21 Jan 2013

The Playlist: Best Songs of the Year 1960-2012

From Adele Calvin Harris to Ray Charles

At the end of every year I look back and think of what I thought were the best songs of the year. This past year I made my list public with my post - Top Ten: Songs O' 2012 (also check out my Top Ten: Songs O' 2011). 

I've decided to take that idea and stretch it back to 1960 and so without further ado, what I think are the best songs of the year (along with runner-ups), starting with 2012 and going backwards. Surprisingly good playlist if played in order. 

Also, if you were a fan of this list back in 2011, I have to warn you that I made some changes since then. Please criticize as such.

2012 "Feel So Close" by Calvin Harris 
               (runner up: "House That Heaven Built" by Japandroids)

2011 "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele 
               (runner up: "Whirring" by The Joy Formidable)

2010 "F**k You" by Cee Lo Green 
               (runner up: "Runaway" by Kanye West) 

2009 "1901" by Phoenix 
               (runner up: "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga)

2008 "Sex On Fire" by Kings of Leon 
               (runner up: "American Boy" by Estelle)

2007 "Kids" by MGMT 
               (runner up: "Paper Planes" by M.I.A.)

2006 "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley
               (runner up: "Knights of Cydonia" by Muse)

2005 "Gold Digger" by Kanye West 
               (runner up: "Panic Attack" by Dream Theater)

2004 "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers 
               (runner up: "Does He Love You?" by Rilo Kiley)

2003 "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes 
               (runner up: "Maps" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs)

2002 "Lose Yourself" by Eminem 
               (runner up: "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age)

2001 "One More Time" by Daft Punk 
               (runner up: "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliott)

2000 "Stan" by Eminem 
               (runner up: "Judith" by A Perfect Circle)

1999 "Nookie" by Limp Bizkit 
               (runner up: "(sic)" by Slipknot)

1998 "New Noise" by Refused 
               (runner up: "Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill)

1997 "Triumph" by Wu-Tang Clan 
               (runner up: "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve)

1996 "Bulls on Parade" by Rage Against the Machine 
               (runner up: "Da Funk" by Daft Punk)

1995 "Champagne Supernova" by Oasis 
               (runner up: "Don't Speak" by No Doubt)

1994 "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails 
               (runner up: "Undone (The Sweater Song)" by Weezer)

1993 "Heart-Shaped Box" by Nirvana 
               (runner up: "Protect Ya Neck" by Wu-Tang Clan)

1992 "Symphony of Destruction" by Megadeth 
               (runner up: "So What'cha Want" by Beastie Boys)

1991 "Alive" by Pearl Jam 
               (runner up: "Jesus Christ Pose" by Soundgarden)

1990 "Cowboys From Hell" by Pantera 
               (runner up: "Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J)

1989 "Fascination Street" by The Cure 
               (runner up: "Like A Prayer" by Madonna)

1988 "One" by Metallica 
               (runner up: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin)

1987 "Sweet Child 'O Mine" by Guns N' Roses 
               (runner up: "With or Without You" by U2)

1986 "The Final Countdown" by Europe 
               (runner up: "Last Christmas" by Wham!)

1985 "Take On Me" by a-ha 
               (runner up: "How Soon Is Now?" by The Smiths)

1984 "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Metallica 
               (runner up: "Hot For Teacher" by Van Halen)

1983 "Sweet Dreams" by Eurythmics 
               (runner up: "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden)

1982 "Beat It" by Michael Jackson 
               (runner up: "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye)

1981 "YYZ" by Rush 
               (runner up: "Super Freak" by Rick James)

1980 "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC 
               (runner up: "Ace of Spades" by Motörhead)

1979 "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd 
               (runner up: "Good Times" by Chic)

1978 "Heart of Glass" by Blondie 
               (runner up: "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor)

1977 "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees 
               (runner up: "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac)

1976 "Foreplay / Long Time" by Boston 
               (runner up: "Hotel California" by Eagles)

1975 "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen 
               (runner up: "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin)

1974 "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band 
               (runner up: "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd)

1973 "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd 
               (runner up: "Bodhisattva" by Steely Dan)

1972 "Highway Star" by Deep Purple 
               (runner up: "Frankenstein" by The Edgar Winters Group)

1971 "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin 
               (runner up: "Roundabout" by Yes)

1970 "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath 
               (runner up: "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine" by James Brown)

1969 "Space Oddity" by David Bowie 
               (runner up: "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson)

1968 "All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix 
               (runner up: "Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye)

1967 "Respect" by Aretha Franklin 
               (runner up: "Light My Fire" by The Doors)

1966 "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys 
               (runner up: "Tomorrow Never Knows" by The Beatles)

1965 "Day Tripper" by The Beatles 
               (runner up: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by Rolling Stones)

1964 "You Really Got Me" by Kinks 
               (runner up: "My Girl" by The Temptations)

1963 "Wipe Out" by The Surfaris 
               (runner up: "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen)

1962 "Green Onions" by Booker T. & the MG's 
               (runner up: "Misirlou" by Dick Dale)

1961 "At Last" by Etta James 
               (runner up: "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King)

1960 "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles 
               (runner up: "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles)

1 comment:

  1. If you go back to '55 and don't include "Walk, don't Run" I will END YOU.

    ReplyDelete