View Full Version : an odd "Top 100 Greatest Singles" list I found


Dean Winchester
07-24-2004, 09:40 PM
my friend sent me a list she found online of "The 100 Greatest Singles Of The Rock Era"

some good, mostly crap tho. I wonder the age of the person who listed this tho, since some are mispelled and others are credited to the wrong artist (or did Pat Benatar record I Love Rock N Roll and I never heard it?)

1. Imagine - John Lennon
2. Thriller - Michael Jackson
3. Hungry Like The Wolf - Duran Duran
4. Every Breath You Take - The Police
5. Evergreen - Barbra Streisand
6. Age of Aquarius - Fifth Dimension
7. ABC - The Jackson Five
8. Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
9. Macarena - Los Del Rio
10. Cherish - Madonna
11. Morning Train (9 to 5) - Sheena Easton
12. Every Rose Has It's Thorn - Poison
13. What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
14. Kokomo - The Beach Boys
15. I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
16. I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
17. Kiss - Prince
18. My Sharona - The Knack
19. Stand Back - Stevie Nicks
20. Straight Up - Paula Abdul
21. Hey Jude - The Beatles
22. Drive - The Cars
23. Losing My Religion - REM
24. Oops I Did It Again - Britney Spears
25. Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton-John
26. Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
27. That's The Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson
28. Help - The Beatles
29. Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson
30. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
31. Yeah - Usher
32. People Are People - Depeche Mode
33. Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm - Crash Test Dummies
34. Breakfast At Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something
35. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
36. Like A Virgin - Madonna
37. Wait - White Lion
38. Magic Man - Heart
39. She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
40. Survivor - Destiny's Child
41. Turning Japanese - The Vapors
42. Eye of the Tiger - Foreigner
43. Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake
44. Evenflow - Pearl Jam
45. Down Under - Men At Work
46. Take On Me - Ah-Ha
47. Venus - Bananarama
48. Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
49. Hazy Shade of Winter - Bangles
50. Jump - Van Halen
51. Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley
52. Unbreak My Heart - Toni Braxton
53. Hard Habit To Break - Chicago
54. Mandy - Barry Manilow
55. Come To My Window - Melissa Etheridge
56. Love Bites - Def Leppard
57. Smooth - Santana featuring Rob Thomas
58. Crazy In Love - Beyonce
59. You Were Meant For Me - Jewel
60. Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard
61. Broken Wings - Mister Mister
62. Luka - Suzanne Vega
63. Nasty - Janet Jackson
64. Material Girl - Madonna
65. I Love Rock and Roll - Pat Benatar
66. Draw of the Cards - Kim Carnes
67. Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
68. Physical - Olivia Newton-John
69. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
70. I Shot The Sherriff - Eric Clapton
71. Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
72. New Attitude - Patti LaBelle
73. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
74. Loverboy -Mariah Carey
75. Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue - Crystal Gayle
76. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
77. Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung
78. I Want Your Sex - George Michael
79. Real World - Matchbox Twenty
80. China Girl - David Bowie
81. 18 and Life - Skid Row
82. I Wanna Sex You Up - Color Me Badd
83. Copacabana - Barry Manilow
84. I'm Real - Jennifer Lopez
85. Don't Stop Believing - Journey
86. Little Red Corvette - Prince
87. The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
88. Forever Your Girl - Paula Abdul
89. Hysteria - Def Leppard
90. Beautiful Stranger - Madonna
91. Hangin' Tough - New Kids On The Block
92. Rock You Like A Hurricane - The Scorpions
93. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
94. All By Myself - Celine Dion
95. Believe - Cher
96. Breath - Faith Hill
97. Fantasy - Mariah Carey
98. 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
99. Dirrty - Christina Aguilera
100. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne

Steve M.
07-24-2004, 09:53 PM
That's not a greatest singles list, that's the playlist for the piped-in music system at TGI Fridays! :lol: :rofl:

