Ugh, doing a bad job with the blog lately. I haven't even blogged anything about being back in Ann Arbor. Book of Mormon stuff is coming sometime too.
Today I'm doing a look back at the "Best Song Ever?" Lately music has been a larger part of my life due to me and Ian going to every show within a 50 mile radius. Work has been a solid 8 hours of music listening as well. It's been a year and a half since I made the original brackets so I think it's worth looking back and seeing what changes I would make to the original list now.
ARTIST SWAPS
OUT: My City of Ruins - Bruce SpringsteenIN: Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
I've got nothing but good things to say about City of Ruins and of the two songs it's certainly the more heartfelt. In this case though I let nostalgia and an amazing live performance cloud my opinion. Stripped down to just the music, Born to Run is just a better song.
OUT: Gyroscope - The Dismemberment Plan
IN: The Ice of Boston - The Dismemberment Plan
Not sure what I was thinking here. There are at least 5 other Plan songs I would pick over Gyroscope if I did it again. You are Invited would be an obvious choice but I gotta go with Ice of Boston here. To me it feels like the only Plan song that feels ok to listen to by itself. It tells a story like Invited but is more musical and feels more relatable. There are some great lyrics that really sell it "knowing about that would involve knowing about some pathetic, ridiculous and absolutely true things about myself"
OUT: Tired of sex - Weezer
IN: Say it Ain't So - Weezer
Again, I'm lying to myself. I have a lot more history with Pinkerton than I do with the Blue album. Tired of Sex was also probably in the first 500 songs I ever downloaded. When it comes down to it Say it Ain't So has the melody, the lyrics and definitely the charm.
OUT: No Children - The Mountain Goats
IN: This Year - The Mountain Goats
No Children is awesome, but I often mix it up with how much I love Moral Orel. This Year is better, Thanks Ian.
OUT: Lost in the Supermarket - The Clash
IN: Train in Vain - The Clash
Feels weird taking out a song that made it to the sweet 16. It's still pretty close in my mind. Shit, they're both so good.
OUT: Young Heart Spark Fire - Japandroids
IN: The House That Heaven Built - Japandroids
They just released a better song in the meantime. Not much to say. Super excited to see them again this summer.
NOT MAKING THE CUT
OUT:The Drugs Don't Work - The VerveI want The Verve to be better than they are. Along with Oasis, The Verve was one of the first times I was into an actual band instead of a song. Unfortunately, Urban Hymns just doesn't live up to the legend it is in my head. I thought about swapping the song for Bittersweet Symphony or Lucky Man but it still seemed more correct just to drop the Verve altogether
OUT: All Star- Smash Mouth
I don't wanna talk about it.
OUT: 96 tears - ? and the Mysterians
I dunno, I like this song but not that much. It's one of those tunes that always seem to make these kinds of lists but I really can't justify it enough to put it on mine. Maybe it did a lot for music or something, but it's kinda boring these days.
OUT: numb/encore - Jay-Z/Linkin Park
Yeah, my bad
OUT: Give a Little Bit - Supertramp
It's possible this should just be a swap for Goodbye Stranger. I'm ok with just letting Supertramp go though, it probably still would have been a first round loss. Give a Little Bit is just a little too hokey for me.
OUT: Ce Jeu - Yelle
Oh la la, c'est bon but not top 128 best songs ever bon.
OUT: Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Brother Iz
At the end of the day covers are still covers, even if they are done in awesome arrangements mixed with Wonderful World. Still a beautiful rendition.
OUT: Closing Time - Semisonic
You don't have to go home but you can't stay on this list.
OUT: Fatalist Palmistry - Why?
Great lyrics, great tune. I think I could see myself getting sick of it if I listened to it 50 times in a week though, which is kinda a prereq in this thing.
OUT: Walking - The Dodos
I remember really being into this song when I wrote up the bracket. It's very pretty, I loves me a banjo tune. The chorus is a little underwhelming though. I"m just pretty ok with letting this one go.
OUT: Overkill - Colin Haye
This one kinda feels like a shame and I can only kinda pin down why I'm cutting it. I feel the lyrics aren't specific enough. Songs are supposed be a little vague so your audience can relate to them. This one goes a little too far though, he just seems to be sad. Something about ghosts.
PUT ME IN COACH, I'M READY
IN: American Pie - Don McCleanMust have just skipped over this song while I was making the list. It's pretty hard to argue with. Side note, when Don was asked what his song meant, he replied "It means I"ll never have to work again."
IN: You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon
Kind of the same deal. It says a lot in an upbeat tempo.
IN: Bleeding Heart Show - The New Pornographers
I wanted to put a new pornographers song in the first time around but I didn't think they had a single that was good enough to stand on it's own. Looking back, Bleeding Heart Show seems obvious. I love how this song builds. IT just gets better and better as it goes.
IN: Touch Me - The Doors
Doors seem like another bad miss. Tough to pick one song out of the catalog. The End is too long, break on through is too short. Touch Me just gets enough right to represent this giant.
IN: The Crane Wife 3 - The Decemberists
I specifically remember hating on the Decemberists that day and I'm not sure why. Crane Wife 3 is awesome.
IN: Keeping Me Awake - Tarkio
Speaking of the Decemberists! I didn't know about this band or song when I made the list so there it is. It's pretty hard to not enjoy this one. It's interesting to think about what would've happened if Tarkio made it and the Decemberists never formed.
IN: Jane Says - Jane's Addiction
This was a banner year for JA in Steven land. I couldn't stop listening to this song this year and I saw them live in Cleveland town. It's funny how much song you can put together with only 2 chords.
IN: Shout - Tears For Fears
I feel like me and this song have a moment whenever it comes on. Like I have to stop what I'm doing and pay attention to it no matter what. That says a lot about it's quality to me.
IN: Midnight City - M83
Again, new song. Pretty amazing all around
IN: Love Stepping Out - Disco Inferno
I can't stop listening to this lately. It's absolutely mesmerizing. I have no idea why I like it so much. Maybe this one's a little flash in the pan but that's yet to be seen. I think it has the staying power to earn this spot.
IN: Steak Knives - Man Man
Just saw Man Man last week and they had one of the best shows I've been to. I did a lot of preparation for this one and in the mean time I realized how great Steak Knives is. Apparently it took him years to write this song and I believe it. "I know you've met the mess you'll marry. He'll keep you fed but can he carry the weight of your heart." Wow.
Wrap Up
It's great having an excuse to just listen to the best songs. It's almost overwhelming. Feels good to write about music again. Doing something like a Best Albums Ever is pretty tempting but I don't think you guys really want to read me ramble about music for another 12 blogs. I think I feel pretty satisfied with the list for now. Did I miss anything outrageous? You can listen to this thing on spotify here too: BSE with Updates
I totally agree that "You can call me Al" is an excellent song.
ReplyDeleteFor All Star by Smashmouth, not sure why you don't want to talk about it, maybe you think that the song wasn't serious enough for consideration in the first place? Still, it makes sense that you had put it on there. I think that nostalgia is a tough factor to fight against when you're processing music.
Too bad the French song got kicked off-- but the judgement seems sound.
No Baltimora?
Thank you, thank you, thank god for you for giving some love to Man Man lyrics. And thanks for the post, I've now got something like five albums queued up in Spotify to listen to!
ReplyDeleteSo excited for this again. Love the Tarkio and Decemberists additions. Don't know about Shout vs. other Tears for Fears. Will be listening along.
ReplyDelete