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Mar 6, 2010 - 4:49AM

AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Jackson

Mar 6, 2010 - 4:51AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Now it's time to get started!

200-181:

[200] Massive Attack – Teardrop

“Love is a doing word”

[1998] Mezzanine
[1456.8 Points, 8 Votes, 182 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 90 (-110)
AM 3000: 981

Fans: DepecheMode (10), Nassim (12)

[199] The Undertones – Teenage Kicks

“I need excitement oh I need it bad”

[1978] The Undertones
[1457.0 Points, 6 Votes, 242 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 137
2008: 67 (-132)
AM 3000: 265

Fans: Jackson (23), Midaso (31), Hauke (43). Vgrd (49)

[198] The Jesus And Mary Chain – Just Like Honey

“Listen to the girl as she takes on half the world”

[1985] Psychocandy
[1462.3 Points, 8 Votes, 183 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 216
2008: 277 (+79)
AM 3000: 546

Fans: Joobalooba (2), Jackson (30), Midaso (49)

[197] Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son

“I ain’t no military son”

[1969] Willy and the Poor Boys
[1467.7 Points, 8 Votes, 183 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 115 (-82)
AM 3000: 112

Fans: Ajackson (22), SR (43), Brose (43)

[196] Robert Wyatt – Sea Song

“Your madness fits in nicely with my own”

[1974] Rock Bottom
[1468/9 Points, 4 Votes, 367 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 73 (-123)
AM 3000: 557

Fans: CharlieDriggs (1), Nicolas (5), Petri (44)

[195] Jimi Hendrix – Hey Joe

“I gave her the gun, I shot her!”

[1967] Are You Experienced?
[1477.0 Points, 10 Votes, 147 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 229

Fans: BeefSupreme (30), Michael (50)

[194] The Zombies – Hung Up on a Dream

“I’ll never find such purity and peace of mind again”

[1968] Odessey and Oracle
[1481.1 Points, 7 Votes, 212 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 143 (-51)
AM 3000: N/A

Fans: Brad (8), CharlieDriggs (48)

[193] David Bowie – Ashes to Ashes

“We know Major Tom’s a junkie”

[1980] Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
[1486.2 Points, 7 Votes, 212 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 120
2008: 132 (-61)
AM 3000: 878

Fans: Honorio (3), Petri (9)

[192] Van Halen – Jump

“I get up, and nothing gets me down”

[1984] 1984
[1490.2 Points, 9 Votes, 166 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 161

Fans: Stephan (44), Rob (45)

[191] My Bloody Valentine – Soon

“Wake up, don’t fear”

[1991] Loveless
[1496.1 Points, 7 Votes, 214 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 291 (+100)
AM 3000: 756

Fans: Jackson (2), Joobalooba (27)

[190] Pavement – Cut Your Hair

“Did you see the drummer’s hair?”

[1994] Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
[1497.5 Points, 10 Votes, 149 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 421

Fans: SR (30), BeefSupreme (43)

[189] Bob Dylan – Subterranean Homesick Blues

“I’m on the pavement, thinking about the government”

[1965] Bringing It All Back Home
[1500.1 Points, 8 Votes, 187 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 107
2008: 51 (-138)
AM 3000: 135

Fans: Stephan (11), Schwah (25)

[188] The Rolling Stones – You Can’t Always Get What You Want

“She was practiced at the art of deception”

[1969] Let It Bleed
[1500.6 Points, 8 Votes, 187 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 451 (+263)
AM 3000: 606

Fans: Daniel (31), Rob (47), Schwah (47)

[187] Bruce Springsteen – Jungleland

“And the poets down here don’t write nothing at all”

[1975] Born to Run
[1506.0 Points, 9 Votes, 167 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 187 (+0)
AM 3000: N/A

Fan: Midaso (26)

[186] Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m Amazed

“You’re the only woman who could ever help me”

[1970] McCartney
[1511.8 Points, 7 Votes, 216 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 840

Fans: Daniel (12), Stone (36), Oscar (45)

[185] Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

“Everybody’s looking for something”

[1983] Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This
[1514.9 Points, 9 Votes, 168 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 286
2008: 121 (-64)
AM 3000: 295

Fans: Moonbeam (3), Stephan (41)

[184] Iggy Pop & The Stooges – Search and Destroy

“Look out honey, ‘cause I’m using technology”

[1973] Raw Power
[1516.3 Points, 7 Votes, 216 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 290
2008: 220 (+36)
AM 3000: 402

Fans: BeefSupreme (2), Nassim (9)

[183] The Beatles – Revolution

“We all want to change the world”

[1968] Single
[1516.9 Points, 8 Votes, 189 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 38
2008: 180 (-3)
AM 3000: 317

Fans: Stone (17), DepecheMode (19)

[182] Simon & Garfunkel – America

“I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why”

[1970] Bridge Over Troubled Water
[1519.1 Points, 7 Votes, 217 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 185
2008: 154 (-28)
AM 3000: 1087

Fans: Brad (11), Honorio (15), VanillaFire1000 (19)

[181] Marvin Gaye – Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

“Panic is spreading; God knows where we’re heading”

[1971] What’s Going On
[1519.8 Points, 4 Votes, 380 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 317 (+136)
AM 3000: 835

Fans: Vgrd (1), Mindrocker (2), Schwah (39)

Fred

Mar 6, 2010 - 5:14AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Whatever you do, listen to "Rock Bottom" by Robert Wyatt. The whole album is great. A pair of other favorite songs are "Memories Of You" (b-side to "Shipbuilding") and "Alliance" from 1993.

Jackson

Mar 6, 2010 - 5:25AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Fred

Whatever you do, listen to "Rock Bottom" by Robert Wyatt. The whole album is great. A pair of other favorite songs are "Memories Of You" (b-side to "Shipbuilding") and "Alliance" from 1993.

I'm just getting into it. I think "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road" is my favorite right now. I love the line from "Sea Song" I selected because it seems to sum up the album so perfectly.

Fred

Mar 6, 2010 - 6:02AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Jackson

Fred

Whatever you do, listen to "Rock Bottom" by Robert Wyatt. The whole album is great. A pair of other favorite songs are "Memories Of You" (b-side to "Shipbuilding") and "Alliance" from 1993.

I'm just getting into it. I think "Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road" is my favorite right now. I love the line from "Sea Song" I selected because it seems to sum up the album so perfectly.

Riding hood is my fav too. Just love the trumpets. Plus "In my GAR-den of England in the last song"

Henrik

Mar 6, 2010 - 6:11AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Jackson, SUPERB presentation!!!

Moonbeam

Mar 6, 2010 - 7:21AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Great start!

Ddiamondd

Mar 6, 2010 - 9:49AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Henrik

Jackson, SUPERB presentation!!!

Nassim

Mar 6, 2010 - 11:41AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Yippyyy, 2 songs from my top 20 (although I would have prefered if Teardrops had not, well, dropped).

I don't know from which album America is, but it is not Bridge Over the Troubled Water !

nicolas

Mar 6, 2010 - 11:47AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Great start and great pictures !

I'm happy that Wyatt shows up at every poll we do

"Sea Song " is great, but I'd give every single track of Rock Bottom a 5/5

I listen to the whole album as just one song, especially the second side

Alex D

Mar 6, 2010 - 12:47PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

[243] Pubic Enemy | Fight the Power | 1989

That is one really embarrassing typo.

nicolas

Mar 6, 2010 - 1:20PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

listyguy

Mar 6, 2010 - 1:31PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

I'm surprised Sweet Dreams (Are made of these) isn't higher. Same with Search and Destroy.

Email Website

Mar 6th, 2010 - 1:31 PM

...

Mar 6, 2010 - 4:04PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

nicolas

Jackson

Mar 6, 2010 - 4:10PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Nassim

Yippyyy, 2 songs from my top 20 (although I would have prefered if Teardrops had not, well, dropped).

I don't know from which album America is, but it is not Bridge Over the Troubled Water !

It's a 1968 song from Bookends, I got messed up because three other songs from the list are from BOTW.

Don't get Alex D's post.

nicolas

Mar 6, 2010 - 4:10PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Can you explain that with WORDS, I mean simply ?

Jackson

Mar 6, 2010 - 4:20PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Most severe and most surprising drop of the poll in this next bunch, as well as some surprising debuts.

180-161:

[180] The Human League – Don’t You Want Me

“I was working as a waitress at a cocktail bar”

[1981] Dare
[1539.9 Points, 11 Votes, 140 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 184 (+4)
AM 3000: 181

Fan: Stephan (49)

[179] Radiohead – Pyramid Song

“There was nothing to fear, nothing to doubt”

[2001] Amnesiac
[1547.4 Points, 9 Votes, 171 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 141 (-38)
AM 3000: 778

Fans: DepecheMode (4), Sonofsamiam (29)

[178] Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade of Pale

“Although my eyes were open, they might have just as well been closed”

[1967] Procol Harum
[1548.3 Points, 12 Votes, 129 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 229
2008: 363 (+185)
AM 3000: 117

Fans: VanillaFire1000 (42), Midaso (43)

[177] Foo Fighters – Everlong

“Breath out so I can breath you in”

[1997] The Colour and the Shape
[1549.1 Points, 9 Votes, 172 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 325 (+148)
AM 3000: 1160

Fans: Anders (11), Henry (24)

[176] Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name

“I won’t do what you tell me”

[1992] Rage Against the Machine
[1552.3 Points, 7 Votes, 221 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 763

Fans: 42david42 (4), Anders (10), Michael (26)

[175] Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love

“I’m gonna send you back to schoolin’”

[1969] Led Zeppelin II
[1563.9 Points, 9 Votes, 173 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 76

Fans: 42david42 (10), Leonardo (34)

[174] Pixies – Here Comes Your Man

“Big shake to the land that’s falling down”

[1989] Doolittle
[1569.0 Points, 12 Votes, 130 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 255
2008: 364 (+190)
AM 3000: N/A

Fan: BillAdama (48)

[173] The Kingsmen – Louie Louie

“We gotta go”

[1963] Single
[1579.0 Points, 9 Votes, 175 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 383
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 11

Fan: Guy (2)

[172] The Cure – Lullaby

“Spiderman is having me for dinner tonight”

[1989] Disintegration
[1584.7 Points, 8 Votes, 198 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 1946

Fans: Nassim (19), Hauke (28), Petri (32)

[171] The Beatles – Paperback Writer

“It’s a dirty story of a dirty man”

[1966] Single
[1586.9 Points, 6 Votes, 264 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 276

Fans: Mindrocker (6), Todd (10), Oscar (36)

[170] Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

“No matter how far”

[1967] United
[1600.2 Points, 5 Votes, 320 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 581

Fans: Stone (19), Sven (19), Guy (19), Henry (27)

[169] Love – Alone Again Or

“I could be in love with almost everyone”

[1967] Forever Change
[1602.3 Points, 11 Votes, 145 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 26
2008: 22 (-147)
AM 3000: 221

Fans: Honorio (47), 42david42 (48)

[168] Sex Pistols – God Save the Queen

“Our figurehead is not what she seems”

[1977] Nevermind the Bollocks
[1611.9 Points, 10 Votes, 161 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 298
2008: 210 (+42)
AM 3000: 21

Fans: Mindrocker (9), Leonardo (20)

[167] Sufjan Stevens – John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

“I am really just like him”

[2005] Illinois
[1624.3 Points, 10 Votes, 162 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 153 (-14)
AM 3000: 1129

Fans: SR (20), Honorio (47)

[166] David Bowie – Changes

“Time may change me”

[1971] Hunky Dory
[1629.4 Points, 11 Votes, 148 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 105
2008: 303 (+137)
AM 3000: 141

Fan: Brose (26)

[165] Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tracks of My Tears

“Though she may be cute, she’s just a substitute”

[1965] Going to a Go-Go
[1646.1 Points, 13 Votes, 126 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 256
2008: 75 (-90)
AM 3000: 40

Fan: Midaso (67)

[164] U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday

“There’s many lost, but tell me who has won”

[1983] War
[1646.2 Points, 11 Votes, 149 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 238
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 208

Fan: Daniel (64)

[163] Weezer – Say It Ain’t So

“This way is a waterslide away from me that takes you further every day”

[1994] Weezer (The Blue Album)
[1646.2 Points, 7 Votes, 235 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 1595

Fans: 42david42 (7), Weezy (24), DepecheMode (40)

[162] Blur – Song 2

“It wasn’t easy, but nothing is”

[1997] Blur
[1649.5 Points, 8 Votes, 206 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 28
2008: 158 (-4)
AM 3000: 119

Fans: Rob (12), Michel (41), DepecheMode (43)

[161] Bob Dylan – It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)

“Even the President of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked”

[1965] Bringing It All Back Home
[1650.8 Points, 8 Votes, 206 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 247 (+86)
AM 3000: 1099

Fans: Jackson (22), BillAdama (26), Toni (33)

Ddiamondd

Mar 6, 2010 - 4:22PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Public Enemy = highly influential, politically charged rap crew from the 80s

Pubic Enemy = a worker in a waxing boutique, or a modern teenager perhaps

Greg

Mar 6, 2010 - 4:29PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

i'd say crabs

Alex D

Mar 6, 2010 - 5:08PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

nicolas, according to Google Translate, "pubic" in French is "pubienne", which will probably help you get the joke.

BTW I didn't post the picket-sign picture.

Jackson

Mar 6, 2010 - 5:39PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

I have no idea how I didn't catch that. I read it and reread it as "public." Now I get it

nicolas

Mar 6, 2010 - 5:44PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

I didn't see the mistake either !

but Greg, the crab is a pubic ami

Nassim

Mar 6, 2010 - 6:32PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

For better or for worse, it seems that FM rock hits are gaining steam, I would never have expected to see Killing in the Name or Jump in the top 200 !
I'm glad that it helps Lullaby, Song 2 or Everlong to appear here, but I don't like the side effects that less known (and at least as deserving) songs falls down the list (especially if that effects my #1 ).

I wonder which hip-hop songs will be the best ranked, I would bet that only 5 of them will make the top 200 (Stan, B.O.B., Hey Ya, Crazy and The Message). I will put my bet on B.O.B. !

Stone

Mar 7, 2010 - 1:24AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

What's wrong with "Jump?" Great chorus. Great solos. Instantly memorable. One of the defining singles of the 1980s and one of the best songs of 1983-1984, the best two year stretch for Top 40 Radio in the 1980s (and maybe the best since the early 1970s).

Nassim

For better or for worse, it seems that FM rock hits are gaining steam, I would never have expected to see Killing in the Name

or Jump

in the top 200 !
I'm glad that it helps Lullaby, Song 2 or Everlong to appear here, but I don't like the side effects that less known (and at least as deserving) songs falls down the list (especially if that effects my #1 ).

I wonder which hip-hop songs will be the best ranked, I would bet that only 5 of them will make the top 200 (Stan, B.O.B., Hey Ya, Crazy and The Message). I will put my bet on B.O.B. !

Larry

Mar 7, 2010 - 4:28AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

180: I love "Don't You Want Me"!! I was totally surprised to see it here, not realizing it was ranked comparably in the AM 3000, and in 2008. And I ranked it #175 myself, so I guess it's definitely where it belongs!

170: Tammi Terrell kind of looks like Beyonce in that picture...

Great set!

