Time Top 100 English Songs

[Nosh]

Time Magazine recently released their top 100 English language songs since 1923. Now we can all agree that this is a publicity stunt, however the list is certainly legitimate. They did not rank their songs, just listed them out in chronological order. I have taken the time to listen to all 100 songs and am rating them. Each group of songs is broken down by decade. As always, these lists are subjective and I will add my take. At the end, I will add songs that I think deserve a mention. You can listen to all 100 songs using this playlist.

The Time List

1920s

Al Jolson - My Mammy - 1924
This just sounds like the 20s to me. I can see this being played in some sort of swanky nightclub filled with flappers.

Bessie Smith - St. Louis Blues - 1925
Now this is the origin of blues music right here. The horn really has a distinctive sound that has been mimicked 86 years.

Paul Robeson - Ol? Man River - 1927
Now this song has a richness to the singing that I find charming. The low note bridge around 1:35 blows me away.

The Carter Family - Wildwood Flower - 1928
This song would be right a home in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?. It certainly sounds like old time country music. Its simplicity is admirable but somehow leaves me wanting more.

1930s

Ethel Merman - I Got Rhythm - 1930
Who could ask for anything more!

Cab Calloway - Minnie the Moocher - 1931
Hidy hidy hidy high, hody hody hody ho... yah you know this song. Its got plenty of swank.

Duke Ellington - It Dont Mean A Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing) - 1931
Sweet jazz with its great beat and bounce. The scat singing is perfect. Your foot will be tapping when you hear this.

Louis Armstrong - Star Dust - 1931
Such an identifiable voice. You know who it is as soon as he starts singing. Then you realize that he is playing that lovely trumpet.

Fred Astaire - Cheek to Cheek - 1935
This song has a bounce and range to it that makes it enjoyable. You can hear the dancing just by listening to it.

Ray Heatherton - Where or When - 1937
From the musical Babes in Arms, this song is enjoyable but feels almost generic for the time. I think that The Lady Is a Tramp is a better song from the musical.

Judy Garland - Over the Rainbow - 1939
As iconic as songs get. She has a voice like butter. Coming out of the depression this sort of wishful resilience resounded with the population.

Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit - 1939
This is Jazz. Period. No one sings tragedy like Billie Holiday.


1940s

Woody Guthrie - This Land Is Your Land - 1940
So simple, yet so pleasant. The sing-a-long aspect makes it that much more fun for me.

Lena Horne - Stormy Weather - 1941
Another beautiful voice. This sultry voice puts modern auto-tuned singers to shame.

The Andrews Sisters - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - 1941
The definitive sound of World War II.

Spike Jones - Der Fuehrer?s Face - 1942
This guy is the Weird Al of World War II. This was a big hit. So the allies can play this during the next DOD Realism round... But a great song, I just don't know.

Bing Crosby - White Christmas - 1944
The best selling single of all time (> 50 million) is amazing. The voice of a generation melts away your sentimental holiday heart.

Doris Day - Sentimental Journey - 1944
A beautiful voice but the song needs more for me. This is exactly the type of thing I grew up hearing on the Lawrence Welk show.

Betty Hutton - It Had to Be You - 1944
Now this is a love song for the ages. The words were written back in 1924, but this performance is lovely.

Mahalia Jackson - Move On Up a Little Higher - 1948
Such a gospel sound. This sounds like it was sun in a church and probably was. The performance is full of passion.

Hank Williams - Cold, Cold Heart - 1949
This is what I grew up thinking country sounded like. It is painful.

Ella Fitzgerald - Baby It?s Cold Outside - 1949
Youngsters might only know this song from the movie Elf, but this is a classic. And that voice is just perfect. The song itself is not my favorite, but the performance is great.

 

[Nosh]

1950s

Les Paul and Mary Ford - How High the Moon - 1951
This song arrived here because of Les Paul's good name. The song isn't that great but the guitar work is notable for its progressive sound for the day.

