Does anyone think this poll result is just a leeeetle beet suspicious? Rolling Stone magazine's list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" is topped by Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone. Then, coming in second was a song by the ... well, you guessed it ... The Rolling Stones. It's really quite surprising they didn't manage to squeeze in Dr Hook. Perhaps they didn't count ... ahem ... cover versions.
Like a rolling stone? Critics just love it
BOB Dylan's soulful Like a Rolling Stone has been voted the greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
The song, penned in 1965, topped the magazine's list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time", which will appear in a special edition today.
The hit was voted the best ever by 172 writers and artists, including Joni Mitchell, Elvis Costello and k.d. lang.
Sixties music dominated the rankings, producing more than 200 of the 500 songs, with the Beatles responsible for 23 of the top 500 songs, while the Rolling Stones scored 14 and Dylan 12.
Following Like a Rolling Stone on the list was the Stones' (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (1965).
Naturally Dylan, The Beatles and The Stones all HAD to be there, although respectively I would have picked Visions of Johanna, (today) Happiness is a Warm Gun and Let It Loose.
Can I just note that I loathe Imagine, which apart from being a turgid bore, I've always maintained gains extra notoriety because of the footage that shows John Chapman in the audience.
Although What's Going On is a fine song and the critics seem to love it to bits, it's continued prominence in the upper echelons of these polls eludes me. Were I to replace it with like-for-like, in other words, hip black dudes, I'd plump for something by either Sly Stone, Al Green or Funkadelic before the Dead Son of a Preacherman.
Smells Like Teen Spirit has attracted far more caché than it deserves. For that matter, so too do Nirvana.
God Only Knows IS the Beach Boys best song. I will not argue this point. I'm tipping Good Vibration's gets this nod because of the recent release of Smile.
Ray Charles probably gets in because he just kicked the bucket.
Before I nominated Johnny B Goode, I would include at least one track from one of the greatest rock 'n' roll albums of all time, St Louis To Liverpool. A song set that includes the likes of Little Maree, Brenda Lee, You Two, You Never Can Tell and in particular, No Particular Place To Go. All of which are better than JBG.
That leaves Respect. A very fine song, that on balance, really does deserve to be there, but would lose points for being a favourite of drunken accountants doing karaoke.
|
The Top 10. 1) Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan 2) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones 3) Imagine - John Lennon 4) What's Going On - Marvin Gaye 5) Respect - Aretha Franklin 6) Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys 7) Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry 8) Hey Jude - The Beatles 9) Smell Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana 10) What'd I Say - Ray Charles |
PS: Like A Rolling Stone is a great song, but since when was it "soulful"?
Not too sure about Nirvana on the list- more of an icon than sheer musical genius.The whole 'grunge' scene sported a whole bunch of shabby imitators who seem to be idolised by the masses.
Disappointed. Nothing by the Happy Monday's on the list.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 20 November 2004 at 21:24
This is just silly. The greatest ever song changes all the time, almost on a day-to-day basis. Today it is undoubtedly Britain Is Shit by Selfish Cunt. But it will never be Yesterday.
Posted by: hungbunny | 20 November 2004 at 22:46
#9 is the real horror. What a bucket of warm steaming crap. The song sucked the day it came out, and it sucks now. It was nothing more than a piss poor attempt by Cobain to emulate Bostons, More Than A Feeling. Can't hear any resemblence? Thats because COBAIN SUCKED at it!!!
Posted by: Patrick | 21 November 2004 at 01:17
#9 is fine. I'm glad it's there. Nobody else will defend it, so I guess I will.
And Tone, Good Vibrations getting the nod has nothing to do with the release of Smile, it has everything to do with being a vastly superior song. It's the Truth. Sorry!
Posted by: Tim | 21 November 2004 at 03:41
I think #9 deserves to be there too. But I hate #3, managing to be both orotund and banal, its simply infuriating.
Posted by: Emily | 21 November 2004 at 08:57
Brett, Patrick, Tim, Emily, I actually don't think Nirvana are a bad band, I don't particularly like them, mind you, but I don't think they're bad. It just seems that in these polls, they are the only recent band old geeky dandruffed critics have ever heard of. SLTS is NOT the tenth best song of all time.
Orotund, Emily? You ougth to be a rock critic with words like that. What's it mean? Fat?
Hung. That just might be the best song/band combo of all time.
Happy Monday's aren't THAT good, Brett.
Tim, as there's no point in us debating GOK/GV, how about Blueberry Boat? I like it. You?
