80 "The Way That I Am" by Martina McBride (1993)... It was very tempting to go with "The Greatest Hits" from Martina... she's a country icon, one of my favorite voices and let's be honest, very easy on the eyes. But this, her second album (following "The Time Has Come") is just amazing. The one negative about any greatest hits compilation is the track lineup... the original albums were arranged for the music to flow perfectly, and in a best-of, its mostly just hit after hit, or in chronological order. Martina's "Greatest" is an awesome set... but "The Way That I Am" has "Life #9" and "My Baby Loves Me" and the heart wrenching "Where I Used to Have a Heart" and her signature song, "Independence Day"... few times has a woman taking revenge on an abusive husband sounded so doggone awesome. By far, my favorite track.
79
"Even Worse" by Weird Al Yankovic (1988)... Michael Jackson was always a good sport when it came to Weird Al's parodies, and this takeoff of MJ's "Bad" was no different. The lead single, "Fat" is hysterical ("the sidewalk cracks... when I fall down... I've got more chins than Chinatown... ham on... ham on whole wheat, alright..."), and the video is even better. But the jokes keep on coming, including "This Song is Just Six Words Long", a rendition of George Harrison's "I've Got My Mind Set On You" and "I Think I'm a Clone Now", from Tiffany's (and Tommy James & the Shondells) "I Think We're Alone Now"... my favorite is the original "Good Ole Days", a James Taylor'esque look back at the days of yon... "do you remember sweet Michelle, she was my high school romance... she was fun to talk to, and nice to smell, so I took her to the homecoming dance... well, I tied her to a chair and shaved off all her hair, and left her in the desert all alone... well, sometimes in my dreams I can still hear her scream, oh I wonder if she ever made it home... those were the good old days..."
78 "Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture" (1978)... Who doesn't love "Grease"? Its the kind of film that when you see it on the big screen at special theater shows, you can sing along to everything. In college, I saw it with a group of friends, and all we did was sing, or at least mouth the words, and do the hand jive during the TV show taping. If you pick this one up, make sure you get the full album... there is a single disc CD that has the major stuff on it, but there is a 2-disc set that has all of it... you want that. Its hard to pick a favorite, though... "Hopelessly Devoted To You" is sweet... "Summer Nights" is fun... "You're the One That I Want" is great... and I do love "Sandy", as silly as it is.
Two thoughts on "Grease", since we are on the subject...
1) You do.not.understand how dirty and innuendo filled "Greased Lightning" is until you get older and are able to understand such things. Its like "Walk this Way" or "Pour Some Sugar On Me"... nothing but musical sex dressed up with fun phrases that mislead a 12 year old into singing along.
2) This was the cassette I was listening to when I had my first wreck. I was driving along through Elba, Alabama, not paying attention, singing along to the title song, "Grease", and ran a red light. I smashed into the side of an Oldsmobile with a couple of brothers in it. They weren't happy, but I didn't get beat up. Which was good.
77
And as a 12 year old boy, how cool is this album cover? I
just don't feel like they do cool album art anymore... its
an afterthought now, in this day and age of mp3s and
iTunes and immediate downloads...
"Hysteria" by Def Leppard (1987)... When I was 12, my brother Shawn had acquired this tape from a friend of his, this band called Def Leppard. On it was this song that just had hit the radio, "Pour Some Sugar On Me", this sexually charged party anthem that would go on to become an all time classic and a mainstay on rock stations forever. Again, like in the previous album review, we didn't know the full meaning of the song, we just liked singing "I'm hot, hot, so hot, sticky sweet!" at the top of our lungs. Anyway, I really liked what I heard... rock like "Armageddon It", whatever the crap that even means... "Rocket" and "Animal" and "Don't Shoot Shotgun"... this album rules. I mean, they have a one-armed drummer! My favorite track: "Hysteria"
76 "Sleepless in Seattle" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1993)... As the years go on, this movie holds up. And I think it will be shown on cable and E! and the TV Guide Channel and Hallmark for decades. Part of the charm of this film, though, is the music.... and to 17 year old me, it was my first real introduction to the likes of Jimmy Durante, Ricky Lee Jones and Nat King Cole. Every track is gold, no moment is wasted, and everything has its own special place in the movie... my favorite track is hard to choose, but its probably something sing-along-able, like Harry Connick Jr's "A Wink and a Smile" or the classic "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" by Louis Armstrong.
75 "Greatest Hits" by Keith Whitley (1990)... For those who have no idea who Keith Whitley is, you probably know his music... or at least, "When You Say Nothing At All", a song later made even more famous by Alison Krauss. The late 80s featured Whitley in heavy rotation on a ton of country stations, featuring such now-classics as "Miami, My Amy"... "Don't Close Your Eyes"... and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain". And that's what made it so sad when on May 9, 1989, he was found dead, face down in his bed, fully clothed, after a weekend of drinking and partying. The official report was alcohol poisoning, with a blood level of .477--that's equal to 20 1oz shots of 100-proof whiskey. I'm not a drinker, but that seems to be heckuva lot of the booze. Like Tupac, Keith Whitley's music was released long after his death. My favorite cut on the album: "Don't Close Your Eyes"
So... could I be the first person to ever put Tupac Shakur and Keith Whitley in the same sentence? Maybe. I hope so. We all have to have goals.
74 "Cooleyhighharmony" by Boyz II Men (1991)... I love me some Nate, Mike, Shawn and Wanya... no joke. Its often joked how similar some of their songs are, with the slower pace and the deep voice speaking about "Baby, come back, I know its tough, but I know we can make it" or something like that. Doesn't matter, though, because Boyz II Men sounded great in all their music. This was their first album, and it was an R&B masterpiece, with "Uhh Ahh", and the song that would end up being the Samson High School 1993 Class Song, "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"... and of course, the incredibly cool "Motownphilly", which makes you move.
Do they still do class songs? I wanted ours to be "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart. Someone else pushed hard for "Free Bird" by Skynyrd. I'll take "Its So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday", even though it was featured in a funeral scene for a teenage gangbanger in "Lethal Weapon 3".
73
In 1994, any picture with the Friends gang in it was a
picture you wanted to be in. We don't think about it
much now, but back then, this show was a huge'
cornerstone in so many lives, especially those in
high school and like myself, in college
"Friends Original TV Soundtrack" (1995)... Like the TV Soundtrack to Ally McBeal, this is one that stayed in heavy rotation in my CD player... well, at first my tape player, then my CD player... for a long time. "Sunshine" by Paul Westerberg became a daily sing along with me, while "Shoe Box" was fun to blare while speeding up Highway 231... plus, Hootie & the Blowfish's "I Go Blind" was awesome, as I am a big fan of Hootie, and I ranked "Good Intentions" by Toad the Wet Sprocket as my 2nd favorite song in all of 1995 (behind "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey. Naturally.) And to top it off, there were bits of dialogue from some episodes intersparsed between tracks... loved it. Favorite track is definitely "Good Intentions"
72 "Notting Hill Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1999)... Let me establish that I frickin' love this movie. I love it. I love everything about it. Currently, it sits as my 15th favorite film of all time... its just wonderful. Like "Sleepless in Seattle", the music is a big, big part of it. Its got your typical love song stuff, "You've Got a Way" by Shania Twain and "I Do (cherish you)" by 98 Degrees... there is an Elvis Costello cover of "She" that is pretty great... but there are three that pop out and make this entire albu\m shine--"How Do You Mend a Broken Heart" from The Rev'rn Al Green... the incomparable Bill Withers doing "Ain't No Sunshine... and Steve Winwood leading The Spencer Davis Group, rocking out on "Gimme Some Loving", one of the best party songs in the history of the world. All three are immaculate tunes.
By the way... the scene when "Ain't No Sunshine" comes in, when Will (Hugh Grant) walks down the street and you see the seasons pass him by as he walks--so underrated as a visual montage. I mean, just incredible.
71 "Thriller" by Michael Jackson (1982)... Okay. Its Michael Jackson. It's "Thriller". Its "Billie Jean". Its "Beat It". Its "P.Y.T. (pretty young thing)". Its "Human Nature". And it's one of the best jams in the history of great jams... "Wanna Be Starting Something". Nothing else I can say... if you say you like Michael Jackson, you need to either buy, or at least listen to this soon.
