar Hill Records put the song out with Flash on the credits to sell more, but he actually had no input on the song and had left Sugar Hill by that time
d) Which led me down the Wiki wormhole that educated me that Melle Mel does the "Chaka Khan let me rock you, let me rock you Chaka Khan" on her song "I Feel For You" (recently on the countdown). Also did not know that Prince wrote that song.
e) Some tremendous pop songs - "My Sharona", He's A Rebel", "Buddy Holly", "California Girls"
f) "On the Dark End of the Street" is one of the greatest soul songs EVER. I'd have it better ranked. James Carr's voice cuts through you like a knife. Linda Ronstadt did a nice cover as well on Heart Like a Wheel
 
599) "I Ain't Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)" by Aretha Franklin (1967)
598) "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin (1967)
597) "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon (2008)
596) "Famous Blue Raincoat" by Leonard Cohen (1971)
595) "Holiday in Cambodia" by Dead Kennedys (1980)
594) "Lithium" by Nirvana (1991)
593) "Let's Dance" by David Bowie (1983)
592) "Shot By Both Sides" by Magazine (1978)
591) "The Boys of Summer" by Don Henley (1984)
590) "Block Rockin' Beats" by The Chemical Brothers (1997)
589) "Miss You" by The Rolling Stones (1978)
588) "War" by Edwin Starr (1970)
587) "Brimful of Asha" by Cornershop (1997)
586) "Ignition (Remix)" by R.Kelly (2003)
585) "Push It" by Salt 'N' Pepa (1987)
584) "Let's Spend the Night Together" by The Rolling Stones (1967)
583) "Heart Shaped Box" by Nirvana (1993)
582) "Race For The Prize" by The Flaming Lips (1999)
581) "Surrender" by Cheap Trick (1978)
580) "Complete Control" by The Clash (1977)
579) "Back to Life" by Soul II Soul (1989)
578) "Queen" by Perfume Genius (2014)
577) "Positively 4th Street" by Bob Dylan (1965)
576) "The Thrill Is Gone" by B.B. King (1969)
575) "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" by Nancy Sinatra (1965)
574) "California Love" by 2Pac (1995)
573) "Love is the Drug" by Roxy Music (1975)
572) "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis (1995)
571) "Rockin' In the Free World" by Neil Young (1989)
570) "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)" by Neil Young with Crazy Horse (1979)
569) "New Year's Day" by U2 (1983)
568) "I'm Not In Love" by 10cc (1975)
567) "La vie en rose" by Edith Piaf (1945)
566) "Me, Myself and I" by De La Soul (1989)
565) "Teardrop" by Massive Attack (1998)
564) "Personality Crisis" by New York Dolls (1973)
563) "One Day Like This" by Elbow (2008)
562) "Take On Me" by A-ha (1984)
561) "Rock Lobster" by The B-52's (1978)
560) "Damaged Goods" by Gang of Four (1978)
559) "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles (1969)
558) "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues (1987)
557) "True Faith" by New Order (1987)
556) "I Fought The Law" by Bobby Fuller Four (1965)
555) "Cut Your Hair" by Pavement (1994)
554) "Work" by Rihanna feat Drake (2016)
553) "Sour Times" by Portishead (1994)
552) "Public Image" by Public Image Ltd. (1978)
551) "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd (1975)

Some great listening today. Several duplicate artists (Aretha, Dylan, The Stones, Neil Young). Biggest injustice: "La vie en rose" which should be better ranked - maybe top 100. Tough at this level because we're hitting great song after great song. Perhaps more later - gotta run :)
 
