Rolling Stone's List of 500 Greatest Songs
Ah, the everlasting popularity of lists. We love to quantify and prioritize, and then measure ourselves against & argue about all of it. Me, I just wanted to make sure my library included all of it because a library of over 8k songs should include RS's top 500. Now, library size is not a competitive thing. Just because mine is bigger than that of any guy I know is no reason to brag about it. I basically think the list/library thing is sure a step up over albums. As does Bob Weir, who declared an end to the album era.
Here's my story.
Once upon a time I had a huge load of record albums (plastic orbs inside beautiful artwork). I used to take boxes (big boxes) of them across country with me in Misty, my rusted out '70 Cutlass Supreme on 4 month cross country treks. So, don't tell me I don't love fucking records, ok?
Mind you, I did not even have a stereo, on which to play them, in the car!! Only tapes of songs, playlists made by taping songs off the radio or by sticking my little portable tape deck next to my stereo. Now you see, ignorance sows the seeds of subversion. Anyway, I still have lots of those classic albums. When an artist can make a good album, god bless them, what an achievement that is.
And I do have great albums like Dark Side of the Moon, Woodstock, Tommy, Sgt. Pepper, Rumours, Jesus Christ Superstar, etc., in my library. But, come on, 99% of albums made have one, maybe two, good songs. Why do you think "Greatest Hits" & Now albums are so popular? Why do you think the labels refused to sell songs individually until Napster made them?
I have tons of CD's that I PAID for that I won't upload onto my music library because there's just too much flotsam. My 8k is almost all primo stuff, every major song in the history of rock/pop/R&B plus a little of every genre, always from the top down. I love the manageability of it, the power, the power to listen to the song you want to listen to, when you want to listen to it. When I 'm jamming with someone and we want to listen to something, it takes a second to call it up and listen to it. I'll never forget the first time I downloaded a song. The power!!!
Now, some guys are really into fidelity, and if they have the time & bread for it, great. For me, I can barely tell the difference unless it's just a bad file. And I sure as hell don't miss walking helplessly into Borders looking for a particular song before the Modern Age...PP...Pre Power.
Alright, the list, wasn't that my original topic here? First of all, where did they come up with these 172 voters? My guess is they did a mass mailing and these were the only ones with enough time on their hands to do it...and isn't it a coincidence that their top pick has "Rolling Stone" in the title. This list, as are VH1's many lists, is somewhat idiosyncratic (they had to really reach to represent the 80's), yet, I think they basically got it right.. If there is one thing I've learned about music, it is that taste in music is a very personal, subjective thing.
Who knows why some songs appeal to many, or why most songs never see the light of day? And, it's never just the song, it's the vocalist, the band, the production, time & place, lots of factors coming together. Clearly, the insider lists reward seminal music, originality, social relevance and the popular tastes tend to lean toward a simplicity and the lowest common denominator. It's not as simple as saying the public is a total sucker though because there have been heavily promoted songs that failed, as to which both MJ & Mariah can attest.
More importantly, real stuff, like Cobain, Norah Jones, punk & the Dead bubble up because the rock, & even pop, audience is fundamentally rebellious, or at least has some hidden need to hear or feel something real, and, once in a while something catches on. As we saw in film (see the Baddassss! post) sometimes the industry gets so arrogant they sow the seeds for their own destruction...eternal truth, yin/yang, remember. First the arrogance, then the change.
Most people, by definition, like popular songs, popular films, popular TV shows. There must be some factors that make things popular right? Well, I'll tell you this. In music, as in all arts, there is a huge difference between what insiders consider good and what the general public considers good. The band I am singing with now is made up of professional musicians and one asked the other a question, "why are we playing this?' answer: "because we have to if we want to get paid". That's what they want to hear at most parties, classic rock/r&b.
If you look at the sales, you know the biggest seller of the 70's? Now, remember the 70's saw songs like Imagine & What's Going On?, both of which did well in RS. You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone. Need I say more? I guess you could make all sorts of social comment like, well, in the turmoil of the 70's Americans (in the red states) needed her sweet, uplifting voice. So, let's take a look at the 80's.
OK, the 80's were the dark ages, but we had Prince, the Police & U2....top seller? Let's Get Physical by Olivia Newton John. Ah yes, the greedy yuppies were now in gear. The 90's have to get better than that, right? That's when Grunge made things real again. Just slightly... One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey & Boys II Men. Well, one sweet day is here. Music is getting good again & there's a ton of new, great stuff to add every day.
