Maddenation
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss Hart
Have you seen it? Rolling Stone magazine, in another “Special Collectors Issue” has listed the 500 greatest songs of all time. Not just “rock” songs, not just this century (or the last), not just the songs “ever recorded.” No, my friends, they have taken on the challenge of selecting the greatest songs of all time, for all of us.
Well, not for me, actually. But that’s OK, because I’ve never been what you might call “mainstream.” Nevertheless, I would have thought that, maybe, the top ten would be somewhat unassailable as really, really, great songs. I mean this is a tabulation (with a weighted point system) of the nominations of a “5-star” jury of singers, musicians, producers, industry figures, critics, and songwriters. Alas, they have failed. But don’t take my word for it. Hear’s the 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.
In truth, RS did say they were limiting selections to rock & roll, so don’t be concerned that Beethoven didn’t make it (except as Roll Over Beethoven, #97). And maybe we can forgive them the “rolling stone” references in the first too songs. But the only Beatles song to make it to the top ten is Hey Jude? And John Lennon gets the #3 spot with Imagine? And nothing in the 500, that’s right, nothing, nada, zilch, by Rush?
At least the Beatles got the most entries, 23; and the 60’s was the greatest decade with 202 selections. But Bob Dylan gets 12 entries while the Eagles get only 2? Clapton only 1? (OK, Cream got 3.) Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young are in there twice and Bing Crosby didn’t make it even once?
That’s enough for now. I don’t have the time or the inclination to dig any deeper. I shoulda known better (which didn’t make it, by the way) than to get involved.
Dad • News/Observations/Reviews • 11/23/04 • 1 comments
Comments
Patrick • 12/10/04 • 11:30 AM:I notice that in the top 100, there are only 6 songs that are less than 25 years old. Perhaps the number 11 song, the Who’s “My Generation,” gives a little bit of insight into the rationale for the list. We heap “Respect” on the music of “Yesterday,” while ignoring the “Good Vibrations” of today. I can “Imagine” “What’s Going On.” It’s “Like a Rolling Stone” hagiography of the past, when the magazine actually had something to say. Nowadays, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” from their insipid commercials for Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez. They’ve sold out.
Did you notice, by the way, that “Strawberry Fields Forever” was number 76 while “Penny Lane” was number 449? There are only 81 songs, total, post-1979 (and a lot of the early 80s songs are really 70s songs, like Bob Marley or The Clash). And the oldest song on the list is Muddy Waters’s “Rollin’ Stone.” How appropriate.
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