So, I rave about it, but why isn't it higher on the list? Well... because its at 71. That's how this works. There are 70 albums I like better than Thriller. So there.
ALMOST MADE THE CUT
Another soundtrack that I really enjoy is the 1997 "My Best Friend's Wedding" music. I mean, its fluffy and love-struck, like most rom-coms, but sometimes the guy who puts these things together really outdoes himself. The opening cut is the signature song from the film, "I Say a Little Prayer (for you)", this version done by Diane King... then the song that opens the movie itself, Ani DiFranco's version of "Wishin and Hopin'"... Jimmy Soul's comical "If You Wanna Be Happy"... and how can you beat Tony Bennett's "The Way You Look Tonight" (okay... Sinatra's is better, but Tony's is pretty good)... and towards the end of the album, you have the cast version of "Say a Little Prayer (for you)", from the famous dinner scene in the movie. My favorite, though, and one of my all time favorite songs--at least in my Top 50--is Amanda Marshall's ode to letting go of someone you love, called "I'll Be Okay". Holy crap is this song brutal. Awesome, but brutal.
"Off the Deep End" by Weird Al Yankovic (1992)... I love, have always loved, and will always love, Weird Al Yankovic. He's just hilarious. And inventive. And funny. And his 7th studio album falls in that love category... he parodies the New Kids on the Block's "The Right Stuff" with an ode to the creamy center of an Oreo, "The White Stuff"... he digs on Milli Vanilli in "The Plumbing Song"... he joins with Cheech Marin in doing some "Rico Suave" as "Taco Grande"... and my favorite of the bunch is the lead single--"Smells Like Nirvana", a great parody of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Story goes that Al reached out, somewhat nervously, to Kurt Cobain about doing a Nirvana song. Cobain asked, "Is your parody about food?" Al replied, "Well... uh... no. Its actually about how no one can understand your lyrics..." Cobain loved the idea, the song and the video that accompanied it. As he should. Its brilliant.
89 "Songs from Ally McBeal" by Vonda Shepard (1998)... This will fall into the category of "CDs I listened to continually for a long, long time, but haven't heard in a long, long time..." I used to love me some Ally McBeal, as well as the music... and most of the music from the first few seasons was done by singer-songwriter Vonda Shepard... the CD is mostly covers like "Walk Away Renee" and "Just Ask the Lonely", but my favorite is the Ally McBeal theme song, "Searching My Soul".
Wait... I just found out that Vonda Shepard is the same Vonda Shepard that duets with Dan Hill on the 80s cheesefest "Can't We Try"... how did I not know this? I mean, how many Vonda Shepards making music can there be? Why didn't I make this connection? I'm losing my touch...
88 "Purple" by Stone Temple Pilots (1994)... I have to give props to my high school buddy Greg Avant for turning me on to this band... I'll tell that story later, but "Purple" is their second CD, and its just so, so good. "Interstate Love Song" is the one that got the most play on the radio, but there are other gems here... like "Big Empty", a song that was later featured in "The Crow" soundtrack, and the oddly named, great sounding "Meat Plow". I'm not a huge heavy metal fan, but I loved me some STP. Of course, this was truly the last great album they made... their next CD, "Tiny Music from the Vatican Gift Shop" was good, but just not the same magic as their first one, and this one. Favorite track: Vasoline
Unfortunately, Scott Weiland, the frontman for STP, was buzzed on heroin for much of the early STP years. And he sounded awesome. And when he got clean, STP suffered. I know, its a terrible thing... but I miss Heroin Addicted Scott Weiland. Maybe he just shoot up for recording sessions, remaining closely supervised by doctors, and then immediately go into rehab. That's probably why I'm not a music producer.
87. "Surfacing" by Sarah McLachlan (1997)... I do love me some Sarah Mac. I procured tickets to see her in concert once, while working at a radio station. We sat next to the Paepckes' (Jon from NBC13 and his wife Jennifer)... and the four of us might have been the only four straight people in the entire arena.
Anyway, "Surfacing" is the fourth studio album from Sarah, and containing some excellent songs like "Building a Mystery" and the grew-on-me-over-the-years "Adia". Loses points, however, for the inclusion of "Angel", a really slow song already that has been forever marred because its the music used by the ASPCA, showing you pictures of one eyed puppies, three legged kittens and retarded horses to guilt you into sending them money. That song is ruined. Favorite track, though? "Sweet Surrender". Looooove me some "Sweet Surrender".
86 "House of Love" by Amy Grant (1994)... The early 90s were really tough on Mrs. Grant. She made a highly successful crossover to pop music with "Heart in Motion", released in 1991 and was on the short list of albums for this Top 100... things weren't going well, though. She separated from singer/songwriter Gary Chapman, and while in that separation, she met country superstar Vince Gill, who appears on this album, in a duet for the title track. Gary and Amy finalized their divorce in 1999, and in 2000, she married Vince, himself previously married to a chick from Sweethearts of the Rodeo.
Personally, I think she fell in love with Vince in the mid to late 90s, still married to Gary... but I also think they knew years before the divorce that the marriage was doomed. Listen to 1997's "Behind the Eyes", the album that came after this--its pretty painful. Her heart was broken. How did this turn into an Amy Grant story?
"House of Love" is fun, light, and peppy, especially with "Lucky One", a somewhat winkwink nudgenudge to the art of Christian lovin'... I dig her version of "Oh How the Years Go By"... I like "Children of the World"... but my favorite has to be the title track, "House of Love"
85 "Caedmon's Call" by Caedmon's Call (1997)... Like many of you, I find new bands because someone says "These guys are awesome, you should check them out." That's how I discovered The Weepies (Thanks Hannah Pruitt!) and The Lemonheads (Thanks Mike Dunn! You stole my girlfriend, but at least I have the Lemonheads to listen to!)... and one summer in 1997, doing summer missions with the Baptist Association in Montgomery, Alabama, this dude named Jason said, "You need to listen to Caedmon's Call. They are awesome." And they were. They are. From the opening "Lead of Love" to the great closer, "Coming Home", and everything in between, its guitar worship Jesus praise, and its great. "This World" is an amazing take on how this is not our home, "I Just Don't Want Coffee" could be a theme song for me, and "Close of Autumn" is one of my Life Songs, or songs that most affected my Christian Walk
84 "Serious Hits... Live" by Phil Collins (1990)... Phil is one of those guys who was pretty awesome in a band--Genesis--and had a pretty awesome solo career, at least early. Then he kinda became a wuss. (See "Adams, Bryan"). Anyway, on this live CD you get some pretty serious hits live, like "Do You Remember" and "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven", which are from the studio album before this "But Seriously...", but you also get some earlier stuff, including "Easy Lover" and "In the Air Tonight". And there is an incredible version of "Separate Lives", and my favorite Phil Collins song "I Wish It Would Rain Down". Did you also know that Phil is the father of Lily Collins, the big sis in "The Blindside"? Yup.
At some point, this exchange actually happens:
Paula: Have you ever been in love?
Keanu: If I was... I didn't know it...
Glorious. Brilliant. Poignant. Ridiculous. All in one. I frickin love
the "Rush Rush" video...
83 "Spellbound" by Paula Abdul (1991)... And we get our first repeat artist of the countdown... I gotta be honest. For a long time, I had "Forever Your Girl" ranked this high, and "Spellbound" was among the discarded nominations... but I took a long look at the track listing, and even pulled up iTunes and took a listen at "Vibeology" (oh so funky) and "The Promise of a New Day" (positive vibes along for the ride) and "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" (soft and melodic) and of course, "Rush Rush", which can only be truly appreciated if you watch the most ridiculous video in the history of mankind. I mean, Keanu Reeves is portraying James Dean. Read that sentence again.