Kitty Wells - It Wasn?t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels - 1952
Good ole fashion country that Crackle Barrel tries to pawn on you. I just can't stand it myself.

Odetta - Take This Hammer - 1955
Well sung, but really not my cup of tea.

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues - 1955
The rebel song. The live version captures the true spirit of Cash.

Little Richard - Tutti Frutti - 1956
The 50s sex anthem. What a ball of energy this guy is.

Frank Sinatra - I?ve Got You Under My Skin - 1956
The crooner woos the ladies with this one. While I may prefer song of his other hits you just can't argue with this voice.

Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock - 1957
You knew that the King was going to be on this list. There is going to be a party when he starts going.

Buddy Holly - That?ll Be the Day - 1957
This has the restrained sound of the 50s. It is so close to breaking out and probably would have 10 years later.

Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode - 1958
This song has plenty of groove and the beat never slows. What a classic.

Ray Charles - What?d I Say - 1959
It's got a lot of fun movement, but I have to think to myself that there are better songs from this wonder.

1960s

Patsy Cline - Crazy - 1961
My distaste for country has certainly shown on this list, but this song is greatness.

Roy Orbison - Crying - 1961
Orbison's 3-octave range comes out in this song. If you are ever in pain from a romantic breakup, Roy will be there with you. Just so painful its perfect.

The Ronettes - Be My Baby - 1963
One of the essential early 60s girl group. Its pleasant and romantic. I would melt if a girl sang this to me.

The Beatles - I Want to Hold Your Hand - 1963
Why Beatles die-hards will roll their eye at this being their entry on the list, this is certainly one of the ones that started it all. Its simple innocence is quite endearing.

Astrud Gilberto - The Girl from Ipanema - 1964
Such an interesting song. The breathy Brazilian sound is so calm. It sounds so modern to me, like something they would play in the retail store Anthropologie. Definitely years ahead of its time.

The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go? - 1964
One of the good ole girl groups. And boy could they sing. Their songs are always catchy. This song is good, just not great in my opinion.

Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues - 1965
Beatniks unite! One of the best reviewed wordsmiths of the last century does his thing here. I might vote Like a Rolling Stone ahead of this song for him, but it certainly shows off what he does. And he does it well.

Otis Redding - I?ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) - 1965
There is a lot of passion in this voice. Crank up the make out music.

The Beach Boys - God Only Knows - 1966
One of my favorite groups of all time. I great up hearing Surfin' Safari. This Pet Sounds classic is quite the love song.

Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) - 1967
Somebody went and cheated on Aretha and she ain't happy. I think there are better Aretha songs available though myself.

Big Mama Thornton - Ball ?n? Chain - 1968
This blues song is sung with tons of soul, but the guitar in the background is what really stands out to me.

Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through the Grapevine - 1968
A great song with lots of passion. The story of a lover cheating invokes lots of feelings and it comes out in this song.

Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter - 1969
The bluesy rebel rock sound is certainly unique. While the Stones deserve a spot on this list, I would choose other songs besides this one.

Crosby, Stills and Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - 1969
The sound of a movement here. I feel like swaying at Woodstock after hearing this. The harmony is flawless.

The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - 1969
Its a good country song and its influence on future songs from Lynyrd Skynyrd is obvious. I just can't view it as great.

Jackson 5 - I Want You Back - 1969
Start clapping your hands. This oozes funk and really sets up the 70s to head down this musical path. Little Michael has energy and soul.

 

[Nosh]

1970s

Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner?s Daughter - 1970
The poor southerner's anthem. Great? no, but certainly well done.

James Brown - Get Up (I Feel like Being a) Sex Machine - 1970
Such power from James Brown. Just be careful not to play this in front of your kids.

Velvet Underground - Rock & Roll - 1970
Enjoyable song with a killer underlying beat. It comes across as a good rock song but is just not memorable enough for me.

The Melodians - Rivers of Babylon - 1970
While a nice Jamaican song, I have trouble putting it up with the greats.

Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song - 1971
I don't know how they chose his song over Kashmir or Stairway to Heaven which I think are the 2 giants of their collection.

Black Sabbath - Iron Man - 1971
While I don't think that this is the best heavy metal ever, it is certainly iconic and universally known. It is hard to understand house crazy that sound is for 1971. That underlying beat is just so intoxicating.

Joni Mitchell - A Case of You - 1971
A beautiful voice is hard to argue with. But the song is just hard for me to love with its soft rock sound.

The Who - Baba O?Riley - 1971
The Who gets their entry on the list with one of their biggest hits. The who is much more than an CSI intro band, they have important messages in their amazing songs.

Stevie Wonder - Superstition - 1972
The writing is on the wall that this is a great song. The funk groove underlying the soulful singing is great. Go Stevie Go!

Dolly Parton - Jolene - 1973
Expertly sung with a pleading that is honest. One of the most recognizable sounds of country.

Big Star - September Gurls - 1974
Enjoyable but average rock from the 70s. Could be any of 50 songs here.

Bonnie Raitt - Angel from Montgomery - 1974
This soft rock / country ballad is more about the lyrics than the music. The sound is just too slow for my taste. Well performed.

Fela Kuti - Zombie - 1975
A 12 minute song meant for dancing. Well done, yet at the same time nothing that stays in memory. Hire them for your wedding and the dancing will be great.

Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road - 1975
The Boss brings 100% to his performances and it shows. Search on Youtube for some of the old live performance and you will be impressed. This is one of the songs that kicked off his great career.

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody - 1975
Does this song get on the list without Wayne's World? Debatable. Queen has other songs that frankly are most iconic. But you are lying if you say that you don't sing along and headbang when the song comes on.

Donna Summer - I Feel Love - 1977
I just can't get behind this song. Maybe its early techno, I don't know. If you can't tell, the author of this list loves 1977 and this just doesn't belong.

Bee Gees - Stayin? Alive - 1977
Say what you want about the Bee Gees, but they have sold over 40 million albums in the USA alone. And this is the song that you know best. Start your arm dancing.

David Bowie - Heroes - 1977
A critically acclaimed genius makes his mass appeal song. I am not sure how many times this has been covered, but it is greatness.

The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated - 1977
Original Punk. Youngsters might know this from Guitar Hero, but this was a game changer in the 70s. It created a bridge between soft and hard rock that still lives to this day.

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams - 1977
The opening sound of the song is instantly recognizable. Stevie Nicks has such a lovely voice and it holds the track down. This is soft rock at its best (and I say that as someone who does not like the genre).

Peter Tosh - Equal Rights - 1977
One of the early reggae sounds out there. It certainly has a message in it that transcends time. Its honest lyrics want justice instead of peace. "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die".

Parliament/Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove - 1978
I am sure that this 70s groove was popular, but it just doesn't age well.

 

[Nosh]

1980s

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart - 1980
This song is quite average in my opinion. Maybe you love the overly british sound to it, but it wears on me.

George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today - 1980
A sad life embodied by a song. This sort of drunk country is what my parents taught me to hate. But I can see why the song is popular and the honesty hits home with some.

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - 1982
This mega hit came out the year that I born. While I think that Thriller has aged better, this is still a monster of a song.

New Order - Blue Monday - 1983
Go club songs! I enjoy this song, but I have trouble putting it in the pantheon of music.

Madonna - Borderline - 1984
The pop sensation's debut album contained this gem. It is distinctly 80s, but it is a good song. Oh the synthesizers!

Prince - Kiss - 1986
One of the best guitar players ever turns out to be just plain weird. 1999 is the song that everyone still knows. I feel like they picked song number 7 on his list to put on here. The singing on this track just drives me nuts, although the words are well thought out.

Metallica - Master of Puppets - 1986
I was a metal-head at one point in my youth and this group is the undisputed king of the genre for me. While One is my top song, I have absolutely no issues with this song being on the list. The driving sound of the opening riffs is just so solid.

