50. Lynyrd Skynard: Tuesdays Gone – My favorite Lynyrd Skynayrd song. I first heard it on the Dazed and Confused Soundtrack. I love how the guitar sounds like it is crying. I now realize that I left out "That Smell" from the Top 200.
49. Van Halen: Hot For Teacher – Amazing intro and Dave being Dave make this a classic. Now that I'm no longer a teacher, I can like it again.
48. Who: Love Reign O'er Me – I never got to see the Adam Sandler movie that has helped reignite the song somewhat. It is my favorite song on the Quadrophenia album because of the violins and the passion in Pete's voice.
47. Meatloaf: You Took the Words Right Out of my Mouth – This song was not nearly one of my favorite Meatloaf songs until I saw him in concert. Meatloaf is the quintessential singer of how to sing. He can sing any emotion at any volume and emphasize any note. I also dig this song because it makes me want to live in the 70s. I don't like Paradise by the Dashboard Light as much due to its length and repetitive nature.
46. Scorpions: Hey You – A long time ago I bought a Scorpions album for Rock You Like A Hurricane and No One Like You. However, Hey You, the Zoo, and Holiday became my three favorite songs. To put it simple, I love the guitar in Hey You.
45. Deep Purple: Child in Time – I've never done acid but this song sounds like an acid trip with lots of screaming and crazy guitar solos. Deep Purple is one of the most underappreciated bands ever. Somehow Smoke on the Water became their most popular song.
44. Bachman Turner Overdrive: Let it Ride – This is my favorite BTO song. I always liked Randy Bachman's voice but CF Turner sings this one and he has a John Fogerty-like voice that is piercing.
43. Pink Floyd: On the Turning Away – This song is beautiful and peaceful. I love Gilmore's solo and the lyrics are something everyone should follow.
42. Bob Seger: Turn the Page – Sometimes in Rock less is more. Seger's voice does a great job at building momentum while the instruments are added as the song goes along. Metallica's cover of this song is also one of the greatest covers ever.
41. Triumph: Magic Power – Rik Emmitt is one of the most underrated guitar players and he also has a great classical guitar background. Somehow Triumph never made it big in the States but I bet if this song were released today it would be number one. It is a song that can just make you happy on a dreary day.
40. Who: I Can See for Miles – This is my favorite Who song. I know this may not make much sense but it is one of the coolest songs. I listen to it and I just think this band is cool.
39. Boston: Foreplay Longtime – I love the intro and I love the fact that Boston actually claps in this song without using a sound effect.
38. Pink Floyd: Run Like Hell – Another song that sounds like the title. I'm not sure if the solo at the end is guitar or keyboard but it is awesome.
37. Bruce Springstein: Born to Run – Probably the manliest love song ever performed.
36. Styx: Mr. Roboto – I know it's a cheesy song but I like concept albums and this song was the best on the album. By the way Domo Arigato means thank you very much.
35. Doors: Riders on the Storm – This song is very relaxing. It is one of those songs that you put on when you are driving at night. It is so chill that Snoop used the background for a song and it sounded great.
34. Santana: Europa – This instrumental is the highest on my list. It is another relaxing song. The beginning starts with a simple melody but at about 2:30 into the song, Santana goes on a trance.
33. Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody – I was introduced to this song when I saw the movie Wayne's World. The song was so cool that I went out and bought the Soundtrack soon after which contains some other great songs as well. This song has everything: guitar solos, great vocals, good lyrics, tempo changes, background singers.
32. Santana: Ain't Got Nobody That I Can Depend On – This is another song that Satellite Radio introduced me too. This song sounds similar to Evil Ways at the beginning but has more musical aspects to it. Santana always had great members of his band as he collaborated with other great guitarists, the Tower of Power and percussionists – which all show off in this song.
31. Dio: Rainbow in the Dark – Ronnie James Dio is one of my top five favorite singers. After listening to this song, you can see where Jack Black gets his inspiration.
30. George Thorogood - One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer – Originally written by John Lee Hooker this song was made to be covered by America's favorite drinking musician George Thorogood. Back in my college days, we loved drinking all three drinks in a row and after scotch, you really do need a beer.
29. Black Sabbath: War Pigs – A Vietnam song that could be applied to Dick Cheney today. This is how you do an anti-war song that doesn't sound wussy. I love the guitar sound of Toni Iommi. The end of this song is definitely my favorite part.