82 "A Maze of Grace" by Avalon (1997)... Yes, in the 90s, trios and quartets in Contemporary Christian Music were almost a dime a dozen. Sometimes it was hard to tell your Sierra from your The Waiting from Silage from PFR to FFH to Big Tent Revival... they all kind of sounded alike, even with different sounds and styles... and somehow, Avalon kinda sounded like that too. But, to me, they stood out with this CD... This, their 2nd album, was magical, as it contained great worship music like "Adonai" and "Dreams I Dream For You"... oh, and this monster hit you couldn't get away from, "Testify To Love". Don't get me wrong, its a great song, but in 1997-98, that song was EVA.REE.WHERE... I mean, all over. And yes, I know all the words. My favorite tunes on this album though, are the awesome strong-in-faith song "World Away" and the love song to God, "Reason Enough"
81
"Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park" by Sheryl Crow (1999)... I do love Sheryl Crow. Ever since her first album, "Tuesday Night Music Club", which as you might guess, you'll hear about later, I have enjoyed her music, her writing and her style... that's changed a bit in the last six or seven years, as I kinda feel like she's become a little flaky for my tastes, as you can read here in a post from years ago, but that doesn't change her work in the 90s. This live CD features Eric Clapton, The Dixie Chicks, Chrissy Hynde from The Pretenders, Stevie Nicks and Sarah McLachlan, an incredible line-up, and... well, this CD is just fun. My favorite track is the duet with Stevie Nicks, on a cover of "Gold Dust Woman"
ALMOST MADE THE CUT
My first three CD purchases... 1) The Monkees box set... 2) The Pulp Fiction Soundtrack... and ...
The Hit Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber (1995)... I don't know who sings these songs, and the liner notes are somewhere around here, I dunno... but I love "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" from Evita, a musical I don't really ever care to see... and I thought this version of "Memories" from CATS was incredible, even though I've seen CATS twice and it sucked both times... and of course, the title song from "The Phantom of the Opera" will rock your world... and "Jesus Christ Superstar"? Holy crap that song is a jam. And I got it all from this CD, on sale for $11.95, at On Cue in Troy, Alabama.
Hey! Remember me?! Of course you do! Heck, I've gained about twenty followers on Facebook since I haven't blogged in a few weeks, so perhaps in order to get to 300 or something, I should never blog again! But what fun would that be?
So, this is #800. I had started writing something a bit special, something a little personal, a story I've audibly told to a few people--and a church congregation--but hadn't written, and I thought "wow, for this blogging milestone of mine own, perhaps I should do something such as this..." And having to write it a bit at a time, its just not getting done. It might be December before I get this done... and today, I just want to be a little funny. I'll try, anyway.
A few months back, and by a "few months back", I mean September of 2010, I blogged about a Vh1 countdown on the Greatest Songs of the 90s... Part One is here... and Part Two is here.
Well, flipping the channels one day, looking at the grid on DishNetwork, and see on Vh1 that "The Greatest 100 Songs of the 2000s" is on. All five hours of it, all five parts, from 100 to the best song of the years 2000 to 2009...
Now, when watching this show, you must understand, I haven't seen this show at all. So, as I list each song and talk about each one, I'm discovering it for the first time on this countdown.
Without further Gerard Depardeau, let's get this thing going...
#100... "The Thong Song" by Sisquo
This might be one of the dumbest songs I've ever heard. Like, I enjoy some crappy music... but Sisqo isn't just having fun, he's pouring passion into his lyrics. About a thong. A major one hit wonder. One of the best undie songs, I guess.
#99... "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood
THIS is the "You Oughta Know" of this decade. Carrie ain't playing, as she dug the keys into the side of the purty little souped up four wheel drive, got her name in his leather seats, took a Louisville Slugger to the headlights, there are now holes in ALL four tires, and perhaps, just maybe, he'll think about it before he cheats... but he ain't cheatin' on her. She ain't giving him the chance.
The Lovely Steph Leann loves this song. A little too much, methinks.
#98... "Kryptonite" by Three Doors Down (2000)
Dude! I freakin' love this song! I don't really know exactly what it really means, but this song rules. Three Doors Down is kind of like Nickleback's tribute band... or maybe Nickelback is Three Doors Down's tribute band? I dunno.
But, I do have a question...
If I go crazy, will you STILL call me Superman?
#97... "It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy, feat. Rik Ross (2000)
The entire appeal of this song is Shaggy and his ridiculous voice. The moral of this song is, she saw you with that chick, she has the evidence to prove it, and Shaggy just replies "It wasn't me..." Seriously. Honestly, I can't really tell you what Shaggy even says, be it here ,or that crazy "Boombastic" song.
#96... "Don't Cha" by The Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes (2006)
I'll take the Spice over the Pussycat any day.
Ladies and gentlemen, the 2000s version of The Spice Girls, I give you the Pussycat Dolls! Whether you think they are attractive or not is irrelevant... they think know they are, and they not only want you to know it, but your chick too. Don't cha wish your chick was a bra-wearing slut with all sorts of venereal diseases hot like me, don't cha?
You know what?
The Spice Girls > The Pussycat Dolls.
There, I said it.
#95... "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt (2005)
Holy crap was this song annoying. I mean, can you be a man and still be as whipped as Jimmy Blunt comes across being? Seriously. And EVERY girl I knew loved this song, and no wonder, the entire four minutes is nothing but him telling her how good looking she is. Sheesh. Its like, they are all saying, "I wish my man would sing this to me." I feel like the song is a 3 minute theme to The Hallmark Channel. Next.
And James Blunt even says that the song is a sad one, about heartbreak and crap... which makes me happy. Ha!
Erin the Marine Wife... this one is for you.
#94... "Its Not Over" by Daughtry (2006)
Dude, Chris Daughtry is kinda cool... and just about EVERY woman I know loves them some Daughtry, especially Erin the Marine Wife. Holy crap does she love her some C-Dah...
This is a pretty good song, and truly, he's kinda easy to like. And probably the most successful non-winner of American Idol, Jennifer Hudson's Oscar aside, Chris Daughtry has this cool voice that sounds like, if Scott Stapp from Creed and Chad Kroeger from Nickelback hooked up and somehow fathered a child, with some Three Doors Down lead singer guy thrown in there, it would be Chris Daughtry. Just sayin'.
Seriously, though... is this the 94th best song of the decade?
#93... "Here It Goes Again" by OKGo (2006)
Alright... this speaks to this indy/emo/non-radio kind of bands that became huge in the last ten years, getting fame not from Spinderella kickin' it up one time (that's Disc Jockeys who used to play the songs on the airwaves, to help you young folk with your new fangledy Spotify and Pandora and crap) but rather through digital media, YouTube, websites and so on. Bands like OKGo, Panic! at the Disco, TV on the Radio, and even artists like Jack Johnson, and such.
I'll be honest with ya... you could toss out ten songs and say, "Nine of these are OKGo and one is Panic! at the Disco, pick the Panic! song" and I'd probably fail miserably. They all sound alike.
And I'll go on record and say the ONLY reason this song is on this list is because of that dancing treadmill routine in the video. Very cool routine, song is not memorable.
#92... "Low" by Flo Rida feat. T-Pain (2007)
While I don't have much to say about this song, I like how this one guy on the show discussing this song is wearing a shirt that says, "Negroes On Ice". Yes, he's black. But I'm not sure that anyone but a black dude could wear that shirt.
This song was featured in "Tropic Thunder" when Les Grossman (Tom Cruise) was welcoming us to "The Goody Room."
#91... "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed (2007)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No one likes this song. Stop nodding. You don't like it either.
If I'm sitting on a hilltop, stretching my arms and singing about Campbell Isaiah, you freakin' punch me in the face, because I'll deserve it.
Oh. So that's a Mystikal. Hm.
#90... "Shake Ya A**" by Mystikal (2000)
Wait.. what?
What the heck is a Mystikal?
How did this rank above "Its Not Over" by Daughtry? This might be the worst song I've heard since #91.
Funnily enough, I looked up the Mystik Man himself on Wiki, and read about his brief career, his feuds with other rappers, and his prison time for extortion and sexual assault of his hair stylist, among other things.
Then I read where, upon release from prison, he talked about how all success he had seemed like a dream, and how he now wants to come back... then he says, "...but now watch how I shake things up -- I want reparations." Really? Your forced yourself upon your hairstylist and YOU think you are owed payment? Really? What an idiot.