Continuing onward:
550) "This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us" by Sparks (1974)
549) "Get Up, Stand Up" by The Wailers (1973)
548) "It's Too Late" by Carole King (1971)
547) "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson (2004)
546) "La Grange" by ZZ Top (1973)
545) "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
544) "In the Still of The Nite" by The Five Satins (1956)
543) "Message In a Bottle" by The Police (1979)
542) "Piece of My Heart" by Big Brother & The Holding Company (1968)
541) "All Right Now" by Free (1970)
540) "Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
539) "Zombie" by Fela Kuti and Africa 70 (1976)
538) "Lonely Boy" by The Black Keys (2011)
537) "Do You Believe in Magic" by The Lovin' Spoonful (1965)
536) "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice (2007)
535) "Working Class Hero" by John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
534) "I Only Have Eyes For You" by The Flamingos (1959)
533) "Can't Do Without You" by Caribou (2014)
532) "Thank You (Falentinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" by Sly & The Family Stone (1969)
531) "The Seed 2.0" by The Roots feat. Cody Chesnutt (2002)
530) "Happiness is A Warm Gun" by The Beatles (1968)
529) "Hard to Explain" by The Strokes (2001)
528) "There Goes My Baby" by The Drifters (1959)
527) "The Rat" by The Walkmen (2004)
526) "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles (1979)
525) "Friday on My Mind" by The Easybeats (1966)

Thoughts:
a) Quite the murderer's row of songs there from the onset
b) Although it seems odd to have Kelly Clarkson up here with such classics as "Get Up Stand Up" and "Message in a Bottle", it is a helluva FU breakup song. Surprised Alanis' "You Ought to Know" came in below it
c) If my memory serves me right, The Five Satins "In the Still of The Night" used to come in #1 often on New York City's WCBS-FM (when it was an oldies station covering 1950s-1970s)
d) Haven't broken out some good Fela in ages - great stuff. The beat, the horns are tremendous in "Zombie", a critique of the Nigerian govenment that led protesters to walk around like zombies in front of police and, sadly, get beaten/arrested for it. (the power of music). The song/album let to the destruction of Fela's commune by the government and the death of Fela's mother.
e) Would "Video Killed the Radio Star" be this high if it wasn't chosen as the inaugural video on MTV - not sure. It is on my list of songs (like "My Sharona" and "Is She Really Going Out with Him?") that I mentally place in the 80s rather than 1979.
f) "Friday on My Mind"! Very timely - well actually I guess (given the lyrics) it's a Monday song...I'm just happy it's Friday
 
More today:
524) "White Winter Hymnal" by Fleet Foxes (2008)
523) "The One I Love" by R.E.M. (1987)
522) "Please Please Please" by James Brown (1956)
521) "Tired of Being Alone" by Al Green (1971)
520) "The Twist" by Chubby Checker (1960)
519) "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam (1991)
518) "Rebel Rebel" by David Bowie (1974)
517) "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles (1967)
516) "The Loco-Motion" by Little Eva (1962)
515) "Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder (1973)
514) "Paperback Writer" by The Beatles (1966)
513) "Hope There's Someone" by Antony & The Johnsons (2005)
512) "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers (1971)
511) "A Love Supreme - Pt 1: Acknowlegement" by John Coltrane (1965)
510) "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel (1969)
509) "Niggas in Paris" by Jay-Z & Kanye West (2011)
508) "Pretty Vacant" by Sex Pistols (1977)
507) "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC (1980)
506) "Who'll Stop the Rain" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
505) "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend (2007)
504) "Shout (Parts 1 & 2)" by The Isley Brothers (1959)
503) "Hate to Say I Told You So" by The Hives (2000)
502) "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by The Band (1969)
501) "Dream On" by Aerosmith
500) "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes

Top 500 Here I Come :)
 