REM -It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - 1987
While I would have chosen the more universally known Everybody Hurts, this song is well done and REM definitely belongs on the list.

Public Enemy - Fight the Power - 1989
While certainly not my genre, this is a great example of Rap. This genre has frankly softened and melded into hip hop (which is different). But the tone of the song certainly resonated with lots of people.

1990s

Pet Shop Boys - Being Boring - 1990
While an exercise in synthesizer fun can be celebrated, but I am not the one to do it.

Sinead O’Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U - 1990
The soulful performance is known by almost anyone. Do I jam out on Friday nights to it? No, but I certainly recognize its genius.

A Tribe Called Quest - Scenario - 1991
Early rap that is lewd and crude. Therefore it did well. But for me, not gonna fly.

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit - 1991
The sound that defined grunge. By far the biggest game changer in music since punk arrived in the 70s.

Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning - 1991
This is folk music... I guess. But it seems very dated for the year and frankly not that great.

Lucinda Williams - Pineola - 1992
Bluesy country about a very serious subject. Well done, but not my cup of tea.

Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M. - 1992
The famous group rolls out sweat rhymes. Eh, the beat is there but I just can't love it.

The Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy - 1994
Certainly a rap heavyweight. The straight from the streets message resounded with a section of the population. I just can't do this style for too long.

Pulp - Common People - 1995
This British ode to an 80s synth sound just stinks. I don't know why it is on this list. This feels really really emo.

2Pac - California Love [Remix] - 1995
This song while still rap, is much more a hip hop transition than anything else. But this is by far one of the best songs of the decade. How bout some auto-tune love...

Radiohead - Paranoid Android - 1997
The best song off of the best album in I don't know how many years. This futuristic rock is amazing to listen to.

2000s

Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On - 2001
The opening beat is instantly recognizable. It certainly has attitude.

Outkast - Hey Ya! - 2003
Shake that Polaroid picture! I remember everyone and I mean everyone singing this when it came out. Just a fun song all around. The funk beat holds the whole thing down.

Jay-Z - 99 Problems - 2004
Mr. production raps his way into history. He is quite angry about stuff except women. This explicit dropping section has legitimate beefs, but I am not sure if its ready for a list like this.

Arcade Fire - Wake Up - 2004
This song has such an anthemic sound that screams to be sung along with. I am pretty sure that my car has heard it chanted.

Kanye West - Gold Digger (featuring Jamie Foxx) - 2005
This song is made by the Ray Charles impersonation in the background. I am not sure that this song is Kanye's best though.

Lil Wayne - Georgia… Bush - 2006
The rapper's complaint against the sitting president. In the wake of Katrina this echoed many people's view. But best song... no.

LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends - 2007
A solid sound, but after a while the never ending piano beat just gets to me.

Beyonc? - Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - 2008
This 60s sounding song with a strong hip hop beat is catchy, but I have to wonder if it made it on the list because of its music video. Its strong though.

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance - 2009
While the Fame Monster herself is not my style, her power and popularity are hard to deny.

2010s

Janelle Mon?e - Tightrope - 2010
This girl can sing. But only time will tell if this song sticks. I can't elevate it yet.

 

[Nosh]

Suggestions
While the list had a lot of thought put in it by time magazine, everyone has their own opinions and so do I. I am going to leave every 4 and 5 star song mentioned above on the list. That comes out to 25 5-star songs and 31-star songs. That means I need 44 songs to complete a list of 100. Here are some of my suggestions.

Show Tunes
I think that this list really underestimated the impact of Broadway and Musicals. The genre has some really classic songs that deserve a mention.

Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown - Singin' In the Rain - 1929
This song is still famous today because of the 1952 movie of the same name. But put it in context and the depression era sentiment of being happy when things flat out stink comes to light. Gene Kelly's version is forever cemented in my mind.

Cliff Edwards - When You Wish upon a Star - 1940
The theme song of the entire Disney company written for the movie Pinocchio. This conjures up warm feelings for anyone who hears it.