Mar 7th, 2010 - 4:28 AM

Jackson

Mar 7, 2010 - 5:40AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

160-141:

[160] Beyonce featuring Jay-Z – Crazy in Love

“History in the making”

[2003] Dangerously in Love
[1667.8 Points, 7 Votes, 238 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 105

Fan: Todd (25)

[159] The Velvet Underground – Sweet Jane

“Villains always blink their eyes”

[1970] Loaded
[1670.9 Points, 8 Votes, 209 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 288 (+129)
AM 3000: 498

Fans: Schwah (10), Petri (35), Jackson (43)

[158] Big Star – Thirteen

“Tell him what we said ‘bout ‘Paint It, Black’”

[1972] #1 Record
[1671.4 Points, 7 Votes, 238 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 333
2008: 64 (-94)
AM 3000: 2544

Fans: Nassim (7), Petri (31), BeefSupreme (39), Midaso (48)

[157] The Rolling Stones – Jumpin’ Jack Flash

“I was born in a crossfire hurricane”

[1968] Single
[1675.3 Points, 9 Votes, 186 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 145
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 39

Fans: Guy (26), Brose (36), Leonardo (48)

[156] The Breeders – Cannonball

“I’ll be your whatever you want”

[1993] Last Splash
[1680.0 Points, 9 Votes, 186 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 392
2008: 144 (-12)
AM 3000: 170

Fans: Todd (12), BeefSupreme (26), Schwah (29), Michel (49)

[155] The Beatles – Here Comes the Sun

“The ice is slowly melting”

[1969] Abbey Road
[1687.6 Points, 9 Votes, 187 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 142
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 1373

Fans: Daniel (17), Todd (42), Toni (46)

[154] Jimi Hendrix – Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

“I’ll see you in the next one, don’t be late”

[1968] Electric Ladyland
[1693.6 Points, 12 Votes, 141 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 202
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 225

Fan: BillAdama (9)

[153] ABBA – Dancing Queen

“With a bit of rock music, everything is fine”

[1976] Arrival
[1694.2 Points, 10 Votes, 169 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 425 (+272)
AM 3000: 116

Fans: Todd (8), Rob (44)

[152] The Velvet Underground – Venus in Furs

“I could sleep for a thousand years”

[1967] The Velvet Underground & Nico
[1695.1 Points, 11 Votes, 154 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 337
2008: 44 (-108)
AM 3000: 1788

Fans: Mindrocker (32), Guy (47)

[151] New Radicals – You Get What You Give

“You’ve got the music in you”

[1998] Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too
[1704.5 Points, 11 Votes, 155 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 147 (-4)
AM 3000: 527

Fans: Midaso (19), Stephan (23), Rob (26)

[150] Prince – 1999

“I was dreaming when I wrote this”

[1982] 1999
[1705.4 Points, 10 Votes, 170 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 69 (-81)
AM 3000: 328

Fans: Moonbeam (2), DepecheMode (31)

[149] Funkadelic – Maggot Brain

“Mother Earth is pregnant, for y’all have knocked her up”

[1971] Maggot Brain
[1709.7 Points, 10 Votes, 171 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 279
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 2642

Fans: SR (16), Sonofsamiam (22), Nassim (50)

[148] The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night

“You know I work all day”

[1964] A Hard Day’s Night
[1710.7 Points, 9 Votes, 190 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 285
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 434

Fans: Stone (27), Oscar (28)

[147] The Beta Band – Dry the Rain

“This is the definition of my life”

[1997] The Three EP’s
[1712.9 Points, 9 Votes, 190 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 257
2008: 46 (-101)
AM 3000: 1901

Fans: Michel (3), Jackson (18), Nassim (27)

[146] Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here

“We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl”

[1975] Wish You Were Here
[1739.7 Points, 11 Votes, 158 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 35
2008: 134 (-12)
AM 3000: 597

Fans: Michel (30), Daniel (32), DepecheMode (33)

[145] Bob Dylan – Desolation Row

“When you asked me how I was doing, was that some kind of joke?”

[1965] Highway 61 Revisited
[1741.0 Points, 7 Votes, 248 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 169
2008: 89 (-56)
AM 3000: 729

Fans: Joobalooba (6), Stephan (7), Rob (15)

[144] Martha & The Vandellas – Dancing in the Street

“Are you ready for a brand new beat?”

[1964] Single
[1746.0 Points, 9 Votes, 194 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 58

Fans: Todd (13), Sven (32), Nick (46)

[143] Radiohead – Idioteque

“This is really happening”

[2000] Kid A
[1747.4 Points, 7 Votes, 249 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 405
2008: 128 (-15)
AM 3000: N/A

Fans: Hauke (14), Nassim (21)

[142] Animal Collective – My Girls

“I don’t care for fancy things”

[2009] Merriweather Post Pavilion
[1752.8 Points, 10 Votes, 175 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: N/A

Fans: DepecheMode (36), Brose (50)

[141] Radiohead – Creep

“What the hell am I doing here?”

[1993] Pablo Honey
[1754.2 Points, 9 Votes, 195 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 253
2008: 418 (+277)
AM 3000: 132

Fans: Henry (13), Michael B. (50)

Some strange risers in this group, like "Creep" and "Dancing in the Street" coming out of nowhere to place highly.

"Dry the Rain," one of the coolest and most unexpected placements in the last poll, takes a sad plunge. The "Venus in Furs" drop was equally unwarranted but is made up for by the rise of "Sweet Jane" and other VU songs to be revealed later.

"My Girls" is the best song since `07 according to this forum. I'm fine with calling it the best song of `09, but I think there are several better singles from `08.

Larry

Mar 7, 2010 - 5:56AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Jackson, you rock! After my last comment about Tammi Terrell and Beyonce, you lead off with a picture of Beyonce! hahahaha...awesome.

Mar 7th, 2010 - 5:56 AM

Moonbeam

Mar 7, 2010 - 6:47AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Awww, I was hopiong "1999" would maintain a spot in the top 100. With that, my top 5 are all gone, and all having suffered significant drops from the last poll. Boo!

Petri

Mar 7, 2010 - 9:10AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Nice to see that Cannonball almost kept its 08 poll placement. It didn't get help from 90's poll this time. The placement of Dry the Rain is still very good (in top 150).
Surprised to see 1999 so far in the list. It's lower than it was in my list and I'm not among the biggest Prince fans of the forum.

By the way I didn't vote for Sweet Jane (I had two VU songs in my top 35 and four songs in my list but not Sweet Jane).

I must praise the presentation too. It's magnificent.

Ddiamondd

Mar 7, 2010 - 11:16AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

I wish I had voted in this now. The task of picking an all-time song list seemed an insurmountable challenge and I was flitting between jobs/locations so I didn't find the time but good goddamn, there have been some treats.

New Radicals?

Spose I've gotta wait til 2012 now.

Jackson

Mar 7, 2010 - 2:47PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

140-121:

[140] Radiohead – No Surprises

“They don’t speak for us”

[1997] OK Computer
[1765.9 Points, 10 Votes, 176 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 247
2008: 59 (-81)
AM 3000: 1220

Fans: Honorio (10), Petri (16)

[139] Elliott Smith – Waltz #2 (XO)

“Can’t you tell that it’s well understood?”

[1998] XO
[1781.9 Points, 11 Votes, 162 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 55 (-84)
AM 3000: 1557

Fan: Nassim (1)

[138] Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze

“’Scuse me while I kiss the sky”

[1967] Are You Experienced?
[1806.9 Points, 10 Votes, 180 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 222
2008: 133 (-5)
AM 3000: 38

Fans: Leonardo (17), SR (24)

[137] Eminem – Stan

“I wrote the addresses on ‘em perfect”

[2000] The Marshall Mathers LP
[1811.4 Points, 9 Votes, 201 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 70
2008: 72 (-65)
AM 3000: 270

Fans: Ajackson (21), Joobalooba (33), Honorio (34), Guy (35)

[136] Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On

“Stop beating ‘round the bush”

[1973] Let’s Get It On
[1825.6 Points, 11 Votes, 166 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 268

Fans: Henry (15), Vgrd (23)

[135] Prince – Sign ‘o the Times

“Some say a man ain’t happy unless a man truly dies”

[1987] Sign ‘o the Times
[1828.0 Points, 13 Votes, 140 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 57
2008: 169 (+34)
AM 3000: 129

Fans: Moonbeam (29), Vgrd (36)

[134] The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand

“I think you’ll understand”

[1963] Single
[1829.8 Points, 8 Votes, 228 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 23

Fans: Todd (17), Oscar (40), Leonardo (41), Nick (43)

[133] Nick Drake – River Man

“I don’t suppose it’s meant for me”

[1969] Five Leaves Left
[1843.6 Points, 11 Votes, 167 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 42
2008: 79 (-54)
AM 3000: 890

Fans: tsmzth (14), Nassim (34)

[132] LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great

“But nothing can prepare you for it, the voice on the other end”

[2007] Sound of Silver
[1845.3 Points, 14 Votes, 131 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 1164

Fan: Henry (37)

[131] King Crimson – Starless

“Sundown, dazzling day”

[1974] Red
[1854.2 Points, 7 Votes, 265 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 132
2008: N/A
AM 3000: N/A

Fans: Jackson (5), Fred (7), Anders (35)

[130] The Beatles – Something

“You’re asking me will my love grow, well I don’t know”

[1969] Abbey Road
[1870.2 Points, 11 Votes, 170 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 32
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 466

Fans: 42david42 (5), Brose (45)

[129] The Who – My Generation

“I hope I die before I get old”

[1965] My Generation
[1871.9 Points, 9 Votes, 208 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 94
2008: 168 (+39)
AM 3000: 12

Fans: Leonardo (8), Stephan (21), Nick (38)

[128] The Doors – Light My Fire

“Girl, we couldn’t get much higher”

[1967] The Doors
[1872.5 Points, 11 Votes, 170 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 33
2008: 257 (+129)
AM 3000: 34

Fan: Leonardo (18)

[127] Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

“They don’t love you like I love you”

[2003] Fever to Tell
[1889.7 Points, 10 Votes, 189 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 183 (+56)
AM 3000: 472

Fans: Ajackson (10), SR (40)

[126] The Temptations – My Girl

“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day”

[1964] Single
[1894.8 Points, 10 Votes, 189 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 450 (+324)
AM 3000: 106

Fans: VanillaFire1000 (21), Daniel (29), Stone (34)

[125] The Beatles – Help!

“My independence seems to vanish in the haze”

[1965] Help!
[1898.5 Points, 10 Votes, 189 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 164

Fans: Oscar (18), Stone (30), Henry (34)

[124] Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message

“Don’t push me cause I’m close to the edge”

[1982] The Message
[1930.9 Points, 12 Votes, 161 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 305
2008: 198 (+74)
AM 3000: 15

Fans: Rob (25), Sonofsamiam (34)

[123] Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the Wind

“How many deaths will it take ‘till he knows that too many people have died?”

[1963] The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
[1931.5 Points, 8 Votes, 241 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 279

Fans: Brose (3), Guy (36), Oscar (38), Leonardo (42), Stephan (45)

[122] Elvis Presley – Suspicious Minds

“We’re caught in a trap”

[1969] Single
[1933.2 Points, 13 Votes, 148 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 314
2008: 48 (-74)
AM 3000: 65

Fans: 42david42 (32), Stone (39), Nick (40), Vgrd (50)

[121] Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)

“We forgot all the names we used to know”

[2004] Funeral
[1942.7 Points, 14 Votes, 138 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 287
2008: 92 (-29)
AM 3000: N/A

Fans: Joobalooba (25), Midaso (45)

Incredible placement for Starless. It's great to see it do this well after a disappointing performance in the 70s poll (for me, at least). River Man and Waltz #2 both didn't deserve to drop out of the top 100, but that's just the way it is in this year's poll. Classic singles (My Girl, Blowin' in the Wind, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Let's Get It On) all saw far more votes this year than they ever have in the past.

Honorio

Mar 7, 2010 - 7:12PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Jackson, the best presentation ever on AM Forum history

Mar 7, 2010 - 7:23PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Yeah this is really great, and I'm digging the fact that there are a few surprises. No Surprises at 140? Only one above Creep? Which is two above Idioteque? I love Radiohead, but I'm happy they aren't dominating this poll.

The Beatles on the other hand, well, that's a lot of Beatles. And by my count, we probably have around 10 more Beatles songs to go.

Nassim

Mar 7, 2010 - 7:55PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Jackson

River Man and Waltz #2 both didn't deserve to drop out of the top 100, but that's just the way it is in this year's poll. Classic singles (My Girl, Blowin' in the Wind, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Let's Get It On) all saw far more votes this year than they ever have in the past.

Yeah, that is the exact example of what I feared, impacting 2 of my favourite songs.

Beyonce feat Jay-Z - Crazy In Love : I forgot this one on my hip_hop list ^^

Big Star - Thirteen : my real #7 would probably be Elliott Smith's cover, but still it is the best love song ever written, talking about a pure and simple feeling. I hate emphasis and pathos when it comes to love, I love simplicity and honesty !

New Radicals - You Get What You Give : glad to see this one remained on the top 200 despite Anthony's absence, it is an incredibly positive song, sounding different to anything else released at this time and standing the test of time. There might not be anything new in that, but it's delivered with enough faith and energy to make it universal !

Funkadelic - Maggot Brain : one of my favourite discoveries of the 70s poll. 3/4 songs for ever !

The Beta Band - Dry the Rain : I fell in love pretty quickly with this one, but at first I honestly thought it could only be a positive and happy song... then I gave attention to the lyrics, felt strange at first but now even though it still don't totally make sense, it just seems to fit perfectly. Best song ever to listen to watch the rain, close to a chemney fire.

Radiohead - Idioteque : took time to become my favourite Radiohead song, maybe I have became some sort of hipster

Radiohead - No Surprises : I love this song as much as I fear it... the music is incredibly beautiful but the lyrics encompass my worst fears. Every time I listen to it I want to cry, to go back to bed, to scream... and to listen to it once more.

Elliott Smith - Waltz #2 : my favourite song ever, it just seemed like an evidence the first times I listened to it. I can not honestly tell you why, especially since I don't relate to the lyrics at all (but I love them, they are really beautiful and sincere), it just is. I thought that's the song that made me love all the others 3/4 songs, but after looking a few year back, it just seems like the logical continuation of an old trend.

Nick Drake - River Man : my favourite song of the godfather of Elliott Smith and all those songwriter that puts all their suffering in their music with sincerity and beauty (R.I.P. Mark Linkous by the way...). I feel safe when I listen to it, protected, in a cocoon. And the chords are perfect.

LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great : I'm surprised not to see Moonbeam in the fans of that one. Anyway, the best song ever written about mourning. I told I like love song to be honest and simple, but I guess that's my opinion of all the feelings, I'm not a very expressive guy and I like to know some people react like I do, with simple and contained feelings.

Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 : apocalyptic love song, really beautiful. But I'm glad that (I think) my favourite Arcade Fire song did better (on the other hand I would have liked that one to beat Rebellion Lies)!

And Jackson, the pictures chosen are wonderful! Really reflects the feeling of each of those songs.

Zorg

Mar 7, 2010 - 8:22PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Nassim

And Jackson, the pictures chosen are wonderful! Really reflects the feeling of each of those songs.

Yeah, especially the young Dylans, which are mindblowing. Disappointed by the low placement of Desolation Row, my 6th favourite song and growing. Nice Radiohead picks, but Creep? I've never understood the appeal of that song.

Petri

Mar 7, 2010 - 8:38PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Nassim

(R.I.P. Mark Linkous by the way...)

I hadn't heard he died. According to Wikipedia he committed a suicide yesterday. R.I.P. Mark

It's a Wonderful Life was one of my favorite pop albums of the early 00's. And Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot was the first album I listened to after I heard my father had died.
Sad & Beautiful world
Sparklehorse - It's a wonderful life

This has nothing to do with the poll so sorry about that. For me this is just the most shocking rockers suicide since Elliott Smith.

Henry

Mar 7, 2010 - 8:39PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Fantastic Presentation!!

FYI - as I recall, Simon and Garfunkel's "America" is from the Bookends album.

Mar 7th, 2010 - 8:39 PM

nicolas

Mar 7, 2010 - 8:53PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

I hope "Suspicious Minds" is not the best ranked Elvis song in this poll (i haven't checked).
I love that song, it was even in my top 500, but his early hits (1954-57) are much better. So I hope we'll see Heartbreak Hotel, That's all Right or HOund Dog.
50's rock doesn't get all the acclaim it should in this forum. Just look at the weak turnout in the 50s poll.
Maybe it's too old for the newer generations ?
I think most of the kids just think music started in 1965 (if they don't think it did in 1977).
Don't wanna sound like an old geezer, but you should join the 50's poll. A fantastic decade, especially for songs.
Just listen to the top 10 of 1954 and 1955 that we voted and you'll know.

