Popdose - Latest Comments in The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

Dan — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:20:37 -0000

FYI - Paul played lead on "Ticket to Ride"

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

Phoenix — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:59:40 -0000

Gosh - random selection - what about No Doubt's 'Dont Speak' and 'Hotel California' and 'Nothing Compares to You' and 'The Wall' and and and - guys check your list again - you have some good songs for sure but there are some better songs in my book. But cheers for the effort!!

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

blakefromouterspace — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:32:01 -0000

I know there are multiple caveat's right up front. I know that these lists are great opportunities for spirited discussion of inclusions and omissions. I know my prevailing impression of Popdosers is as the college radio music directors who tried to sell me on the Jazz Butcher in 1989. However you've got come clean when you poop in the punchbowl!

Sister Golden Hair? Someone has to expand on their case for that. The best America song, Horse with No Name, sucks rocks, and "Sister Golden Hair" can't even hold Ventura Highway's jock.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

autodidact — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:52:08 -0000

No Steely Dan. No Frank Sinatra. Not even Led Zeppelin? I'm shocked. Shocked and stunned, and I'm not even a big Zeppelin fan. By the way, normally I am a fan of what most people would call overproduction (as long as it isn't massive production for its own sake), but for some reason Don't Dream It's Over always seemed insubstantial to me until the polished sheen was stripped off the song by Neil Finn and his smallish band in his performance on the old PBS series "Sessions @ West 54th."

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

Bob — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:36:59 -0000

Agreed on both counts, Michael.

The problem with the Beatles is that since they have so many universally great songs, it's nearly impossible to pick just one that stands head-and-shoulders over everything else they've done. It's much easier to do for a one-hit-wonder (e.g. The Hues Corporation).

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

Bob — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:25:10 -0000

Excellent list, guys! I think that the songs being your "favorites" -- as opposed to "the best", or "greatest", or "most important" -- is what sets it apart.

Kudos on including artists not normally seen on these lists, such as XTC, Crowded House, Nick Lowe, The Hues Corporation, The Kings, and McD(oobies).

As far as omissions go, I'll echo what others said about Dusty Springfield and Al Green -- how did that happen? I was also surprised that there were no Righteous Brothers, Kinks, The Who, Led Zep, or Eagles.

And lastly, some personal "favorites" I'd have gotten a kick seeing on the list:

• "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty
• "The Logical Song" by Supertramp
• "Surrender" by Cheap Trick
• "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor
• "Remember" by the Shangri-Las
• "Tempted" or "Black Coffee In Bed" by Squeeze
• "Shelter" by Lone Justice
• "Stacy's Mom" by Fountains Of Wayne
• "Everlasting Love" by Carl Carlton
• "Pressure Drop" by Toots & The Maytals

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

michaelscass — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:44:31 -0000

A bit of an unorthodox list, with the Beatles' first entry falling in 17 spots behind Queen's (!), but I am truly impressed (no irony here, I promise) by "The Mayor of Simpleton" being at No. 11. What a song! I'm glad you guys recognized its brilliance. Thanks for putting this together.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

DwDunphy — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:59:46 -0000

I was surprised my pick of "Tell Me Something Good" didn't get as much traction, but that's the beauty of this list. Show me another list that honestly is this left-of-center.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

DwDunphy — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:57:28 -0000

It's true. They will never get beyond the ever-present shadow of the Spiders From Mars, but Tin Machine was doomed from the start. In typical Bowie fashion, he did the unthinkable and became a member of a band - not the leader, or defacto dictator but an actual member. Because of that being such a weird notion to people, the concept of the superstar "bowing down" like that, Tin Machine was always going to be viewed as a two-headed baby.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

DavidMedsker — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:59:20 -0000

Depeche Mode received next to no love by the staff. "Personal Jesus" and "Master and Servant" (my pick) were the only ones to receive votes.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

EightE1 — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:25:16 -0000

"One Shot" is one of the handful of tracks that never leaves my iPod (I have an 8-gigger, so I rotate things on and off pretty regularly). That one should be on classic rock radio's regular rotation.

The Sales brothers get a bum rap, but they were the right rhythm section for that band. Reeves Gabrels could be a bit heavy-handed, but overall I like those records. They're different, and God knows they're not on par with Ziggy or Aladdin Sane or the Berlin albums, but I think they get shit on unfairly.

Rob
EightE1

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

TAFKAP — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:58:38 -0000

Rob,

Your comments made me chuckle. Bonnie for a cabinet position! We could do worse (see the Bush administration).

In regard to Prince, I thought all the three singles chosen for the list were right on. I just would have tried to work in "Sexy M.F." somewhere in that mix. In regard to his best album, though, his masterwork was "Sign 'O The Times" without question. An eclectic treasure.

TAFKAP

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

DwDunphy — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:45:34 -0000

That's off the reissue of Jesus Of Cool, no?

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

DwDunphy — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:44:41 -0000

It'd have to be better than "God Bless The USA" for the tri-zillionth time.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

DwDunphy — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:43:22 -0000

Is it just me or didn't the Sales Bros. get a couple good tunes on TM2 also? I still like to crank up "Stateside" from time to time, when White Fang isn't watching.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

Jesper — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:21:21 -0000

Speaking of "Never Let Me Down", I'd have put Depeche Mode and that song in my Top 100.