Julie Andrews - The Hills Are Alive - 1965
The title track to what most people don't know is the 3rd best selling movie of all time (in terms of tickets sold). Just a beautifully sung song.

Annie - Tomorrow - 1977
This hopeful down on your luck song is expertly written and performed.

Angela Lansbury - Beauty and the Beast - 1991
The title track to the hit movie. This is a timeless love song.

Brad Kane and Lea Salonga - A Whole New World - 1992
There are several different version of this song. The popular single that came out after the film Aladdin was huge.

Randy Newman - You've Got a Friend in Me - 1995
The best song from Toy Story. Instantly recognizable with his distinctive voice, this song is classy and well done.

Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On - 1997
The biggest song from one of the biggest movies ever. I know that this is not everyone's cup of tea, but you cannot deny its enormous impact and powerful delivery.

Country
Gene Autry - Back in the Saddle Again- 1938
A good ole cowboy song from the 30s. It is a great sample of the genre that was big for time.

Dolly Parton - I Will Always Love You - 1973
This is one of the best songs written in the past century. The confession of love is so sweet. Whitney Houston also did great justice to the song with her 1992 version.

Willie Nelson - Always on My Mind - 1982
This version of the 1972 song is so simple yet so sweet. Its quite a love song sung only as Willie can.

Garth Brooks - The Dance - 1989
While some people might rather have Low Places on the list, I find this to be his best song and certainly shows off the genres vocal sound.

Jazz
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Summertime - 1935
The soul just oozes out of the jazz classic from Gershwin.

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman - My One and Only Love - 1963
A great version of the 1952 song. A great jazz classic.

Rhythm and Blues / Soul
The Temptations - My Girl - 1964
Such a fun guitar riff and smooth single to deliver to you best gal.

Aretha Franklin - Respect - 1967
She sings the heck out of this Otis Redding song. You better get out of the way when she is coming.

Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay - 1967
You can sing along with this song. It is just so smooth. My body just relaxes when this comes on.

Ray Charles - America the Beautiful - ????
He sings the nation's anthem so beautifully. The legend has such gutteral passion in his voice.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood - 1983
Just a lesson in playing the guitar. Enjoy the blues at one of its finest moments.

Rap
Notice, that most of these songs don't come in clean versions, but they are the best examples of the genres in my opinion.

Eazy-E - Boyz-n-the-Hood - 1986
This is what I think of when I think of rap. The glorification of the gang life is certainly showcased here.

Snoop Dog - Gin and Juice - 1993
With my mind on my money and my money on my mind. The rhymes are just so smooth with Snoop.

Rock
Rock and all of its variants are where the list was lacking in my opinion.

Bill Haley and The Comets - (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock - 1954
Early Rock and Roll at its best. This sound defines the 50s in my mind.

The Kinks - You Really Got Me - 1964
The driving riff is lots of fun. The fact that this song has been covered by Van Halen and countless others is a testament to its genius.

The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - 1965
Talk about a rebel song. Shout it out with me!

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven - 1971
The epic Tolkien ballad that is so over-celebrated that people have tired of it. But listening to the entire song again and its progressions is just magical. I can't say enough about the greatness of this track.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man - 1973
While Free Bird is what you shout at concerts, this in my opinion is their best song. It is very well written and performed perfectly. This is what southern rock should be.

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - 1975
This is my favorite Pink Floyd song. I think it captures universal emotions in the songs while having some really good guitar sounds in it.

Queen - We Will Rock You - 1977
This song is universally known. You know how to stomp and clap to it. The ending guitar solo is also really good.

U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name - 1987
The driving beat to start the song just makes me want to get up and do something awesome. But the imagery of heaven in the lyrics is just perfection to me.

AC/DC - Thunderstruck - 1990
Hard rock's group rocks out. This wildly popular sound is a classic. Angus can sure play that guitar.

Pearl Jam - Even Flow - 1991
While Nirvana gets all of the credit for grunge, this track did almost as much for the sound. Vedder is the ultimate frontman.

