To start this off, a few disclaimers: These are by no means the 50 BEST songs of all time, but just my 50 FAVORITE songs. I guess really when I made this list it was just a compilation of things that I've loved for as long as I can remember, or songs I can listen to over and over and never get sick of, or that just really stand out to me for one reason or another... sometimes for reasons I don't even know. I tried to start with a lot of favorite bands and stick to just a song from each of them. Otherwise this would be all Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones, or something like that. So if there ARE multiple songs from an artist/band, you know they're a favorite.
I also must state that while most of these will probably be some of my favorite songs for the rest of my life, tastes change, and who knows what may later get booted off the list in favor of something else.
Finally, I'm well aware that some of these artists listed COVERED that particular song. If it is a cover, it's just because I like the cover slightly more than the original, though I've got to say generally the originals would also rank pretty high on a list of favorites.
Anyways. Here's a bizarre little piece of insight into my mind. I'm sure you'll agree with some, be confused by others, and even laugh at some. It's everything from old school (The Chiffons, Johnny Cash) to good old Rock & Roll to emo as hell (Something Corporate, I just love that piano!!!) and even a little modern. Listed in alphabetical order by artist. (It was hard enough to make the list, no less put them in a specific order)
1. Mama Kin- Aerosmith
2. Norwegian Wood- The Beatles
3. One Way or Another- Blondie
4. Dream Police- Cheap Trick
5. One Fine Day- The Chiffons (Ohh that piano!!!)
6. Run Through the Jungle- Creedence Clearwater Revival
7. Lucky Man- Emerson Lake & Palmer
8. Layla (Accoustic)/Cocaine- Eric Clapton (I cannot possibly pick one over the other)
9. When Will I Be Loved- The Everly Brothers
10. Bang the Doldrums- Fall Out Boy
11. Go Your Own Way- Fleetwood Mac
12. Friends in Low Places- Garth Brooks
13. Crazy on You- Heart
15. Voodoo Child- Jimi Hendrix Experience
16. Do You Wanna Touch- Joan Jett
17. Don't Take Your Guns to Town- Johnny Cash
18. Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'- Journey
19. Lola- The Kinks
20. Rock & Roll All Night- Kiss
21. Same Ol' Situation- Motley Crue
22. About a Girl- Nirvana
23. Bathwater- No Doubt
24. Creepin' In- Norah Jones
25. Self Esteem- The Offspring
26. Time- Pink Floyd
27. Hey- The Pixies
28. We Will Become Silhouettes- The Postal Service
29. Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
30. You Are the Best Thing- Ray LaMontagne
31. Don't Let Him Go- REO Speedwagon
32. Portions for Foxes- Rilo Kiley
33. Sympathy for the Devil- Rolling Stones
34. Ruby Tuesday- Rolling Stones
35. Adia- Sarah McLachlan
36. Le Disko- Shiny Toy Guns
37. Konstantine- Something Corporate (Again, the piano)
38. Caress Me Down- Sublime
39. Dead and Gone- T.I. and JT
40. Psycho Killer- The Talking Heads
41. Stranglehold- Ted Nugent
42. Monotov's Private Opera- Third Eye Blind
43. Indian Outlaw- Tim McGraw
44. Yer So Bad- Tom Petty
45. Mary Jane's Last Dance- Tom Petty
46. City of Blinding Lights- U2
47. You Really Got Me- Van Halen
48. Werewolves of London- Warren Zevon
49. Seven Nation Army- The White Stripes
50. Gold Lion- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
What are some of your favorites? Any of these make the cut?
*Update: After thinking about this a while, I realized I totally forgot Bennie and the Jets (Elton John) and That Small (Lynyrd Skynyrd), but at this point I can't really think of who to boot off the list in favor of those, nor do I want to re-number all the songs :-)
**Update Number 2: Also, American Pie by Don McLean. This was really just a horrible idea. I knew I couldn't do it.