Busy week but onward into the top 500:
499) "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper (1983)
498) "Crying" by Roy Orbison (1961)
497) "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers (1965)
496) "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins (1981)
495) "Desolation Row" by Bob Dylan (1965)
494) "Mannish Boy" by Muddy Waters (1955)
493) "Rid of Me" by PJ Harvey (1993)
492)"Cross Road Blues" by Robert Johnson (1936)
491) "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2 (1987)
490) "O Superman" by Laurie Anderson (1981)
489) "The River" by Bruce Springsteen (1980)
488) "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley and the Wailers (1980)
487) "Cathy's Clown" by The Everly Brothers (1960)
486) "Blackstar" by David Bowie (2015)
485) "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails (1994)
484) "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver (2007)
483) "Who Do You Love" by Bo Diddley (1956)
482) "Good Golly Miss Molly" by Little Richard (1958)
481) "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley (1994)
480) "You've Really Got A Hold on Me" by The Miracles (1962)
479) "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson (1969)
478) "Wake Up Little Susie" by The Everly Brothers (1957)
477) "No Scrubs" by TLC (1999)
476) "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2 (1987)
475) "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode (1989)

A busy, day but not too busy to listen to some great music. Nice list. Crazy day but here's some stream of consciousness comments. I clearly was wrong that we had heard Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" rendition earlier as I had commented that Leonard Cohen's original charted higher - I like the original better but that may be reactionary to overexposure (and to all those American Idol type shows having people singing it all the time).
Two U2s (both off Joshua Tree) and two Everly Brothers. Some really big classics here (e.g. "Good Golly...", "You've Really Got A Hold..", "Who Do You Love") - we're getting to that point. Loved hearing 21st Schizoid - gotta break out In the Court of the Crimson King again soon. "Redemption Song" is so beautiful as is Roy's "Crying" and "The River" (sad can be beautiful too). My 14 yo son commented on his favorite line in "The River" so I guess I'm doing a good job parenting ;) Actually surprised that "Unchained Melody" considering its popularity, revival in the 90s wasn't higher. Bowie's "Blackstar" - late Bowie scoring high. Gotta break that album out too. Continuing on with this day and with music
 
^
As an erratic visitor to this thread, I see a marked increase in quality as we work our way up to the top. Songs I’m not terribly familiar with (Bon Iver, TLC) I attribute to my own ignorance. As Zeeba sez, gotta break ‘em out.
 
474) "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop (1977)
473) "Little Wing" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
472) "Rock and Roll" by The Velvet Underground (1970)
471) "Thirteen" by Big Star (1972)
470) "Clint Eastwood" by Gorrilaz (2001)
469) "The Rockafeller Skank" by Fatboy Slim (1998)
468) "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor (1970)
467) "I've Got A Woman" by Ray Charles (1954)
466) "Red Eyes" by The War on Drugs (2013)
465) "Dance to the Music" by Sly & The Family Stone (1967)
464) "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)" by Jamie xx feat. Young Thug and Popcaan (2015)
463) "Dancing on My Own" by Robyn (2010)
462) "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight & The Pips (1973)
461) "Trans-Europe Express" by Kraftwerk (1977)
460) "The Letter" by The Box Tops (1967)
459) "Yellow" by Coldplay (2000)
458) "Visions of Johanna" by Bob Dylan (1966)
457) "Wolf Like Me" by TV on the Radio (2006)
456) "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor (1978)
455) "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay (2008)
454) "Alright" by Kendrick Lamar (2015)
453) "Moondance" by Van Morrison (1970)
452) "That's Entertainment" by The Jam (1980)
451) "New Slang" by The Shins (2001)
450) "Reflektor" by Arcade Fire (2013)

Thoughts:
a) I LOVE Iggy's "The Passenger" and Dylan's "Visions of Johanna" is outstanding
b) OTOH, I have never liked James Taylor and really don't like "Fire and Rain". I also find "Rockafeller Skank" to be one of the most annoying songs written. I'm not arguing why either of these are here
c) While I enjoy "Reflektor", several Arcade Fire (including several off Funeral) have been much slower). Its rank surprises me - pleasant song with a good beat but top 500 - no
d) "The Letter" is less than 2 minutes of utter pop brilliance. One of the shortest songs to hit #1 in the U.S. - several even shorter (e.g. Elvis' "Teddy Bear") with Maurice Williams' "Stay" at 1:38 being the winner
e) Big Star's "Thirteen" is a wonderfully wistful ballad - great song
 