Kay Scarpetta
07-24-2004, 10:46 PM
Very... very interesting, to say the least =/

Dean Winchester
07-25-2004, 03:00 AM
my take on this list

1. Imagine - John Lennon
Definite classic, dunno about #1, but it belongs up there
2. Thriller - Michael Jackson
good, but I'd pick Billie Jean or something instead
3. Hungry Like The Wolf - Duran Duran
classic, but waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too high
4. Every Breath You Take - The Police
overplayed, but timeless
5. Evergreen - Barbra Streisand
one of her best songs, but #5 is too high
6. Age of Aquarius - Fifth Dimension
good, not something I'd listen to a lot tho
7. ABC - The Jackson Five
classic, but definately shouldn't be the highest Motown song
8. Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
great 80's track, but wouldn't put it on a "greatest" list
9. Macarena - Los Del Rio
#9 in the pits of hell only
10. Cherish - Madonna
it's OK, but I can name at least 10 Madonna songs alone better than this
11. Morning Train (9 to 5) - Sheena Easton
the song that launched Sheena, cute, but way too high
12. Every Rose Has It's Thorn - Poison
one of the all time defining power ballads
13. What's Love Got To Do With It - Tina Turner
love it
14. Kokomo - The Beach Boys
higher than Good Vibrations or any of the Pet Sounds tracks? I'm nowhere the fan someone like AKA is, but I can tell a joke when I see one
15. I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
not a fave song or anything, but I understand it's all time impact, it is the song that really launched Beatlemania
16. I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
one of the best songs from the horrid teen pop invasion, but wouldn't put it up there.
17. Kiss - Prince
a classic, but nowhere near Prince's best
18. My Sharona - The Knack
overrated
19. Stand Back - Stevie Nicks
love this one, Stevie gone Flashdance
20. Straight Up - Paula Abdul
always liked Paula's music as somewhat of a guilty pleasure, but while Straight Up is fun and catchy, it is not great.
21. Hey Jude - The Beatles
the fact that Straight Up is higher than this is sacreligious
22. Drive - The Cars
Overproduced, but beautiful and haunting
23. Losing My Religion - REM
not a big R.E.M. fan, but this was one of their great moments IMO
24. Oops I Did It Again - Britney Spears
you've gotta be kidding me, right?
25. Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton-John
I love Olivia, but she's had so many ballads better than this
26. Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
classic
27. That's The Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson
one of her most popular tracks, but I never liked it as much as the Rhythm Nation or Control singles
28. Help - The Beatles
Good, would rather see Ticket To Ride though
29. Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson
The second best Bad single IMO
30. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
well, it ushered in the 90's, and it also still rocks hard
31. Yeah - Usher
if this list was of overplayed songs, maybe. It's catchy but it got played to DEATH
32. People Are People - Depeche Mode
one of DM's best
33. Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm - Crash Test Dummies
nice, but the only song of theirs that was any good at all
34. Breakfast At Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something
good song
35. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
a little too tacky, but fun
36. Like A Virgin - Madonna
Madonna's most overrated single bar none
37. Wait - White Lion
ok, but there were so many better hair band songs
38. Magic Man - Heart
Heart rocks
39. She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
good, but not great. Always preferred the longer version tho
40. Survivor - Destiny's Child
liked it at the time
41. Turning Japanese - The Vapors
never really liked it
42. Eye of the Tiger - Foreigner
rofl, I think it was Survivor. Probably the worst of the arena bands IMO
43. Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake
not bad, but not in the top 1000 IMO
44. Evenflow - Pearl Jam
my fave Pearl Jam song
45. Down Under - Men At Work
a little hokey, preferred Who Can It Be Now and Overkill
46. Take On Me - Ah-Ha
LOVE IT
47. Venus - Bananarama
not one of my fave Bananarama songs
48. Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
one of the best 80's one hit wonders
49. Hazy Shade of Winter - Bangles
why not credit it to Simon And Garfunkel? Bangles version was good too tho
50. Jump - Van Halen
Roth will always rock
51. Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley
classic, not something I'd listen to tho
52. Unbreak My Heart - Toni Braxton
the peak of Toni AND Diane Warren's respective careers, LOVE IT
53. Hard Habit To Break - Chicago
one of their better 80's tracks
54. Mandy - Barry Manilow
pretty, but I'm not a Fanilow
55. Come To My Window - Melissa Etheridge
why not I'm The Only One? of the 2 biggest Melissa hits, I like that better
56. Love Bites - Def Leppard
good, but why not Bringing On The Heartbreak or Foolin'?
57. Smooth - Santana featuring Rob Thomas
a little too overplayed
58. Crazy In Love - Beyonce
overplayed, but alright
59. You Were Meant For Me - Jewel
love it
60. Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard
classic, but not into 50's music
61. Broken Wings - Mister Mister
I like this one
62. Luka - Suzanne Vega
EXCELLENT SONG
63. Nasty - Janet Jackson
good, but a little overrated
64. Material Girl - Madonna
I love it, but she's had so much better
65. I Love Rock and Roll - Pat Benatar
I am dying to hear this version by Pat in which Britney Spears spoke so highly of
66. Draw of the Cards - Kim Carnes
didn't know anybody else KNEW this song. Not as instantly classic as Bette Davis Eyes, this is still worth checking out
67. Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
great
68. Physical - Olivia Newton-John
definately a classic, tho as a fan, I wish people would see Olivia for more than Grease and Physical.
69. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
my second fave Midler song
70. I Shot The Sherriff - Eric Clapton
outside of the Slowhand album, never been a fan
71. Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
my all time favorite ballad by any artist
72. New Attitude - Patti LaBelle
I like this too
73. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
classic too
74. Loverboy -Mariah Carey
this is Mariah's "Best" song? lay down the crackpipe please
75. Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue - Crystal Gayle
don't really know it, I do like Talking In Your Sleep by her though
76. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
beautiful song, never goes out of fashion
77. Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung
didn't like it then, don't like it now. I did like Dance Hall Days though
78. I Want Your Sex - George Michael
guilty pleasure
79. Real World - Matchbox Twenty
ummm, okay. I like latter MB20 better though
80. China Girl - David Bowie
good but definately not the best osng of Bowie's career
81. 18 and Life - Skid Row
great, one of the best of that era
82. I Wanna Sex You Up - Color Me Badd
this song was so cool when I was 11, but then listening to it 13 years later, you hear how tame and dull the song is
83. Copacabana - Barry Manilow
too karaoke for me
84. I'm Real - Jennifer Lopez
the song that ruined it for J. Lo
85. Don't Stop Believing - Journey
my fave Journey track
86. Little Red Corvette - Prince
definately a great one
87. The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
overrated, but it did usher in Barbra's "pop phase"
88. Forever Your Girl - Paula Abdul
see up for my review of Straight Up
89. Hysteria - Def Leppard
very good
90. Beautiful Stranger - Madonna
cute and it worked with Austin Powers, but NOT her best 90's song like this list implies
91. Hangin' Tough - New Kids On The Block
boybands suck
92. Rock You Like A Hurricane - The Scorpions
it's alright, something I'd listen to on the radio, but wouldn't crank it up
93. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
one of the all time greatest singles
94. All By Myself - Celine Dion
while she wasn't the only person to score a hit with it, I think she made it her own
95. Believe - Cher
good, but Cher's done better
96. Breath - Faith Hill
never really liked it
97. Fantasy - Mariah Carey
the peak of Mariah's career IMO
98. 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
it's catchy and fun, but Dolly's done better
99. Dirrty - Christina Aguilera
why not Beautiful?
100. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
great song

Hollow
07-25-2004, 03:44 AM
16. I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
24. Oops I Did It Again - Britney Spears
40. Survivor - Destiny's Child
43. Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake
58. Crazy In Love - Beyonce
84. I'm Real - Jennifer Lopez
99. Dirrty - Christina Aguilera
:rofl:

7. ABC - The Jackson Five
60. Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard

I HATE THAT SONG. btw is it sung by michael or jermaine?