Were I rapper, I think I'd have to find myself a feud to make a name for myself. I'd probably try to stir some crap up with rappers I know I could out-dis, like Ja Rule, Common and maybe Will Smith, who just seems too nice. I'd dis them in my rap songs titled, "Ja Rule Ain't No Gangsta" and "Common is a Homo N****". But I'd stay away from anything having to do with Suge Knight, because I don't want to get shot. Or eaten.
Let's move on.
#89... "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. (2007)
How old am I? I've never even heard of this song... what is an M.I.A.? Is she related to Mystikal?
This makes me fearful that I'm going to hear Ke$ha somewhere on this list, which might shoot the credibility of this entire countdown in the foot.
This is a horrible song! This is the worst song I've heard since #90... and #91!
#88... "Stacy's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne (2003)
Now THIS is a memorable song. When you meet someone named Stacy... or Tracy... or Lacy... or Gracie... or any other "acy" name, don't tell me that "...mom has got it going on..." doesn't pop into that head.
I don't know if it works this way in bigger cities, but in small towns it seems like there is one mom that all the guys--from about age 12 to 15--are like, "dude... Mrs. (insert Mom name here) is so pretty!" or "hot!" or "awesome". Yes, there was one in Samson too. And my buddies and I, all 13 years old, all thought she was gorgeous. Her son was/is a good guy, but I always felt bad for him with the whole, "Dude, stop looking at my mom!" thing.
#87... "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by The Darkness (2003)
This song frakkin' rules. Its a complete homage and/or parody of all that crazy hair metal from the late 80s... channeling Slaughter and Winger and Warrant and early Poison and Damn Yankees and all that crap, I feel like this song brought a Hair Band Education to the kids of today. My brother in law Tyler so dug this song.
And the video, with the Freddie Mercury falsetto rocking out, is awesome.
#86... "Jaded" by Aerosmith (2000)
Hey, look, its Aerosmith with a song that sounds like a ton of their other songs! Probably one of my least favorite Aerosmith songs. Try "Love in an Elevator". Much better.
#85... "I Try" by Macy Gray (2000)
I don't even know what to say about this song. I mean... it sucks. It just does. Toss it in the Mystikal pile. Wait... Macy Gray... isn't her career... M.I.A.? Ha! See what I did there?
#84... "In the End" by Linkin Park (2004)
This is a great driving song. I love how they got the rap going on with the rock... "I try so haaaaard... and got so faaaar... in the end, it doesn't even maaaaatter...."
I really dig this tune... not much of their other stuff, but this one is cool. Probably one of my 500 favorite songs of all time... wait... I don't own this song? What? What the...?
(click over to iTunes... type "Linki" and "Linkin Park" comes up. Click on "Linkin Park". Scroll and see "In the End" for $1.29. Purchase. Done.)
Yes I love technology... but not as much as you, you see... yes, I love technology... now and forever...
#83... "Untitled (how does it feel)" by D'Angelo (2000)
So, like, D'Angelo is this one hit wonder from the cusp of the decade that sang this sensual, sexy, somewhat kinda silly song, all R&B and such, nothing you haven't heard from Ralph Tresvant or Johnny Gill or the like. I'm not saying its a bad song, but its not anything revolutionary.
It was the video, however, that gives this song its popularity. D'Angelo is cut and chiseled to body perfection, and he shows it off. All of it. The video just him singing, black background contrasting his dark skin, and he's pretty much nekkid. And chicks went crazy over this. And the dudes were like, "Dude, man, put a freakin' shirt on at least. Put some pants on, for the love!"
I would imagine if D'Angelo had actually sung "You're Beautiful" while doing this same video, women worldwide would have spontaneously combusted.
#82... "Unwell" by matchboxtwenty (2003)
Perhaps its just my soft-rock preference, perhaps its just that I like a good singer/song writer, perhaps I just enjoy a guitar, a band and a good voice like Rob Thomas has... either way, I dig this tune.
Go back to the Greatest Songs of the 90s, and at #48 is one of my all time favorite, Top 25 songs ever, "3am"... "Unwell" isn't as good as that one, though this is singable, its meaningful and the opening with the banjo is great.
By the way, do you remember when they went from Matchbox 20 to matchbox twenty? They weren't crazy, they were just a little unwell. I know, right now, you can't tell.
(in leading to commercial, Vh1 just informed me, during a segment about 2000s artists wearing fedoras, that Ne-Yo has made at least 12 music videos with fedoras in them. That means that he has done over 12 videos, just a dozen of them have fedoras. My point is... when did Ne-Yo put out 12 singles?")
#81... "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen (2002)
See, this is hard because this song came out after, and partly because of, 9/11. As an homage to the NYFD, its an emotional, powerful song that to me, is a pretty good song, but mostly because of its origins. However, I must say that the dude from OKGo just tried to tell me that "It was the first musical response to 9/11..." and I say, "Bullcorn to that poppycock..." I would give that crown to Alan Jackson and his version of "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning", a much better song. Dubya Rulz! Obama's a foolz!
#80... "Get Low" by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins
When your artist name is six times as long as the song you are singing, it might be time to drop a few ampersands and feature tags. Just saying.
Didn't Flo Rida already do this song? Wait, that was "Low"... so this song is helped the birth of Crunk, I guess. And I think this might be the song that Sandra Bullock was shaking her Mystikal too in "The Proposal" around the fireplace... maybe?
YYEAYAHH.... OHHHKAYYY!!
#79... "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias (2001)
This song sucks. Got nothing else to say.
The video had Mickey Rourke in it, and he kills Enrique in it, so the video has some redeeming qualities. And it has Jennifer Love Hewitt. So, when the video comes on, just hit mute.
#78... "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's (2006)
This proves the power of a dude and his guitar. What a great, great song. Its catchy, its soft and its fun to sing.
I always thought if Factor 7 would have hit it big, it would have been with a song like this, with Drew Morris plucking a guitar and Brad Latta softly singing.
#77... "This Is How You Remind Me" by Nickelback (2001)
Remember the days before Nickelback became a punchline? Back when all their songs didn't sound so much alike, because you only had a few songs to compare? And how crappy do you feel if you are Nickelback and over 50,000 people sign a petition to keep you from singing at an NFL Game halftime show?
Poor Nickelback.
I'VE BEEN WRONG
(bom bom)
I'VE BEEN DOWN
(bom bom)
TO THE BOTTOM OF EVERY BOTTLE
Say what you want, this song rocks.
#76... "Live Your Life" by T.I. feat. Rihanna
Okay, I'll admit it... this song is kinda fun. Sorta. Though it makes me think about "The Hangover", in which is was prominently.
Speaking of Mystikal, back to the stupid name thing, I don't have a problem with T.I.... its the fact he has an alter ego named T.I.P. What does that even mean? And T.I. and T.I.P., being the same person, are different that T-Pain, right? I should get my gangstas straight.
#75... "I Don't Wanna Be" by Gavin DeGraw (2004)
Let me tell ya, in 2004, this song was EEEEEEVVVVVEERRRRYYWWWHHHEEEERRRREEE.... you could not turn around without hearing this song. Every other American Idol contestant sang this song, and I kept expecting Ryan Seacrest to tell us, "And next week, its "I Don't Wanna Be" week, where EVERY remaining Idol will sing this song. Twice!"
I don't wanna be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately. Uh... me too? Me either? I dunno how to answer that.
Much, much better.
#74... "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone (2006)
I'll be transparent and say that I cannot, for the life of me, hear this song and not only think about, but replace lyrics with, the song "White and Nerdy" by Weird Al, picturing Donny Osmond dancing in the background, Judy Tenuta on the couch and Seth Green showing off his Star Wars figures.
If there is any justice in this world, "White and Nerdy" would be on this list somewhere.
Oh, and shout out to Krayzie Bone, from Bone Thugs N Harmony, representin'... boo ya. Or something.
#73... "Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland
Dude, early Nelly Furtado, that "Fly Like a Bird" and "Follow Me Down" junk--hated it. It was horrible. However, Nelly Furtado 2.0 with "Say It Right" and this song... okay, basically anything where Timbaland is involved... I freakin' love me some Nelly Furtado 2.0.
