It’s that time again music lovers ‘n loathers… time to deliver my annual Top 50 Songs List.
When I originally conceived of the idea back in June of 2017 (HERE) I knew fully well the enormity of the task I had agreed to take on. How could one possibly manage to cram INXS of four decades worth of dedicated music listening into a meagre list confined to just 50 entries?
I’ve always been pretty rubbish at twisting and turning a Rubik‘s cube in order to find it’s solution and that’s what trying to compact the thousands of great songs still going around in my head after all these years into such a tiny list felt like. The sheer impossibility of the task saw me have another go twelve months later in June 2018 (HERE)
Three years on and by now I’ve concluded I easily have enough classic songs in my like ‘worship the ground they walk on’ collection – catalogued in my head – to churn out an annual “Greatest Hits’ list for the next 10 years.
Maybe 20.
Music taste being what it is it’s very possible there may not be a single song in this collection you either like or are even familiar with. That said, there are songs here taken from every decade dating back from the 1950’s right up to the year 2018. That opens up the appeal factor of such a list, at least in theory, a little wider. As well, this catalog includes exactly seven songs from Australian bands/artists.
You’ve been kept waiting long enough so without further ado, I give you my all new list of TOP 50 FAVOURITE SONGS –
Ps. Just saying…the completely mouth-watering idea that anyone would go so far as to leave a comment about a song from this list they have fond memories of is one that fills me with literally octaves of musical notes of joy…
Scenic Writer's Shack 
I’d like to share some fond memories but you seemed to have crucially overlooked (once again) The Cure, New Order and just about all 80’s New Wave bands……oh that would be MY list. I did note a few good bands in your list although maybe not the song selection
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Hi Desleigh!
Totally pleased to bits you decided to leave a comment.
My previous Top 50 lists from 2017 and 2018 both included songs from NEW ORDER but as to THE CURE – I can but agree with you that leaving them out of any definitive list of great songs is a transgression of the highest order.
On bended knee I seek forgiveness and by way of restitution allow me to post below this classic ditty of theirs from 1981 –
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Did Dylan play that song when you saw him live at Lang Park (now Suncorp Stadium) in 1986? I remember you telling me that it was a bad gig to be at!
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1986 was a hell of a long time ago!
Can I remember whether TANGLED UP IN BLUE was on Bob’s playlist that night?
No I can’t!
(But if it wasn’t it sure as heck should have been!)
What I DO remember from that concert was Dylan playing this other favourite of mine – (song starts at 40 second mark)
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The top five selling artists of all time are:
1. The Beatles
2. Elvis
3. Michael Jackson
4. Madonna
5. Elton John
(According to Wiki)
You’ve only got a Michael Jackson song in your list, so I kinda like how you’ve avoided the popular vote and gone with who YOU really like.
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Are you daring to suggest Matt, I have what might politely be labelled ‘eclectic’ music tastes?
If so I’ll take the liberty of preserving that observation in my precious hand-crafted compliments jar.
I should mention that The Beatles, Elton John and Madonna have each got a gong in my previous Top 50 lists from 2017 and 2018. But THE B52’S saddled up alongside PITBULL who are themselves unlikely elbow buddies with make-up clad KISS while NEIL YOUNG and THE CRYSTAL METHOD both eye off BEBE REXHA?
Yeah, I guess that’s what some folk might call eclectic.
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Hello Glen. I’ve heard about a dozen of these songs. Great choice to include Ella’s I Love Paris on the list. Ditto for Spirit In The Sky. See you!
Neil Scheinin
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Thanks Neil.
Taking songs from different decades does no doubt add to the eclectic (there’s that word again!) feel of the list.
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Crystal Method’s one of our favorite groups ever.
But I had a special “awwwwww” for the Captain & Tenille. Awwwww…….! My mom used to love that song, along with Muskrat Love.
Hey, what about Andy Hunter?
Have you ever heard “Come on”?
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Glad to be acquainted with a fellow CRYSTAL METHOD admirer/buff Stacey.
Huge and I mean HUGE thankyou for dropping in this Andy Hunter masterpiece.
Prior to six minutes ago I’d never heard of him or this song.
You have truly hand-picked this uber wild and funky beats extravaganza to my personal taste. This is PRECISELY the type of song I love.
A thousand thankyou’s Stacey.
Try this one for something a bit different – slower but still swinging with a deep, thumping and highly infectious bass drum sound. It’s worth sticking around until the 4 minute forty second mark when the female backing singer knocks it sheer out of the park for a heavenly half minute…
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You’re welcome! Glad to contribute! Admittedly, discovered electronica (and many other artists) by way of hubby. Otherwise I probably would be still just be listening to my favorite ’70s songs……which basically make hubby gag and shoot the nastiest of contemptuous looks that a human being could possibly come up with my way. Good times! 🙂
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See…
Hubby’s ARE good for something!
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Some good ones on here! Moby (starting with that song) was the soundtrack of my life for a few years in college. Simple Minds are always a win, and The Spin Doctors? I still bang on the steering wheel to that one.
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Thanks Pav for those rockin’ endorsements.
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One of the things I love about this list Glen is how well it invokes intrigue. I’m rather short of time tonight with a heap of invoices to prepare, but I had to read this regardless.
Of all your 50, I could only find three where I both knew the song and the artist without jogging my memory. Boz Scaggs was one, Angels No Secrets, and of course, Love Will Keep Us Together.
I have to congratulate you for putting together a list where I’m left thinking I have to come back and listen, but that sadly has to wait till after the invoices are done. Maybe when they are, I’ll have forgotten this brief dalliance with intrigue as the daily grind once more overwhelms my poor wee brain cell.
Keep up the good work!
Cheers, Rog
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Songs lists are important but invoices are vital!
Glad someone remembers Boz Scaggs btw.
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Who is this Shannon???? Never heard of her. But with a name like hers, she must be AMAZING 😉
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Shannon (real name Shannon Brenda Greene and born in 1958) is an American dance-pop singer who to date has released five studio albums. She is currently a voting member of the Grammy’s (Recording Academy). Back in the day, at least to my ears, she had one of the most heavenly voices going around.
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Thanks Glen, I’ll check her out 🙂
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A song with a title like this could have been bad. This could have been another sadboy, lonely piano ballad. But Sampha’s delivery is sincere, it’s raspy like he’s spent the night crying, and it’s believable. This isn’t a metaphor. It’s not personification. That piano, the one he’s playing, is real, and you can just hear him sitting there writing this melody all alone.
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What song are you referring to and who’s Sampha?
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