2022 Greatest Songs: Part 3 (1399-1000)

You know how there’s never been a metal album in the Mercury Prize shortlist? And people talk about Ronnie O’Sullivan equalling Stephen Hendry’s record of World Snooker Championships, even though Joe and Fred Davis won way more than both. Some things are just ignored because it’s convenient and streamlining to do so. There are 1000s of lists of the best songs ever. They’re all nonsense, this one included. They all sideline centuries of songs, continents of songs, genres of song. What can you do? This is my best effort … songs as they relate to the post-rock’n’roll English-language Western tradition of popular song … something like that  … 

1399      Time - Tom Waits

1398      Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid

1397      Gettin' Jiggy With It - Will Smith

1396      Sign of the Times - Jamie T

1395      Kid - The Pretenders

1394      Gypsie Faerie Queen - Marianne Faithfull

1393      NYC - Interpol

1392      Wake Up Boo! - Boo Radleys

1391      Cornflake Girl - Tori Amos

1390      Wherever You Will Go - The Falling

1389      You're the Best Thing - Style Council

1388      White Wedding - Billy Idol

1387      Paradise City - Guns 'n Roses

1386      Embarrassment - Madness

1385      I Believe - Frankie Laine

1384      Sorry - Justin Bieber

1383      Spanish Harlem - Ben E King

1382      The Harder they Come - Jimmy Cliff

1381      Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf

1380      Take My Breath Away - Berlin

1379      Gold - Spandau Ballet

1378      Orinoco Flow - Enya

1377      Kathleen - Josh Ritter

1376      Scattered Black and Whites - Elbow

1375      It Must Have Been Love - Roxette

1374      Uptown Girl - Billy Joel

1373      All Around the World - Lisa Stansfield

1372      Don't Stand So Close to Me - The Police

1371      Gloria - Laura Brannigan

1370      Impossible Germany- Wilco

And of course, some songs come aLIVE. During those crazy still days of the early pandemic, I would seek out version after version of Wilco performing the song ‘Impossible Germany’ on youtube, for the reminder of a certain kind of exhilaration. As a living song, it is one of the most treasured things in my world. Though, funnily enough, the studio version has never been something I’m particularly attached to. If I’d not heard it live, it would have stayed that way, a minor Wilco song.

So, some songs come alive with the musicianship, showmanship, control of dynamics and tempo that great bands are capable of demonstrating in concert more than in the studio. A lot of live recordings sound sludgier than the studio recording, but sometimes, on a live recording, you hear magic being captured. Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Isis, Van Morrison’s Last Waltz Caravan. That kind of thing.

1369      Black Beatles - Rae Sremmund

1368      Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard

1367      Lovin' You - Minnie Ripperton

Nice little fact – the melody for this was written to help Maya Rudolph get to sleep when she was a baby.