28. Dire Straits: Sultans of Swing – Yet another very relaxing song. It didn't make a splash right away as many in radio were afraid it sounded to Dylan-like. The guitar solo at the end is considered one of the best ever by Rolling Stone.
27. Elton John: Funeral for a Friend – A very long song that is divided into an instrumental piece for the first six minutes before Elton comes in. Because of its length, many stations did not play it which only made the song more popular as no one is sick of it.
26. Ozzy Osbourne: No More Tears – I love how strong the bass is in this song. At about 3:35 is my favorite part of the song as it is a hell of a bridge to the next verse. The church bells are a nice touch too.
25. Foreigner: Juke Box Hero – Lou Gramm has a great voice and it really shows in this song. This song is on the album 4 which contains other great hits like Urgent and Waiting for a Girl Like You. Is it me or is Foreigner underrated?
24. CCR: I Put a Spell On You – One of the best cover songs ever. Only John Fogerty could have covered a song performed Screamin' Jay Hawkins (an African American blues singer) and not sounded out of his league. Unfortunately, Marilyn Manson covered it too and he was out of his league.
23. Pink Floyd: In the Flesh (Part 2) – Every now and then I like an angry and pissed off song and this one fits the bill. "There's one smoking and joint, and another with spots, if I had my way, I'd have all of ya shot!"
22. Styx: Miss America – This is my favorite Styx song. It is very gritty compared to most songs as it is sung by James Young. When I hear this song it reminds me why women should never be in beauty pageants because eventually beauty fades and no one gives a damn about you when that happens.
21. Boston: Hitch a Ride – This is my favorite Boston song. It is on their first album and gets overlooked due to the massive hits of More Than a Feeling, Foreplay/Longtime, Peace of Mind, etc. I like this song better because of how relaxing it is. In addition the guitar solo at the end isn't amazing technically like a Santana solo but it makes you feel good when you hear it.
So... In The Flesh is higher than Wish You Were Here? That makes me sad. Nothing against In The Flesh but there is really no comparison.
Posted By: Justin (Guest) on October 13, 2008 at 02:02 AM
This is where on the list you get those songs that most everyone agrees are great songs. Usually the bottom and the top of these lists contain subjective vs. objective choices.
That said - excellent inclusion of Europa. This song is one of the best instrumental songs that tells a story. Not to be morbid - but if I were to die before age 50, this is one of those songs that I would like played at my service while they do a slide show of my life. Wouldn't be a dry eye in the house.
Posted By: BobbyC (Guest) on October 13, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Sorry, originally wanted to give you a lot of props on even TRYING to tackle this list as I'm sure it'd take me weeks just to get out the 200-100 but after seeing how some of this is organized, opinion or not, I don't think much thought was put into it. Besides the point that you were quoted in saying you thought "The Beatles are Oldies".
You sir are an idiot.
Sorry, but you are.
Happy I no longer have to read this article for number 1 after reading such a down right drivel statement. You should stick a fork in your ear because you no longer have the right to listen to music. May God have mercy on your soul.
Posted By: Guest#0150 (Guest) on October 13, 2008 at 11:28 AM
JUKEBOX HERO!!!! God Damn I thought I was the only one who loved that. Thumbs up
Posted By: Jason (Guest) on October 13, 2008 at 12:39 PM
No Queensryche equals epic fail
Posted By: Ryche Fan (Guest) on October 13, 2008 at 12:57 PM
i'm sorry but anyone who was "introduced" to Queens Bohemian Rhapsody while watching waynes world has NO business listing anything "classic"...find someone like myself who had it on vinyl
Posted By: Dan (Guest) on October 13, 2008 at 04:27 PM
God, these lists are pointless. No one ever agrees and it just turns into people calling each other idiots.
Posted By: GAZ (Guest) on October 13, 2008 at 07:05 PM
How are you. Depend not on another, but lean instead on thyself...True happiness is born of self-reliance.
I am from Japan and also now teach English, tell me whether I wrote the following sentence: "The artists goal is to draw how they perceive the face, and exaggerate that perception."
Thank ;) Lorinda.
Posted By: Lorinda (Guest) on January 18, 2009 at 01:17 AM
