80. The Beach Boys — “Kokomo” — This was such a ubiquitous hit in 1988 that fourth-grade classmates of mine knew all the words. Overplayed or not, based on a real place or not, it remains a transporting song.
79. davis? — “Back in June” — davis? is the only band where I knew every member personally and yet I awaited their next single as if they were an MTV band. It was awesome when they unveiled this beautiful guitar showcase at an early Aughts Playmakers show in Fargo, N.D.
78. The Hollies — cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Sandy (4th of July Asbury Park)” — In my head, I think of carnival nightscapes as being gorgeous and wistful, and it’s almost entirely because of this cover.
77. The New Pornographers — “Sing Me Spanish Techno” — Just a really catchy, organic beat with nonsensical but kinda brilliant lyrics. It’s not techno, yet I could indeed find myself listening too long to this song.
76. Bruce Springsteen — “Bobby Jean” — The song’s spirit can be summed up in this lyric: “I’m just callin’ one last time/ Not to change your mind/ But just to say I miss you baby/ Good luck, goodbye, Bobby Jean.”
75. Outkast — “Hey Ya!” — The song that taught the world to “shake it like a Polaroid picture” in the midst of the digital age.
74. Badly Drawn Boy — “Silent Sigh” — Song Title and Song Feeling are completely in sync on this delicate piece where neither the piano nor vocal takes over yet both get under your skin somehow.
73. James Blunt — “1973” — It evokes nostalgia for 1973 (or some vague time in the past) even though it’s probably better than most of the songs that came out in 1973 (or some vague time in the past).
72. The Killers — “When You Were Young” — I once liked a religious girl who started dating a religious guy who acted like a gentleman in a completely obvious way that made me disgusted with both of them. Also, he didn’t look a thing like Jesus. So obviously, this song — which came out when I knew them — makes me think Brandon Flowers is a prescient genius.
71. Semisonic — “Singing in My Sleep” — In the recesses of my mind, I imagine that pleasant, transporting beats like the opening riff of this tune is what fills dance clubs. In reality, that’s not the case, but it doesn’t matter because I don’t go clubbing too often anyway.
Comments
Kokomo? For reals? That’s my least favorite Beach Boys song. I’m pretty sure the CIA uses that as torture music for all the “terrorists” they capture. Good call on New Pornographes, Badly Drawn Boy and Outkast though# Posted By Matt | 7/28/10 7:26 PM
I thought everyone loved “Kokomo.” I didn’t think it would be controversial. Granted, you don’t want to listen to it too much, but it’s pretty much the classic “getting away from it all” song, isn’t it?# Posted By John Hansen | 7/28/10 9:37 PM
I cant stand Kokomo. It’s really my least favorite Beach Boys songs, although “Student Demonstration Time” is pretty offensive too. It’s like bad 80’s past-their-prime Beach Boys. And the video is the worst with Mike Love dancing around and looking a lot like my dad. Oh, and Uncle Jesse is in it stinking up the joint too. The only good thing about it is Carl’s vocal on that refrain part after the main part of the chorus. Carl’s vocals are angelic. Without him they wouldn’t have been half as great.# Posted By Matt | 7/29/10 10:56 PM
I just have to disagree with you on this one. I take into consideration what you are saying, but then I listen to the song, and it still a great pop song to my ear. I really don’t see a problem with it. Cheesy video, sure, but I still dig the song. Maybe if I was more familiar with the Beach Boys entire catalogue I would see it differently. Maybe it would be like if someone argued that “Working on a Dream” was a great song. I’d say, yeah, it’s OK, but compared to Springsteen’s other stuff it’s pretty terrible.# Posted By John Hansen | 7/29/10 11:57 PM
like 72. cool commentary# Posted By chance | 8/1/10 12:18 AM