1366      YMCA - Village People

1365      Moondance - Van Morrison

1364      Let's Dance - David Bowie

1363      Turn, Turn, Turn - The Byrds

1362      We Don't Talk About Bruno (Encanto)

1361      Alive - Pearl Jam

1360      Flashdance (What a Feeling) - Irene Cara

1359      Like A Hurricane - Neil Young

1358      Welcome to the Jungle - Gun N' Roses

1357      Going Back to My Roots - Richie Havens

1356      Consider Yourself - Oliver

1355      Chanel - Frank Ocean

1354      Feels Like We're Only Going Backwards - Tame Impala

1353      Bryte Side - The Pernice Brothers

1352      Linger - The Cranberries

1351      Fall at your Feet - Crowded House

1350      Stay - Shakespears Sister

1349      You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) - Dead or Alive

1348      This Little Light of Mine - Odetta

1347      Yonkers - Tyler the Creator

1346      Funky Drummer - James Brown

1345      Brand New Cadillac - Vince Taylor

1344      Windmills of your Mind - Noel Harrison

1343      The Light of a Clear Blue Morning - Dolly Parton

1342      Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard - Paul Simon

1341      The Shape I'm In - The Band

1340      Black Eyed Dog - Nick Drake

1339      Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young

1338      Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears

1337      Only Happy When It Rains - Garbage

1336      Shelter from the Storm - Bob Dylan

1335      Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes

1334      Some Enchanted Evening (South Pacific)

1333      Locked Inside - Janelle Monae

1332      Bonkers - Dizzee Rascal

1331      Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis

1330      Blue - Lucinda Williams

1329      So Sorry - Feist

1328      Drinking in LA - Bran Van 3000

1327      This Feeling - Puressence

1326      Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms

1325      Chinese Café - Joni Mitchell

1324      Nothing Ever Happens - Del Amitri

1323      Get It On - T.Rex

1322      Boogie Nights - Heatwave

1321      See No Evil - Television

1320      Since You’ve Been Gone - Rainbow

1319      Zoom - Fat Larry's Band

1318      Eton Rifles - The Jam

1317      Sunday Morning - Velvet Underground

1316      Only You - The Platters

1315      Jackson - Johnny Cash and June Carter

1314      Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Eric Idle

1313      Ballad of a Thin Man - Bob Dylan

1312      The Greatest Love of All - George Benson

1311      My Best Friend's Girl - The Cars

1310      Hurts So Good - Millie Jackson

1309      Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) - Bruce Springsteen

1308      Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston

1307      If You Leave Me Now - Chicago

1306      Keep on Movin' - Soul II Soul

1305      Goodbye Suzie - John Howard

1304      Never Tear Us Apart - INXS

1303      The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats

1302      China in Your Hand - T'Pau

1301      Left to My Own Devices - Pet Shop Boys

1300      Moving on Up - M People

1299      If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow

1298      Army of Me - Bjork

1297      Don't Rain on My Parade - Barbra Streisand

1296      Pick Up Your Feelings - Jazmine Sullivan

1295      Shut Up - Stormzy

1294      Everything is Awesome - Tegan and Sara

1293      Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

1292      Love It If We Made It - The 1975

1291      Feel Good Hit of the Summer - QOTSA

1290      Has it Come to This? - The Streets

1289      Free Your Mind - En Vogue

1288      Everybody Knows (Except You) - Divine Comedy

1287      Hold On, Hold On - Neko Case

1286      In da Club - 50 Cent

1285      Push the Button - Sugababes

1284      You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

1283      Rip It Up - Orange Juice

1282      Mother I Sober - Kendrick Lamar

1281      Long Tall Sally - Little Richard

1280      Leaving on a Jet Plane - Jet Denver

1279      Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks

1278      Midnight at the Oasis - Maria Muldaur

1277      Madame George - Van Morrison

1276      Mandy - Barry Manilow

1275      All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople

1274      Triumph - Wu-Tang Clan

1273      Everything is Everything - Lauryn Hill

1272      7 Seconds - Neneh Cherry and Youssou N'Dour

1271      Morning Theft - Jeff Buckley

1270      Despacito - Luis Fonsi

1269      Love You Better - Maccabees

1268      Losing My Edge - LCD Soundsystem

1267      Don't Falter - Mint Royale

1266      Just Like Heaven - The Cure

1265      Golden Brown - Stranglers

1264      Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan

1263      Bring Him Home (Les Miserables)

1262      Sunday Girl – Blondie

Well, you know I am a big fan of Blondie, and a solid handful of Blondie songs make this list. One of the interesting things about Blondie is how unfussy and wide-ranging they were. Of their hits, some of the biggest are covers, but not covers of famous songs, covers of little-known songs that are now indelibly seen as Blondie songs.

And several of the band wrote songs – Debbie Harry did most of the lyrics, and Chris Stein was her main co-writer, but there are plenty of other writing credits throughout the band. Call Me is essentially Debbie Harry solo – a song composed by Giorgio Moroder, Harry wrote the lyrics, the band didn’t play on the recording. Their great run of hits is magnificently diverse, from punk to disco to dreampop to hip-hop, glossy soft rock, reggae, doowop, it’s all there and more. There can’t have been many acts it was more thrilling to hear a new single by, with the feeling “what are they going to do next?” The Beatles, Bowie … I can’t think of many more … oh, Prince, I guess … fine.