Moonbeam

Mar 7, 2010 - 9:28PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Nassim

LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great : I'm surprised not to see Moonbeam in the fans of that one.

It was my number 179.

Great work, Jackson!

Henry

Mar 7, 2010 - 10:11PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Looking forward the rest of the poll. According to my records, I have the following songs remaining in my top 50:

50 Police Every Breath You Take
48 Verve Bitter Sweet Symphony
43 Pulp Common People
42 McLachlan, Sarah Building A Mystery
39 Blind Faith Presence Of The Lord
38 Led Zeppelin The Song Remains The Same
36 Eagles Take It Easy
30 Ferdinand, Franz Take Me Out
29 Clash London Calling
26 Satriani, Joe The Crush of Love
25 Genesis Behind The Lines
21 Beatles Hey Jude
20 Clapton, Eric Let It Rain
19 My Chemical Romance Welcome to the Black Parade
18 Derek & The Dominos Layla
17 Beach Boys Good Vibrations
16 Rolling Stones (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
8 Beatles Let It Be
7 Eagles Hotel California
6 Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water
4 Springsteen, Bruce Born To Run
3 Beatles Yesterday
2 Hendrix, Jimi All Along The Watchtower
1 Led Zeppelin Stairway To Heaven

I would be pleasantly surprised if any of the following were included in the poll:

Let It Rain
Welcome to the Black Parade
Behind The Lines
The Crush of Love
Take It Easy
Presence Of The Lord
Building A Mystery

I would not be surprised if any of the following were not included in the poll, but would guess that they will be:
Bitter Sweet Symphony
Hotel California
The Song Remains The Same

Mar 7th, 2010 - 10:11 PM

Jackson

Mar 7, 2010 - 11:15PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Thanks for all the positive comments about my presentation. I took the quotes idea from the compiler of this very interesting list from another music forum. I got most of these pictures from LastFm, which is a goldmine for hard-to-find pictures of almost any musical artist.

On we go, with 120-101:

[120] Radiohead – Karma Police

“For a minute there, I lost myself”

[1997] OK Computer
[1956.5 Points, 13 Votes, 150 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 281 (+161)
AM 3000: 709

Fan: Rob (53)

[119] The Velvet Underground – I’m Waiting for the Man

“First thing you learn is that you’ve always got to wait”

[1967] The Velvet Underground & Nico
[1957.0 Points, 11 Votes, 177 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 41
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 150

Fans: Jackson (25), Stephan (37)

[118] The Police – Every Breath You Take

“I look around but it’s you I can’t replace”

[1983] Synchronicity
[1968.1 Points, 10 Votes, 196 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 196 (+78)
AM 3000: 49

Fans: Nick (45), Henry (50)

[117] The Beatles – Happiness is a Warm Gun

“She’s not a girl who misses much”

[1968] The Beatles (The White Album)
[1971.1 Points, 14 Votes, 140 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 157
2008: 175 (+58)
AM 3000: 337

Fans: VanillaFire1000 (46), Brose (48)

[116] Tracy Chapman – Fast Car

“Is it fast enough so we can fly away?”

[1988] Tracy Chapman
[1972.5 Points, 10 Votes, 197 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 297 (+181)
AM 3000: 392

Fans: DepecheMode (17), BillAdama (38), Petri (42)

[115] OutKast – Ms. Jackson

“Forever never seems that long until you’re grown”

[2000] Stankonia
[1976.3 Points, 13 Votes, 152 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 116
2008: 416 (+301)
AM 3000: 245

Fans: Schwah (30), BillAdama (46)

[114] Bruce Springsteen – The River

“Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true, or is it something worse?”

[1980] The River
[1983.1 Points, 8 Votes, 247 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 66
2008: 96 (-18)
AM 3000: 1341

Fans: Nicolas (1), Michael (6)

[113] The Strokes – Last Nite

“On top of this I ain’t ever gonna understand”

[2001] Is This It
[1985.6 Points, 13 Votes, 152 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 117 (+4)
AM 3000: 500

Fans: Brose (5), Guy (6)

[112] Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman

“I need you more than I want you”

[1968] Wichita Lineman
[1987.9 Points, 8 Votes, 248 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 200
2008: 36 (-78)
AM 3000: 178

Fans: tsmzth (1), Sonofsamiam (5), Midaso (12), Petri (30)

[111] The Band – The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

“A Yankee laid him in his grave”

[1969] The Band
[1992.7 Points, 8 Votes, 249 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 274
2008: 177 (+66)
AM 3000: 745

Fans: Schwah (3), Weezy (5), Honorio (29), Sven (40)

[110] Smashing Pumpkins – 1979

“Cool kids never have the time”

[1995] Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
[2008.4 Points, 10 Votes, 200 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 100 (-10)
AM 3000: 410

Fans: Petri (2), VanillaFire1000 (7)

[109] Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit

“Here is a strange and bitter crop”

[1939] Single
[2018.6 Points, 9 Votes, 224 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 308
2008: 17 (-92)
AM 3000: 114

Fans: Sonofsamiam (1), Guy (14), Rob (40)

[108] The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?

“I am human and I need to be loved”

[1984] Single
[2050.3 Points, 15 Votes, 136 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 61 (-47)
AM 3000: 175

Fan: BillAdama (56)

[107] The Smiths – This Charming Man

“I would go out tonight but I haven’t got a stitch to wear”

[1983] Single
[2062.7 Points, 12 Votes, 171 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 415
2008: 342 (+235)
AM 3000: 93

Fan: Petri (3)

[106] The Beach Boys – Don’t Worry Baby

“If you knew how much I loved you, baby, nothing could go wrong with you”

[1964] Single
[2077.3 Points, 11 Votes, 188 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 131
2008: 98 (-8)
AM 3000: 149

Fans: Guy (30), Stone (32), Jackson (34)

[105] The Beatles – Blackbird

“Take these broken wings and learn to fly”

[1968] The Beatles (The White Album)
[2080.6 Points, 11 Votes, 189 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 111 (+6)
AM 3000: N/A

Fans: Oscar (2), Nicolas (28), VanillaFire1000 (44)

[104] David Bowie – Space Oddity

“Planet Earth is blue and there’s nothing I can do”

[1969] Space Oddity
[2135.4 Points, 13 Votes, 164 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 95
2008: 156 (+52)
AM 3000: 104

Fans: Guy (8), Daniel (40)

[103] The La’s – There She Goes

“When she calls my name”

[1988] The La’s
[2147.9 Points, 10 Votes, 214 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 44
2008: 34 (-69)
AM 3000: 246

Fans: Midaso (15), Michel (31), Guy (39), Honorio (45)

[102] Radiohead – Fake Plastic Trees

“If I could be who you wanted all the time”

[1995] The Bends
[2159.3 Points, 11 Votes, 196 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 77 (-25)
AM 3000: 296

Fans: SR (17), Schwah (18), Petri (22), Todd (36)

[101] The Beatles – Penny Lane

“The pouring rain—very strange”

[1967] Single
[2177.6 Points, 9 Votes, 242 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 160
2008: 408 (+307)
AM 3000: 180

Fans: Stone (2), Sven (12), Oscar (17)

I'm Waiting for the Man: Great to see it reappear after a puzzling no-show in `08. It's hard to find any song that makes you feel cooler while listening to it, even if its lyrical subject is decidedly uncool.

There She Goes: I thought this song be one of those that always places in the top 50 or so of this poll. This is one of those songs that shocks you when you find out that it's about drug addiction, because you would never know from its cheery aesthetics.

Don't Worry Baby: I find this song much better and more beautiful than "Be My Baby," which inspired it. The vocals are otherworldly.

Ms. Jackson: Another hip-hop song you forgot about, Nassim! You nailed the rest, though. Catchy chorus, even if some kids made fun of me in the fourth grade by singing it to me...

How Soon is Now?: Easily Morrissey's best ever lyric. Also the first song to garner 15 votes in the poll.

Penny Lane and Blackbird: I like most of the Beatles songs that made it this far, but I don't get these two. To me they're the epitome of songs that are only acclaimed/popular because they were done by a huge artist.

Midaso

Mar 7, 2010 - 11:18PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Henry

The Song Remains The Same

Decent song - but don't think it will be in the top 120...

Midaso

Mar 7, 2010 - 11:21PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Oh man - those last 20 were great - but a lot of them I expected to do much better...

Stone

Mar 7, 2010 - 11:42PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

"Penny Lane and Blackbird: I like most of the Beatles songs that made it this far, but I don't get these two. To me they're the epitome of songs that are only acclaimed/popular because they were done by a huge artist."

Well, as someone who put "Penny Lane" at number two, I guess I'll offer a rebuttal. "Penny Lane" has one of McCartney's best lyrics ever. The song is sung from the perspective of a detached, bemused observer who offers several wry observations (see the line about the waitress, who thinks she is in a play, but, in truth, is an actor in a play, the play of life, or at least life as imagined by the narrator, a nice allusion to the dramaturgical perspective).

Musically, the song has a great double-tracked vocal by Paul, a buoyant bass line, and two fantastic hooks (the trumpet and the chorus).

Many commentators have cited "Penny Lane" along with the flip side "Strawberry Fields Forever" as the band's artistic peak as well as the best illustration of the respective strengths of Lennon and McCartney as composers and arrangers. I would concur.

By the way, thanks for all your work in compiling the list and the excellent way you have rolled out the top vote getters. It has been a real treat to check back for updates.

Petri

Mar 8, 2010 - 12:28AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Good placements for 1979 and This Charming Man. I'm also satisfied to see Fast Car in the top 200.
But what happened to Wichita Lineman and Strange Fruit. Not in the top 100. I was also hoping to see more than one Radiohead song in the top 100. But I guess five songs between 150-101 is very good achievement in this great poll.

VanillaFire1000

Mar 8, 2010 - 1:18AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Petri

Good placements for 1979 and This Charming Man. I'm also satisfied to see Fast Car in the top 200.
But what happened to Wichita Lineman and Strange Fruit. Not in the top 100.

I was also hoping to see more than one Radiohead song in the top 100. But I guess five songs between 150-101 is very good achievement in this great poll.

I'm sure for alot of new people (like me,) they had never heard Wichita Lineman until they looked at the old polls. It quickly became stuck in my head and it definitely would of made it on my list.

Alex D

Mar 8, 2010 - 1:25AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

This Charming Man > How Soon Is Now?

The former is a perfect pop song and possibly Johnny Marr's finest moment. The latter is just an overlong drone.

Moonbeam

Mar 8, 2010 - 2:07AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Alex D

This Charming Man > How Soon Is Now?

The former is a perfect pop song and possibly Johnny Marr's finest moment. The latter is just an overlong drone.

Completely disagree.

John

Mar 8, 2010 - 2:22AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Moonbeam

Alex D

This Charming Man > How Soon Is Now?

The former is a perfect pop song and possibly Johnny Marr's finest moment. The latter is just an overlong drone.

Completely disagree.

X2.

John

Mar 8, 2010 - 5:54AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

500-401

Jackson

Mar 8, 2010 - 6:21AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Time for the top 100! I'll try to provide a comment--either from AMG or myself--for each song from here on out.

7 of these songs are making their top 100 debut--and all of them are fantastic.

100-91:

[100] Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy

“How can you have a day without a night?”

[1991] Blue Lines
[2180.2 Points, 10 Votes, 218 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 166
2008: 99 (-1)
AM 3000: 62

Fans: Vgrd (7), Jackson (19), Honorio (41), Joobalooba (49)

Comment: “’Unfinished Sympathy’ remains, more than a decade after its recording, one of the most elegant, sophisticated works in the history of electronic dance…a simple, but tremendously moving, dance production, a tribute to the continuing emotional tug of great music -- whether the source is organic or electronic.” --AllMusic

“With the vast amount of music both known and unknown, it’s hard to call anything unique. But “Unfinished Sympathy” is unlike any other song I’ve ever heard, a immediately distinctive combination of the energy of dance music with the emotion of soul music. It sounds, at times, like two completely different songs. Without this single on it, I doubt Blue Lines would have neither the influence or the acclaim it has acquired.” –Jackson

[99] Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out

“I’m just a shot away from you”

[2004] Franz Ferdinand
[2183.7 Points, 14 Votes, 156 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 364
2008: 200 (+101)
AM 3000: 69

Fans: Nick (14), Henry (30), Brose (44)

Comment: “If this were split into two different songs it would still have been huge. How many indie rock songs are actually this fun?” --Jackson

[98] U2 – One

“But we’re not the same”

[1991] Achtung Baby
[2187.1 Points, 10 Votes, 218 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 84
2008: 41 (-57)
AM 3000: 94

Fans: Daniel (2), Stephan (17), Nick (23), Leonardo (44)

Comment: “’One’ is among U2's finest recordings, with its lyrical simplicity, heart-rending vocal delivery, and evocative instrumentation. The song suggests an understanding and compassion between all people -- from partners and bandmates to the sick and suffering -- in its suggestion that "we get to carry each other." --AllMusic

[97] Pixies – Where Is My Mind?

“I was swimming in the Caribbean”

[1988] Surfer Rosa
[2206.4 Points, 13 Votes, 169 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 131 (+34)
AM 3000:622

Fans: Hauke (21), Nicolas (50)

Comment: “’Where Is My Mind?’ is a stark and organic production. The vertiginous nature of the lyric is amplified by a spiraling guitar lick, sparse and "roomy" drum parts, and a nervously strummed acoustic guitar.” --AllMusic

[96] Prince – Purple Rain

“You can’t seem to make up your mind”

[1984] Purple Rain
[2211.1 Points, 11 Votes, 201 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 151
2008: 235 (+139)
AM 3000:417

Fans: DepecheMode (6), Sonofsamiam (16), Schwah (37)

[95] New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle

“You say the words that I can’t say”

[1986] Brotherhood
[2213.9 Points, 13 Votes, 170 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 221
2008: 138 (+43)
AM 3000: 996

Fans: Midaso (22), Honorio (30)

Comment: "Bizarre Love Triangle," New Order’s highest-charting dance hit in the U.S., was a perfect example of the complex and often dark songwriting that the band produced.” –AllMusic

“This is a massive, epic, complex single that has garnered significantly less popularity and acclaim than it deserves. ‘Blue Monday’ is their most canonical song, but it’s quite telling that New Order fans greatly prefer this song.” --Jackson

[94] Al Green – Let’s Stay Together

“You’d never do that to me”

[1971] Let’s Stay Together
[2214.6 Points, 12 Votes, 184 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 128
2008: 113 (+19)
AM 3000: 63

Fans: Stone (23), Vgrd (27), Nicolas (34), Honorio (36)

Comment: “Even Al Green's most gossamer pop songs hearken back to his gospel roots, so it makes perfect sense that 1971's "Let's Stay Together" -- though for all intents and purposes a simple call for romantic reconciliation -- resonates most deeply as a spiritual appeal, a Memphis soul sermon for a nation ripped apart by assassinations, riots, and betrayals. Green's lone number one hit, "Let's Stay Together" radiates compassion and understanding -- there are no accusations, no finger-pointing, just tolerance and love with no strings attached.” --AllMusic

[93] The Band – The Weight

“I was feeling ‘bout half-past dead”

[1968] Music From Big Pink
[2218.5 Points, 13 Votes, 170 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 380 (+287)
AM 3000: 190

Fans: Weezy (32), Stephan (39), Daniel (45)

Comment: The Band's best-known and most enduring recording, "The Weight," is perhaps their most successful attempt at the creation of a new American mythology, a winding, impressionistic story song cut from the rural traditions of roots music -- folk, country, and gospel -- but re-imagined from a distinctly postmodern vantage point. --AllMusic

[92] The Clash – Train in Vain

“I got a job, but it don’t pay”

[1979] London Calling
[2234.1 Points, 12 Votes, 186 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 149
2008: 219 (+127)
AM 3000: 492

Fans: BeefSupreme (4), Jackson (28), Brose (32), Joobalooba (39)

Comment: “It’s often fun to wonder how superstar athletes might have done playing another sport—LeBron James playing football, for instance. This song makes me wonder how great The Clash would have been if they had been a pop band from the beginning. The songwriting is admirably tight, and the crispness of the production—the drum sound, in particular—are the sound of a great band at its peak.” --Jackson

[91] Pixies – Monkey Gone To Heaven

“If the devil is 6, then God is 7”

[1989] Doolittle
[2244.3 Points, 15 Votes, 149 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 34
2008: 116 (+25)
AM 3000: 210

Fans: Michel (33)

Comment: “The song is as good as any in illustrating what the Pixies did best: a skewered pop arrangement with agitated surf and punk-influenced guitar textures, dramatic dynamics, girl group backing vocals, and a lyric that is at once humorous, surreal, and a little spooky.” --AllMusic

nicolas

Mar 8, 2010 - 10:02AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

"Penny Lane" and "Blackbird" are among my Beatles top 10.

