We're almost done with this. After all of the list is up, I can finally start posting the real content of this blog. But I'll explain what that is when we get there.
But still, for now, we trudge on through entries 20 through 11. I hope you dressed appropriately.
20. “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath
When people start learning how to play a guitar, this is one of the first they learn. It’s opening riff, though simple, is quite possibly the most famous riff. And the solo and outro are just as easily recognized. The lyrics, well, they talk about a man who was turned into iron after he saves the world. But the people he saved shun him. His sadness of being forgotten eventually becomes anger of being ignored, and he turns around and kills everyone. It’s a telling story of how, when a person suffers rejection, that person may not always keep his or her anger in check.
19. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson
Yes, of course I had to have the King of Pop somewhere on my list. Michael Jackson was a legend while he was alive, and his legacy was and still is unavoidable. Now, I do think that a few of his songs are overrated, but “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” and the like were fantastically made. But above all else, “Beat It” is my go-to MJ song. Why? Eddie Van Halen. To this day, his guitar solo is one of my favorites. Even the main riff is just really ear-catching, I can listen to it all day. Michael wanted to make a rock song, and he did a really good job.
18. “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns’n’Roses
Speaking of amazing guitar, let’s talk about Slash. He’s also one of my favorites along with Hendrix and EVH. He took a simple skipping exercise and turned it into one of the most well known opening riffs in the world. And then when he actually gets into the zone, he just shreds. Of course, it’s not him alone that carry this song. Axl Rose turned in some of the best vocals of his life for this song. And finally, it’s a love song. But it’s not a sappy love song. It’s one of the most kickass love songs ever.
17. “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
Ladies and gentlemen, the original party song. It is widely believed that “Shook Me” is the most requested song at wedding receptions and dances. And this is for good reason. While the story is simple, the lyrics themselves are well crafted and yet easy to memorize. The beat is easy to dance to. The instrumentation is simple yet catchy. And the chorus will be shouted by everybody on the floor. This is my ultimate fun song.
16. “Foreplay/Long Time” by Boston
Boston is a very underrated band in my opinion. Sure, they were never really ground-breaking. But they did have fun with what they did. And they wrote a lot of memorable songs along the way. Especially this one. Everything about this song just fits together so perfectly, that most of the time I forget that it’s literally two songs put together. No, it seriously is, that’s how it was written. It does somehow manage to transition perfectly from the loud and bombastic first half, to the trance-like bridge, to a song about a guy who’s traveling and has met a woman he likes along the way. And that bass, oh my god, that bass is amazing.
15. “Brian Wilson” by The Barenaked Ladies
I love Beach Boys songs. Not enough to have any on this list, but I do. And who was the genius behind the many hits but none other than the brilliant Brian Wilson. Dealing with drug addiction during part of his career with the Beach Boys, and diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder later, he has lived a tragedy of a life, and yet is now one of the happiest people you can meet. The Barenaked Ladies, my favorite indie band, wrote this song as a tribute. A simple story about a man with several odd habits, the song suggests that sometimes you have to be a little crazy and eccentric to stay sane.
14. “Crazy On You” by Heart
I can’t help but listen to this song. It’s almost instinctive that I turn the volume up when it comes on. When Nancy Wilson opens it up with that Western-sounding acoustic guitar, it instantly catches my attention. Then Roger Fisher comes in with his simple electric riff, and the song blows me away. And finally, Nancy’s sister Ann starts singing. And my god, does she have a voice on her! Even though this song isn’t really that complicated lyrically, being about sex and all, it’s just so powerful, it assaults your eardrums until you finally pay attention to it. And that’s when it hypnotizes you. You’re Sold.
(P.S. Here's a live performance with an extended guitar intro: click here. It's my personal favorite video for this song.)
13. “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones
This is the song for which I may go to Hell. But the Stones have such good arguments. The song is told from the perspective of Satan, who I guess you meet in a bar, and he wants you to guess his name. He gives you hints by telling stories about all the things he’s done throughout history. Finally you realize that he’s freaking Satan. And then after you leave, you realize, “He’s everybody! He’s even me sometimes!” This song is an exploration of the darkness found in everybody, and how instrumental it has been in shaping our history and leading us to where we are today. You can’t have good without bad.
12. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by The Blue Oyster Cult
This song is not about suicide. I want to clarify that right away. Instead, Buck Dharma, the lead guitarist wrote this while he was thinking about what would happen if he died at a young age, and if he would see his loved ones in the afterlife. It’s something we can all relate to. Being about death, the song is still very haunting, as it should be. Death and dying are very heavy subjects to think about. But this song suggests that maybe we shouldn’t be afraid of death, that we should accept whenever it comes for us, whether it be soon or far into the future. The bridge of the song does seem a bit out of place, but is quality music in its own right. Also, no, I won’t do any cowbell jokes.
11. “Hell’s Bells” by AC/DC
There’s an interesting story about this song. This was the first track on AC/DC’s first album after Bon Scott died. And it was written by Scott’s replacement Brian Johnson. He was in his hotel room one night, trying to write a song. All of a sudden, something overtook him, and he started writing, until he finished this song. It’s sung from the perspective of the devil again, hunting done a man whose soul he wants. I don’t know if he or someone else came up with this, but it starts with the ringing of a giant bell, and it builds the guitar rhythm and drum and bass beats on top of that. Needless to say, this was the best first impression Brian Johnson could have asked for.
And we've finally made it to the big ones. The Top Ten will be up tomorrow.
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