Another, one, tentatively, Madness? Madness, likewise, the perennially underrated magnificent Madness, if you look at their songwriting credits, the whole band wrote … as in not some vague “written by Madness” but Suggs, Chas Smash, Lee Thompson, Chris Foreman, Mike Barson, they’re all the main writers on various hits, and Mark Bedford and Dan Woodgate also have writing credits. It’s surprising how few bands that’s true of, and must supply part of the reason for the relentlessness of Madness’ hitmaking for 7 years, a really incredible run where, despite the limits Suggs’ voice and their persona imposed, they moved through a lot of different topics and styles. Blondie, Madness, SFA – three great singles bands, each on a different tier, but linked by curiosity and daring.

Well, anyway, saying all that, this one was written entirely by Chris Stein, and was, apparently, about Debbie Harry’s cat.

1261      Simple Man - Graham Nash

1260      You're the One that I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

1259      I Got The - Labi Siffre

1258      Nobody Does it Better - Carly Simon

1257      Get Back - The Beatles

1256      Make Your Own Kind Of Music - Mama Cass

1255      Coyote - Joni Mitchell

1254      I'd Rather Go Blind - Etta James

1253      Let's Call the Whole Thing Off - Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

1252      Reckoner - Radiohead

1251      California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys

1250      Shout out to my Ex - Little Mix

1249      Silk Chiffon - Muna

1248      Uptight Downtown - La Roux

1247      Pass Out - Tinie Tempah

1246      Many of Horror - Biffy Clyro

1245      Dilemma - Nelly and Kelly

1244      Only You - Yazoo

1243      Eternal Flame - Joan as Police Woman

1242      Waving Flags - Sea Power

1241      Blue - The Jayhawks

1240      Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds

1239      Lonesome Town - Ricky Nelson

1238      All or Nothing - Small Faces

1237      Nights in White Satin - Moody Blues

1236      I'll Never Fall in Love Again - Dusty Springfield

1235      He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - The Hollies

1234      What Becomes of the Broken Hearted? - Jimmy Ruffin

1233      I'm Still Waiting - Diane Ross

1232      Happy Days theme

1231      Helpless - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

1230      Your Love is King - Sade

1229      Hold On - Wilson Phillips

1228      Streets Of Your Town - The Go-Betweens

1227      Stay (I Missed You) - Lisa Loeb

1226      Sunrise - The Divine Comedy

1225      Who's That Girl - Eve

1224      No Rain - Blind Melon

1223      Falling Slowly - Glenn Hansard and Marketa Irglova

1222      No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses

1221      It's Over - Roy Orbison

There’s a TV special from 1988 called ‘Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night’ which I came across one night, and it momentarily baffled me – there’s something strikingly modern about its cinematic style, its parade of guest stars including KD Lang, Springsteen, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, and I had to check a) if Orbison had actually died when I thought he did and b) if there was any CGI element to it. But, yes, it’s from January 88, and Orbison died in December of the same year, as his comeback was in full flow.

Roy or Bison, that’s the big question … anyway, Orbison was the original, arguably the most modern of the first rock’n’roll stars, the one with the most timeless songs and transferable voice. Magnificent voice.

Crying is, I think, his greatest song, and one of the definitive rock’n’roll ballads. Don McLean did a successful version, there’s the unforgettable Llorando from Mulholland Drive, and, of course, Tony Angeleno and Raquel from Only Fools and Horses, which tickled me more than most other things in that series.

It’s Over is not far behind.