So I don't subscribe to your point of view, Jackson, to quote another song.

To me they are wonderful songs with great melodies and among Paul's top compositions.

"Blackbird" has this amazing guitar chord progression up and down the guitar neck; every guitar player here will know what I'm talking about.

It's easy to say that we pick Beatles songs because the Beatles are popular. What can be striking when you look at this collective list makes no sense in an individual's point of view. Keep in mind that this poll is an average, the result of a calculation and has no meaning in itself.

The high number of Beatles songs demonstrates the greatness of the Fab 4 and their ability to write a huge number of great songs in a large variety of styles that can please anybody. No band has done that on such a scale in the history of pop.
So everyone has his Beatles fav song.

Lists are not meant to be well polished and well balanced objects. That's the danger of list fetishism. Lists express what we feel and not what we want to show. And collective lists like that one, as repetitive and predictable as they may seem (although there are surprises), don't lie.

Mar 8th, 2010 - 10:02 AM

Nassim

Mar 8, 2010 - 10:41AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Outkast - Ms Jackson : 3 Outkast songs in the top 200, that is a big performance given the lack of praise for hip-hop in the forum. I love this song, often sang it and nobody ever made fun of me I guess ^^

The Strokes - Last Nite : not my favourite song by the Strokes but probably the one that can appeal to the most people, FM listeners as well as critics or hipsters.

The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? : I will totally go with Moonbeam on that one (it happens quite a lot these times, I'm not used to it ^^ ). How Soon Is Now? is the only Smiths song I really like with haunting lyrics while This Charming Man is just, to me, an enjoyable but rather forgettable song.

David Bowie - Space Oddity : I don't know why but it took me time to love this one (my current #100), it is now our favourite singalong song with some of my best friends.

Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees : used to be my favourite Radiohead song, still on my top 5, I love how its intensity is slowly built

I love Blackbird and Penny Lane too, and I find normal that Beatles dominate the poll. Still, lists like the one by Oscar (if I remember well) with more than 50% of songs by the Beatles looks to me like an insult toward all the other great music released, it's like considering that every band and artist together can not even make a handful of songs decent enough to beat what, in Beatles scale, would be a meh song.

Jackson

Mar 8, 2010 - 3:38PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Two artists break out with two songs each in this section.

90-81:

[90] Sly & The Family Stone – Family Affair

“You can’t leave ‘cause your heart is there”

[1971] There’s a Riot Goin’ On
[2268.6 Points, 12 Votes, 189 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 119
2008: 78 (-12)
AM 3000: 127

Fans: Vgrd (2), Stone (26), CharlieDriggs (45), Sven (47)

Comment: The lone hit from the There's a Riot Goin' On album, "Family Affair" is truly a record that is ahead of its time. The overall urban grit of the atmosphere was certainly picked up in the 1970s particularly by groups like War. There are also the percussion sounds, which would later be utilized to a great degree by rap artists of the 1990s. The song itself is a loose comment on communal living, something that was extremely prominent in the early '70s. But make no mistake; the groove and feel are the main stars here. –AllMusic

“Some artists are experts at reaching a particular emotion or achieving a certain sound. Sly & The Family Stone were experts at making songs that, even 40 years later, still sound as cool as they did on their release date. ‘Family Affair’ is a prime example of that.” –Jackson

[89] Beck – Loser

“In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey”

[1994] Mellow Gold
[2284.5 Points, 11 Votes, 207 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 139 (+50)
AM 3000: 60

Fans: Michel (12), Leonardo (27), BeefSupreme (32), VanillaFire1000 (49)

Comment: “Appeals to the laziest members of society while still pleasing critics and becoming a huge alternative radio hit. Few people in music in music could match Beck at this period at writing lyrics both irreverent and amusing.” –Jackson

[88] The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up

“The child is the father of the man”

[1970] Surf’s Up
[2301.2 Points, 10 Votes, 230 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 104
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 2357

Fans: Jackson (4), Sonofsamiam (9), Fred (21), SR (48)

Comment: “It is a testament to the greatness of this song that it is highly regarded today despite being, well, a 70s Beach Boys song. It will never be up in top-10 or 20 territory on lists like these, but, in terms of pure musical quality and emotional movement, I think it should be. Every one of its surprisingly complex lyrics is perfectly delivered, and the coda at the end might be the best minute of music the Beach Boys ever put together.” –Jackson

“Almost more of an experience than a mere song, the title track from the Beach Boys' 1970 Surf's Up album has rightfully achieved legendary status in the pop world…it all settles into an incredible experience, and one that should be listened to by anyone interested in the genius of Brian Wilson.” –AllMusic

[87] Oasis – Live Forever

“We’ll see things they never see”

[1994] Definitely Maybe
[2323.6 Points, 11 Votes, 211 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 79
2008: 82 (-5)
AM 3000: 71

Fans: Nick (10), Guy (12), 42david42 (15)

Comment: “The just-right drum pound at the start sets the stage, but when the intermingled guitar line, piano notes, and vocals from Liam Gallagher cut in, something special is in the air. Voted the all-time favorite Oasis song by the band's fans via its official website, "Live Forever," the band's third single, was arguably the one which showed the band really had something, hot wiring the group's obvious love of the Beatles at its uplifting best into something even more fiery.” –AllMusic

[86] Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water

“I will lay me down”

[1970] Bridge Over Troubled Water
[2338.7 Points, 13 Votes, 180 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 98
2008: 232 (+146)
AM 3000: 66

Fans: Henry (6), Rob (22)

Comment: “’Bridge Over Troubled Water’ is the most celebrated song of celebrated songwriter Paul Simon's career and the most successful song associated with the very successful 1960s duo Simon & Garfunkel…The song's lovely melody and generalized message of support, coming at the end of the turbulent 1960s, struck a chord with listeners.” –AllMusic

[85] The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again

“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”

[1970] Who’s Next
[2341.9 Points, 13 Votes, 180 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 184
2008: 65
AM 3000: 121

Fans: BillAdama (8), Stephan (26), Leonardo (35)

Comment: “Townshend's pioneering use of sequencers and synthesizers gives the song an air of mystery at first, and then a rock-solid pulse that at once imposes an unusual degree of discipline upon drummer Keith Moon, and makes his bursts of tom-tom fire all the more furious. Meanwhile, Townshend's crisp, precise guitar chords and John Entwistle's fluid but thundering bass rock with both muscle and a keen intelligence, while Roger Daltrey's howling vocal is one of his finest moments on vinyl.” –AllMusic

[84] Aretha Franklin – Respect

“Just a little bit”

[1967] I Never Loved Another Man the Way I Love You
[2357.4 Points, 11 Votes, 214 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 5

Fans: Leonardo (7), Stone (25), SR (33), Nick (35)

Comment: “Otis Redding wrote "Respect" and recorded it first, for the Volt label in 1965. But Aretha Franklin took possession of the song for all time with her definitive cover, made at Atlantic's New York studio on Valentine's Day 1967. "Respect" was her first Number One hit and the single that established her as the Queen of Soul. In Redding's reading, a brawny march powered by Booker T. and the MG's and the Memphis Horns, he called for equal favor with volcanic force. Franklin wasn't asking for anything. She sang from higher ground: a woman calling an end to the exhaustion and sacrifice of a raw deal with scorching sexual authority. In short, if you want some, you will earn it.” –Rolling Stone

[83] The Knife – Heartbeats

“Ten days of perfect tunes”

[2002] Deep Cuts
[2391.8 Points, 13 Votes, 184 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 146 (+63)
AM 3000: 2144

Fans: Petri (14), Brose (19), Ajackson (29), Michel (34)

Comment: “This seems to be the result of an almost business-like approach to producing a synth-pop single. Every minutia of this record seems carefully thought out, and even though I find it difficult to quote a single line of this song, it still manages to be catchy. Calling this the best pop song of the past decade is certainly not a stretch.” --Jackson

[82] Simon & Garfunkel – The Boxer

“I am just a poor boy, though my story’s seldom told”

[1970] Bridge Over Troubled Water
[2401.6 Points, 14 Votes, 171 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 657

Fans: BillAdama (17), Michael (39), Schwah (42)

Comment: “Paul Simon's "The Boxer" is a long, thoughtful ballad that reflects on the struggles that one encounters in life…The song thus represents the tension between a determination to succeed and the experience of apparently insurmountable barriers. But the tension is expressed calmly, breaking into passion only at the wordless chorus.” –AllMusic

“This might just be the song that gets me into Simon & Garfunkel. It’s about time.” –Jackson

[81] Oasis – Wonderwall

“You’re gonna be the one that saves me”

[1995] What’s the Story Morning Glory
[2405.3 Points, 13 Votes, 185 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 40
2008: 83 (+2)
AM 3000: 108

Fans: Michel (14), DepecheMode (29), Ajackson (44)

Comment: "Wonderwall" did the one thing that British rock bands had been unable to do in years: break America. This simple love song rocketed Oasis to the levels of rock royalty, and Noel Gallagher earned worldwide respect for his writing ability…Oasis has had a lot of shining moments, but "Wonderwall" was their brightest.” –AllMusic

“Does anyone else think the drum track is the best part of this song? Everything here is catchy.” –Jackson

Petri

Mar 8, 2010 - 4:26PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

It's funny that Oasis have almost same positions than last time.
In 08 poll the most pleasant thing (maybe not the biggest surprise) was Heartbeats in the top 200. Now in the top 100. Next time in top 50. Such a perfect pop song. The best version isn't the album version. The live version with glimpse of Twin Peaks is just pure perfection.

Mar 8, 2010 - 10:08PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

With the exception of the two overrated Oasis songs, that last one is a great stretch. THANK GOD that Aretha finally gets respect from these boards. Not having her on our last two lists was probably our biggest oversight. Also, I'm (pleasantly) surprised by Heartbeats very high finish. Surf's Up is less of a shock, but that song is so great I'm always glad to see it.

Henry

Mar 8, 2010 - 10:21PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

With the exception of the two overrated Oasis songs, that last one is a great stretch.

I am not a big Oasis fan, but I am curious as to why you believe the two songs (Live Forever and Wonderwall) are "overrated." My guess is that many consider Oasis less innovative or transformative than many of the more acclaimed acts, but perhaps you could provide more details about your view.

Mar 8th, 2010 - 10:21 PM

Jackson

Mar 8, 2010 - 10:47PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Two extremely unwarranted drops from T30 songs in the `08 poll in this group...

80-71:

[80] U2 – With or Without You

“And you give yourself away”

[1987] The Joshua Tree
[2416.4 Points, 12 Votes, 201 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 99
2008: 105 (+25)
AM 3000: 301

Fans: DepecheMode (18), Stephan (20), Rob (24)

Comment: “Gleaming with the production work of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, "With or Without You" has Bono unleashing all his vocal power, moving from a soft, subtle intro and middle to an explosive burst of unyielding energy toward the end. The Edge's astute but assertive guitar work creates a momentous rhythm that builds ever so slightly, while the tune's discerning air sounds almost church-like as it slowly unravels.” –AllMusic

[79] Ben E. King – Stand By Me

“The moon is the only light we’ll see”

[1961] Don’t Play That Song
[2435.3 Points, 12 Votes, 203 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 112 (+33)
AM 3000: 67

Fans: Daniel (22), VanillaFire1000 (23), Stone (40), Petri (49)

Comment: “’Stand By Me’ sounds like it wasn't written, that it just always existed -- it wasn't heard until Ben E. King released it as a single in the spring of 1961.. It was also one of the most endearing songs of the rock era. King's peerless original was never matched and it won the hearts of many generations of listeners.” –AllMusic

[78] Arcade Fire – Rebellion (Lies)

“Scare your son, scare your daughter”

[2004] Funeral
[2446.7 Points, 13 Votes, 188 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 165
2008: 118 (+40)
AM 3000: 760

Fans: Ajackson (4), Toni (13)

Comment: “This is the song that made me fall in love with Funeral, which is (for now) one of my top 20 albums. It is great to hear it as part of the album (especially given the transition from “Haiti”), but it’s equally impressive as a stand-alone song. The orchestral arrangement is magnificent, but the song is rightly focused on the somewhat mysterious lyric—what exactly will kill you “faster than without water?” Whether it’s actually about sleeping or a metaphorical ode to dreaming or sex, the song’s urgent intensity will give it staying power.” –Jackson

[77] Big Star – September Gurls

“I loved you, well, never mind”

[1974] Radio City
[2473.7 Points, 14 Votes, 176 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 125
2008: 30 (-47)
AM 3000: 384

Fans: BeefSupreme (11), Jackson (20), Rob (23), Vgrd (28), Midaso (28)

Comment: “Every time I listen to this song (and since I acquired it last September, it’s been my most-played song), I think, ‘There’s no way any pop song could be better than this.’ And really, except for a few tunes in my top ten that have yet to appear on this list, I don’t think there is a better pop song. The vocal performance, the drum fill in the middle, the persistence of the jangly guitar…it all just blows me away every time I hear it.” –Jackson

[76] The Ronettes – Be My Baby

“For every kiss you give me, I’ll give you three”

[1963] Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes
[2517.2 Points, 14 Votes, 179 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 10
2008: 12 (-64)
AM 3000: 13

Fans: Todd (1), Honorio (11), Sonofsamiam (41)

Comment: “’Be My Baby’ announces its arrival with arguably the most dramatic introduction in all of rock & roll -- Hal Blaine's drums are the Morse code of the gods -- and somehow just keeps getting better from there; the quintessential Phil Spector production, it begins as the Wall of Sound but ends up a full-blown Taj Mahal, a gleaming sonic temple erected in eternal tribute to Ronettes frontwoman (and the future Mrs. Spector) Veronica Bennett.” –AllMusic

“Greatest. Drum. Intro. Ever.” --Jackson

[75] Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah

“But you don’t really care for music, do you?”

[1994] Grace
[2542.9 Points, 14 Votes, 181 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 243
2008: 214 (+139)
AM 3000: 2095

Fans: VanillaFire1000 (3), SR (42), 42david42 (45)

Comment: “You could argue that this song has actually had a negative influence by inspiring literally hundreds of insufferable covers of this Cohen classic, but the mystique of its arrangement and perfection of Buckley’s vocal more than make up for any unintended consequences. By the way, is there a seven-minute song that feels shorter than this?” –Jackson

[74] The Beatles – I Am the Walrus

“Man you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allen Poe”

[1967] Magical Mystery Tour
[2575.5 Points, 13 Votes, 198 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 39
2008: 68 (-6)
AM 3000: 351

Fans: Schwah (9), tsmzth (16), BillAdama (19), Joobalooba (28)

Comment: “‘I Am the Walrus’ was one of the strangest and most avant-garde Beatles songs. For all its weirdness, however, it wasn't devoid of some conventional melodic pop appeal…"I Am the Walrus" is the densest and most symphonic track from the Beatles' psychedelic period, with so many layers of sounds and effects that it takes quite a few listenings to get to the bottom of them.” --AllMusic

[73] Eagles – Hotel California

“This could be heaven or this could be hell”

[1976] Hotel California
[2584.1 Points, 10 Votes, 258 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 135
2008: 60 (-13)
AM 3000: 43

Fans: Henry (7), Larry (21), Leonardo (28), Stephan (35), Stone (37), Nick (48)

Comment: “It also featured one of the more mysterious lyrics of a popular song in the 1970s…The lyrics had the tone of a drug reverie and were filled with references to intoxicants and excess, but they also referred to criminality and imprisonment. The Hotel California was a world they found fascinating and dangerous, but which they ultimately condemned without being able to escape.” --AllMusic

[72] Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen in Love?