This song Rules with a Capital R. I think of OKGo joined with Timbaland, I'd listen. Especially if Nelly Furtado was singing lead. Love me some Furtado.
#72... Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet (2003)
Awesome song. Just crazy, funny rock and roll, stupid lyrics, gangly band, and all kinds of a party going on. This was an awesome driving song. Makes me want to shake my head around to and fro... well, not while driving, mind you.
(just realized I didn't have this song in my music library... so naturally, I went to iTunes and paid the 69 cents... but along the way, I made an important discovery. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band now has ALL their major hits available. This is a big deal because "Rock & Roll Never Forgets" was not available--until now. And so not only did I pick up a great little rock tune from 2003, I picked up one of the all time classic driving songs ever. I rule)
#71... "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat (2007)
Gotta say, I love me some Colbie Caillat. Like, she makes my life better. And this song started it all. She's so darn cute, and she's got this incredible coffee house voice...
And her CDs only get better and better. Colbie is so great... and did you know she auditioned for American Idol, WITH THIS SONG, and didn't make it! So, she used MySpace, back when anyone actually used MySpace. Love love love this song.
#70... "Run It!" by Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana
Can't beat Chris Brown. Just ask Rihanna. Ha! (too soon?)
Oh, the song? Eh. I'm not entirely convinced that he and Ne-Yo aren't actually the same person, kind of like a T.I./T.I.P. thing.
#69... "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence (2003)
This is a very good song, though it suffered greatly from the "overplay" that happens when great song becomes a very popular great song and radio stations feel the need to play the absolute crap out of it. I think its a reflection of how short our attention span is--and how we listen to the radio for about, oh, three minutes, so they have to play the popular songs over and over to keep you listening...
So you had this awesome chick singing and this dude rapping and this chick turns around and starts belting out the melodrama, and its just so cool.
#68... "Stand Up" by Ludacris feat. Shawnna (2003)
Holy crap do I love this song. Don't get me wrong, I like Luda, but I'll admit he's very, very dirty sometimes, and I don't listen to his filthy stuff... but talk about a party anthem? And that video is freakin' awesome... midgets... chicks eating fried chicken... babies peeing... big afros... and boy does Luda love him some fried chicken and thick women.
#67... "Bleedin' Love" by Leona Lewis (2007)
If music could be a contagious disease, this song would be an epidemic. Now, that's not to say its bad, but its catchy and it spreads and its AWESOME. She'll never have another hit like this--this is what she'll forever be known for. And that's not a bad thing.
Keep bleedin', keep keep bleedin' love... you cut me open and I... (its in your head now, ain't it? It should be)
#66... "Drop It Likes It Hot" by Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell (2004)
Catch phrase alert! Catch phrase alert!
Its like Snoop comes into relevance about every five years with some stupid song that sucks you in and makes you repeat it over and over, then he disappears, then comes back in another five years. Snoop is a legend.
I feel like Pharrell is a cheaper version of Timbaland. Get in the welfare line, get your buttah, your cheez, and your rap producer.
#65... "Try Again" by Aaliyah (2000)
More Timbaland! So, even though I don't know a lot of her music, I dig Aaliyah. Perhaps it was her Oscar nominated turn in "Romeo Must Die", one of my 250 favorite movies of all time. No, seriously, I love the crap out of that movie.
RIP Aaliyah.
#64... "I'm Real (murder remix)" by Jennifer Lopez feat. Ja Rule
What in the world happened to Ja Rule? Wasn't he supposed to be huge? I feel like that Ja Rule and Mystikal are hanging at a crib somewhere. And T.I. will join them in the "No Career Anymo'" support group.
This song is kinda fun, but annoying after a while. Kinda like Jennifer Lopez, who, for my money was at her peak with "Waiting for Tonight" from the album "On the 6". After that, not so much.
And by the way, should I be disturbed that there is a version of "I'm Real", then there is a remix of "I'm Real" called "The Murder Remix?" Just curious.
#63... "Party Hard" by Andrew WK (2001)
Who the...
What the heck is...
I mean, I've never heard this song... I've never heard OF this song...
Maybe I'm just old. The Lovely Steph Leann has joined me in this viewing, and is staring blankly at the television. She shrugs, says, "Geez..." and turns back to her Nook.
Who is Andrew WK? Is he related to Louis CK?
#62... "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne
So, I'm not actually equipped to enjoy this song properly. (A) I'm not a chick... (B) I'm not an 11 year old chick... (C) I don't go to the mall... (D) I don't live in the rough suburbs of Canada...
And I feel like Avril peaked here. She kinda took herself too seriously after this, and tried to hard to be a "real artist". It is kinda catchy, though.
#61... "Milkshake" by Kelis (2003)
Holy crap does this song suck. I mean, like, hard.
However comma
I have been known to drop the line, "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard..." for no apparent reason.
But this song does still suck.
#60... "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha (2009)
Speaking of suck...
Someone told me the other day there was something they liked about Ke$ha... I asked, "What?" and they replied, "She knows she's not very good, but she just does her thing anyway."
Okay, you know what... I kinda like this song. And I hate hate HATE myself for saying that. Forget I said that.
(for the record... I just bought the song on iTunes. I don't even know myself anymore)
#59... "Cry Me a River" by Justin Timberlake (2002)
This song is dadgum awesome... not just the song is cool, but because Timberlake is giving the middle finger straight up to Britney Spears. I mean, like, "Suck it, ho" with this song... even the video portrays the whole scenario between him and BritBrit, and how it all went bad.
The Lovely Steph Leann just got all philosophical and asked, "If they had stayed together... would he have turned into the playboy he is, and would she have gone off the deep end?" Deep stuff.
#58... "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz (2008)
Here's the word I use to describe this song: Pleasant.
Its so pleasant. It makes me smile, its peppy, its poppy, its happy, life is breezy easy wheezy beautiful and just... just so... pleasant.
I do dig me some Jason Mraz, though I like "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" and especially "You and I Both", which I just discovered The Lovely Steph Leann had never heard... so guess what we are listening to right now, as the DVR is on pause?
#57... "Family Affair" by Mary J. Blige (2001)
Oh. This song is called "Family Affair"? I seriously thought it was called "Dance For Me" or "Let's Dance For Me" or something like that. "Family Affair". Well, now you know.
However... "Real Love" is the ultimate Mary J. Blige. Ultimate. That is one of my favorite 100 songs of all time. This song? Yeah, its kinda okay.
#56... "Party (up in here)" by DMX (2000)
Y'all gon' make me looz my mine... up in heh, up in heh
Y'all gon' make me act ah foo... up in heh, up in heh
Who doesn't love this song? Well, okay, probably Amarylis by Morning (up from san antone). And maybe Marky Mark. And definitely The Lovely Steph Leann, who is trying to ignore the tv.
But I think its fun.
#55... "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers (2004)
Um... OKGo? Panic? TV on the Radio? Same thing?
The Lovely Steph Leann pipes up... "Hey! They play this in 'The Holiday'!"
#54... "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones (2002)
Talk about peaceful. Norah's voice is so sweet and beautiful and happy. And so is this song. I can hear this song anytime, and it makes me sway a little, light a candle and find a movie on The Hallmark Channel.
Norah Jones rulez.
#53... "All The Small Things" by Blink-182 (2000)
This was the early part of the decade version of the Panic/Killers/OKGo soundalikes... Blink-182, Sum 41 and a slew of other bands that are sorta punky, sorta poppy, sorta dorky and sorta ska-ish. I mean, what can I say about this song... I like it when I hear, and now that the segment is over, I already forgot about it.
#52... "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean (2006)
Now, I'm in the minority of people that isn't all into Shakira, nor do I find her hips all that fascinating. Yes, she can move them, but I know someone who can do belly dancing, and those hips are much better. Um... should I have said that? Never mind.
She looks like a hula dancer on a dashboard.
#51... "Pocket Full of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield (2008)
If "Bleedin' Love" was the sad, melancholy song that stuck in your head for a few hours, this song is the peppy one that takes over your mind for flipping DAYS.