1220      drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo

1219      Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

1218      Run - Snow Patrol

1217      It Feels So Good - Sonique

1216      New Slang - The Shins

1215      Gangsta’s Paradise - Coolio

1214      You And Me Song - The Wannadies

1213      Heal the Pain - George Michael

1212      The Joker - Steve Miller Band

1211      Hurdy Gurdy Man - Donovan

1210      Changes - David Bowie

1209      All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

1208      Karma Chameleon - Culture Club

1207      What's Love Got to Do With It - Tina Turner

1206      Pompeii - Bastille

1205      Frankie's Gun - Felice Brothers

1204      It's Not Right But It's OK - Whitney Houston

1203      Spottieottiedopaliscious - OutKast

1202      Tender - Blur

1201      I’m Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado

1200      It Ain't Over til It's Over - Lenny Kravitz

1199      Waking Up - Elastica

1198      Television the Drug of the Nation - Disposable Heroes of Hiprosy

1197      Luka - Suzanne Vega

1196      On My Radio - Selecter

1195      Make Me Smile (Come up and See Me) - Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

1194      Ode to Billy Joe - Bobbie Gentry

1193      Disco Inferno - Trammps

1192      Ain't No Pleasing You - Chas and Dave

1191      Reverend Black Grape - Black Grape

1190      St Louis Blues - Bessie Smith

1189      Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple

1188      London Pride - Noel Coward

1187      Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud - James Brown

1186      I Do This All the Time - Self-Esteem

1185      DISCO - Ottawan

1184      I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson

1183      The Moon's a Harsh Mistress - Judy Collins

1182      Yesterday Once More - Carpenters

1181      She's Always a Woman - Billy Joel

1180      Father and Son - Cat Stevens

1179      Police and Thieves - Junior Murvin

1178      Love Train - O'Jays

1177      Hot Burrito #1 - Flying Burrito Brothers

1176      That's Entertainment - The Jam

1175      Charlie Darwin - The Low Anthem

1174      Werewolf - Fiona Apple

1173      You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry and the Pacemakers

1172      Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra

1171      Express Yourself - Charles Wright And The 103 Watts St Band

1170      Living for the City - Steve Wonder

1169      Motion Sickness - Phoebe Bridgers

1168      Only God Knows - Young Fathers

1167      It's Too Late - Carole King

1166      Django Jane - Janelle Monae

1165      Don't Look Back into the Sun - The Libertines

1164      Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

1163      Brother Sport - Animal Collective

1162      Insane In The Brain - Cypress Hill

1161      Enola Gay - OMD

1160      Most of the Time - Bob Dylan

1159      Rudy, A Message to You - The Specials

1158      Caravan - Van Morrison

1157      Do Right Woman, Do Right Man - Aretha Franklin

1156      Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Crystals/Bruce Springsteen

1155      Walking After Midnight - Patsy Cline

1154      Gone Til November - Wyclef Jean

1153      This Is a Low - Blur

1152      Big Exit - PJ Harvey

1151      If I Could Only Fly - Merle Haggard

1150      Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying - Belle and Sebastian

On Belle and Sebastian again. There’s a bit in one of the documentaries I’ve seen about Belle and Sebastian where guitarist Stevie Jackson describes the first time he heard Stuart Murdoch’s bare songs, and couldn’t believe their quality, saying “it was like hearing Paul Simon or something”. I find that rather beautiful – the certainty his bandmate had in the sheer completed accomplishment of Murdoch’s early songs, now sometimes lost to the myth and, conversely, to the steady reality of the touring band. Though if you read the US press, Belle and Sebastian are only behind Radiohead in late 90s British bands in how much they’re lauded.

Listening to Nick Cave lately, and listening to a few B and S songs, I’m thinking of religious devotion in great male songwriters, whether that’s Dylan, Cohen, Cave and Murdoch, Marvin Gaye or Kanye West. I think it brought out the best in Cave and Murdoch, though not necessarily all the others.