“Unless we realize that we are the same”

[1978] Single
[2597.0 Points, 14 Votes, 185 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 183
2008: 203 (+131)
AM 3000: 193

Fans: Guy (20), Mindrocker (22), SR (34)

Comment: “The Buzzcocks were one of those bands that typically wrote songs that perfectly captured the feelings of teenagers. But this song shows a greater sense of maturity in the lyrics, which combined with the frantic, urgent guitar riffs makes this the band’s crowning achievement.” --Jackson

[71] The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps

“I look at the world and notice it’s turning”

[1968] The Beatles (The White Album)
[2601.0 Points, 12 Votes, 216 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 16
2008: 337 (+266)
AM 3000: 388

Fans: BillAdama (13), Oscar (31), Nasism (37), 42david42 (37)

Comment: “George Harrison had established himself as a decent songwriter in the years prior to 1968, but he had not come up with any songs that sat on the same level as the best Lennon- McCartney compositions or had entered the body of popular music as a standard of sorts. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," from The White Album, was the best shot he had launched toward achieving that status up to that time…Harrison almost always had a more pious, brooding tone to his work than Lennon- McCartney did, and that's evident on the verses of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," with their mournful, almost resigned reflections.” --AllMusic

Mar 9, 2010 - 1:00AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

I would like to note that I really enjoy both Live Forever and Wonderwall, and I play them frequently. That said, I think that while they're full of hooks, their quite derivitive of other pop-rock songs. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, millions of songs have been recorded, and I just have trouble believing that those two Oasis tracks are within the 100 best. Not that there's a magical 100 best songs or anything like that.

As for 80-71, I think Be My Baby's (relatively) poor finish might be the shock of the poll so far. Still though, an amazing group of songs. I have a feeling I'll be saying that for every stretch now though.

Jackson

Mar 9, 2010 - 2:12AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

As for 80-71, I think Be My Baby's (relatively) poor finish might be the shock of the poll so far. Still though, an amazing group of songs. I have a feeling I'll be saying that for every stretch now though.

I'd say Be My Baby, Alone Again Or, and the number 65, 49, 24, 23, 18, and 10 songs were the surprises of the poll. I wish Ladies and Gentlemen's drop was a surprise too but I could see it coming.

Todd

Mar 9, 2010 - 3:09PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Given that I voted for it as my #1, obviously I am disappointed that Be My Baby has not ranked higher. To me, it is simply the most perfect pop single ever made -- insanely catchy, wildly inventive in its use of production, and deeply moving as a simple 3-minute expression of yearning.

Sigh ... I wonder how many Oasis singles will rank higher than it on the list ...

Mar 9th, 2010 - 3:09 PM

Henry

Mar 9, 2010 - 3:43PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Once again I am grateful for the lessons I receive from this great forum. For example, I never knew that Brian Eno was a producer for U2 before reading the following:

Comment: “Gleaming with the production work of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, "With or Without You" has Bono unleashing all his vocal power, moving from a soft, subtle intro and middle to an explosive burst of unyielding energy toward the end. The Edge's astute but assertive guitar work creates a momentous rhythm that builds ever so slightly, while the tune's discerning air sounds almost church-like as it slowly unravels.” –AllMusic

If any of you are planning to go to Austin next week for SXSW, please let me know. There will be dozens of performers at the festival, most of which are new to me. Some of the acts that I am familiar with include: The Walkmen, Ray Davies, Citizen Cope, Suzanne Vega, Band of Horses, Scissor Sisters, Broken Social Scene, Metric, and Bowling for Soup. The performance times and locations are provided at http://my.sxsw.com/schedule?&logged_in=false As far as I can tell, the bulk of the musical performances occur on or after 3/17. Unfortunately, we are leaving Austin on 3/15. If there are any other SXSW performers that you can recommend, please do so.

Mar 9th, 2010 - 3:43 PM

Jackson

Mar 9, 2010 - 3:48PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

A few surprises here...

70-61:

[70] The Beach Boys – Wouldn’t It Be Nice

“We could be married, and then we’d be happy”

[1966] Pet Sounds
[2663.4 Points, 14 Votes, 190 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 64
2008: 319 (+249)
AM 3000: 1350

Fans: VanillaFire1000 (2), Guy (28), Sven (38), Weezy (46)

Comment: “This song, the opening track from the much-lauded Pet Sounds album, found the Beach Boys carrying their up-tempo pop into a baroque dimension light years beyond "Surfer Girl" or "Fun, Fun, Fun." "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is lyrically unique in that it threw aside the group's usual sun-and-fun themes for a narrative that portrays the idea of falling in love and settling down as the ultimate achievement in cool.” –AllMusic

“Though it is somewhat overlooked due to the Beach Boys’ twin towers of pop achievement in the same year (that would be “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows”), “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” announces its arrival like any leadoff track to a heavyweight album should. From the happy-go-lucky guitar into to the perfect verse melody, the song might seem to have the mood of the Beach Boys’ earlier singles to the casual listener. But there is a surprising amount of substance in this song—Wilson simultaneously yearns for a romantic ideal while hinting he realizes it is never possible.” –Jackson

[69] The Kinks – You Really Got Me

“You got me so I can’t sleep at night”

[1964] Single
[2694.8 Points, 13 Votes, 207 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 167 (+98)
AM 3000: 18

Fans: Guy (4), Leonardo (11), Stone (11), Nick (50)

Comment: “The guitar riff of ‘You Really Got Me’ is one of those things that seemingly exists in nature—if the Kinks didn’t find it first, somebody else would have. This song was simultaneously ahead of its time due to its hard-rocking atmosphere and perfect for it due to its ultra-concise radio-friendly structure. Like the Beatles’ early recordings, nothing could have prepared fans of the song at the time for the greatness this band had in it.” --Jackson

[68] Arcade Fire – Wake Up

“I guess we’ll just have to adjust”

[2004] Funeral
[2705.9 Points, 12 Votes, 225 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 130 (+62)
AM 3000: N/A

Fans: Nassim (5), Brose (14), Schwah (17), Petri (25), SR (50)

Comment: “Incredibly grandiose songs like this usually are derided as pretentious, but ‘Wake Up’ manages to transcend any notion of cheesiness or bombast. The soaring choruses, particularly (for me) the one that comes after the ‘I guess we’ll just have to adjust line,’ are the rare kind of music passages that make everything seem epic when you’re listening to it.” --Jackson

[67] Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the U.K.

“I am an antichrist”

[1977] Nevermind the Bollocks
[2706.4 Points, 15 Votes, 180 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 27
2008: 56 (-11)
AM 3000: 9

Fans: Leonardo (5), Honorio (9), Nick (49)

Comment: “The Sex Pistols' debut single, "Anarchy in the U.K.," touched off a social and musical firestorm upon its release in 1976…It isn't likely that the future of rock will have many cataclysmic, genre-transforming moments like "Anarchy in the U.K." in store -- the outside circumstances have to be just right, and a band like the Sex Pistols has to be in exactly the right place at the right time, saying exactly the wrong thing.” --AllMusic

[66] The Beatles – Yesterday

“I’m not half the man I used to be”

[1965] Single
[2722.2 Points, 13 Votes, 209 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 235
2008: 110 (+44)
AM 3000: 120

Fans: Oscar (3), Henry (3), Rob (7)

Comment: “’Yesterday’ is a supreme example of McCartney's talent for writing a classic, melancholic, memorable melody that was sad, but not gloomy or dirgey. The lyrics were direct and evocative of one of the most universal human emotions: nostalgia for better times in general and for a lost love in particular. To his credit, McCartney did not overplay the frankly sentimental lyric, singing the tune in a gentle, understated, sympathetic fashion that steered clear of self-pity.” –AllMusic

[65] Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl

“My, where’d the times all go”

[1967] Blowin’ Your Mind
[2754.2 Points, 14 Votes, 196 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 299 (+234)
AM 3000: 97

Fans: Todd (11), Rob (17), Weezy (47)

Comment: “Possibly Van Morrison's biggest international hit record, "Brown Eyed Girl" came between his career as the lead singer of Them and his emergence as a solo singer/songwriter...Lyrically, however, is where Morrison's song contribution shines, with its semi-autobiographical tale of rural romance and fond remembrances of geographic locations. The excellent bass-heavy instrumental bridge is one of the song's most important hooks, and it's a long-remembered part of the song to almost any AM radio listener of the period, even to this day.” –AllMusic

“I like this song. However, I would ask all tropical hotel singers to learn a new song besides this and ‘Margaritaville.’” –Jackson

[64] Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence

“And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made”

[1965] Sounds of Silence
[2796.0 Points, 13 Votes, 215 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 73
2008: 93 (+29)
AM 3000: 224

Fans: Oscar (12), Guy (13), Michel (23), SR (44), VanillaFire1000 (48), BillAdama (50)

Comment: As a great song should, "Sound of Silence" starts with the microcosmic world of a relationship and the inability for two to communicate, and in the larger context of the tumultuous '60s takes on a greater significance…The duo harmonizes sweetly on the incredibly haunting melody, over a driving, minor-key acoustic guitar rhythm, singing images of urban apathy and desensitization.” –AllMusic

[63] Bob Marley & The Wailers – No Woman No Cry

“In this great future you can’t forget your past”

[1974] Natty Dread
[2818.9 Points, 15 Votes, 188 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 268
2008: 164 (+101)
AM 3000: 75

Fans: Weezy (8), VanillaFire1000 (20), Rob (30), Leonardo (33), Nicolas (38)

Comment: “‘No Woman, No Cry’ is Bob Marley's touching reminiscence of growing up in the middle of deep poverty in the Kingston ghetto known as Trenchtown…In the song, Marley sits with his friends, observing the hypocrisy of the rich amidst the generosity of the poor. He ends the song attempting to cheer up his friends with the words, "Ev'rything's gonna be alright." Released on 1974's Natty Dread, "No Woman, No Cry" became Marley & the Wailers' first British hit and introduced thousands of listeners to reggae's crown prince.” –AllMusic

[62] Bob Dylan – Tangled Up in Blue

“There was music in the cafes at night and revolution in the air”

[1975] Blood on the Tracks
[2830.5 Points, 18 Votes, 157 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 12
2008: 19 (-43)
AM 3000: 262

Fans: Jackson (17), BillAdama (18)

Comment: “‘Tangled Up in Blue’ gets the esteemed privilege of being my highest-ranking Dylan song in this poll. ‘It’s Alright, Ma’ has a better lyric, ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ is more melodic, and ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ is more fun, but this one tops them all by offering all of these things in one package. The lyrics and instrumentation slowly build in intensity throughout, making the song downright anthemic by its finish.” –Jackson

[61] The Velvet Underground – Heroin

“Thank God that I just don’t care”

[1967] The Velvet Underground & Nico
[2838.9 Points, 12 Votes, 236 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 76
2008: 87 (+26)
AM 3000:

Fans: Jackson (11), Joobalooba (16), Michael (21), Petri (33), SR (38), BillAdama (42)

Comment: “In the 60s, popular songs that had even a thinly veiled reference to drug use were considered rebellious and often scorned by popular culture (think “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds”). Considering this context makes “Heroin,” perhaps the definitive drug song, an even greater achievement. This is definitely Lou Reed’s most direct, personal, and intriguing lyric. The ability to describe heroin use so vividly without taking a stand on whether using the drug is right or wrong puts the song on a different artistic level than most other ‘drug’ songs. The musical ‘rush’ at the end isn’t for everyone, but I find it unbelievable.” –Jackson

sonofsamiam

Mar 9, 2010 - 4:42PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Todd

Yeah, the placement of "Be My Baby", along with "Strange Fruit" and "Wichita Lineman" both missing the list, made me sad.

Even more surprising -- on the ateaseweb (associated with the Radiohead-oriented web site but a forum that has really opened up to other types of music) music forum's all-time poll, "Be My Baby" came in at #1 this year, ahead of "A Day in the Life", "God Only Knows", "Like a Rolling Stone", and everything else. Considering the large number of contributors, that's gotta say something.

sonofsamiam

Mar 9, 2010 - 4:44PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Oh, and btw, fantastic presentation Jackson! I'll be using the layout to a degree with the '00s songs. (Though I've used similar before elsewhere, so I hope I'm not branded a complete plagiarist! )

VanillaFire1000

Mar 9, 2010 - 5:53PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Looking at half of Funeral making the top 1000, can anyone look through the list and see which albums got at least half of themselves in the list? I think Pet Sounds does it as well.

Jackson

Mar 9, 2010 - 6:43PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

60-51:

[60] New Order – Blue Monday

“How does it feel to treat me like you do?”

[1982] Single
[2856.6 Points, 11 Votes, 259 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 54
2008: 47 (-13)
AM 3000: 53

Fans: Rob (6), Hauke (12), DepecheMode (13), Midaso (18), Nick (32)

Comment: “Still the best-selling 12" single of all time, "Blue Monday" cemented New Order's transition from post-punk to alternative dance with vivid sequencers and a set of distant, chilling lyrics by Bernard Sumner. The single, first released in 1983 though it's been remixed and reissued countless times since, united the group's frequent synthesizer experimentation with an explicit dancefloor aesthetic rooted in electronics pioneers like Kraftwerk as well as the new electro bursting out of New York City.” –AllMusic

“Announces its arrival more assertively and effectively than any single since ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ had. The production and lyrics combine to produce a simply monumental feel.” –Jackson

[59] The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army

“All the words are gonna bleed from me”

[2003] Elephant
[2912.6 Points, 16 Votes, 182 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 258 (+199)
AM 3000: 140

Fans: Guy (9), 42david42 (33), BillAdama (43), SR (45)

Comment: If the equivalent of classic rock stations are ever developed for 90s and 00s rock music, this song will be that format’s “Stairway to Heaven.”