AKA
07-25-2004, 03:47 AM
Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
14. Kokomo - The Beach Boys
higher than Good Vibrations or any of the Pet Sounds tracks? I'm nowhere the fan someone like AKA is, but I can tell a joke when I see one

Yeah, that song's crap. The fact that it went to number one when it was released in 1988 was a fluke.

Most Beach Boys fans hate that song. In fact, most of us hate Mike Love.

Dean Winchester
07-25-2004, 04:17 AM
like Steve said... this list almost looks like a 100 track shuffle playlist at a resteraunt, lol

Janice Johnson
07-25-2004, 07:39 AM
Originally posted by AKA
Yeah, that song's crap. The fact that it went to number one when it was released in 1988 was a fluke.

Most Beach Boys fans hate that song. In fact, most of us hate Mike Love. What are you talking about? I LOVE that song. It is one of my favorites. Kokomo!

phoebe7165
07-25-2004, 09:27 AM
Buffyslayer, it is sooo nice to see a fellow hair band fan. I hate to say this but I'm almost embarrassed to admit I love the hair band days, and even now, quite a few of those bands are still touring and I would STILL go see them. But I, too, thought "Wait" was a rather odd pick for that list, even though I love the song.

"Eye of the Tiger" by Foreigner? Yes, it is Survivor. Have you seen that commercial they're in when they're following that guy to work? I think the commercial is for Starbucks and they're singing about the guy to the tune of "Eye of the Tiger". Some people probably think the commercial is stupid but I think it's hilarious!!

"Roy. Roy, Roy, Roy"

Nighthawk76
07-25-2004, 12:04 PM
"Eye of the Tiger" is one of my favorite eighties songs! Survivor had a couple of other good ones like "High on You" and "The Search is Over".

Dean Winchester
07-25-2004, 02:24 PM
Originally posted by Janice Johnson
What are you talking about? I LOVE that song. It is one of my favorites. Kokomo!

yea, but there's a difference between someone who might like a few Beach Boys songs, and someone like AKA is a hardcore fan and has the majority of their albums.

For the most part, Kokomo does not get the respect stuff like Pet Sounds or anything else they did in the 1960's get. If anything, it'd be like Elton John's Lion King songs being compared to his 70's work. Some people like it better, but most of the FANS don't

AKA
07-25-2004, 03:21 PM
Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
yea, but there's a difference between someone who might like a few Beach Boys songs, and someone like AKA is a hardcore fan and has the majority of their albums.

For the most part, Kokomo does not get the respect stuff like Pet Sounds or anything else they did in the 1960's get. If anything, it'd be like Elton John's Lion King songs being compared to his 70's work. Some people like it better, but most of the FANS don't

Exactly. Anything the Beach Boys recorded between 1961-1977 is lightyears better than "Kokomo."

"That dreamy look in your eye gave me a tropical contact high?" :barf:

TJL
07-25-2004, 03:25 PM
:lol:

Great list.

I know when I think about the greatest rock songs, "Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton immediatly comes to mind.

;)

phoebe7165
07-25-2004, 03:37 PM
Originally posted by TJL
:lol:

Great list.

I know when I think about the greatest rock songs, "Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton immediatly comes to mind.

;)

:lol:

Yeah, I know I'm head-banging and putting my fist in the air whenever I hear that song!!:happyface

Rhiannon
07-25-2004, 03:44 PM
Originally posted by BuffySlayer79

9. Macarena - Los Del Rio



wtf

AKA
07-25-2004, 03:45 PM
Yeah, either Steve M.'s theory is correct, or this list was compiled by a 12-year-old girl.