1149      Don’t Speak - No Doubt

1148      Summertime - Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

1147      The Concept - Teenage Fanclub

1146      Woo-Hah! Got You All in Check - Busta Rhymes

1145      She's Not There - The Zombies

1144      Walk on By - Dionne Warwick

1143      The White Cliffs of Dover - Vera Lynn

1142      Always Something There to Remind Me - Sandie Shaw

There are certain mainstream subsets of song, where you’re not exactly sure how they fit in the wider scheme of things, whether you’re able to call any of them great songs in their own right – I basically mean Christmas songs, Bond themes and Eurovision. They’re in their own world, their own pecking order.

Therein continues to lie my problem with Eurovision, however much I have the fondest memories of watching it when I was younger, and still somewhat enjoy it now, from time to time. Just that, even after all this time, hardly anything has truly crossed over. The UK songs have often done ok in the charts in a kind of cheesy novelty way, and sometimes songs from other countries too, but, apart from Waterloo and Volare, from 1958, is anything from Eurovision truly considered, in the wider world, a great pop song, a transcendent work? (and even with Waterloo, arguably, it’s only because of everything that came after with ABBA that it’s still heard regularly).

Eurovision fans might argue that it doesn’t need to transcend, Eurovision is, in its own right, a world of a similar stature to the pop charts. I think there’s some truth in that. Eurovision songs are so tied up with Eurovision, that it’s hard to divorce them from that context, but it should be more possible, more regularly, for Eurovision to birth some real class and some real global stars.

As I say, I do enjoy watching Eurovision once in a while, and I recognise it is, in a way, a beautiful thing, but I wish I could watch it with the thought I might be hearing a classic song which I’d want to hear over and over again, that would stake its claim for a place in the wider culture.

So, anyway, to be churlish, here’s Sandie Shaw – Always Something There to Remind Me (not from Eurovision).

1141      Back for Good - Take That

1140      A New England - Billy Bragg

1139      Doin' the Do - Berry Boo

1138      Summer Breeze - The Isley Brothers

1137      Super Freak - Rick James

1136      To be Young Gifted and Black - Bob and Marcia

1135      Let Me Blow Ya Mind - Eve

1134      Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley

1133      The Thrill is Gone - BB King

1132      Piece of My Heart - Erma Franklin/Janis Joplin

1131      Caroline, No - Beach Boys

1130      Genie in a Bottle - Christina Aguilera

1129      Kyoto - Phoebe Bridgers

1128      Seasons (Waiting On You) - Future Islands

This guy, when he went on Letterman, that’s a moment of pure joy, isn’t it? This is a good song, one among several decent songs they did, but this was the one that got across. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK4lD3Uf8_o&ab_channel=allendave333

1127      Titanium - David Guetta ft Sia

1126      Cosmia - Joanna Newsom

It is hard for me to know how to place songs from Joanna Newsom, since my honest opinion is that Joanna Newsom songs are the “best”, but I suppose I mean that in the limited sense that sometimes I imagine popular song is standalone art, without context, which it clearly isn’t. There is some sense in that we all think some songs are the “best” like we’re talking about Bradman or Messi, but most of us can’t quite define it.

What can I say about the best Joanna Newsom songs – I notice greater artistry, alignment of words with music, learning, depth, imagination, ambition, precision, combined with beauty and sheer originality. I can’t prove that that is the case. I’ve listened to a lot of songs, and I like plenty of songs as much as, or more than, I like Joanna Newsom songs, but still, something tells me they’re the best. But not, I suppose, the greatest.

