Top Songs of All Time? - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

Scrap Irony · 07-25-2007, 11:18 PM

As some of you may know, I teach high school humanities (and English). As part of my humanities class, I have the kids come up with a list of their Top 20 songs of the Modern Era (1900-now).

My assignment for you, Redszone, is to come up with a Top 40 (or so) songs of all time. How many Beethoven tracks? Mozart? Does Wagner's Ride of the Valykries trump Tchiakovsky's Suger Plum Fairies? So The Beatles deserve two songs? If so, which ones?

Songs need to be both representative of an era (ie, Black Sabbath's Iron Man, as the epitome of heavy metal) or the greatest hit of a really, really important composer/ song/ group.

Because of curriculum and time constraints, I start with The Renaissance.

Convince me.

Ltlabner · 07-26-2007, 07:21 AM

Cruel Summer - Banannaramma ?

MrCinatit · 07-26-2007, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ltlabner

Cruel Summer - Banannaramma ?

Curse you for putting that song into my head.

:

Chi-Town Red · 07-26-2007, 07:45 AM

Stairway to heaven.....greatest rock song of all time

redsmetz · 07-26-2007, 07:56 AM

All time or since 1900? I'll go with some before my time but which would need to be listed because they're just that good

In The Mood - Glen Miller Orchestra (a friend's dad helped write this, lived right in St. Bernard until his death)

Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets (just barely before my time - record eight months before I was born) - I always point out that the song's as old as me and it still rocks (me, not so much!)

Yesterday - The Beatles (it's no accident that it's reputedly the most covered song in history - it might be second). Structurally it's just a well crafted song, very nicely produced.

I'm hard pressed as to which Paul Simon song (Simon & Garfunkel) I should pick; same for Bob Dylan.

MrCinatit · 07-26-2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsmetz

I'm hard pressed as to which Paul Simon song (Simon & Garfunkel) I should pick; same for Bob Dylan.

I would go with Bridge Over Troubled Waters for Simon & Garfunkel, hands down.

Blowing In The Wind perhaps for Dylan - I like Hurricane a lot, but I do not think it would go down as an all-time classic.

nate · 07-26-2007, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

As some of you may know, I teach high school humanities (and English). As part of my humanities class, I have the kids come up with a list of their Top 20 songs of the Modern Era (1900-now).

My assignment for you, Redszone, is to come up with a Top 40 (or so) songs of all time. How many Beethoven tracks? Mozart? Does Wagner's Ride of the Valykries trump Tchiakovsky's Suger Plum Fairies? So The Beatles deserve two songs? If so, which ones?

Songs need to be both representative of an era (ie, Black Sabbath's Iron Man, as the epitome of heavy metal) or the greatest hit of a really, really important composer/ song/ group.

Because of curriculum and time constraints, I start with The Renaissance.

Convince me.

Well, the thing about those classical selections is that they're not "songs", they're Sonatas, Symphonies, Opera, etc... Songs are basically poems set to music or in the case of modern Hip Hop, "poems" set to "music"

I kid, I kid...

Here are a few to get started:

Some Day My Prince Will Come
New York, New York
Summertime
Take The "A" Train
In The Mood
At Last
I Can't Help Falling In Love With You
The Twist
Blueberry Hill
California Girls
Blackbird (actually, I agree with "Yesterday" but I love "Blackbird")
You Are The Sunshine of my Life
Love Sweet Love
I Will Survive
Shining Star
Old Time Rock & Roll
Brick House

A note, based on what I've heard, there will be a tremendous dearth of "Top Songs" from this and (if another Gerschwin/Bacharach/Wonder/McCartney/Lennon isn't born) future decades.

GAC · 07-26-2007, 09:31 AM

I realize that "Yesterday" is one of the most popular and widely recorded songs out of their catalog; but I never really cared much for it. Don't hate the song; but wouldn't have it in my Beatle's Top 10, regardless of it's commercial success.

As for Simon & Garfunkel - I'd go with "Sounds of Slience".