It will forever be associated with Emma Stone in "Easy A", a great, great film.
I gotta pocket gotta pocket fulla sunshine I gotta love and I know that it's all mine whoa... oh whoa oh... (everybody)
TAKE ME AWAAAAAAYYYY
THE SWEET ESCAAAAAAPE
TAKE ME AWAAAAAAYYYY
#50... "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift (2009)
Here's my man card. You'll be asking for it anyway when I tell you...
I FRIKKIN LOVE THIS SONG. Probably in my Top Ten of the entire decade.
And the video? Snobby Taylor vs. Nerdy Taylor... One of my favorite ten favorite videos of ALL TIME.
And I can sing. Every. Single. Word. of this song. Cause I just dig it.
#49... "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga (2009)
I was wondering when we'd getting to Gaga. This is a great song, a fun song, as long as you don't actually have to look at her. I'm afraid if I saw this, or any, of her videos in their entirety, I'd have to seek help.
There are all these people trying to give their opinions on the artistry and genius of the video and how its done and the costumes and such, and I wonder if anyone gives thought to the idea that maybe, just maybe, Gaga is like, "Hey, what can we do that makes no sense whatsoever? Like, the least amount of sense possible. Let's do that."
So I choose not to watch Gaga videos. There are some things you can't un-see.
#48... "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon (2009)
Oh yeah, its the Kings of Leon and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
#47... "Lady Marmalade" by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and P!nk (2001)
First... I liked "Moulin Rouge" very much. Second, this song has sentimental value because before we even started dating, one of the key things I learned from The Lovely Steph Leann was the exact pronunciation of "Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir (ce soir), voulez vous coucher avec moi". I couldn't say it for the life of me, and she graciously walked me through it. Its the little things, really.
The third thing about this song that makes me laugh is at the end, when they are all singing, "Marma-laaaade.... marma-laaade..." and each chick gets her own little riff to let those vocals flow... Christina does it. P!nk does it. Mya does it. And Lil' Kim? All she gets out is "uh uh uh uh uh uuuuhh...."
And this video? Its like the word "slut" threw up all over the camera. Cause they are singing about hookin'. Decide for yourself how you feel about that.
#46... "Picture" by Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow (2002)
How did this song even work? Like, Kid Rock is this obnoxious rocker rapper dude that drinks beer and smokes crack and bangs chicks and don't give no rip... and Sheryl is a chick with a guitar. And yet, this song works. Works really, really well.
In fact, take out the fact that they played this song 3,877 times a day (in between "Bleedin' Love"), and the fact that they played this on rock stations and country stations and soft rock stations and everywhere else... take that out, and really... this is a great, great song.
#45... "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" by Eve feat. Gwen Stefani (2001)
This song is so stupid.
But I love it.
What can I say? I dig me some Gwen Stefani. Even that stupid Hollaback crap--I love it. So, even though Eve is a no talent cricket biscuit, Gwen makes up for her completely.
#44... "Californication" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers (2000)
These guys have been around for 34 forevers, and will be around for another 34 more, I'm sure. And this song is awesome. And even after all this time, Flea is still an idiot.
#43... "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry (2008)
Ladies and gentlemen, America's favorite Pastor's Daughter Rocker Bad Girl! Former Christian music singer (and she wasn't that great as Katy Hudson) joined the pop culture identity with this ode to the Lesbaterian Church. Personally, not a fan of this song, lesbian themes aside.
However...
#42... "Drops of Jupiter (tell me)" by Train (2001)
...this song I am totally all about. Probably one of my 50 favorite songs of all time, and Top Ten of the Decade for me, easy. Its so much fun to sing along to, and "Love, Pride, Deep Fried Chicken" was a serious consideration for the name of this here blog.
Now, I can tell you that I'm not sure what its actually about... but ya wanna know how I won The Lovely Steph Leann? I promised her the best soy latte that she'd ever had... and me. Too bad she doesn't like soy.
Man I love this song.
#41... "Trapped in the Closet" by R. Kelly (2005)
Where do I even begin with this song? Like, seriously? This song is so long, its has CHAPTERS... like, almost two dozen of them. Its so bizarre, so weird, so rambling, so meandering, nothing but R. Kelly telling a story of infidelity and jail and the ghetto and other stuff from about 40 different perspectives, including the perspective of being trapped in the closet.
Its an R&B soap opera, and I don't say that as a joke. And somehow, someway, I'm completely entertained by the entire thing.
By the way, Weird Al's "Trapped in the Drive Thru" is even better.
Welp, that's Part 1 of The Greatest Songs of the 2000s, at least according to Vh1... look out for Part II coming very soon, as soon as I watch it and blog it... and I hope for darn sure its got some better stuff than some of this junk we've seen already. For every Coblie or "Drops of Jupiter", there are like, 5 M.I.A.s and a Mystikal. Stay tuned.
And we are back... I'll fire up this DVR and discuss the rest of the Top 100 Greatest Songs of the 1990s, as ranked by Vh1! Along the way I'll share some memories, some stories and maybe you have some of your own...
Keep in mind, I don't know who is on this list... everytime you read about a new song, I have just found out what that song was, and don't know what the next one is...
Read The Greatest Songs of 90s, Part I with Songs 100 to 48
47. "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch
I guess I heard somewhere that Mark Wahlberg doesn't like to discuss his "Marky Mark" days... and part of me can understand why. I mean, he's a white guy rapper, something that until Eminem, would get you lumped in with Vanilla Ice, Snow and the like.
But another part of me wants him to be doggone proud of this ditty. "Good Vibrations" isn't bad, its not even so-bad-its-good, its just a good, good song. And most girls I knew loved them some Marky Mark when he did underwear ads and did this video. He didn't actually wear a shirt from 1994 to 1998, I believe.
I came across this video in iTunes, and let me tell ya, I didn't think--I bought. Immediately.
I've made this point before, but really? If
you've ever seen Mutt Lange, you'll know
that Shania, left, is the best he'll ever do
and the chick on the right is more his type.
46. "Your Still the One" by Shania Twain.
Oh mah gawsh... this song was everywhere. You couldn't get away from this song. But for every bit of eye candy that Marky Mark was to the ladies, Shania is the boys.
Its funny, though, to hear Shania talk about this song and her hubby Mutt Lange, as this show was done in 2007-ish. This was, of course, Mutt so stupidly traded in his Ferrari for a used 70s Pinto.
45. "Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie & the Blowfish
HOOOOOOOOTTTIIIIEEEE ROOOOOOCCCKKKKSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But when Darius Rucker says, "Ain't Bobby so cool?", who is Bobby? Never got that.
44. "Killing Me Softy" by The Fugees
Pras, Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill... The Fugees. And for everything the original was, this song is not. The original, while classic, is so freakin' slow... the update by The Fugees made it cool. Made it relevant. Made if fun.
Sang this song in karaoke back in the early 2000s or something. Actually, I didn't sing it, Alexandra Milner did. We were at Common Ground back in the day, doing a karaoke night, and Alex and I hopped on this stage... and she sang it beautiful. I did the "one time time"... and then the "two time time" part. Cause I wanted to help.
43. "My Lovin' (your never gonna get it)" by En Vogue
Who just started singing "oh your never gonna get it, no your never gonna get it" as soon as this song came on the television? The Lovely Steph Leann, that's who, not even looking up from her laptop.
This was pre-Destiny's Child, and early-to-mid 90s. There was an abundance of chick groups that came out about the same time, including En Vogue, but also Jade (don't walk away boy, my love won't hurt you, no no!) and my favorite, Sisters With Voices, aka, SWV (can't explain why your loving makes me weak...)
42. "Shine" by Collective Soul
From the album "Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid", an album that I couldn't afford to buy in 1994, but I ended buying in like, 2004, because I felt like I should own it.
This song is also awesome, with a great chorus, and lots and lots of "YEAH!"s. Da da da dada YEAH! Da dada dada da da YEAH!"
It is a great song, but my favorite Collective Soul song? "Heavy". Man oh man is that song great to drive with.