449) "Alive" by Pearl Jam (1991)
448) "Music Sounds Better With You" by Stardust (1998)
447) "Your Song" by Elton John (1970)
446) "September Gurls" by Big Star (1974)
445) "All I Have to Do Is Dream" by The Everly Brothers (1958)
444) "Rock the Casbah" by The Clash (1982)
443) "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (1981)
442) "Standing in the Way of Control" by The Gossip (2006)
441) "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith (1975)
440) "Odessa" by Caribou (2010)
439) "Everlong" by Foo Fighters (1997)
438) "One Nation Under A Groove" by Funkadelic (1978)
437) "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" by Otis Redding (1965)
436) "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown (1966)
435) "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden (1994)
434) "Where It's At" by Beck (1996)
433) "Cortez the Killer" by Neil Young (1975)
432) "Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters (1954)
431) "1901" by Phoenix (2009)
430) "Cranes in the Sky" by Solange (2016)
429) "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors (1971)
428) "Revolution" by The Beatles (1968)
427) "Lazarus" by David Bowie (2015)
426) "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode (1990)
425) "Pump Up the Volume" by M/A/R/R/S (1987)

Quite the mix. Love the soul/funk middle today with Funkadelic, Otis, and JB. Here's Big Star and Phil & Don popping up again with a grouping on recent lists. Hey, another Bowie Blackstar track too.
After awhile on this project, I keep encountering songs that I would swear appeared earlier (and consider the last joggling of the list was thousands of songs ago, I doubt something jumped up that high) - Haven't I heard "Walk this Way" and "Enjoy the Silence' already? Obviously not.
Nothing with this group that I'd say is too low down (personally "All I Have to Do Is Dream" would be better ranked for me - such a beautiful song). The Foo Fighters "Everlong" is too high (though not my genre Solange IMO is too but it benefits from that recent song bump)
 
Next up:
424) "I Put A Spell On You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1956)
423) "My Name Is" by Eminem (1999)
422) "Karma Police" by Radiohead (1997)
421) "DNA." by Kendrick Lamar (2017)
420) "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed (1972)
419) "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles (1960)
418) "Jolene" by Dolly Parton (1973)
417) "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service (2003)
416) "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette (1995)
415) "Alison" by Elvis Costello (1977)
414) "B.O.B" by OutKast (2000)]
413) "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin (1971)
412) "Blind" by Hercules and Love Affair (2008)
411) "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd (1979)
410) "Float On" by Modest Mouse (2004)
409) "Glory Box" by Portishead (1994)
408) "Freak Scene" by Dinosaur, Jr. (1988)
407) "Another Brick In the Wall, Pt. II" by Pink Floyd (1979)
406) "Waiting Room" by Fugazi (1988)
405) "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash (1982)
404) "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison (1970)
403) "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)
402) "We Are Your Friends" by Justice vs. Simian (2004)
401) "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. (1992)
400) "Paid In Full" by Eric B. & Rakim (1987)
 
Top 400!
399) "Gold Digger" by Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx (2005)
398) "All Apologies" by Nirvana (1993)
397) "Young Americans" by David Bowie (1975)
396) "Venus in Furs" by The Velvet Underground (1967)
395) ""Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard (1956)
394) "Ultralight Beam" by Kanye West (2016)
393) "1999" by Prince (1982)
392) "New Rose" by The Damned (1976)
391) "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Had Flown)" by The Beatles (1965)
390) "Because the Night" by Patti Smith Group (1978)
389) "Da Doo Ron Ron" by The Crystals (1963)
388) "Pink Moon" by Nick Drake (1972)
387) "Under Pressure" by Queen & David Bowie (1981)
386) "Crystalised' by The xx (2009)
385) "The Girl from Ipanema" by Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, & Astrud Gilberto (1964)
384) "Come As You Are" by Nirvana (1991)
383) "West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys (1985)
382) "Jump" by Van Halen (1984)
381) "Another Girl, Another Planet" by The Only Ones (1978)
380) "Street Fighting Man" by The Rolling Stones (1968)
379) "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland (1939)
378) "Helter Skelter" by The Beatles (1968)
377) "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Rising (1969)
376) "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West (2004)
375) "Pride (In the Name of Love)" by U2 (1984)
374) "Blister in the Sun" by Violent Femmes (1983)
373) "The Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin (1970)
372) "A Hard Day's Night" by The Beatles (1964)
371) "Instant Karma" by John Lennon (1970)
370) "Pedestrian At Best" by Courtney Barnett (2015)

