Tuesday, January 25, 2011

#914 Hocus Pocus - "Here's Johnny"

Hocus Pocus is a Dutch techno outfit from the early 1990s. This, for you young people, is what early east coast NYC (esp Brooklyn) raver parties were sounding like.

While many cities like Baltimore and Philly ended up embracing breakbeat and drum and bass, NYC, Chicago and Detroit could be heard playing this stuff right up to the new millenium.

This ones a banger for sure!

#915 Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Relax"

Well, i guess when i heard this song in 1984 i didnt think much of its meaning, and i certainly never saw this video!!! But either way, Frankie Goes To Hollywood was pretty much a one-hit wonder. Their one big hit , Relax, remains quite an awesome song, 26 years later!

Feel free to comment on this doozy of a video.

Monday, January 24, 2011

#916 Feist - "One Evening"

Canadian singer Leslie Feist came onto the scene in about 2004 and was proclaimed the best new girl indie singer around. With a smooth rangey vocal style and and awkward whimsical song structure,

Feist has a number of hits and a few making this countdown. She's also a member of Broken Social Scene. I like this song, kinda disco-ey and i like songs that seem to tell a bit of a story, k?

#917 Dubwise - "Hold Me Real Tight"

Whether it was one the first Fever: Time to get Ill Mixtape, or being played by Scott Henry or another DJ late at night or early in the morning, this song was always a classic on the dancefloor in the early-mid 1990s.

Though I heard this many times on many nights, perhaps the best was... in or around 1998, years after this song came out and disappeared, Scott played this song at the bitter end of a Sunrise Festival...7am, total sunlight, people everywhere, but for one last time, we were all in high school again....aint it crazy how music can do that to you?

#918 Bill Withers - "Lean On Me"

So while you may find some songs on this countdown you have never heard of, this is not one of them. From 1972, but covered, sampled, played in movies and live countless times.

It just makes you happy, doesnt it!? And Withers' delicious voice doesn't hurt either! Its timeless, and its better than Livin on a Prayer, wouldn't you say?

#919 Bon Jovi - "Livin' On A Prayer"

Ok, so this could be one of the songs that could be surprising that its this low on the countdown. Sure, lts basically a classic song all around.
Sure, its still played at every frat boy bar and played by every college rock cover band (usually between Jessie's Girl and Don't Stop Believin') but come on, to think there arent 900 some better songs out there is sophmoric. I still have a warm place in my heart for Bon Jovi and this song.

I remember when Slipper When Wet came out...unlike some people who was BORN when this song was number 1 on the Billboard Charts!!! (you know who you are!)

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

#920 Cat Stevens - "Peace Train"

Sure, Cat Stevens may be on some sort of terrorist watch list, but maybe we have all forgotton about the peace train he wanted to ride on! Well, this song back in 1971 was definitely one of many war protesting songs of that time. But its its not I am a fan of all war protest songs.

What makes a good war protest song into a great one? Hand clapping, of course!

ALL ABOARD!!!!!

#921 Beastie Boys - "Ch-Check It Out"

There are TEN Beastie Boys in the top 1000 and this is the first. Most of them are from the 80s or 90s but i like this newer one in particular.

Cause even i like to turn this mother fuckin' party out.
I do, i really do

#922 O.A.R. - "Crazy Game of Poker"

Well, many of you may know that jam-rock bands are not my thing, but sometimes these guys can write a good song. Now, if their fans could just learn behave more like people and less like intoxicated zoo animals, we'd be closer to being friends.And i like bands to put their band name in the lyrics of their songs. :)
Also, since jam bands rarely make videos cause who wants to watch a 20 minute music video not done by Michael Jackson? no one! so heres a live version

#923 Pink Floyd - "Hey You"

From the first of 15 U2 songs, to the first of 9 Pink Floyd songs. This one from 1979's The Wall record. This video "Reel 13" is totally creepy but never actually made it into the movie The Wall. The song, as with most of the songs on the Wall, is pretty creepy in general! Songs are getting ...much better dont you think?