[58] Bruce Springsteen – Thunder Road

“You ain’t a beauty but hey, you’re alright”

[1975] Born to Run
[2952.5 Points, 14 Votes, 210 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 58
2008: 40 (-18)
AM 3000: 166

Fans: Michael B. (1), Nicolas (4), Rob (11)

Comment: “This is it. The song that did what I once thought was impossible—get me into Bruce Springsteen. The melody, the detailing, the careful additional of instruments…this guy really knew what he was doing, didn’t he?” –Jackson

“It is no accident that Thunder Road opens 1975’s Born to Run album instead of the sure-fire pop-rock appeal of the title track. Thunder Road demands patience as it unveils each layer of its dense arrangement. Roy Bittan eases into the piano intro, settling into a Bach-like chiming rhythm which is accompanied by harmonica. The production has a hazy epic distance to it. Even before Bruce Springsteen, the listener has already been transported to a loner’s paradise. The lyrics emphatically seal the deal.” –AllMusic

[57] The Mamas & The Papas – California Dreamin’

“The preacher likes the cold; he knows I’m gonna stay”

[1965] If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
[3013.9 Points, 16 Votes, 188 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 231
2008: 171 (+114)
AM 3000: 96

Fans: VanillaFire1000 (10), Todd (21), Rob (37), Stone (38), DepecheMode (41)

Comment: “Written on a freezing New York winter evening long before the Mamas & the Papas ever existed, "California Dreamin'" neatly encapsulated the feeling of longing as well as a desire to lead a freer, more spiritually fulfilling life. What a '60s dream! Well, it certainly came true, and not just for the members of the Mamas, but for a lot of people who first heard the song back in the winter of 1966. The song's easy grace and subtle message is positively irresistible, and brought home even more by the Mamas & Papas' awesome vocal pyrotechnics.” –AllMusic

“This song is effective not because it merely describes its scene—instead, it takes you there. Those backing vocals are still haunting forty-five years after the song was released.” –Jackson

[56] The Beatles – In My Life

“All these places had their moments”

[1965] Rubber Soul
[3037.7 Points, 14 Votes, 217 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 102
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 171

Fans: Stone (4), Oscar (16), Brose (18), Leonardo (19)

Comment: “‘In My Life’ is perhaps the finest song on Rubber Soul, and one of The Beatles’ greatest compositions. Usually assumed to have been written in the most part by John Lennon (although McCartney has disputed this), “In My Life” is an ode to childhood, and the band’s native Liverpool. The lyrics are heartbreaking…and the song progresses through a series of lovely images, before it turns into a love song by its conclusion.” –AllMusic

“Not only my favorite Beatles lyric, it’s one of my all-time favorites. It would be equally effective at a wedding or a funeral—how many songs can you say that about?” –Jackson

[55] The Beatles – Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

“I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me”

[1965] Rubber Soul
[3072.5 Points, 17 Votes, 180 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 147
2008: 316 (+261)
AM 3000: 578

Fans: Weezy (10), BillAdama (23), Oscar (26), Brad (31), Stone (44)

Comment: “‘Norwegian Wood,’ in addition to having a lovely melody and folk-based arrangement, was one of the first Lennon- McCartney songs to excite as much comment for the words as it did for the music. As with much of Rubber Soul, the mood was very much a folk-rock one, with the subtle ghost of Bob Dylan hovering over principal lyricist John Lennon's wordplay.
For listeners who were more Beatles fans than Dylan ones, the group had sure come a long way since "She Loves You" just two years back.” –AllMusic

[54] The Animals – House of the Rising Sun

“Oh mother, tell your children not to do what I have done”

[1964] Single
[3083.6 Points, 13 Votes, 237 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 340
2008: 122 (+68)
AM 3000: 61

Fans: Guy (10), Jackson (26), VanillaFire1000 (28), Leonardo (31), Stephan (43), Weezy (50), Nicolas (50)

Comment: “To me emotion is probably the most important element in evaluating a song, and “House of the Rising Sun” delivers it like no other song in the traditional ‘classic rock’ canon. No white male has ever delivered a more soulful vocal performance.” –Jackson

[53] The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back

“Give me one more chance”

[1969] Single
[3087.6 Points, 19 Votes, 162 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 50 (-3)
AM 3000: 32

Fans: Todd (16), Stone (31), Brose (34), Schwah (36), Rob (42)

Comment: “The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" is a textbook example of how to start a pop music career. Their first nationally released single took the brothers to the top of both the R&B and pop charts. Originally written as "I Wanna Be Free," "I Want You Back" was written by Freddie Perren, Fonce Mizell, and Deke Richards, who along with Berry Gordy became known as the Motown songwriting/arranging/producing collective the Corporation. Perren, Mizell, and Richards thought the song would be great for Motown acts Gladys Knight and the Pips or Diana Ross. After approaching label president Gordy, it was rewritten for a five-member teenaged brothers singing group from Gary, IN, he'd just signed. Gordy wanted the group to be an updated version of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers ( "Why Do Fools Fall in Love") and this song seemed to be the perfect career-launching vehicle. The recording session for the extremely energetic "I Want You Back" lists Perren and Mizell on piano, Crusaders bassist Wilton Felder, guitarists David T. Walker, Louis Shelton, and Don Peake doubling the bass line, and drummer Gene Pello. With an introduction by Diana Ross, the Jackson 5 performed the song on ABC-TV's The Hollywood Palace in the fall of 1969.” –AllMusic

[52] Lou Reed – Walk on the Wild Side

“But she never lost her head, even when she was giving head”

[1972] Transformer
[3090.5 Points, 15 Votes, 206 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 77
2008: 32 (-20)
AM 3000: 54

Fans: Rob (13), Stephan (22), Honorio (23), SR (26)

Comment: “Reed, who was then going through a period of writing conversational songs, started messing around with a chatty little tune about the fascinating eccentrics and self-styled "superstars" he met during his days at Warhol's factory, including drag queens Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, and Jackie Curtis, and hustler and wannabe actor Joe Dallesandro. Reed called the results "Walk on the Wild Side." The song's tales of sexual ambiguity and druggy decadence would hardly seem to be hit single material on the surface, but Reed infused the lyrics with a sly wit that helped to sugarcoat the medicine, and the hooky "And the colored girls go" chorus was infectious enough to wear down nearly anyone's resistance.” –AllMusic

“I have absolutely no idea how this was a hit and nothing by the Velvet Underground ever was. But it certainly deserved it, with plenty of original ideas and one of the most instantly distinctive basslines in existence.” –Jackson

[51] Talking Heads – Once in a Lifetime

“My god, what have I done?”

[1980] Remain In Light
[3099.2 Points, 16 Votes, 193 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 68
2008: 35 (-16)
AM 3000: 123

Fans: Michel (1), Nick (30), SR (47), Jackson (47)

Comment: “Pop music is defined by convention, which makes it even more satisfying when a song can be extremely unique sonically and lyrically but still be catchy enough to become popular. ‘Once in a Lifetime’ provided the most interesting critique on suburban conformity since Ray Davies’ prime while sounding so fresh that it could have legitimately come out in the 2000s.” –Jackson

Nassim

Mar 9, 2010 - 6:58PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Glad that Wake Up (for me the most galvanizing song ever) beats Rebellion Lies (for me the weakest song of funeral, even though that is a pretty relative statement considering the constant quality of this album) this time.

And really happy that one of my top 10 songs reaches the top 50 o/

listyguy

Mar 9, 2010 - 8:51PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Hey, when Sweet Child O' Mine shows up, can you include me as a fan even though I didn't vote?

Email Website

Mar 9th, 2010 - 8:51 PM

Michael

Mar 9, 2010 - 8:57PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Jackson

[61] The Velvet Underground – Heroin

“Thank God that I just don’t care”

[1967] The Velvet Underground & Nico
[2838.9 Points, 12 Votes, 236 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 76
2008: 87 (+26)
AM 3000:

Fans: Jackson (11), Joobalooba (16), Michael (21), Petri (33), SR (38), BillAdama (42)

Comment: “In the 60s, popular songs that had even a thinly veiled reference to drug use were considered rebellious and often scorned by popular culture (think “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds”). Considering this context makes “Heroin,” perhaps the definitive drug song, an even greater achievement. This is definitely Lou Reed’s most direct, personal, and intriguing lyric. The ability to describe heroin use so vividly without taking a stand on whether using the drug is right or wrong puts the song on a different artistic level than most other ‘drug’ songs. The musical ‘rush’ at the end isn’t for everyone, but I find it unbelievable.” –Jackson

<3
this song is the reason i ever started exploring beyond conventional pop music.

BillAdama

Mar 9, 2010 - 9:53PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

The biggest surprise for me is the high placement of You Get What You Give. I remember liking it when it came out, but then it sort of soured on me because that 'Hey pop stars, GO BACK TO YOUR MANSIONS' part stopped appealing to me when I was no longer an angry fifteen year old. Now the song can't help but remind me of Merry from American Pastoral.

A few of the Beatles songs that appeared surprised me. I thought Here Comes The Sun was one of their less popular songs.

Overall, great list.

Honorio

Mar 9, 2010 - 10:02PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Newcomers to the forum are younger and younger and the songs selected are older and older. Never an AM Forum list got so much 60s and Beatles on it.

Alex D

Mar 9, 2010 - 11:20PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Honorio

Newcomers to the forum are younger and younger and the songs selected are older and older. Never an AM Forum list got so much 60s and Beatles on it.

I think this is a good thing - some of the classics are so ingrained into our collective memory that we forget to vote for them. Every one of us has probably heard "Yesterday", for example, at least 10 times, and so we probably don't pay as much attention to it - it's certainly not anything new to excite us anymore. But if you sit down and carefully parse out the melody and the changes and the words, it still holds up on a very high level. The same could be said for a number of the "classics" that were in that last batch.

Jackson

Mar 10, 2010 - 12:02AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Anybody want to try to predict the top 20 right now? I'd like to see your guesses.

Nice surprises at 50 and 49 in this section, and classic rock continues its dominance.

50-41:

[50] M.I.A – Paper Planes

“If you catch me on the border, I got visas in my name”

[2007] Kala
[3111.9 Points, 18 Votes, 172 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: N/A
AM 3000: 793

Fans: Toni (27), Daniel (37), Rob (49)

Comment: “M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" united people like few other songs this decade, suggesting that given the right synergy of personality, topicality, and marketing, something like a mass audience could still gather around even the unlikeliest of phenomena. Riding the wave of Barack Obama's outsider popularity, "Paper Planes" felt unusually relevant for pop music in the age of "American Idol". Here was another outsider, this one a Sri Lankan Tamil raised in London who won over listeners with global-minded beats and revolutionary chic. The third single off her second album, Kala, "Paper Planes" rode from its hipster dance-music niche into broader consciousness on the back of the trailer to Pineapple Express, then made an extended cameo in Slumdog Millionaire, the Oscar-winning film that was the late-00's other great border-hopping underdog story.” --Pitchfork

“The first time I heard this song (which somehow was as late as the summer of 2009), it was stuck in my head for at least five hours afterward. It’s so good that I didn’t mind, and it still sounds new after dozens of listens.” –Jackson

[49] The Zombies – Time of the Season

“What’s your name? Who’s your daddy? Is he rich like me?”

[1968] Odessey and Oracle
[3115.4 Points, 18 Votes, 173 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 336
2008: 282 (+233)
AM 3000: N/A

Fans: VanillaFire1000 (8), Michael B. (21), Todd (37)

Comment: “Surprise! Odessey and Oracle has always been one of those albums with wide acceptance here, but with little influence on the songs list. Our 60s-centric voting changed that this year, with the Zombies’ most recognizable, accessible, and catchy tune finishing ahead of many other classics. This song’s beat, especially the exhale, combines with the gotta-be-the-60s keyboard tones to make it a standout from the era.” –Jackson

[48] The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony

“Try to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money, then you die”

[1997] Urban Hymns
[3138.0 Points, 14 Votes, 224 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 192
2008: 63 (+15)
AM 3000: 48

Fans: Nick (8), Jackson (8), Stephan (13), Ajackson (23), Leonardo (37), Henry (48)

Comment: “‘Bittersweet Symphony’ creates its own musical world, with its gorgeous orchestral sample, hypnotic violin riff, and epic pacing. Even better, the song’s style is backed by an equally special lyric in which every line is quotable. This is perhaps the best alternative song that happened to break through to the mainstream in the late 90s.” --Jackson

[47] Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode

“Maybe someday your name will be in lights”

[1958] Single
[3226.0 Points, 13 Votes, 248 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 93
2008: 58 (+11)
AM 3000: 6

Fans: Leonardo (4), VanillaFire1000 (6), Stephan (12), Nicolas (13)

Comment: “‘Johnny B. Goode’ is the Horatio Alger story of rock & roll, a message so basic that the song has become the inspiration for every kid who ever wanted to be in a rock & roll band or become a rock & roll star. Written by Chuck Berry, the original version on Chess was also the first session that Berry utilized overdubbing to play the now famous guitar solos, a fairly new idea for rock & roll back in the 1950s. But as rich and full and inspirational as Berry's original was and is, the song is so irreducible in its simple genius that it has become adaptable in a number of cover versions…No matter what course rock music may take in the next decade or two, as long as there are guitar bands and crowds that want to rock and sing along, somebody will be on-stage playing "Johnny B. Goode" to get a rise out of the crowd.” –AllMusic

[46] Pixies – Debaser

“Slicin’ up eyeballs, whoa-ho-ho-ho!”

[1989] Doolittle
[3236.0 Points, 20 Votes, 161 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 9
2008: 20 (-26)
AM 3000: 271

Fans: Jackson (6), Joobalooba (10), Todd (30), BeefSupreme (44)

Comment: “I don’t even know if it’s possible to make a sub-3-minute rock song better than this one. Every moment is exciting, and every instrument is playing something interesting throughout the song. The fact that the lyrics are difficult to understand and that it’s based off of an obscure avant-garde 1920s film somehow make ‘Debaser’ even better.” –Jackson

[45] Derek & The Dominoes – Layla

“Darling, won’t you ease my worried mind?”

[1970] Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
[3249.4 Points, 15 Votes, 216 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 101
2008: 45 (+0)
AM 3000: 47

Fans: Todd (15), DepecheMode (15), Henry (18), Leonardo (23), Midaso (32), Honorio (44)

Comment: “Derek & the Dominos' album Layla was Eric Clapton's dark night of the soul, and the title song was its masterpiece -- an anguished plea to a forbidden love that was Clapton's barely disguised letter to Patti Boyd, the wife of his best friend, George Harrison. Clapton had never sounded as pained as he did here, and he never sounded as tortured again -- not even on "Tears in Heaven," written after the tragic death of his young son. "Layla" is pure catharsis, followed by a coda written by Jim Gordon that is nothing less than bliss, the sound of love fulfilled.” –AllMusic

[44] Gnarls Barkley – Crazy

“Ha ha ha, bless your soul”

[2006] St. Elsewhere
[3254.8 Points, 20 Votes, 162 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 127 (+83)
AM 3000: 45

Fans: DepecheMode (16), Ajackson (48)

Comment: “The phrase ‘sometimes the simplest things in life are the best’ is a dull cliché, but ‘Crazy’ is even more proof that it’s true. Despite the minimalistic instrumentation, the song is transcendent—not just in terms of quality, but in popularity. It’s hard to find anybody, regardless of music taste, that genuinely dislikes this song.” –Jackson

[43] The Velvet Underground – Sunday Morning

“Watch out, the world’s behind you”

[1967] The Velvet Underground & Nico
[3255.0 Points, 15 Votes, 217 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 25
2008: 57 (+14)
AM 3000: 1028

Fans: Brad (4), Petri (7), Jackson (7), Honorio (46), Anders (50)

Comment: “Few songs are more representative of their title than ‘Sunday Morning.’ The song successfully paints a gorgeous yet somewhat haunting picture of waking up on a Sunday morning all alone after a night of Lord-only-know what. Even better, it serves as proof that the Velvet Underground were a brilliant pop band, and that all critics that claim the VU & Nico is significant based solely on its drug-influenced lyrics, influence, or noise apparently didn’t listen to the first song on the album.” –Jackson

[42] Guns ‘N Roses – Sweet Child ‘O Mine

“I’d hate to look into those eyes and see an ounce of pain”

[1987] Appetite For Destruction
[3287.5 Points, 17 Votes, 193 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: N/A
2008: 109 (+67)
AM 3000: 91

Fans: Anders (3), BillAdama (20), Brose (20), Stephan (46), Honorable Mention: listyguy

Comment: “All in all, "Sweet Child O' Mine" is the perfect distillation of everything that made Guns N' Roses' original lineup so great, and it's almost incomprehensible that a band wearing its hearts so transparently on its sleeves could also record some of the most self-indulgently offensive hard rock songs of the decade. Yet it's also evidence of the passion the band brought to both sides of the equation, dramatizing love and hate with equal intensity. The song was an instant classic, and hasn't lost an ounce of its potency since its release.” –AllMusic

[41] Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

“Nothing really matters to me”

[1975] A Night at the Opera
[3297.6 Points, 20 Votes, 164 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 100
2008: 86 (+45)
AM 3000: 68

Fans: Nick (18), Daniel (27), DepecheMode (34), Leonardo (49)

Comment: “Millions of plays on classic rock radio stations have dulled this song’s impact and turned many listeners off—myself, for one. However, I still recognize this as a great song—and really, how could you not? The production was an achievement for its time, the transition from a ballad to hard rock is well-done, and the lyrics are extremely quotable. If only the faux-opera in the middle was taken out…” –Jackson

listyguy

Mar 10, 2010 - 12:33AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Thanks for including me! I was expecting the song to be higher. If I was going to guess the top 20, I would say these songs will be there:
-Stairway to Heaven
-Hey Ya!
-Enter Sandman
I've got nothing.