Pausing for a few days as will be travelling. Then when I get back, will be continuing to rock this list until done. Woohoo!

Gotta run - not much time for comments (3 Kanye numbers, he and Kendrick Lamar have been getting tons of love). Tremendous music here

Feel free to comment while I'm gone :)
 
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369) "Fuck Tha Police" by N.W.A. (1988)
368) "Oblivion" by Grimes (2012)
367) "Roxanne" by The Police (1978)
366) "Heartbeats" by The Knife (2002)
365) "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A. (1988)
364) "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners (1982)
363) "I'm A Believer" by The Monkees (1966)
362) "Je t'aime moi non plus" by Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin (1969)
361) "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens (2005)
360) "Starman" by David Bowie (1972)
359) "Transmission" by Joy Division (1979)
358) "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John feat. Victoria Bergsman (2006)
357) "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)" by Eurythmics (1983)
356) "Blank Generation" by Richard Hell & The Voidoids (1977)
355) "Only the Lonely (Know The Way I Feel)" by Roy Orbison (1966)
354) "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order (1986)
353) "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure (1979)
352) "You're Gonna Miss Me" by 13th Floor Elevators (1966)
351) "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Surpremes (1964)
350) "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead (1995)

Some songs from my drive back yesterday. Top 350 on the way starting tomorrow
Tough to judge 21st century songs alongside classics established over most of my like. Not that I disagree with the old adage heard on classic rock stations "It doesn't have to be old to be classic". Still some of the more modern choices up in rarefied air just don't cut the mustard - looking squarely at Grimes who, granted I just might not "get" but just bores compared to, say, the flanking Police and N.W.A. songs. OTOH, "Young Folks" is a wonderfully catchy ditty. Sufjan's "Chicago" belongs here too
Joy Division AND New Order close together highlighting the stylistic differences
Delighted to here Richard Hell's "Blank Generation" - I might have forgotten it had I been making this list. Remember hunting down that CD in college in NYC - a decade after the album was released. Love that 70s NYC-based punk
 
Onward to 300:
349) "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson (1967)
348) "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield (1970)
347) "American Pie" by Don McLean (1971)
346) "The Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen (1984)
345) "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M. (1987)
344) "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits (1978)
343) "Just Like Honey" by The Jesus and Mary Chain (1985)
342) "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" by Ramones (1977)
341) "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston (1951)
340) "Many Rivers to Cross" by Jimmy Cliff (1969)
339) "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses (1987)
338) "King Kunta" by Kendrick Lamar (2015)
337) "The End" by The Doors (1967)
336) "Groove Is In the Heart" by Deee-Lite (1990)
335) "I Get Around" by The Beach Boys (1964)
334) "I Can't Stand The Rain" by Ann Peebles (1973)
333) "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry (1956)
332) "Loaded" by Primal Scream (1990)
331) "Around the World" by Daft Punk (1997)
330) "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones (1971)
329) "Archangel" by Burial (2007)
328) "I Say A Little Prayer" by Aretha Franklin (1968)
327) "Going Underground" by The Jam (1980)
326) "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)
325) "Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear (2009)
324) "More Than A Feeling" by Boston (1976)
323) "Lola" by The Kinks (1970)
322) "Monkey Gone to Heaven" by Pixies (1989)
321) "Ticket to Ride" by The Beatles (1965)
320) "Do You Realize??" by The Flaming Lips (2002)
319) "Somebody to Love" by The Jefferson Airplane (1967)
318) "Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie (1980)
317) "Come Together" by The Beatles (1969)
316) "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young (1972)