1125      Times Like These - Foo Fighters

1124      Brown Sugar - D'Angelo

1123      Pure - Lightning Seeds

1122      Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing - Stevie Wonder

1121      SOS - ABBA

1120      Respect Yourself - Staples Singers

1119      Songbird - Fleetwood Mac

1118      Will the Circle Be Unbroken? - The Carter Family

1117      Hey Boy Hey Girl - Chemical Brothers

1116      I Love It  - Icona Pop

1115      Lost Cause - Beck

1114      Headlights on the Parade - The Blue Nile

1113      Woke Up This Morning - Alabama 3

1112      Come And Get It - Badfinger

1111      Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix

1110      Maneater - Nellie Furtado

1109      Rise to Me - The Decemberists

1108      The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band

1107      Kids in America - Kim Wilde

1106      Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J

1105      Suburbia - Pet Shop Boys

1104      Juicy - Notorious BIG

1103      El President - Drugstore

1102      Class of Deja - Kano

1101      Happier than Ever- Billie Eilsh

1100      Pink Rabbits - The National

1099      A Boy Like That - West Side Story

1098      Rip Her To Shreds - Blondie

1097      Kung Fu - Ash

1096      Save Me - Aimee Mann

1095      Days - The Kinks

1094      Dream a Little Dream - Mama Cass/Ella Fitzgerald

1093      Lorelei - Cocteau Twins

1092      Sheela-na- Gig - PJ Harvey

1091      Do You Love Me - The Contours

1090      9 to 5 - Dolly Parton

1089      Paid in Full - Eric B and Rakim

1088      Street Life - Crusaders

1087      The First Cut is the Deepest - PP Arnold

1086      The Needle and the Damage Done - Neil Young

1085      Blinded by the Light - Bruce Springsteen

1084      As - Stevie Wonder

1083      Dub Be Good to Me - Beats International

1082      Dream On - Robyn and Christian Falk

1081      Georgia on My Mind - Ray Charles

1080      Drive My Car - The Beatles

1079      Do You Know the Way to San Jose - Dionne Warwick

1078      December 63 (O What a Night) - Four Seasons

1077      Cherry Bomb - The Runaways

1076      Got to Give it Up - Marvin Gaye

1075      Poker Face - Lady Gaga

1074      Cut Your Hair - Pavement

1073      Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa

1072      Bring it on Home to Me - Sam Cooke

1071      Heroes And Villains - The Beach Boys

1070      Goodnight Girl - Wet Wet Wet

1069      Coming Around Again - Carly Simon

1068      Shout - Isley Brothers

1067      Littlest Hobo theme

1066      American Trilogy - Delgados

1065      I Luv U - Dizzee Rascal

1064      Dinner at Eight - Rufus Wainwright

1063      You Ain't the Problem - Michael Kiwanuka

1062      Boom Shack-a-Lak - Apache Indian

Ha, sometimes as I go through and look at the list I made, the songs that I, under great pains, removed at the last minute, the absolute classics which I solemnly declaim are worse than 1800 or so others, then look at some of the ones that are higher on the list, like this, and think, ha! Everything’s a good joke, isn’t it. Still, love this.

1061      Walk on Gilded Splinters - Dr John

1060      Amelia - Joni Mitchell

1059      I Threw It All Away - Bob Dylan

1058      Trick Me - Kelis

1057      She's Got You High - Mumm-ra

Had an interesting thought today, as I listened to the song She’s Got You High by Mumm-ra, a none-more-indie blast of good vibes from 2007, which is that the film ‘500 Days of Summer’ – over the end credits of which this song played – prophesied and even caused the downfall of the 2000s indie pop revival. Such as it was.

I remember watching it, and it seemed, initially, like a romantic celebration of the kind of indie pop close to my heart – B & S, Spearmint (Spearmint, in a Hollywood film!) etc. But, of course, as it goes on, the hero turns out to be clueless, self-absorbed indie guy who sees signs that aren’t there, imagines a love that isn’t there, can’t actually see the person he thinks he’s in love with.

It’s sour, but also telling. It spears a type, the seemingly sensitive, right-on dude who’s no better than the rest. Moving towards the end of the 2000s, that kind of music, predominantly male as it was, whether we’re talking The Kooks, Fleet Foxes, The Bluetones or Ryan Adams, didn’t seem so lovable any more. To anyone. Just look back at how many of the vaguely indie, vaguely romantic films of the late 90s and early 2000s had a vaguely feelgood indie soundtrack. Not so much after that.