Pop
Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling in Love - 1961
The King melts the hearts of women everywhere.

The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody - 1965
This ballad is legendary and the singing performance is just impeccable. This yearning for love feels quite real. Melt a woman's heart with this one.

The Monkees - I'm a Believer - 1966
A classic penned by Neil Diamond that is infinitely recognizable.

The Beatles - Hey Jude - 1968
The song that anyone can sing along to. A song written for Lennon's son after his parent's divorce. What a classic.

Elton John - Your Song - 1970
How wonderful life is while you're in the world.

John Lennon - Imagine - 1971
The legend sings about having no barriers to divide us. Sure it is Utopian, but it does make you think.

Elton John - Candle in the Wind - 1973
This tribute to Marilyn Monroe and later Princess Diana is such a great tribute song. It has also sold over 33 million singles.

Eric Clapton - Tears In Heaven - 1992
What a powerful song inspired by the death of his 4 year old son. Its a question that countless people have had and it is a song full of empathy.

Mariah Carey - Hero - 1993
The 90s diva sings the heck out of this inspiring song.

 

[Sexy Beast]

A. Time Magazine

B. Music


Choose one.

 

[Rokonader]

All songs from 2010 are not songs.
They are noises, with something making another noise on top.

 

[Sexy Beast]

All songs from 2010 are not songs.
They are noises, with something making another noise on top.

Erroneous statement is erroneous.

 

[Noise]

All songs from 2010 are not songs.
They are noises, with something making another noise on top.

Obviously you just listen to the mainstream stuff that plays the top 10 songs on itunes. Music isnt dead, its still going on and beautiful music is still being made.

As for the OP, how the hell could you give a tribe called quest 1 star, scenario is a great song, dat old school rap deserves at least a 3 or a 4.

 

[Raul Tha Monk]

Awesome thanks new music to listen to

 

[Nosh]

Awesome thanks new music to listen to

Excellent point. I discovered while listening to these that I have not paid enough attention to 20s, 30s, and 40s Jazz. Finding new songs is always fun.

 

[Nosh]

As for the OP, how the hell could you give a tribe called quest 1 star, scenario is a great song, dat old school rap deserves at least a 3 or a 4.

I am admittedly not a large fan of rap. But I can appreciate certain aspects of it. When I listened to this song it felt like an excuse to say every word imaginable to prove manhood. I was looking for something more than that frankly. The rap itself is done with skill, but the subject matter was too distracting to me.

As always, these lists are made to be disagreed with. I only agreed with 56 of the original 100.

 

[Ducttape]

Lots of great music there; however, I couldn't help but think of this as I tried to picture who was in charge of compiling the list:

 

[ChocolateVillain]

Yeah. Great list. But I think it is more of what the songs did for our time. Then what the music really was... If that makes any sense.

 

[Noise]

I am admittedly not a large fan of rap. But I can appreciate certain aspects of it. When I listened to this song it felt like an excuse to say every word imaginable to prove manhood. I was looking for something more than that frankly. The rap itself is done with skill, but the subject matter was too distracting to me.

As always, these lists are made to be disagreed with. I only agreed with 56 of the original 100.

Well if ya take the time to listen to 20's, 30's, and 40's music, you should give rap the same chance you gave those genres.

 

[Byakuya]

5 stars for outcast? Ugh... most annoying songs ever. I noticed they didn't have any techno/electronica songs....shame.

 

[Cascsiany]

While I agree with some songs, I have to disagree with others on the list. There are definitely more memorable songs by artists than what was picked for the list in some cases. Others though are the quintessential essences of some genres.

 

[Nosh]

I noticed they didn't have any techno/electronica songs....shame.

Interesting observation. What are the top 5 techno / electronica songs ever in your opinion.

 

[chapp]

The simple fact that a single Pink Floyd song didn't make the list means it's meaningless, pure and simple.

 

[DigitalDJ]

No Rise Against?! This is an outrage.