Morning listens - tremendous stuff
a) Interesting how various playlists often just happen to highlight certain eras or genres. This AM, the 1970s were well represented with Dire Straits, Ramones, The Stones, The Kinks. Was very happy to see Ann Peebles outstanding soul/R&B number "I Can't Stand the Rain" among the usual suspects like "Lola" and "More Than A Feeling"
b) Although it's ranking is appropriate, "Many Rivers to Cross" is a song that pierces my soul with an aching beauty. On a personal list, it might even be in my top 100.
c) I go back and forth but most days I actually prefer (and would suspect I'd be in the minority) Dionne Warwick's "I Say A Little Prayer" to Aretha's (and I love Aretha as most her know)
d) As for 21st century songs, I think "Two Weeks" and "King Kunta" are appropriate choices (though there have been better Kendrick songs a bit lower down IMO. Burial's "Archangel" is not my typical fare so tough to judge but seems fine here. I enjoy The Flaming Lips but still feel "Do You Realize??" is overrated here.
e) I'm surprised to see "Ashes to Ashes" above several other Bowie songs recently, but happy it's here. It's exquisite
f) "Rocket 88" (as I'm sure most her know) is often in the argument for first rock n'roll song (it definitely is some classic R&B)
g) some may wince at "American Pie" being up so high, but I've always enjoyed it. It actually is one of the first 45's I remember hearing, owning (technically it was my parents) and when I hear the song today on the radio, I still hear it in two parts where you'd flip the 45. Convoluted but fun, it will always have a place in my heart
 
315) "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens (1958)
314) "Rumble" by Link Wray & His Ray Men (1958)
313) "Shake, Rattle & Roll" by Big Joe Turner (1954)
312) "Gloria" by Patti Smith (1975)
311) "Bye Bye Love" by The Everly Brothers (1957)
310) "Israelites" by Desmond Dekker & The Aces (1968)
309) "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire (2004)
308) "I Am The Walrus" by The Beatles (1967)
307) "Toxic" by Britney Spears (2003)
306) "Radio Free Europe" by R.E.M. (1981)
305) "Stop! In the Name of Love" by The Supremes (1965)
304) "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones (1969)
303) "This Land Is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie (1951)
302) "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age (2002)
301) "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers (1955)
300) "Brass in Pocket" by Pretenders (1979)

Finishing up until 300. Some classic songs to start from the early days of rock with Ritchie Valens, Link Ray and R&B artist Big Joe Turner (also Everly Brothers and Frankie Lymon later)

Link Wray - potent early rock instrumental. I still love the scene in the documentary It Might Get Loud where Jimmy Page is showing off his record collection and plays "Rumble" become transported away by an important song from his youth as he plays slow air guitar cords. Interestingly this is one of the few instrumentals that was banned in some places because of the use of the term "rumble" as a gang fight. Stupidity. One of the first songs to utilize the power chord and one of the first rock songs to explore feedback and distortion

Some may be surprised by the Pride of Louisiana's song "Toxic" seen here among giants like "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "I Am The Walrus", but it does show the lists desire to include compare even pop songs among rock and indie singles. As one who enjoys pop, it's a damn infectious single too; one of Britney's best (though would I place it so close to top 300....er, probably not.

Still remember the feeling I had when I tracked down Patti Smith's Horses on cassette and heard "Gloria" to open the album for the first time. I was riveted by the combo of poetry, coopting of traditional 60s garage music, and infusion of punk attitude.
 
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