41. "Two Princes" by The Spin Doctors
My memory of this song will forever and ever be linked to that karaoke bar on the fifth deck of that cruise ship during my senior cruise... there were like, six of us up there, and that group probably included Chris McCall and Tonya Windham, but I know for a fact that Tammy Thomas was up there.
(L-R) Tonya, Chad, Tammy, Yours Truly and Chris. This
would be a good guess as to who was singing that night.
By the way, don't hate on the Spin Doctors. Trippy sound, goofy hat of that lead singer guy, he had an awesome voice... and how much fun is this song to sing? Even now! The Lovely Steph Leann stopped singing En Vogue and immediately picked up this song.
Favorite Spin Doctors songs?
4) "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong"... what a great "get out my face, woman" song.
3) "You Let Your Heart Go To Fast"... lead cut from their second album
2) "Two Princes"... Carnival cruises!
1) "Jimmy Olsen's Blues". Man I love that tune.
Just just just go ahead now.
40. "I Wanna Sex You Up" by Color Me Badd
Okay, so this song came from the film "New Jack City", not on The Dave100, but probably could be listed in The Dave200, if there was such a thing. There were actually two versions to this song, the album version and the radio version.
Usually, I'm an album-version guy... the album typically has the extra verse, or the bridge or the extra whatever, whereas the radio version is typically edited for content and length. However, in this case, its almost as if they are two different tunes who have the same riffs and rhythm... and I prefer the "come inside take of your coat I'll make you feel at home" radio edit much better.
Two more quick observations: first, lead singer Brian Abrams got really big, and second. this song is, no matter the edit, not Emmy Turnbow Safe. No joke.
39. "Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls
So, I've never seen the movie "City of Angels" that this song came from. This song is good, though, every once in a while, but not all the time. Give me "Slide" or "Black Balloon".... but I will tell you "Dizzy Up the Girl" is an awesome CD. Go get it.
38. "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera
So, when you are 24 years old, and this 17 year old is singing, and rolling around like she does in this video, you feel kind of skeevy. And I did. Cause she was pretty hot.
Steph Nipp, back in the day, asked me about the lyrics "gotta rub the right way", and I told her "oh, its like, you know, when you rub someone the right way, or wrong way? Like, she wants the guy to be good to her, and treat her right." Steph Nipp says, "Oh, that makes sense." And everytime I heard her tell someone that particular nugget, I would laugh internally, and sometimes quietly, externally. I love Snipp.
37. "Good Riddance (time of your life)" by Green Day
So, Green Day, one of the most overrated band in the history of the world.
36. "Gonna Make You Sweat" by C&C Music Factory
Totally did this song in high school band, and that crazy part on the sax was sooooooo much fun to play.
And I know every stinkin' word to this song. I mean, this video is like a workout, cause people are dancing and jumping all over the place, you had the chick singing the "Sweat! Sweeeaaaat! Let the music take control, let the rhythm move you..." (though the skinny chick was a front--the real singer of that was one of the big sistas from The Weather Girls, and she sued), you had that awesome sax in the middle and Freedom Williams singing the rhymes that told you he was a just a squirrel trying to get a nut to move yo' butt to the dance floor so yo' whats up, hands in the air, e'rbody over here e'rbody over there..."
35. "Wonderwall" by Oasis
Talk about a song I love to sing... Today is gonna be the day that their gonna throw it back to you... I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now...
Its like a good Beatles song. This, with "Champagne Supernova", but especially this, is just about as close to a perfect rock song as you can get.
Chick named Reanna in children's theater Pied Pipers used to walk aroung singing "Wonder Bra". Kind of annoying, but at the same time amusing.
34. "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind
So this song is actually about hard core drugs and gettin' it on. The lyrics are so dirty. But its proof that people don't pay much attention to the lyrics, because its so catchy and this song was pretty big for about eight months. But I usually turn it when it comes on. Not a huge fan.
33. "Wannabe" by Spice Girls
This exchange just happened:
Me: Oh wow
The Lovely Steph Leann: You knew this had to be on here
Me: Oh, I like the Spice Girls. I dig this song.
The Lovely Steph Leann: OMG, I LOOOOOVE the Spice Girls
Ten, twelve years later, its kinda funny seeing where they all ended up, but back in the late 90s, you couldn't get away from Spice Girl. I was always a Baby Spice guy myself.
We just spent the next five minutes coming up with the titles of the other two Spice hits.... "Two Become One" and my favorite, "Say You'll Be There" (she sang along to both when I dug 'em up on my iTunes)
32. "No Diggity" by Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre
Dude. No Diggity was dope. Back when Dre and rap was fun and cool, when Hip Hop was going from innocent to a little edgy, this song is just awesome.
Not sure what "diggity" means. It might mean "no doubt", as in "no diggity, no doubt".
Play on, play out.
31. "Creep" by Radiohead
There were two versions of this song, the "so very special" and "so effin' special" version. As in, "I wish I was special. So very/effin special". Because I'm an album purist, I like the second one. I have this cassingle upstairs.
I won a tape from a radio station once, called "Kid A." And after listening to it a few times, I can honestly say, Radiohead is a band I never got.
30. "Tearin' Up My Heart" by N*Sync
So, the boy bands returned in 98, after a seven year hiatus with the loss of New Kids on the Block.
Remember when Justin Timberlake was this frosted tipped little kid? And out of like, all the boy banders in all the boy bands, something like 19 of them, JT is the only who made it out. Its not cool to like any of them... except JT. Its cool to like JT.
And I'm sure JC Chasez is sitting at home, playing "Blowing Me Up (with her love)", wondering what went wrong and why not him.
No, of course I don't have "Ice Ice Baby"
on Cassette Single. Why would I need
the cassingle when I have this entire
album on tape?
29. "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice
I could spend an entire column, like 4,000 words on this song. I don't even know where to begin with this song, other than, I love it and am not ashamed.
28. "Livin' la Vida Loco" by Ricky Martin
I got nothing. That sound you hear is the Unintentional Comedy Scale exploding into small, loco pieces.
27. "Mr. Jones" by The Counting Crows
First, lets be clear... Adam Duritz. Ladies, is he hot? Seriously? Cause he got with like, fourteen different 90s hot chicks from Jennifer Aniston to Courtney Cox.
Secondly, who is Mr. Jones?
26. "My Name Is" by Eminem
I remember hearing this song for the first time as I was coming to my apartment in 1999. It was odd, it was laughable, and it was creative. Some years later, he busted out with my favorite Eminem tune, "Without Me" which is absolutely brilliant.
Love him, hate him, he is so talented. What he can rap, the words he spits out are amazing... not the content, but just his tone.
25. "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden
This was a cool song, but this video was just creepy with the stretchy smiley face thing going on. Everyone's smiles get all weird and distorted and strange.
24. "Jump Around" by House of Pain
Dude... from the very first note, this song rocks. Like, this song is awesome. Everyone jumps to this song. And my favorite lyric, though its terrible, is "I'll serve yo' --- like John McEnroe, if yo' girl steps up, I'm smackin' da ho'"... This makes me want to go and hear this song right now. This would be in my Top Ten songs of the 90s.
23. "Whatta Man" by Salt n Pepa featuring En Vogue
What a great song. Seriously. Why is it that there are so many songs out there that are all about how bad your man is, and he cheated and he's a jerk and all that... but here's a song that celebrates how much she loves her man.
I'd like to think that The Lovely Steph Leann, were she a R&B rap artist, would sing this song to me. "d$, you so crazy... I think I wanna have yo' baby..."
22. "Loser" by Beck
Does anyone even know what this song means? No you don't. Don't try. Don't even try to explain. I made it a point to learn every word to this song at one time, and loved to sing it... and would hear it often on cassingle.
If there was a way to do playcounts with cassettes, surely this would have a huge count from back in the day.
21. "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion
Oh, there go the flutes. From one of my favorite movies of all time, 9th on The Dave100, near, far, wherever you are, you couldn't NOT hear this song. And seriously, were it not for the fact that I have heard this song about 8,000,003 times, I would still love it. However, its still a great song. And before Celine married Rob Reiner and decided to lose 188 pounds, she was so awesome. I mean, really. I would put her next to pre-crack Whitney and pre-skank Mariah, easily.