Trying to nail down a Top 40 list of All-Time songs from every type of venue and generation would be pretty hard to do for me. My Dad was a huge Big Band Era buff, so I grew up listening to most of that catalog; but my selections would primarily be from the 50's/60's/70's rock n roll era.

But since it would be a personal list (preferences), the Beatles would dominate.

Johnny Footstool · 07-26-2007, 10:14 AM

"Walk This Way" - Run DMC & Aerosmith. Like it or not, this collaboration ushered in the Rap Era. Twentysome years later, it's still dominating popular music.

"Don't Stop Believin" - Journey. If it was good enough for the Sopranos, then dammit, it's good enough for you!

vaticanplum · 07-26-2007, 10:21 AM

Gimme Shelter

And I think Simon and Garfunkel's best song is The Boxer. Hands down.

RFS62 · 07-26-2007, 10:26 AM

Not one song, but probably the most important album of all time in rock music, IMO.

Michael Allred · 07-26-2007, 10:28 AM

Would have to suggest what is arguably the most popular song ever, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

Roy Tucker · 07-26-2007, 10:30 AM

Top 40 songs of all time? Gadzooks. That includes a lot.

Do you mean just songs or are we including all musical genres and pieces (renaissance, baroque, classical, opera, 20th century, etc etc). Gregorian chants, Hungarian folk, Phillip Glass, choir, and all that?

And since I know really nothing about eastern music styles, are we limiting it to western civilization?

bucksfan2 · 07-26-2007, 10:31 AM

Lightening Crashes - Live
Better Man - Pearl Jam
Alive - Pearl Jam
Smells like Teen Spirt - Nirvana
November Rain - Guns n Roses

I dont care for much before the late 80's or early 90's.

dfs · 07-26-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Top 20 songs of the Modern Era (1900-now).

That's tough enough right there. 40 of all time is beyond me.
I'll go for 25 song/performer combinations and let you decide what to cut.
I reserve the right to change all of these on reflection.
In rough chronology

The Band Played On - Tony Pastor
You're a grand old Flag - George Cohan
April Showers - Al Jolson
Brother can you Spare a Dime - Rudy Vallee
Happy Days are here again - Leo Reisman
In the Mood - Glen Miller
Don't Sit under the Apple Tree - The Andrew sisters
I'll be seeing you - Bing Crosby
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
Mr. Sandman - The Chordettes
Hello Dolly - Louis Armstrong
Night and Day - Ella Fitzgerald
Fly Me To the Moon - Frank Sinatra
The Good Life - Tony Bennett
A Hard Day's Night - Beatles
Feeling Groovy - Simon and Garfunkle
All along the watchtower - Hendrix
I can't get no Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys
Get Dancin - Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes
We Will Rock You/We are the Champions Queen
You might Think I'm Crazy - The Cars
Walk This Way - Aerosmith and Run-DMC
Mysterious Ways - U2

07-25-2007, 11:18 PM	#1
Scrap Irony Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Bedford, KY Posts: 8,992	Top Songs of All Time? As some of you may know, I teach high school humanities (and English). As part of my humanities class, I have the kids come up with a list of their Top 20 songs of the Modern Era (1900-now). My assignment for you, Redszone, is to come up with a Top 40 (or so) songs of all time. How many Beethoven tracks? Mozart? Does Wagner's Ride of the Valykries trump Tchiakovsky's Suger Plum Fairies? So The Beatles deserve two songs? If so, which ones? Songs need to be both representative of an era (ie, Black Sabbath's Iron Man, as the epitome of heavy metal) or the greatest hit of a really, really important composer/ song/ group. Because of curriculum and time constraints, I start with The Renaissance. Convince me.