I also think Rufus & Chaka Khan's Ain't Nobody would have fitted in nicely.

And I know we're only talking singles so that excludes a lot of Prince's best work in my opinion. Beautiful Ones anyone?

Great list though!

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

steed — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:33:43 -0000

"Sexy M.F." if I'm not mistaken, was in my top 5 or at least Top 10 so I have to agree with TAFKAP here. Personally, I think that's Prince's best song, off his best album.

I would have loved to have seen my choice of "Got Your Money" by ODB make the cut. Now that's a rap song!

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

EightE1 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:11:08 -0000

"The Look of Love" would've been my Dusty selection. Can't go wrong with her stuff from that period.

Um ... and I'll let you in on a little something. If TAFKAP were president, not only would Bonnie Raitt have a cabinet position, but "Sexy M.F." would be the national anthem. Imagine Lee Greenwood singing THAT at a NASCAR race ...

Rob
EightE1

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

EightE1 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:05:07 -0000

I guess you're right. It really is a matter of opinion (and debate and friendly conversation), but to think the 100 favorites of the last 50 years doesn't include at least "Changes" or "Rebel Rebel" or "Heroes" ...

TAFKAP and I go back a ways. We've had a 17-year running argument over the second Tin Machine record (which I liked, so you can tell where MY head's at). Hey, TAFKAP -- I still gotcher review copy of that one, BEE-YOTCH!

Rob
EightE1

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

DwDunphy — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:52:16 -0000

I was looking over Bowie's hits, and call it myopia, but he actually has very few statistically. We remember them as hits retroactively more than they were, at least on the American charts. It's not a bad position to be in, that regardless of where your song stopped in rankings people think they went much higher.

His biggest hit is obviously "Let's Dance" which, while being a great single, is nowhere near his best work in my opinion.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

DwDunphy — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:48:54 -0000

Of the Prince stuff, "Sexy M.F." just doesn't resonate. "Diamonds And Pearls"? Love it. "Sexy M.F."? I just don't think it would have survived the cut.

I'm kinda surprised Dusty didn't make it. I believe I put a vote in for "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" though.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

EightE1 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:41:00 -0000

TAFKAP bringin' the Prince-penned stuff up front, from the ol' mental archives (the Diminutive One's three percent share of the countdown apparently wuzn't enuff). You never let me down, old pal (speaking of "Never Let Me Down," I could've done with some more Bowie, but that's just me).

Your post brings up a good point -- why have we never been blessed with an officially released version of that LL Cool J unplugged set? Every fart Rod Stewart and Clapton let loose during THEIR shows has managed to waft into the marketplace in some form or another, but that incendiary "Mama Said ..." is left solely to the memory. Life is unfair.

Gobble-gobble, y'all.

Rob
EightE1

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

TAFKAP — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:47:42 -0000

Great list. It was cool to see Sam Cooke's classic in the top ten and the LL Cool J entry for "Mama Said Knock You Out" was inspired. I remember when he performed this live way back in the early days of MTV Unplugged. One of the most powerful performances I've seen.

Anyway, thought I'd mentioned some tunes that may have gotten lost in the shuffle (no particular order).

"Sexy M.F." - Prince. Funk literature.

"Son Of A Preacher Man" - Dusty Springfield. Hard to believe this pop classic didn't make the cut.

"The Payback" - James Brown. One of the edgiest, funk tracks ever recorded and perhaps the most sampled song in rap.

"So What" - Miles Davis. Ok, it's not pop per se and I doubt it charted in the top 100 at the time of release but as the signature cut from Kind Of Blue, it is instantly recognizable as too cool for words.

"Nothing Compares 2 U" - Sinead O'Connor. This Prince-penned song was originally recorded by an offshoot group called the Family but Sinead gave the song its heartbreaking depth.

"I Can't Make You Love Me" - Bonnie Raitt. One of the all-time torch songs best heard in a live setting.

"Giving You The Best That I Got" - Anita Baker. This well-written declaration of commitment without an ounce of syrup continues to age well.

"That's Just What You Are" - Aimee Mann. Infectious, kiss-off ear candy from one of the most underrated tunesmiths around.

"Waterfalls" - TLC. The R&B trio worked in a deft AIDS commentary into this groovy track, one of the great singles from the 1994 album CrazySexyCool.

"Pink Houses" - John Mellencamp. A vivid, rousing slice of Americana without being cloyingly patriotic.

"Fallin'" - Alicia Keys. The arrival of a significant talent in R&B. I don't know if she's put it all together yet for a great album but give her time. The promise of this track and her stirring cover of "Someday We'll All Be Free" at the 9/11 concert bodes well for the future.

"Silent All These Years" - Tori Amos. Few songs give me chills but this was one of them when I first heard it back in the early '90s. A very memorable breakthrough for this artist.

Have a great Turkey Day everybody.

TAFKAP

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

Jeff K. — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:11:48 -0000

The link for Simon & Garfunkel, “The Only Living Boy in New York” plays Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire!

But otherwise, it's a great entry. Thanks.

Re: The Popdose 100: Our Favorite Singles of the Last 50 Years

Jeff Gee — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:56:00 -0000

I can't get the "Thank You (forletinmebe mice elf)" file to open. it's okay, I remember it pretty well. But think of the children!