The Lovely Steph Leann: Oh, I cried at this song.
20. "Mmm Bop" by Hanson
You laugh right now, but dont even joke. You freakin' loved this song. You sang this song. You bought it, you own it, and when it came on, you turn it up, even if you only can sing the "Mmm Bop" part.
Hanson is a band that got the shaft--they make great pop rock music, played their own instruments, wrote their own songs, and were defined by that one single song.
19. "Sabotage" by The Beastie Boys
There are fewer songs that, combined with the video, are as cool as this song. This song is loud, this song is boisterous, this song had this funky, hard edge, goofy sound... and it ROCKS. Put this is your cars CD player, preluded by "B.O.B." by OutKast and followed by "Machinehead" by Bush, and you can make it from Birmingham to the beach in about 90 minutes.
18. "Enter Sandman" by Metallica
"The national anthem of headbangers" was what one guy said on the show, and I agree. And when lead singer Triple H James Hetfield, its a song that really... kinda punishes you.
Hush little baby don't say a word, and don't mind that noise you heard.
Indeed.
17. "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child
Back when it wasn't just Beyonce, but Beyonce and three, yes three, other chicks. Hey, say my name you love me in front of other people. And somehow, they sang 73 words in the span of 4 seconds, so much so that Eminem would be proud.
And for the record, I love me some Kelly Rowland--she's my favorite D'Child.
16. "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer
That phrase, "U Can't Touch This", tossed in with "2 Legit 2 Quit" will forever be a part of our lexicon. Lorelei Addison and Campbell Isaiah will be saying these phrases and not even knowing what they mean...
...oh no, forget that... they'll be hearing them some MC Hammer.
Its Hammer go Hammer MC Hammer yo Hammer and the rest can go and play, Can't Touch This!
15. "Under the Bridge" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
When this song popped up, The Lovely Steph Leann looked up and said, "ah!" I asked her if she liked this song, and she nodded feverishly, "I Love this song."
And why not? Its a great song. I remember this video where Anthony Keidis, in black and white, long hair flying, running as fast as he could towards the camera, looking all buff and intense. It was cool.
14. "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey
Totally had this poster on my college dorm room wall
Sigh.
I miss pre-skank Mariah.
Anyone under 21, stop what you are doing, go to iTunes and download three songs: Emotion, Dreamlover and this song. And listen to them for an education. THIS is how you sing. THIS is how you entice. THIS is how you are FREAKIN AWESOME.
I would love love love love to see her in concert. I mean, one of my top five most desired concert experiences.
13. "Nuthin' But a G Thang" by Dr. Dre introducing Snoop Doggy Dogg
In the late 80s, rap was killin, ghetto, hood, shooting, the plight of black people, the plight of poor people, the man holding us down...
When G Thang came out, it all changed. Rap suddenly didn't have to be a social commentary, it could be just something fun, laid back, smokin' a blunt, drankin' a fo'ty, ridin' in yo' bouncing hyrdrolic low rider,
12. "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette
How fantastic is this song? How fantastic is this whole "Jagged Little Pill" album? I remember hearing this song for the first time, I hopped in my car, drove around the corner from Willow Terrace to across the street to On Cue Records and Tapes, and paid $15.98 for it. Didn't have it, probably bounced the check, but it was worth it.
She's a little mellow now, and released an acoustic version of this whole album a few years back--and it was good, but it wasnt great. It wasn't great because she wasn't angry anymore. I love Angry Alanis.
11. "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam
Remember me telling you about sitting at home, listening to Open House Party on Saturday nights? This is where I learned about Pearl Jam and heard "Jeremy" for the first time. And I owned the tape and would play it in my car at school I daresay before anyone knew who was Eddie Vedder even was.
I remember doing some painting work for my boss at The Wright Place restaurant at his home, painting some metal beams for a barn that he was building. And with my jambox, I had this tape blaring loud and proud. Back then, kiddies, you got about five songs, then you had to flip the tape over.
10. "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor
I cannot tell you how awesome this song is. I mean, seriously. This will be another song that Lorelei Addison will hear as a very young little girl.
The video is so amazing, as she's starting at the camera, tears streaming down her eyes. Its on my list of the Saddest Songs Ever. That countdown is due for a re-do, and "Nothing Compares 2 U" might rank a little higher.
And this is on my current rotation of songs that I sing while I'm making drinks at Starbucks.
9. "Losing My Religion" by REM
I've never been a huge REM fan, but this song was captivating. That's me in the corner. That's me in the spotlight, losing my religion. I do believe that not too long ago, Michael Stipe surprised no one when admitting he was gay, he admitted that this song was his struggle with being an Other.
We used to make fun of REM, saying that REM stood for Rear End Men. Turns out I wasn't too far from being right.
8. "Waterfalls" by TLC
For all the songs that The Lovely Steph Leann liked on this countdown, I daresay there aren't many songs she hates more than this one. I like the song itself, but usually only hear it when I'm listening to a playlist that includes my favorite music from that Troy State era.
7. "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears
Let's be honest. Back in 1998, you liked this song. Don't tell me you didn't. You had no idea that K-Fed, bald heads, kissing Madonna, that VMA snake, Chaotic, slutsville, rehab, two children, bad music, that Vegas marriage was coming. All you knew at that time was that this song was awesome, it was catchy, the album was fun, and speaking as a guy, we loved it.
6. "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mixalot
I LIKE BIG BUTTS AND I CANNOT LIE is a line that forever will go down in the "First Lines to a Song" Hall of Fame. I mean, you can't even say the words "Oh My Gah Becky, look at her butt" without someone laughing, or continuing the line or quoting the song. Seriously.
This is song is so engrained in our pop culture, it will be one of the songs on this list that will last for decades, maybe a generation. I don't know if Campbell Isaiah will be exposed to Mixalot at an early age, but it seems to be a good song to sing to babies. On Friends, Rachel sang it to her kid to calm her down, and when I was visiting my best mate Wookiee, I was holding their daughter Abby Grace and when AG got a little grumpy, I started to whisper "I like big butts and I cannot lie. You other brothers can't deny..." and like magic, AG quieted.
5. "Vogue" by Madonna
Eh.
4. "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston
From a favorite film, 51st on The Dave100, its pre-crack Whitney at the top of her career. As this song started, I just put my head back on the recliner, looked at The Lovely Steph Leann and just sighed, "This song... is just so great."
A few drug hits and a Bobby Brown later, she can't hit those notes like she used to. But while you are on iTunes downloading those Mariah songs, make sure you get "How Will I Know", "Saving All My Love For You", "I'm Your Baby Tonight" (radio edit) and this song. Go now.
3. "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys
The Lovely Steph Leann just piped up "This is the BEST!!!"
So one night, Mikey Nipp and I were going to a party somewhere. We walked to the door and he turned to me, said "I'm going to have the entire room singing Backstreet in ten minutes. Just watch this."
He walked in, quietly singing to himself, "you are... my fire... my one... desire..." and sure enough, within ten minutes every girl, and some guys, in the room were singing to themselves "I want it that way" and "you are... my fire..." and so on. It was hilarious.
2. "One" by U2
When "Achtung Baby" came out, I really dug "Mysterious Ways", which turned out to be my favorite U2 song of all time.
But I'll just be honest with ya here... this is my absolute least favorite U2 song out there. When this comes on the radio, I end up just turning it. There. I said it.
1. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
When we were about three songs from the end, I said, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is probably number one." And I was right.
I was the first kid in my high school to own "Nevermind" with the naked baby on the front cover of the tape. And this song was played a whole heckuva lot in my car. Kurt Cobain is perhaps not as amazing as people remember him to be (who is, really) but he deserves alot of credit for, along with Pearl Jam, bringing the new grunge alternative sound to the forefront, inspiring rock music like never before, and making all those kids around me who felt Metallica and Alice in Chains were a little too loud have some hope in rock.
And then, when Weird Al Yankovic came out with "Smells Like Nirvana", I was laughing so hard I literally ran off of the road while driving down the highway in Enterprise, Alabama.