07-26-2007, 07:21 AM	#2
Ltlabner 2009: Fail Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 7,441	Re: Top Songs of All Time? Cruel Summer - Banannaramma ? __________________ a super volcano of ridonkulous suckitude. I simply don't have access to a "cares about RBI" place in my psyche. There is a "mildly curious about OBI%" alcove just before the acid filled lake guarded by robot snipers with lasers which leads to the "cares about RBI" antechamber though. - Nate

07-26-2007, 07:45 AM	#4
Chi-Town Red Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: chicago Posts: 904	Re: Top Songs of All Time? Stairway to heaven.....greatest rock song of all time __________________ Reds fan since 1970

07-26-2007, 07:56 AM	#5
redsmetz Redsmetz Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winton Place Posts: 10,449	Re: Top Songs of All Time? All time or since 1900? I'll go with some before my time but which would need to be listed because they're just that good In The Mood - Glen Miller Orchestra (a friend's dad helped write this, lived right in St. Bernard until his death) Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets (just barely before my time - record eight months before I was born) - I always point out that the song's as old as me and it still rocks (me, not so much!) Yesterday - The Beatles (it's no accident that it's reputedly the most covered song in history - it might be second). Structurally it's just a well crafted song, very nicely produced. I'm hard pressed as to which Paul Simon song (Simon & Garfunkel) I should pick; same for Bob Dylan.

07-26-2007, 09:31 AM	#8
GAC What Me Worry? Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bellefontaine, Ohio Posts: 26,416	Re: Top Songs of All Time? I realize that "Yesterday" is one of the most popular and widely recorded songs out of their catalog; but I never really cared much for it. Don't hate the song; but wouldn't have it in my Beatle's Top 10, regardless of it's commercial success. As for Simon & Garfunkel - I'd go with "Sounds of Slience". Trying to nail down a Top 40 list of All-Time songs from every type of venue and generation would be pretty hard to do for me. My Dad was a huge Big Band Era buff, so I grew up listening to most of that catalog; but my selections would primarily be from the 50's/60's/70's rock n roll era. But since it would be a personal list (preferences), the Beatles would dominate. __________________ "panic" only comes from having real expectations

07-26-2007, 10:14 AM	#9
Johnny Footstool Churlish Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 13,662	Re: Top Songs of All Time? "Walk This Way" - Run DMC & Aerosmith. Like it or not, this collaboration ushered in the Rap Era. Twentysome years later, it's still dominating popular music. "Don't Stop Believin" - Journey. If it was good enough for the Sopranos, then dammit, it's good enough for you! __________________ "I prefer books and movies where the conflict isn't of the extreme cannibal apocalypse variety I guess." Redsfaithful

07-26-2007, 10:21 AM	#10
vaticanplum Has big taste Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 6,704	Re: Top Songs of All Time? Gimme Shelter And I think Simon and Garfunkel's best song is The Boxer. Hands down. __________________ There is no such thing as a pitching prospect.

07-26-2007, 10:26 AM	#11
RFS62 Hey Cubs Fans Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: New York Posts: 16,567	Re: Top Songs of All Time? Not one song, but probably the most important album of all time in rock music, IMO. __________________ "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain

07-26-2007, 10:28 AM	#12
Michael Allred Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 376	Re: Top Songs of All Time? Would have to suggest what is arguably the most popular song ever, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

07-26-2007, 10:30 AM	#13
Roy Tucker Be the ball Join Date: May 2001 Location: Mason, OH Posts: 11,111	Re: Top Songs of All Time? Top 40 songs of all time? Gadzooks. That includes a lot. Do you mean just songs or are we including all musical genres and pieces (renaissance, baroque, classical, opera, 20th century, etc etc). Gregorian chants, Hungarian folk, Phillip Glass, choir, and all that? And since I know really nothing about eastern music styles, are we limiting it to western civilization? __________________ "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."

07-26-2007, 10:31 AM	#14
bucksfan2 Waitin til next year Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 9,609	Re: Top Songs of All Time? Lightening Crashes - Live Better Man - Pearl Jam Alive - Pearl Jam Smells like Teen Spirt - Nirvana November Rain - Guns n Roses I dont care for much before the late 80's or early 90's.

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