Wow VanillaFire, I really like eclectic lists like that! I'll see what I can do...
Sorry for that mistake-The Swell Season seem to be not from Northern Ireland, but from Ireland in general.
Thanks you for the answer. I just want to say I found this site better and better year after years.
What concerns me about the inclusion of a system that weights the lists is that, at least in my mind, the weighting implies that one list is more "valid" than another. Maybe I'm not looking at this the right way, and if so, hopefully someone can correct me.
Something like VH1's list stands out because there is such a focus on mainstream, commercial, hit music, with the very rare non-hit tossed in. That's fine and dandy, but when it includes acts that are obvious critically challenged acts, then I definitely see no issue with something like that having less weight than another list.
How's the update coming along, Henrik?
At your service. :)
If the links from the original source are available, I put those. If not, I used the forum link or Rocklist. For something like the Bob Dylan list, RS has a link to it, but it's not the ranked list- so I used the forum link. I don't believe the Blender site has a link for the Greatest Song Ever feature (and the link in the Critics Lists section no longer works).
At the bottom, I added the TIME list (in case you include it in this update).
I believe the Le Nouvel Observateur link is for the pertinent list, but do double check.
* Blender (USA) - The Greatest Songs Ever, One Song Added Every Other Month
??????
* Paste (USA) - The 30 Best Wilco Songs (2011)
http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/04/the-30-best-wilco-songs.html
* Pitchfork (USA) - The Pitchfork 500 (2008)
http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/Pitchfork.htm
* Pitchfork (USA) - Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s
http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7854-the-top-200-tracks-of-the-1990s-200-151/
* Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (USA)- New additions to The Songs That Shaped Rock
http://rockhall.com/exhibits/one-hit-wonders-songs-that-shaped-rock-and-roll/
* Rolling Stone (USA) - 40 Songs That Changed the World (2007)
Original link not working; I believe this appeared in the magazine and the full list can be found at various sites
* Rolling Stone(USA) - 100 Greatest Beatles Songs (2010)
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rolling-stone-presents-the-100-greatest-beatles-songs-20110919
* Rolling Stone (USA) - 70 Greatest Bob Dylan Songs (2011)
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=7238&msgid=1156497&cmd=show
* Slant (USA) - Best Singles of the 90s (2011)
http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/feature/best-singles-of-the-90s/247
* Spin (USA) - Nominations For the Best Songs of the Last 25 Years (2010)
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=7238&msgid=1069074&cmd=show
* Time Magazine (USA) - A Song A Decade (1950s-1990s)
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=10&msgid=673072&cmd=show
* Treble (USA) - Top 100 Singles of the '90s (2007)
http://treblezine.com/features/118.html
* Treble (USA) - The Top 200 Songs of the 80s (2011)
http://treblezine.com/features/267.html
* VH1 (USA) - 100 Greatest Songs of the 00s (2011)
http://blog.vh1.com/2011-09-29/the-100-greatest-songs-of-00s-complete-list/
* Hervé Bourhis (France): Le Petit Livre Rock" (The Little Rock Book - "The Juke Box! Singles, 1950-2009
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=7238&msgid=1024687&cmd=show
* Le Nouvel Observateur (France) - Top 100 French Singles from 1951-1991 (1991)
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=10&msgid=761183&cmd=show
* VOLUME (France) - 200 Records that Changed the World, 2008 (38 songs)
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=0&msgid=878084
* The Guardian (UK) - 1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear (2009)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/series/1000-songs-everyone-must-hear
* Mojo (UK) - 80 From the 80s: Our Fave 45s For Each Year, 1980-1989 (2007)
http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo.html#Mojo%20%E2%80%93%2080%20From%20The%2080%E2%80%99s
* New Musical Express (UK) - Classic Singles
http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_writers.htm#Classic%20Albums%20&%20Singles
* New Musical Express (UK) - 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years (2011)
http://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/1
* Q (UK) - The 10 Most Perfect Song Ever (2007)
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3172289350&frmid=10&msgid=752155&cmd=show
* STM Entertainment (Australia) - 50 Best Songs- Ever (2007)
http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/best-50-songs-ever/story-e6frg3i3-1111114161557
* TIME (USA) - All-TIME 100 Songs (2011)
http://entertainment.time.com/2011/10/24/the-all-time-100-songs/
Thanks JR!
"Stairway to Heaven" was never released as a commercial single when it was out, though, and never appeared on a music chart (at least in the USA). :)
I just think that in the case of something like the Grammys, its methods of of coming up with nominations in the major categories has been VERY geared toward the commercial and popular, safe, middle-of-the-road choices (especially leading up to the late 90s and even past that). And the VH1 list obviously is very hits-driven- the majority of critics' lists are not. many feature tracks that were big hits, but a lot of times it has as many, if not more, tracks that were not big hits on the charts.
In a lot of cases, though, mainstream pop really isn't GREAT stuff. Being accessible and catchy doesn't necessarily make it good all the time. I can listen to a lot of stuff on the radio, whether during a workout or whatever, but I would not seek it out to listen to or purchase it. Certain mainstream acts have transcended just the mainstream pop genre on a regular basis, while others do so just with a single or two.
Moonbeam, about mainstream pop being underrated, I just like to point out that it seems like you are in a minority here as our forum polls always contain less mainstream music.
I'm so excited about this update! My November is shaping up to be one giant kick in the face, and the first song update since 2008 will definitely be a bright spot for me!
How is the anti-commercial factor determined, if I may ask? I'm assuming it's not a judgment call.
Ah, right. I was just thinking that it might answer some of the questions and clear up the matter a little if we had a general idea of how it is determined.
That said, I'm all for this. It'll just make the rare gems move up the lists presumably, which is welcome.
My feeling about mainstream pop is:
-Some of the songs coming out are fantastic, but the rest of the album is usually light filler.
-Some of the songs would be fantastic if they were less electro-stuttery and computerized. There are some pop songs I hate which sounded fantastic on The Voice.
So in summation, the problem with mainstream pop isn't the songwriting, it's the production paradigm of finding a pretty face and sterilizing in production rather than just finding talented singers and letting them sing.
Except for adult contemporary. The problem there is also the songwriting and a general contempt for the intelligence of the audience.
I found one more list that I will include. This is a good one.
http://onethirtybpm.com/features/the-top-100-tracks-of-the-1980s/
Ooh- nice find, Henrik. Love 80s lists- and some great tracks on there.
Hopefully Slant publishes 80s lists next year.