Posted by: Tony.T | 21 November 2004 at 15:17
I like #3. Guess I like turgid bores.
But I'm not the only one.
And number #8 is def the best Beatles turgid dirge
Posted by: boynton | 21 November 2004 at 19:11
Who's the other one?
No probs with No.8, it's just not my Fave Fab IV.
Posted by: Tony.T | 21 November 2004 at 19:45
Actually the Happy Monday's album 'Pills, Thrills 'n' Bellyaches' is pretty decent with some good dance vibe on it. Check out these lyrics from the 1st song "Son i'm 30 and i only went with your mother 'cos she's dirty" Sheer poetic and lyrical genius.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 21 November 2004 at 21:35
Sean Ryder = Party Boy.
Black Grape's Stupid, Stupid, Stupid is not bad either.
Posted by: Tony.T | 21 November 2004 at 21:40
Nah.....Black Grapes first album "It's Great When Your Straight...yeah!! " is bloody brill mate, every track original and exploding with Ryders mad ideas on drugs, drink, vicars and then more drugs etc etc. Check out 'Reverend Black Grape' for them at their best. "Stupid stupid" contained snippets of greatness but fell well short of their 1st album and they broke up after it. I think the Mondays reformed a while back, but was just for the dollars.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 21 November 2004 at 22:09
I'm a big Mondays fan but they're not exactly top of the table class.
I'd take one of Step On, Tart Tart, 24 Hour Party People or God's Cop
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 22 November 2004 at 00:18
Blueberry Boat? The Fiery Furnaces album? Haven't heard it, Tony. But I've seen it compared to the Beach Boys and the Who a bit.
Posted by: Tim | 22 November 2004 at 02:28
I'm a late comer to the Mondays, but they go alright. As do Black Grape.
That's the one, Tim. On high rotation here at the moment. It's got grabs of everything.
Posted by: Tony.T | 22 November 2004 at 09:15
Not to mention one of the great spoken word song openings ever..
"YOU'RE RENDERING THAT SCAFFOLDING DANGEROUS!" from Bummed's "Brain Dead"
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 22 November 2004 at 15:30
Now that's a track I need to own.
Posted by: Tony.T | 22 November 2004 at 17:14
Nirvana are excellent, and whatever you might think of them that album, and particularly song, had a massive impact on music. SUch lists are always subjective, I mean I'd agree it was not the best song of the grunge era but then I'd argue that something like Say Hello to Heaven by Temple of the DOg (the band that spawned Pearl Jam) is better- but no-one has heard of it so it won't get up here.
What i would concede is that Nirvana is probably easier for the classic rock types enamoured by the 60s to digest than say some crossover dance song, or it would appear most of the 80s! WHile I'm not a big 80s fan to suggest nothing excellent came out of it is obviously pretty one-eyed.
I don't know how they came out further down the list, but songs like Purple Rain and Billie Jean were seminal, genre crossing works of genius, even if both writers are now loopy. Several u2 and sting/police songs from the era are also very worthy of uber status; with or without you, pride, and every breath you take all have better lyrics AND music than the likes of Imagine or Satisfaction.
And lastly- that is NOT the best Stones song by a mile.... all of which is entirely subjective of course!!
Posted by: Martin Pike | 22 November 2004 at 18:39
One day I'm going sit down and plot out my 1000 favourite songs of all time. Then I'll realise my life has finally hit rock bottom and throw myself off a cliff.
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 22 November 2004 at 19:57
In fact get the map to the cliff ready I'm going to start working this out. Give it a few weeks and the less than startling results will be apparent...
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 22 November 2004 at 20:11
Pikey, I don't deny Nirvana had an impact, but I guess, as with all of these polls, it's how you define "Greatest".
If it's greatest as in a good song, there's just GOT TO BE ten better songs than SLTS.
If it's greatest as in an influential song, there's probably still ten more influential songs.
I entirely agree with you second paragraph.
What IS your favourite Stones song?
Lastly, U2, Jacko, Prince and the Police I can handle, but I have to kill you for mentioning Pearl Jam on this blog.
Adam, you have to do a list, that way I get cheap material for another post. I love lists.
Posted by: Tony.T | 23 November 2004 at 11:44
1000 Songs - 20 days. The TSP 1000 is coming soon. Contact Centrebet to punt on the top song and/or artist. Agadoo by Black Lace is currently at 10000000-1 and represents good value.