Email Website

Mar 10th, 2010 - 12:33 AM

Nick

Mar 10, 2010 - 12:47AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

tentative top 20 in no particular order

Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen
Superstition- Stevie Wonder
Strawberry Fields Forever- The Beatles
A Day in the Life- The Beatles
Love Will Tear Us Apart- Joy Division
All My Friends- LCD Soundsystem
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out- The Smiths
Common People- Pulp
Like a Rolling Stone- Bob Dylan
London Calling- The Clash
Good Vibrations- The Beach Boys
God Only Knows- The Beach Boys
Hey Ya!- OutKast
Marquee Moon- Television
Satisfaction- The Rolling Stones
Heroes- David Bowie
All Along the Watchtower- Jimi Hendrix
Stairway to Heaven- Led Zeppelin
Paranoid Android- Radiohead
Waterloo Sunset- The Kinks

Moonbeam

Mar 10, 2010 - 1:31AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Alex D

Honorio

Newcomers to the forum are younger and younger and the songs selected are older and older. Never an AM Forum list got so much 60s and Beatles on it.

I'll have to politely disagree here.

I'm just as biased as the next guy, but the preponderance of critics' lists that showcase a huge chasm between 60s/70s "classics" and everything after is one of the biggest flaws I find in such lists. What I have liked about our polls (including this one more than most critics' lists, actually), is that it rightly places newer songs from 1980-present comfortably among the "canon", which I think is more fair. Every era and genre has its classics that deserve mention- not just 60s/70s rock 'n roll and classic rock.

Mar 10, 2010 - 1:49AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

My T20 prediction in no particular order.

The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
The Beach Bous - Good Vibrations
The Beatles - A Day in the Life
The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever
Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
The Clash - London Calling
David Bowie - Heroes
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along the Watchtower
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
OutKast - B.O.B
Otis Redding - Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay
Pulp - Common People
The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

And I feel pretty good about A Day in the Life's chances of winning.

VanillaFire1000

Mar 10, 2010 - 1:55AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Moonbeam

Alex D

Honorio

Newcomers to the forum are younger and younger and the songs selected are older and older. Never an AM Forum list got so much 60s and Beatles on it.

I agree as well: its good to get some young blood in there. But when I look at my own list, where the top song came from 2002, and I have Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa some spot above Sweet Little Sixteen, and Chicago one spot below London Calling, it just seems...off. Like they somehow shouldn't belong there, they haven't "earned" it like the other songs. I kinda feel that way with any song that came after the collective "we" stopped categorizing everything under rock and roll, and for everything post-Cobain is just...already set on a different tier that they somehow can't reach. The generational differences are almost too great for comparison. Maybe they will get there after they get older, but something just bugs me about having "Crazy" and "All My Friends" next to "A Day in the Life" and "Good Vibrations."

Jackson

Mar 10, 2010 - 2:18AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Nick got 16 right; SR got 18 right. I agree that new songs should be on an equal critical plane with older songs. However, I think the top of the list (if not the list as a whole) does a decent job of integrating songs from a variety of eras and genres, and I couldn't say which 'classic' song I'd take out of the top 20.

Here's the next section. I'm speeding this along because I'll be out of town Thursday to Saturday and might not be able to post anything.

40-31:

[40] The Rolling Stones – Paint It, Black

“Maybe then I’ll fade away and not have to face the facts”

[1966] Aftermath
[3388.4 Points, 18 Votes, 188 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 87
2008: 54 (+14)
AM 3000: 195

Fans: Oscar (15), Mindrocker (31), Stephan (48)

Comment: "Paint It Black" was one of the greatest Rolling Stones singles, reaching number one on both sides of the Atlantic in mid-1966. It also entirely broke free of the blues and R&B influences that had colored their 1965 smashes like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Get off of My Cloud." That in turn proved that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were versatile, growing writers who could compete head-to-head with the best rock composers of the era, such as their chief rivals, the Beatles, of course. The principal riff of "Paint It Black" (almost all classic Rolling Stones songs are highlighted by a killer riff) was played on a sitar by Brian Jones and qualifies as perhaps the most effective use of the Indian instrument in a rock song. The exotic twang was a perfect match for the dark, mysterious Eastern-Indian melody, which sounded a little like a soundtrack to an Indian movie hijacked into hyperdrive.” –AllMusic

[39] The Rolling Stones – Sympathy For the Devil

“I shouted out, ‘Who killed the Kennedys?’ When after all, it was you and me”

[1968] Beggars Banquet
[3393.0 Points, 16 Votes, 212 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 46
2008: 27 (-12)
AM 3000: 33

Fans: BillAdama (4), SR (11), Mindrocker (12), Stephan (32), Leonardo (36), Brose (46)

Comment: "Sympathy for the Devil" is perhaps the most notorious and controversial Rolling Stones song, as well as one of the greatest. As the most famous tune on their 1968 album, Beggars Banquet (rivaled only, perhaps, by that LP's "Street Fighting Man"), it came out at a time when the Stones were increasingly flirting with a satanic public image. Well, "Sympathy for the Devil" took that flirt to a full-on consummation. Here was the narrator -- Mick Jagger, naturally -- taking on the role of the devil himself, a portrait made more distressing by his gentlemanly self-introductions.” –AllMusic

“‘Gimme Shelter’ is the best Stones song, but this is—by quite a bit, I think—their best lyric. Mick Jagger succeeds on all counts here, from the perfect opening line to the dramatic delivery throughout. The song’s unique backing track further separates it artistically from their by-the-numbers rockers.” –Jackson

[38] Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come

“It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die”

[1965] Single
[3394.8 Points, 18 Votes, 188 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 19
2008: 76 (+38)
AM 3000: 95

Fans: Sonofsamiam (15), Brose (16), Weezy (18), VanillaFire1000 (32), Stone (48), Jackson (50)

Comment: “Like everybody else in the early '60s, pop/ gospel singer/songwriter Sam Cooke was affected by Bob Dylan's philosophical song about civil rights, "Blowin' in the Wind," which became a major hit in 1963. Cooke, according to his biographer, Daniel Wolff, marveled that a song on that subject could be written by a white man and that it could become a pop hit. He performed "Blowin' in the Wind" and he wrote his own "answer" song, the remarkable "A Change Is Gonna Come." The song melded gospel, blues, and protest elements into an emotional statement by a black man about where he had come from and where he and his people were going.” –AllMusic

“There are great songs and then there are artistic and cultural milestones. This song is firmly in the latter category, a song so passionately performed and suited for its times that it will be taught in history classes 100 years from now.” –Jackson

[37] Television – Marquee Moon

“Lightning struck itself”

[1977] Marquee Moon
[3496.8 Points, 18 Votes, 194 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 13
2008: 13 (-24)
AM 3000: 324

Fans: Joobalooba (1), Nick (15), Fred (23), Brose (37)

Comment: “The framework of "Marquee Moon" is rooted in three interwoven rhythm parts -- a double-timed guitar riff that hits on the first and third beats in the left channel, a trilled guitar pattern in the right channel that rides through the third and fourth beats, and a two-note bass riff that surrounds the first and third. Brought together, the three fused into a single melodic pattern that was spare but hypnotic, and strong enough that guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd could veer off into extended solos without the structure falling apart.” –AllMusic

“I have admittedly exaggerated a lot with these comments, but the solo from 8:45-9:15 in this song is literally the greatest sound I have ever heard produced by a guitar.” –Jackson

[36] Sonic Youth – Teen Age Riot

“It’s not clear why you fade away”

[1988] Daydream Nation
[3517.7 Points, 14 Votes, 251 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 115
2008: 43 (+7)
AM 3000: 209

Fans: Joobalooba (7), Vgrd (8), BeefSupreme (10), Jackson (13), SR (21), VanillaFire1000 (25), Michael (38), Nick (44)

Comment: “‘Teenage Riot’ is the pivotal song in Sonic Youth's career. The opening track on 1988's breakthrough Daydream Nation, it's the first song to combine the quartet's trademark Glenn Branca-inspired sonic assaults with a genuinely catchy melody, hummable guitar riffs and witty lyrics that look askance at the mainstream popular culture of the late '80s and imagine Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis as President of the United States.” –AllMusic

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything negative about this song. There’s a reason for that—it’s a simply monumental track in the world of alternative rock, and its mix of a recognizable melody and requisite Sonic Youth guitar fuzz makes it the group’s best and most popular song.” –Jackson

[35] David Bowie – Life On Mars?

“But the film is a saddening bore, for she’s lived it ten times or more”

[1971] Hunky Dory
[3552.3 Points, 20 Votes, 177 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 17
2008: 42 (+7)
AM 3000: 375

Fans: Brose (8), Schwah (12), Honorio (16), DepecheMode (49)

Comment: "‘Life on Mars’ was one of the cornerstones of David Bowie's 1971 pop classic Hunky Dory, a sweeping, grandiose ballad to end all sweeping, grandiose Bowie ballads. The song owes just as much to show tunes and film soundtracks as it does to rock & roll, and since the lyrics are mostly about movies, its cinematic theme-song feel is especially appropriate…But even though "Life on Mars" is sort of a pop song equivalent to a cinematic epic, its lyrics are an ironic indictment of popular films as an inadequate, deadening form of escapism.”

[34] The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby

“All the lonely people, where do they all come from?”

[1966] Revolver
[3586.6 Points, 19 Votes, 188 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 346
2008: 85 (+51)
AM 3000: 347

Fans: Oscar (13), Nicolas (20), BillAdama (33), Brose (35), SR (35), Stone (43)

Comment: “‘Eleanor Rigby’ was the most serious-minded song that the Beatles ever released when it first appeared in mid-1966, as part of a double-A-side with "Yellow Submarine." The Beatles had only just begun to write and sing songs that were not about love, with "Nowhere Man" and "Paperback Writer." "Eleanor Rigby" was different yet from those two predecessors -- it was not only not about love, but was written entirely in the third person. What's more, it was a first in that the Beatles themselves did not play any instruments on the recording, which was played by a double string quartet of session musicians. Writing-wise, it was principally the work of Paul McCartney, who gave the piece one of his most outstanding sad melodies. In the main the lyrics were the sketch of lonely spinster Eleanor Rigby, although another lonely elderly figure, Father McKenzie, also has a prominent role. In a broader sense, the Beatles could be commenting here on the alienation of people in the modern world as a whole, with a pessimism that is rare in a Beatles track.” –AllMusic

[33] John Lennon – Imagine

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one”

[1971] Imagine
[3616.3 Points, 16 Votes, 226 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 59
2008: 31 (-2)
AM 3000: 25

Fans: Rob (5), Leonardo (10), Nick (28), Guy (31), Todd (44), Oscar (50)

Comment: "Imagine" was the most successful song of John Lennon's solo career after his tenure in the Beatles, his only solo composition that can be considered an across-the-board standard. It remains curious that this should be the case, since the lyrics of "Imagine" disparage religion, capitalism, and patriotism, and embrace an atheistic, socialist utopia…The message couldn't have been more explicit, containing phrases like "no religion," yet it never stirred up resentment, perhaps because it was rendered with such an appealing arrangement and in such a hopeful mood.” –AllMusic

[32] OutKast – B.O.B.

“Cure for cancer, cure for AIDS”

[2000] Stankonia
[3635.8 Points, 15 Votes, 242 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 406
2008: 107 (+75)
AM 3000: 356

Fans: Nassim (4), Sonofsamiam (12), SR (15), Joobalooba (17), Schwah (20), BeefSupreme (23)

Comment: “So much was done in music prior to the 2000s that to stand out as a great song, you either had to do something almost completely original or create a song that could unite an increasingly fragmented culture. If ‘Hey Ya!’ was the latter, this was the former, a song that synthesized numerous genres in a way that has still not been matched. Even if you disagree with the praise directed at this song (did Pitchfork influence this placement?), you cannot deny its creativity.” –Jackson

[31] The Who – Baba O’Riley

“I don’t need to be forgiven”

[1970] Who’s Next
[3673.2 Points, 19 Votes, 193 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 330
2008: 38 (+7)
AM 3000: 695

Fans: Stephan (9), Rob (10), VanillaFire1000 (22), Michael B. (30), Ajackson (38), BillAdama (39)

Comment: “For me the song is beginning to lose its impact due to overexposure—except for the keyboard intro. That is one of the most interesting musical passages in any classic rock song, and I’m still admittedly blown away by it on every listen. Strange title, and even stranger lyrics, but every second of ‘Baba O’Riley’ feels titanic.” –Jackson

John

Mar 10, 2010 - 7:08AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

400-301

Henry

Mar 10, 2010 - 7:26AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

[48] The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony

Hard to believe that the overall poll rating, the AM rating and my rating were all 48.

Mar 10th, 2010 - 7:26 AM

Henry

Mar 10, 2010 - 7:59AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Top 20 could include some of the following (no order intended or implied)
Henry's Rating/Performer/Title/AM Rating

1 Led Zeppelin Stairway To Heaven 10
2 Hendrix, Jimi All Along The Watchtower 84
4 Springsteen, Bruce Born To Run 26
16 Rolling Stones (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction 2
17 Beach Boys Good Vibrations 3
21 Beatles Hey Jude 35
29 Clash London Calling 30
43 Pulp Common People 50
54 Joy Division Love Will Tear Us Apart 16
65 Gaye, Marvin What's Going On 19
81 Rolling Stones Gimme Shelter 130
94 Beach Boys God Only Knows 51
114 Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit 4
113 Dylan, Bob Like A Rolling Stone 1
116 Beatles A Day In The Life 20
117 Redding, Otis (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay 7
124 Jackson, Michael Billie Jean 29
126 Wonder, Stevie Superstition 37
202 OutKast Hey Ya 52
227 R.E.M. Losing My Religion 42
228 Prince When Doves Cry 44
245 Gaye, Marvin I Heard It Through The Grapevine 8
254 Rolling Stones Honky Tonk Women 122
258 Radiohead Paranoid Android 305

Other possibilities
8 Beatles Let It Be 403

Mar 10th, 2010 - 7:59 AM

nicolas

Mar 10, 2010 - 10:22AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Honorio

Newcomers to the forum are younger and younger and the songs selected are older and older. Never an AM Forum list got so much 60s and Beatles on it.

I have my 2-cent explanation to that : maybe it is because the votes for post-1980 songs are more spread.
Maybe the post-1980 era didn't produce classics that are written in stone like those of the 1960-70s golden era.

Careful : I'm not saying that the 1960-70s are better (even if that's my opinion) but the consensus on post-1980 music is weaker than on 1965-80.

So that's why there's this magnifying glass effect on the 1960-70s, to the expense of more recent music but ALSO and EVEN MORE to the expense of older music, and especially the fifties, when it all started. I'm still shocked by the absence of early rock'n'roll in the top 100 (with the exception of Johnny B Goode). To me those hits by Chuck, Elvis, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Fats Domino or Buddy Holly are like the holy scriptures and i bend before them. Not to mention the music of earlier decades, and of other countries.

But you can't be everywhere at the same time and listening to all kinds of music takes a lot of time.

The problem with non-English songs is that the spreading effect is even stronger.

And Hon : newcomers are younger and younger, but we're getting older and older too...

Mar 10th, 2010 - 10:22 AM

nicolas

Mar 10, 2010 - 10:32AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

An interesting stat (when the list is published) would be the average release year per voter. I mean the average of all the songs release date per list.

Mine is ... 1968, 59 !!!! Almost my birth date (1970)

Almost 75 % of my favorite songs were released prior to 1980.

I'm an oldies man here, but maybe someone beat me ?