Next decade's list, if it includes downloads as well as sales, should be different, especially when all these little grass roots garage, bar & corporate party bands start moving their stuff online, getting creative, more serious & promotional. If all those useless, jobless label execs would bring their skills to bear all will be.... Happy Listing and Happy Listening!
Here's my story.
Once upon a time I had a huge load of record albums (plastic orbs inside beautiful artwork). I used to take boxes (big boxes) of them across country with me in Misty, my rusted out '70 Cutlass Supreme on 4 month cross country treks. So, don't tell me I don't love fucking records, ok?
Mind you, I did not even have a stereo, on which to play them, in the car!! Only tapes of songs, playlists made by taping songs off the radio or by sticking my little portable tape deck next to my stereo. Now you see, ignorance sows the seeds of subversion. Anyway, I still have lots of those classic albums. When an artist can make a good album, god bless them, what an achievement that is.
And I do have great albums like Dark Side of the Moon, Woodstock, Tommy, Sgt. Pepper, Rumours, Jesus Christ Superstar, etc., in my library. But, come on, 99% of albums made have one, maybe two, good songs. Why do you think "Greatest Hits" & Now albums are so popular? Why do you think the labels refused to sell songs individually until Napster made them?
I have tons of CD's that I PAID for that I won't upload onto my music library because there's just too much flotsam. My 8k is almost all primo stuff, every major song in the history of rock/pop/R&B plus a little of every genre, always from the top down. I love the manageability of it, the power, the power to listen to the song you want to listen to, when you want to listen to it. When I 'm jamming with someone and we want to listen to something, it takes a second to call it up and listen to it. I'll never forget the first time I downloaded a song. The power!!!
Now, some guys are really into fidelity, and if they have the time & bread for it, great. For me, I can barely tell the difference unless it's just a bad file. And I sure as hell don't miss walking helplessly into Borders looking for a particular song before the Modern Age...PP...Pre Power.
Alright, the list, wasn't that my original topic here? First of all, where did they come up with these 172 voters? My guess is they did a mass mailing and these were the only ones with enough time on their hands to do it...and isn't it a coincidence that their top pick has "Rolling Stone" in the title. This list, as are VH1's many lists, is somewhat idiosyncratic (they had to really reach to represent the 80's), yet, I think they basically got it right.. If there is one thing I've learned about music, it is that taste in music is a very personal, subjective thing.
Who knows why some songs appeal to many, or why most songs never see the light of day? And, it's never just the song, it's the vocalist, the band, the production, time & place, lots of factors coming together. Clearly, the insider lists reward seminal music, originality, social relevance and the popular tastes tend to lean toward a simplicity and the lowest common denominator. It's not as simple as saying the public is a total sucker though because there have been heavily promoted songs that failed, as to which both MJ & Mariah can attest.
More importantly, real stuff, like Cobain, Norah Jones, punk & the Dead bubble up because the rock, & even pop, audience is fundamentally rebellious, or at least has some hidden need to hear or feel something real, and, once in a while something catches on. As we saw in film (see the Baddassss! post) sometimes the industry gets so arrogant they sow the seeds for their own destruction...eternal truth, yin/yang, remember. First the arrogance, then the change.
Most people, by definition, like popular songs, popular films, popular TV shows. There must be some factors that make things popular right? Well, I'll tell you this. In music, as in all arts, there is a huge difference between what insiders consider good and what the general public considers good. The band I am singing with now is made up of professional musicians and one asked the other a question, "why are we playing this?' answer: "because we have to if we want to get paid". That's what they want to hear at most parties, classic rock/r&b.
If you look at the sales, you know the biggest seller of the 70's? Now, remember the 70's saw songs like Imagine & What's Going On?, both of which did well in RS. You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone. Need I say more? I guess you could make all sorts of social comment like, well, in the turmoil of the 70's Americans (in the red states) needed her sweet, uplifting voice. So, let's take a look at the 80's.
OK, the 80's were the dark ages, but we had Prince, the Police & U2....top seller? Let's Get Physical by Olivia Newton John. Ah yes, the greedy yuppies were now in gear. The 90's have to get better than that, right? That's when Grunge made things real again. Just slightly... One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey & Boys II Men. Well, one sweet day is here. Music is getting good again & there's a ton of new, great stuff to add every day.
Next decade's list, if it includes downloads as well as sales, should be different, especially when all these little grass roots garage, bar & corporate party bands start moving their stuff online, getting creative, more serious & promotional. If all those useless, jobless label execs would bring their skills to bear all will be.... Happy Listing and Happy Listening!
posted by Intervision at 9:44 AM
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