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 23 November 2004 at 17:30
What about "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"? I expect the bookies to hold for that.
Aween away aween away aween away aween away aween away aween away aween away aween away aween away
The hottest songs from Ally & Jo
# Ally & Jo - Holding You
# Ally & Jo - The Lion Sleep Tonight
Fans who visit this lyrics also like:
# George Michael - Careless Whisper
# Goo Goo Dolls - Here Is Gone
# Ludacris - Act A Fool
# Gretchen Wilson - Redneck Woman
# Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis
# Maroon 5 - Shiver
# Akon - Lonely
# R. Kelly - You Saved Me
# Westlife - My Love
# Nelly - Dilemma
# Scorpions - Still Loving You
# Nelly Furtado - Powerless
# Vitamin C - Graduation
# Matchbox 20 - Unwell
# Goo Goo Dolls - Sympathy
# Train - Ordinary
# Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water
# Outkast - The Way You Move
# Kanye West - Workout Plan
# Sheryl Crow - The Picture
# Aqua - Barbie Girl
# Linkin Park - One Step Closer
# 3 Doors Down - When I'm Gone
# Blue - Guilty
# Deana Carter - Strawberry Wine
# Coldplay - Green Eyes
# Switchfoot - Gone
# Aerosmith - Crazy
# John Lennon - Stand By Me
# Maroon 5 - The Sun
Dunno how Smoke on the Water squeezed in.
Posted by: Tony.T | 23 November 2004 at 17:39
Who the hell are Ally and Jo? I thought Tight Fit did the 'definative' version...
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 23 November 2004 at 20:58
Tight Fit. Pah! This is the definitive definitive version.
But it's a good question. Just who ARE Ally & Jo? A couple of talentless slappers, no doubt.
Posted by: Tony.T | 23 November 2004 at 21:05
Klassik! It would appear they're big potatoes in Germany.
Like David Hasselhoff.
Posted by: Tony.T | 23 November 2004 at 21:10
Gretchen Wilson...?
Posted by: Dirk Thruster | 24 November 2004 at 05:58
Hell yea! She's redneck woman. No high class broad.
Apparently.
Well I ain't never
Been the barbie doll type
No I can't swig that sweet champagne
I'd rather drink beer all night
In a tavern or in a honky tonk
Or on a 4 wheel drive tailgate
I've got posters on my wall of Skynard, Kid and Strait
Some people look down on me
But I don't give a rip
I'll stand barefooted in my own front yard with a baby on my hip
Cause I'm a redneck woman
And I ain't no high class broad
I'm just a product of my raisin'
And I say "hey y'all" and "Yee Haw"
And I keep my Christmas lights on, on my front porch all year long
And I know all the words to every Charlie Daniels song
So here's to all my sisters out there keepin' it country
Let me get a big "Hell Yeah" from the redneck girls like me
Hell Yeah
Hell Yeah
Victoria's Secret
Well their stuff's real nice
Oh but I can buy the same damn thing on a Wal*Mart shelf half price
And still look sexy
Just as sexy
As those models on TV
No I don't need no designer tag to make my man want me
You might think I'm trashy
A little too hard core
But get in my neck of the woods
I'm just the girl next door
Hey I'm redneck woman
And I ain't no high class broad
I'm just a product of my raisin'
And I say "hey y'all" and "Yee Haw"
And I keep my Christmas lights on, on my front porch all year long
And I know all the words to every Tanya Tucker song
So here's to all my sisters out there keeping it country
Let me get a big "Hell Yeah" from the redneck girls like me
Hell Yeah
Hell Yeah
I'm redneck woman
And I ain't no high class broad
I'm just a product of my raisin'
And I say "hey y'all" and "Yee Haw"
And I keep my Christmas lights on, on my front porch all year long
And I know all the words to every Ol' Bocephus song
So here's to all my sisters out there keeping it country
Let me get a big "Hell Yeah" from the redneck girls like me
Hell Yeah
Hell Yeah
Hell Yeah
Hell Yeah
Hell Yeah
Hell Yeah
I Said Hell Yeah
Posted by: Tony.T | 24 November 2004 at 11:28
U2 are back in style with their new material. 'Vertigo' beats any of their singles releases in 6 or 7 years, and the album does not disappoint with several fine songs. The Edge makes this album with his stuff on all the songs.
Posted by: Brett Pee | 26 November 2004 at 02:18
Been a while since I've listened to U2, Brett. I don't see that changing.
Posted by: Tony.T | 26 November 2004 at 10:58