Needless to say, having said all that, I love all that shit! Especially this song.

1056      I Need a Dollar - Aloe Blacc

1055      New York - St Vincent

1054      Next to Me - Emeli Sande

1053      Viva La Vida - Coldplay

1052      Old Man - Neil Young

1051      Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac

1050      Daydream Believer - The Monkees

1049      Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel

1048      The Last Thing On My Mind - Tom Paxton

1047      Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

1046      You Win Again - Bee Gees

1045      Ocean Drive - Lighthouse Family

1044      How - Regina Spektor

1043      Get the Party Started - Pink

1042      Ordinary People - John Legend

1041      Highway Patrolman - Bruce Springsteen

1040      Revolution - The Beatles

1039      Soul Man - Sam and Dave

1038      Jumpin' Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones

1037      Psycho - The Sonics

1036      Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison

1035      Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters

1034      To Love Somebody - The Bee Gees

1033      Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney

1032      I Want to Take You Higher - Sly and the Family Stone

1031      The Passenger - Iggy Pop

1030      Heaven Is A Place On Earth - Belinda Carlisle

1029      Totally Wired - The Fall

1028      Crazy - Seal

1027      Through the Wire - Kanye West

1026      Faith - George Michael

George Michael was so great, wasn’t he? While he was alive, I kind of half-loved Wham!, thought he seemed like a nice bloke, was a bit mocking, but, now he’s gone, just like everyone else, I just think … he was so great, just one of the best in every way.

1025      Dirty Old Town - Ewan MacColl

1024      Bodak Yellow - Cardi B

1023      Africa - Toto

1022      Between the Wars - Billy Bragg

1021      Time of the Season - Zombies

1020      I Can't Help Myself - The Four Tops

1019      The Times They Are a Changin' - Bob Dylan

1018      Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream

1017      Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time - Delfonics

1016      Pinball Wizard - The Who

1015      Slip Slidin' Away - Paul Simon

1014      Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis - Tom Waits

1013      Chase the Devil - Max Romeo

Sometimes it takes a long time to get to a song. We all know ‘Out of Space’ by The Prodigy, the extremely banging early 90s classic, which, for some reason, I became a massive fan of when I was about 36, and would listen to all the time in small town Kentish exile. It has a reggae sample, of course. I remember seeing Madness perform in 2006 at Benicassim, and amongst all their old hits, they played a couple of tracks from their recent album of reggae and ska covers, and, in my drunken state, I discerned that Suggs was singing the refrain from the Prodigy song, and the song was good.

Still, I was relatively incurious. Anyway, in the last few weeks, listening through lists of acclaimed songs, I saw Chase the Devil by Max Romeo, still not putting two and two together, til I listened to it, and there it is. And it’s great – the voice, the Lee Scratch Perry production . It really does – and pay close attention – take your brain to another dimension.

1012      I Fought The Law - The Clash/Bobby Fuller

1011      Upside Down - Diana Ross

1010      Jumpin' Jumpin' - Destiny's Child

1009      A Whole Lot Better - Brendan Benson

1008      Trains to Brazil - The Guillemots

1007      All My Trials - Joan Baez

1006      Let There Be Love - Nat King Cole

1005      Candy's Room - Bruce Springsteen

1004      Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson

1003      I Am What I Am - Shirley Bassey

1002      Born to Be with You - Dion

1001      Basket Case - Green Day

1000      Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkey

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Perhaps sometimes I protest too much, but I really don’t understand music very well, and I am cloth-eared for the instrumental details. That being so, it is my strong belief that the very point of pop music is that you don’t have to "understand" music to love it. Indeed, something I’ve consistently found is that when magazines ask musicians about their favourite songs, their answers can be weirdly lopsided, like they know about and appreciate the intricacies a little too much.

Alongside that, I strongly think that the words of songs matter – otherwise what’s the point of having them? But, of course, words in pop songs are to be heard, not read. Awopbopaloopbopalopbamboom.