Mar 10th, 2010 - 10:32 AM

Moonbeam

Mar 10, 2010 - 11:39AM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Here are my stats:

Minimum: 1957
Q1: 1982
Median: 1988
Mean: 1989.62
Q3: 1999
Max: 2010

By decade:

1950s: 3
1960s: 49
1970s: 271
1980s: 803
1990s: 388
2000s: 495
2010s: 1

Here's a histogram I made of my year data.

nicolas

Mar 10, 2010 - 1:05PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Awesome statistics, Moonbeam. Musically speaking, you're my shadow man and I'm yours. Both sides of the same star

Mine (510 songs)

20s : 28
30s : 21
40s : 30
50s : 62
60s : 117
70s : 126
80s : 42
90s : 60
00s : 23

minimum 1924
Q1 1957
Median 1969
Mean 1968.57
Q3 1980
Max 2008

Mar 10th, 2010 - 1:05 PM

Nassim

Mar 10, 2010 - 1:40PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

The oldest song from my list was released on 1964 every year since then have at least one song (with 74, 75, 76, 77, 81 and 90 getting only one).
The average year is 1996, which I suppose to be the most recent among the voters.

Peak year is 2006 (8,4%) followed by 1997 and 2002 (6,8% each).
52,4% of my favourite songs have been released during the 00s !
80s have increased from 6% to 8% while 70s have done the opposite (despite the fact that I hosted the 70s poll !)

I have 262 different artists in my top 500. 3 of them have 10 songs or more (Radiohead, Beastie Boys and Elliott Smith). 15 other have 5 songs of more (which I think is too much)

Honorio

Mar 10, 2010 - 4:33PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

nicolas

And Hon : newcomers are younger and younger, but we're getting older and older too...

Nah... like Dylan's back pages, I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now

Moreover I got plans of staying forever young and I'd like to always fulfill my plans

I'm glad to have raised some controversy, in fact it was exactly what I was looking for with that expression. Nothing wrong with the older songs, I love 50s and 60s songs (by the way noone voted so far on the third month of the 50s poll and there were terrific songs from 1956 to 1958 ). And, of course, nothing wrong with The Beatles. It is (and always be) my favourite band and I'm particularly happy with the high position of "Eleanor Rigby" (it was one of the 5 Beatles songs on my list).
I was only pointing to the fact that our all time lists are dangerously approaching to the canon of classic acclaim while our previous lists were (although maybe only slightly) more unpredictable. I mean, we still have "Debaser" on the Top 50 but it was on our Top 10 on 2005!! And all that in a moment of apparent generational replacement, that was the thing that shocked me!
Anyway I'm enjoying a lot the list (and the superb presentation by Jackson).

Petri

Mar 10, 2010 - 5:01PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

I haven't added the release years but the oldest song in my list is from 20's. I still think that there's possibility that I've bigger median year than Nassim.

319 different artists in my top 500. Three artists with more than five songs in my list (Radiohead 11, AC 7 and Massive Attack 6).

Moonbeam

The most represented artists:

Prince: 283

By the way how many Prince songs from 80's aren't in your list.

Jackson

Mar 10, 2010 - 7:10PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

[30] The Beatles – Tomorrow Never Knows

“Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream”

[1966] Revolver
[3674.4 Points, 17 Votes, 216 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 92
2008: 39 (+9)
AM 3000: 230

Fans: Joobalooba (5), DepecheMode(23), SR (23), BillAdama (29), Hauke (47)

Comment: "Tomorrow Never Knows" was the most experimental and was the most experimental and psychedelic track on Revolver, in both its structure and production. There was a conspicuous absence of the riffs and verse-bridge-chorus-dominated construction that had colored virtually every original Beatles composition before 1966the lyrics were philosophical, existential, sometimes inscrutable reflections on the state of being: a heavy subject for popular music, whether in 1966 or any other year. It would be difficult to assign an interpretation to the Beatles' own viewpoint as seen through "Tomorrow Never Knows," since the words are themselves a kaleidoscopic shift of thoughts and feelings, sometimes seeming to advocate passive relaxation and acceptance, at others intense karmic exploration, and at others advising unconventional intuition." AllMusic

“It’s detailed, forward-looking, experimental, and, at times, insane—this is what the Beatles at their best could produce. If I ever get to the point where I like only one Beatles song, this will be it.” –Jackson

[29] R.E.M. – Losing My Religion

“Consider this the hint of the century”

[1991] Out of Time
[3677.6 Points, 17 Votes, 216 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 21
2008: 26 (-3)
AM 3000: 42

Fans: Nick (2), DepecheMode (24), Honorio (26), VanillaFire1000 (34), Leonardo(50)

Comment: “Much was made of the meaning of the title "Losing My Religion" among inquiring pop fans. Was it an old Southern saying? Gibberish? Or an admission of something more personal by singer and lyricist Michael Stipe? In the end, it didn't really matter, as R.E.M. took all the elements that made their previous efforts great and found themselves with a worldwide hit. The sound of gently plucked acoustic instruments,, at once traditional and contemporary, and a strong sense of melody, made for the ultimate song from an already great band.” --AllMusic

[28] Stevie Wonder – Superstition

“13 month old baby broke the looking glass”
[1972] Talking Book
[3803.5 Points, 18 Votes, 211 Pts./Vote]
Other Placements:
2005: 37
2008: 28 (+0)
AM 3000: 37

Fans: Nicolas (12), Rob (21), Brose (22), SR (27), DepecheMode (27), Leonardo (39)

Comment: “Based around one of pop music's most infectious riffs,"Superstition" was a number one hit from the classic 1972 LP Talking Book. Though he had been taking steps toward artistic independence for a few records, Talking Book was the first album that showcased Wonder as a fully realized auteur, given more freedom to write his own material and record his albums unfettered by outside nterference, thanks in part to the ground broken by the classic 1971 Marvin Gaye record What's Going On…Wonder wrote "Superstition" originally for English blues- rock guitarist Jeff Beck…but advice from Motown steered Wonder into releasing it as the first single from his record. The song actually begins with a funky backbeat before slipping into the clavinet lick, which soon builds to a stereo clavinet lick, one playing off the other polyrhythmically…Wonder has noted that he actually wrote the song at the drum set, playing the beat first and then humming a melody to himself.” – AllMusic

“I wonder if there’s anyone out there that actively dislikes this song. That seems almost impossible, like enjoyment of ‘Superstition’ is somehow part of the human condition." _Jackson

Joobalooba

Mar 10, 2010 - 9:14PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Ouch - there goes my No.1 (Marquee Moon), my number 5 (Tomorrow Never Knows) and my No. 6 (Teen Age Riot). All fantastic songs, certainly expected Marquee Moon to do a lot better, since it has a lot of love on AMF. Of my top 20 the only ones left in play are No. 3 (God Only Knows) and No. 14 (A Day In The Life). I kinda divebombed

I think the main reason why there's a lot of love for Beatles is that they're the first band that most of us pursued. I'm 15, only been into music for 2 years, and bar Radiohead, The Beatles were the first band I actively read about, I listened to as many albums as I could. My list has absolutely no Stevie Wonder, no Rolling Stones, no Nirvana, and no Springsteen apart from the Born To Run songs. As time goes on, I'm sure I'll actively pursue people like Stevie/Bruce/Prince and so will be less ignorant than I am now and then there will be less Beatles songs in my list

nicolas

Mar 10, 2010 - 9:26PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Lots of artists with multiple songs in my list. I didn't care for that. These are my favorite songs. If there has to be 27 songs by the boss, so be it.

Springsteen 27
Brassens 20
Beatles 19 (Joobalooba, I'm almost 40, heard thousands of albums, and still...)
Dylan 14
Brel 14
Neil Young 11
Tom Waits 10
The Divine Comedy 9
Leadbelly 8
Stevie Wonder 8
Robert Wyatt 6
Elvis Presley 6
Roy Orbison 6
Marley 5
Creedence 5
Beach Boys 5
Doc Watson 5
Led Zeppelin 5
Robert Johnson 5
Jimi Hendrix 5

Fred

Mar 10, 2010 - 9:33PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

I'm harsh towards my favorite artists:

Songs by artist in a revised top 400 (down from 500).

David Bowie - 5 (Starman, Sons Of The Silent Age, Song For Bob Dylan, Station To Station, Wild Is The Wind)

Neil Young – 5 (After The Goldrush, A Man Neds A Maid, Rockin' In The Free World, Philadelphia, Down By The River)

Bob Dylan – 4 (Like A Rolling Stone, Desolation Row, Tangled Up In Blue, Changing Of The Guard)

Beatles – 3 (A Day in The Life, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, You Never Give Me Your Money)

Donny Hathaway – 3 (I Love The Lord,He Heard My Cry 1&2, Someday We'll All Be Free, A Song For You)

Elliott Smith – 3 (Memory Lane, Son Of Sam I Am, Alameda)

Joan Baez – 3 (Diamonds And Rust, James And The Gang, The Moon's A Harsh Mistress)

Joni Michell – 3 (Free Man In Paris, My Old Man, Chinese Cafe)

Leonard Cohen – 3 (Sisters Of Mercy, Suzanne, Tower Of Song)

Nick Drake – 3 (Northern Sky, Three Hours, Hazey Jane II)

Nick Cave – 3 (The Mercy Seat, Jangling Jack, Song Of Joy)

Patti Smith – 3 (Frederick, Ain't It Strange, Ask The Angels)

Primal Scream – 3 (Movin' On Up, Higher Than The Sun, Velocity Girl)

Robert Wyatt – 3 (Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road, Sea Song, Memories of You)

Scott Walker – 3 (The Amorous Humphrey Plugg, The Seventh Seal, Rhymes Of Goodbye)

Waterboys – 3 (Fisherman's Blues, Red Army Blues, My Love Is My Rock In The Weary Land)

Velvet Underground – 3 (I Heard Her Call My Name, Rock & Roll, Sister Ray)

STEELY DAN? HELLO? Doctor Wu, Deacon Blues, Gaucho, Peg, Bad Sneakers, Thru With Buzz, Almost Gothic...I hate lists and I will quit now (liar!).

From my normal brain: Fred is having a partial psychosis on the topic of the difficulty in putting together a list of rock songs.

listyguy

Mar 10, 2010 - 9:49PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Sultans of Swing will be in the top 10 for sure.

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Mar 10th, 2010 - 9:49 PM

Fred

Mar 10, 2010 - 9:53PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

listyguy

Sultans of Swing will be in the top 10 for sure.

Or the world's most forgotten boy :)

Henry

Mar 10, 2010 - 9:59PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

nicolas

Lots of artists with multiple songs in my list. I didn't care for that. These are my favorite songs. If there has to be 27 songs by the boss, so be it.

Henry's comment - Thanks for sharing this breakdown. I am in need of some more information about some of your favorites, and would greatly appreciate it if you could provide me with some clues as to why you are so impressed with the songs of theirs that made your list of top songs.

Springsteen 27
Brassens 20 [I know nothing about this performer, I also didn't notice many of their songs in the top 1000. Yet you have more of their songs in your top picks than Beatle songs. Please help me (and others)better understand what I am (we are) missing?]
Beatles 19 (Joobalooba, I'm almost 40, heard thousands of albums, and still...)
Dylan 14
Brel 14 (similar request as above for the Brassens)
Neil Young 11
Tom Waits 10 (I have tried to enjoy his songs, and so far I've come up pretty empty)
The Divine Comedy 9 (not very familiar with this performer - but they seem to have a reasonably wide following among AMers - I apparently need a clue)
Leadbelly 8
Stevie Wonder 8
Robert Wyatt 6 (Didn't start appreciating Wyatt until my fellow AMers brought him to my attention. I am not yet up to speed on him yet.)
Elvis Presley 6
Roy Orbison 6
Marley 5
Creedence 5
Beach Boys 5
Doc Watson 5 (I'm not there yet on Doc)
Led Zeppelin 5
Robert Johnson 5 (I have listened to some Johnson tunes, and they are not yet among my faves.)
Jimi Hendrix 5

Mar 10th, 2010 - 9:59 PM

Henry

Mar 10, 2010 - 10:01PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Fred

listyguy

Sultans of Swing will be in the top 10 for sure.

Or the world's most forgotten boy :)

Much to my disappointment, this great Dire Straits tune is mired at 403.

Mar 10th, 2010 - 10:01 PM

Henry

Mar 10, 2010 - 10:05PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Fred

My read is that you tend favor songs that are more obscure (hidden gems). This seems fairly typical for AMers as far as I can tell. In you list, it appears to me that Neil Young is an exception in that the songs you favor of his are some of most well-known and accessible. Please let me know if my read is way off the mark; and if so, how.

Mar 10th, 2010 - 10:05 PM

Brad

Mar 10, 2010 - 10:25PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Henry- I'm sure Nicolas will have a more meaningful response to you regarding Georges Brassens and the other artists on his list, but in the meantime you can catch some of his excellent discussion on the French singer/songwriter (with youtube clips!) in the "50s Recommendations" thread.

John

Mar 10, 2010 - 11:41PM

Re: AMF All-Time Songs Poll: Results Part 2

Artists that dominated my list (5 or more):

Beck: Beautiful Way, Cold Brains, Hotwax, Lord Only Knows, Novacane, Jack-Ass, Lost Cause

Belle and Sebastian: Like Dylan In The Movies, The Fox In The Snow, Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying, If You're Feeling Sinister, It Could Have Been a Brilliant

Bob Dylan: Positively 4th Street, Queen Jane Approximately, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues, Forever Young, Spanish Harlem Incident, Visions of Johanna, It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, Girl from the North Country

Elliott Smith: Rose Parade, Angeles, Needle In The Hay, Clementine, Coming Up Roses, Good To Go, Tomorrow Tomorrow, Waltz #2, Independence Day

Guided By Voices: My Kind of Soldier, The Best of Jill Hives, Things I Will Keep, Hold On Hope, I Am A Tree, Bulldog Skin

Paul McCartney: Dear Boy, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, My Brave Face, Put It There, Every Night, Junk, Let Me Roll It

Pavement: Silence Kit, Gold Soundz, Range Life, Here, Spit on a Stranger

Pink Floyd: Us And Them, Flaming, Bike, Mother, Fearless

Prince: Controversy, Purple Rain, 7, 1999, Darling Nikki

Radiohead: The National Anthem, Paranoid Android, Exit Music (For a Film), Let Down, Karma Police, No Surprises, Lucky, Fake Plastic Trees, Black Star

Stevie Wonder: They Won't Go When I Go, Living For The City, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours, Blame It on the Sun, Uptight (Everything's Alright), Sir Duke (and I should have put on Missta Know it All)

Beach Boys: Wendy, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder), God Only Knows, In My Room, Don't Worry Baby, When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)

Beatles: Any Time At All, Things We Said Today, Oh! Darling, I'll Follow the Sun, The Night Before, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, You're Going To Lose That Girl, Ticket To Ride, It's Only Love, Tell Me What You See, I've Just Seen A Face, I've Got A Feeling, The Fool On The Hill, I Am The Walrus, Strawberry Fields Forever, Penny Lane, This Boy, I Call Your Name, Yes It Is, We Can Work It Out, Rain, Hey Jude, I'm Only Sleeping, She Said She Said, And Your Bird Can Sing, For No One, Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), Michelle, Girl, I'm Looking Throuh You, In My Life, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Fixing A Hole, Lovely Rita, A Day In The Life, Dear Prudence, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, I'm So Tired, Blackbird, I Will, Mother Nautre's Son, Sexy Sadie, All I've Got To Do, Don't Bother Me, Little Child, Not A Second Time

Kinks: Victoria, The Village Green Preservation Society, Two Sisters, Waterloo Sunset, Sunny Afternoon

Velvet Underground: Who Loves The Sun, Rock & Roll, Oh! Sweet Nuthin', Jesus, White Light/White Heat, Sunday Morning

Zombies: Care of Cell 44, Beechwood Park, This Will Be Our Year, Time of the Season, She's Not There, Tell Her No

Weezer: Across The Sea, My Name Is Jonas, Buddy Holly, Say It Ain't So, In the Garage