Top Songs Of The Decade That Aren’t Actually The Top Songs, But I Like Them Anyway
In the past few weeks, everyone and their dog has come out with their own Best of the Decade lists. You could argue that none of these lists elicit more debate than Top Songs of the ’00s. How does one objectively determine the best song anyway?
I got into an extended discussion about this with Andy Hutchins of The Sporting Blog (a talented writer who’s going to control the universe some day), parts of that discussion I want to quote here.
I fully admit my favorite songs are often not at all the “best” songs on whatever Pitchfork or Rolling Stone list is supposed to be gospel. But whatever, music isn’t baseball. Subjectivity is a must.
Unless you like Stain’d. Then you’re dead to me.
I’d add that I’m not a huge music consumer, definitely pick my spots, am anything but a connoisseur of the latest obscure indie stuff, and don’t have anything close to the chops to do a proper top 100.
With all that said, here are a few of my faves from the past decade. Original? Probably not. But I knows what I likes.
Kaiser Chiefs: “I Predict A Riot”
Interpol: “Slow Hands”
The White Stripes: “My Doorbell”
Radiohead: “Idioteque”
Weezer: “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived”
Audioslave: “Cochise”
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs: “Maps”
Arcade Fire: “Wake Up”
Jonah,
With that last selection, you have solidified yourself as my favorite sports blogger of the 00′s.
1) Thanks.
2) As mentioned elsewhere, “I Predict a Riot” is one hell of a song. Compare that to “Ruby,” and I think it’s clear my enjoyment of the Chiefs stops at that one song, though.
3) I listened to it again today and “Touch the Sky” is definitely my favorite song of the decade. I’ll have a post up about this before the weekend’s over, too.
I like your list, Jonah. I will be posting mine in the next few days and a couple of these songs will be there. All of yours except Idioteque would be in my top 50.
No Idioteque, Scott? I would hope you at least have another Radiohead song somewhere in your top 50 of the decade – many great choices.
I will say this: Of all the songs Radiohead has recorded, none have a bigger gap between album listenability and concert enjoyability than Idioteque. The vote in its favor is a vote for the kick-ass show they put on in Montreal in the summer of ’08.