Our Favorite Songs (101 – 110)
101. Never Gonna Give you Up by Rick Astley
Year Released: 1987
Released On: Whenever You Need Someone
Nominated by Big Bent of Dub Revolution who says: most intergenerational meme ever!
102. I Think It’s Going to Rain Today by Randy Newman
Year Released: 1968
Released On: Randy Newman
Nominated by Rob of Chocolate Cake who says: Newman has always been a strong wordsmith, but the lyrics here are sheer poetry. The chords and melody evoke a wide cinematic scene. And everyone from Streisand to UB40 have covered it.
103. Paperback Writer by The Beatles
Year Released: 1966
Released On: single
Nominated by Richard K of River Valley Rhythms who says: To my ears, this is best example of the band’s 4 members working together to tell a story succinctly, with an insistent rhythm, great harmonies, and powerful musicianship.
104. Patiently by Rilo Kiley
Year Released: 2004
Released On: It’s a Hit [Single]
Nominated by Chris of Crispix & Everything Now who says: Rilo KIley were/are a fantastic band that captured a really precious moment in indie music and this song captures every member so well. It’s a shame it never made it on a studio album. Co-written and including lead vocals by both Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett, the harmonies are beautiful, the guitars both big and delicate, Jason’s drums are perfect with that cool surf-roll at the end, and Pierre’s tone on that P-bass just hits that spot.
105. One for the Trane by Archie Shepp
Year Released: 1967
Released On: Life (sic) at the Donaueschingen Music Festival
Nominated by Host Steve of Wes Sports & Beyond… who says: The most definitive 45 minutes of jazz you’ll ever find. The that song emerges at the end is “The Shadow of Your Smile”, aka Theme from the Sandpiper (movie). Archie uses a RARE quintet of himself along with bass and drums and TWO trombonists, one of which was the recently passed Roswell Rudd. Rudd told me that Shepp was a “character”. You should investigate his albums which range from African juju all the way to piano gospel duets.
106. Montezuma by Fleet Foxes
Year Released: 2011
Released On: Hopelessness Blues
Nominated by DJ AmorOso of WTF: What the Funk, Storytime who says: Things I love about this song: beautiful harmonies, melodramatic lyrics, a deep sense of melancholy, and its mystical ability to score seemingly every chapter of my life thus far.
107. Life Is But a Dream by Harptones
Year Released: 1955
Released On: Paradise
Nominated by Joel from Queens who says: Provided inspiration while being treated for cancer.
108. Brilliant Mistake by Elvis Costello
Year Released: 1986
Released On: King of America
Nominated by DJ Cheshire Cat of Wonderland who says: I did not expect “Brilliant Mistake” to emerge as my most favorite song, but sometime over the last decade, I found myself listening to it again and again. The light jangle of the opening chords underscores the burnt-out fatigue of the lyrical content; a rueful rumination on self-delusion, shallow affairs, and the incompatible desire to move on while doing it all again. On bad days, I feel like this could be my theme song. On good days, I’m happy it’s not.
109. Nice for What by Drake
Year Released: 2018
Released On: Scorpion
Nominated by Sophie from Texas who says: Never fails the vibe check.
110. Alameda by Eliott Smith
Year Released: 1997
Released On: Either/Or
Nominated by DJ Corvus of One Song who says: A really beautiful song with brilliant, meaningful lyrics,