Dean Winchester
07-25-2004, 03:49 PM
Originally posted by TJL
:lol:

Great list.

I know when I think about the greatest rock songs, "Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton immediatly comes to mind.

;)

yes, 4 1/2 minutes of speed metal heaven, lol

Dean Winchester
07-25-2004, 03:50 PM
Originally posted by AKA
Yeah, either Steve M.'s theory is correct, or this list was compiled by a 12-year-old girl.

lol, I doubt very many 12 year old girls have ever heard Draw Of The Cards by Kim Carnes

ONJMagic
07-25-2004, 06:07 PM
Originally posted by TJL
:lol:

Great list.

I know when I think about the greatest rock songs, "Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton immediatly comes to mind.

;)

It's supposedly the greatest singles of the "Rock era" not just Rock songs. The Rock Era is the 50's - present.

The list is rather bizarre though.

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤
07-25-2004, 08:54 PM
Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
1. Imagine - John Lennon
2. Thriller - Michael Jackson
3. Hungry Like The Wolf - Duran Duran
6. Age of Aquarius - Fifth Dimension
8. Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
11. Morning Train (9 to 5) - Sheena Easton
14. Kokomo - The Beach Boys
15. I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
16. I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
18. My Sharona - The Knack
20. Straight Up - Paula Abdul
21. Hey Jude - The Beatles
24. Oops I Did It Again - Britney Spears
27. That's The Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson
28. Help - The Beatles
29. Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson
35. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!
40. Survivor - Destiny's Child
42. Eye of the Tiger - Foreigner
43. Cry Me A River - Justin Timberlake
46. Take On Me - Ah-Ha
50. Jump - Van Halen
51. Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley
57. Smooth - Santana featuring Rob Thomas
58. Crazy In Love - Beyonce
63. Nasty - Janet Jackson
64. Material Girl - Madonna
65. I Love Rock and Roll - Pat Benatar
67. Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
68. Physical - Olivia Newton-John
71. Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
72. New Attitude - Patti LaBelle
73. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
74. Loverboy -Mariah Carey
76. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
77. Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung
83. Copacabana - Barry Manilow
84. I'm Real - Jennifer Lopez
88. Forever Your Girl - Paula Abdul
93. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
94. All By Myself - Celine Dion
97. Fantasy - Mariah Carey
98. 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
99. Dirrty - Christina Aguilera
100. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne Love all of those, but wouldnt consider them greatest of all time.. cept for the Beatles. And wheres Elton John?!

Steve M.
07-25-2004, 09:11 PM
Originally posted by Janice Johnson
What are you talking about? I LOVE that song. It is one of my favorites. Kokomo!

Anyone else her think it was weird that the Beach Boys were singing about a Florida Keys resort with the same name as a town in. . .Indiana? :lol:

phoebe7165
07-25-2004, 09:30 PM
Originally posted by Steve M.
Anyone else her think it was weird that the Beach Boys were singing about a Florida Keys resort with the same name as a town in. . .Indiana? :lol:

You know what's sad? I was just in Kokomo, IN for my job and I couldn't help but think of that song. I was thinking, so this is what the Beach Boys have been singing about?! :lol: :rolleyes:

TJL
07-25-2004, 09:49 PM
Originally posted by AKA
Yeah, either Steve M.'s theory is correct, or this list was compiled by a 12-year-old girl.

...With severe hearing problems.

;)

david&maddie4ever
07-26-2004, 08:02 PM
Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
5. Evergreen - Barbara Streisand
23. Losing My Religion - REM
25. Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton-John
52. Unbreak My Heart - Toni Braxton
54. Mandy - Barry Manilow
57. Smooth - Santana featuring Rob Thomas
76. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
93. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
94. All By Myself - Celine Dion
96. Breathe - Faith Hill

YAY for those...especially Faith. :D

Penny Lane
07-26-2004, 08:18 PM
Originally posted by Corsair de Morta
wtf

:lol: :lol: :eek: