Hi everyone, it's been a while since I posted on this site, and it's been even longer since I did an official Mixtape! I haven't done a Mixtape in five and a half years, crazy! Anyway, in case you're not sure what a Mixtape is, here's an explanation...
A Mixtape is a playlist of a certain genre, band or era. The list is generally 80 minutes long, the same length of a blank CD, with further recommendations if some of the songs aren't to your taste. Remember kids, downloading is wrong!
Back in 2011 I did a Mixtape of my favourite cover versions, and, looking back on it, it's a very good list and I agree with most of my suggestions on the list. But, in the past 7 years there have been some belters that have come out, and, also, looking back on the list from 2011, I did miss out on some amazing cover versions. So I decided to do a Volume 2 of my favourite cover versions! Now, this list is probably just as good as Volume 1 so check them both out if you get time - to find the first list simply click here. Before I begin I'd just like to rule out artists that do cover versions predominantly as an artist, like Weird Al Yankovic, who does parodies of songs, and Richard Cheese, who does amazing jazz versions of songs. If you've never heard the work of Richard Cheese, seriously, give the guy a listen, he's absolutely phenomenal and funny, let this song get you started. One more thing, linked below are the songs and if you click on the original artists (which are bracketed) you can listen to the originals, if I can find them. Anyway, onto the Mixtape!
To listen to the playlist on YouTube click here! Well I hope you enjoyed this list. I tried to pick different songs that people may not have heard, or have considered before. Who knows, I might make Vol. 3 in another seven years time! Until next time, take care.
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So yesterday we had Johnny Cash and today we have Jay-Z and Kanye West. Crazy. Anyway, kicking off the Top 10 in a very different style is the collaborative effort of Jay-Z and Kanye, in what, for me, is probably my favourite song by either artist, working together to create, again, my opinion, what is one of the best hip hop songs, certainly in the last decade or so. That being said even against my opinion it received critical acclaim and even won a Grammy award so it’s definitely not just me! It’s such a catchy, creative track, and it’s fascinating that the egos of both Jay-Z and Kanye never clashed during the process of this exceptional hip hop track. This song reminds me of my clubbing days from a few years ago. It was so much fun to dance to and to let loose to. I just love it, simple really.
This song and album was released seven years after the legendary Johnny Cash passed away. In the final months of Johnny Cash’s life he was still recording material for future albums, and a few have been released posthumously. This for me, hits the heartstrings and gives me just as many goosebumps as “Hurt” did. It was so good The Undertaker used it as his entrance theme for Wrestlemania. It’s amazing what a man can do knowing he is deteriorating, knowing he hasn’t got long to live on this planet. People like Johnny Cash and, more recently, David Bowie have released some of their best music knowing there time was coming to an end. And Johnny Cash looked at Deaths Door and stuck his middle finger at it. And this was the music he produced in doing that. If you’ve not heard this song, seriously, you’re missing out. It’s a masterpiece.
#10: "Closer" - Nine Inch Nails Release Date: 1994 Director:Mark Romanek Fun Fact: The video is considered one of the most controversial of all time; reasons being it features nudity, lots of S&M imagery, a monkey on a crucifix, the diagram of a vagina, a severed pig's head spiked on some rotating machine amongst other things.
This is also the third and last video directed by Mark Romanek in this list - the other two were "Hurt" by Johnny Cash which got to #12, and the other was "Scream" by Michael and Janet Jackson which got to #66! What can I say about "Closer"? It's my favourite music video by my favourite band. It's also one of those videos that you probably have to see "before you die", just because it's one of the most memorable videos ever. The art direction is flawless. The way Mark Romanek uses old film to make the video is excellent. It's one of the most controversial music videos of all time, even if I don't think it deserves that title. Regardless of your views on religion, animal cruelty and the use of nudity, you really should see this film. By the way, the monkey was in no way harmed during the making of this video, but a lot of the imagery and style of this video was painting an image of a 19th century mad scientist's lab, hence why there's so much fucked up shit going on in the video. Regardless, watch the video if you haven't seen it before, it's a fascinating video, hard to watch, I suppose, for some mind, and of course, I think the song is just incredible. But I'm going to say that because of how much I love this band! Note: This is the second and last video from the year 1994 in this list.
#12: "Hurt" - Johnny Cash Release Date: 2003 Director:Mark Romanek Fun Fact: I seriously hope you know this fact, but for all the people who don't know, this is a cover version. The song was originally by my favourite band, Nine Inch Nails, you can listen to it here. Definitely give it a listen if you've never heard it before.
This song, and the video for that matter, give me goosebumps. Without fail. Every time I hear it. And while I love Nine Inch Nails, and I love the original by the band, this version, sends horrible shivers down my spine. Trent Reznor wrote the lyrics to help him ease through difficult times in his life. Johnny Cash chose to sing the lyrics during the final months of his life. He died seven months after the video was released. This video pays the ultimate tribute to the life and career of Johnny Cash. It uses all the amazing clips of the career and times in his life, the good and the bad. Alongside it is Johnny Cash, looking and singing as frail as he ever did, and it's almost as if we, the viewer, live his life in four minutes. It's dark, and haunting, yet beautiful and rewarding at the same time. There will never be a man like Johnny Cash on the face of this earth again. And this video is the ultimate epitaph for The Man in Black.
Here is the video for your enjoyment!
Click here to see #11 on the list or here for #13!
On Saturday night I was made aware that pop singer Leona
Lewis was covering a song called “Hurt”, originally written and released by
industrial metal band Nine Inch Nails. I believe Leona Lewis sung this song on
the X Factor recently and the EP was released yesterday, with this song and two
other cover versions of songs by the Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows.
Now my initial reaction was one of disgust and anger. My
feelings haven’t really changed on the situation, but after raising my views
with many people of different interests and musical tastes, it’s not as
straight forward to slam this move as originally thought. There are a lot of
complications and perceptions when it comes to doing cover versions, and who
does them. Before I get into that nitty gritty however let me make you aware of
this song and its importance, in the event you don’t know of it.
“Hurt” was written by Trent Reznor, lead singer and
mastermind of the band Nine Inch Nails, and was the last track on the
critically acclaimed album, “The Downward Spiral”, released back in 1994. Trent
said he wrote this song in his bedroom and it was written when he was at his
lowest ebb, on drugs, depressed, suicidal, and potentially self harming. The
song is usually interpreted in one of two ways, either as a suicide note
(obviously not Reznor himself, but a possible persona he created for the album)
or as someone hanging on the edge of life but manages to cling on and finds
reason for living. Lyrical evidence supports both arguments with the lines “Try
to kill it all away/But I remember everything” and “You are someone else/I am
still right here” can be interpreted in either direction.
Much to Reznor’s surprise, the song was praised by both fans
and critics and has remained one of the most important songs of the nineties
and a song that has a strong setting in nearly (if not every) Nine Inch Nails
gig. Self harm is a very serious issue, and it has only for the last fifteen or
twenty years become more prominent. A lot of people who have harmed themselves,
tried to commit suicide or suffered with severe depression have found comfort
in this song, knowing that a high profile singer like Trent Reznor has had
similar issues in his own life. The good news about Reznor himself is that
while this wasn’t the end of his drug problems and personal demons, it was his
own “Downward Spiral”, one that things would slowly get better from. For the
next 7 years Reznor still had these issues but they would come to an end in
2001 after he entered rehab and successfully stopped taking drugs, and his life
is better now than it ever has been, with a wife and a new baby. But the
elements in “Hurt”, its meaning and significance to Trent Reznor remain key to
his life and career, and the fans of his music.
In the beginning of 2003, nine years after the song’s
release, country music legend Johnny Cash decided he wanted to cover the song
on his album “American IV: The Man Comes Around”, which had many cover
versions, including songs by Depeche Mode, Simon and Garfunkel and The Beatles.
When the producer of the album, Rick Rubin, asked Trent if Cash could cover the
song Trent said he was flattered due to Johnny Cash’s status as a legendary
singer, but he was concerned it would sound “gimmicky”. Trent never heard
Cash’s version until the music video was made and released and had this to say
when he heard it:
“I pop the video in, and wow... tears welling, silence,
goose-bumps... Wow. [I felt like] I just lost my girlfriend, because that song
isn't mine anymore... It really made me think about how powerful music is as a
medium and art form. I wrote some words and music in my bedroom as a way of
staying sane, about a bleak and desperate place I was in, totally isolated and
alone. [Somehow] that winds up reinterpreted by a music legend from a radically
different era/genre and still retains sincerity and meaning — different, but
every bit as pure.”
What made the song so amazing was the music video, produced
by Mark Romanek, who had also worked with Trent Reznor no less than two
occasions before, with music videos for “Closer” and “The Perfect Drug”.
Romanek wanted to emphasise on Johnny Cash’s clear frailty, the weakness the
elderly state of the country musician and contrast it with his bright and
beautiful career. Some say this song is Johnny Cash’s epitaph, which is ironic
due to the nature of the lyrics, but it some how fits in with Cash’s career.
No, there are no signs of self harm from the Man in Black, but drugs and depression
almost crippled his career decades ago. And as Johnny Cash died in September of
the same year, the video is as striking as anything; it brings fantastic
closure to a career that spans 58 years.
The song has been covered by other artists, although it’s
usually been done live, and as homage to Nine Inch Nails, or maybe because they
too, had serious issues in their lives, or can associate with the people that
have. Artists that have covered it include Tori Amos, Matthew Good, Peter
Murphy, Breaking Benjamin, Underoath, Aaron Lewis, and Sevendust. However the
big difference between Leona Lewis and these artists is simply the genre of
music, and more importantly, the lack of logic behind such a cover version.
I don’t claim to know much about Leona Lewis, she’s not
someone I enjoy listening to and I’ve barely followed her career. What I do
know however is that she is 26 years old and she won the X-Factor back five
years ago. She’s been singing for most of her life and she didn’t get a break
she arguably deserved until she appeared on the TV show. As I said, I don’t
really like her music personally, but I do think she has a fantastic voice; she
is a brilliant singer and as far as a lot of the other X-Factor contestants go
she’s probably the most talented and most deserving winner on the show so far. However,
there’s very little revealed about Leona Lewis’ background and personal life,
but from what I can tell she had a decent upbringing in London from her parents
and was raised musically pretty much her entire life. She seems like a nice
woman, I can’t say she’s ever come across as anything other than a charming and
respectful person who has kept her feet on the ground despite her immense
popularity.
But that’s a lot of the issue here. In a certain way I feel
Leona Lewis has no right to cover “Hurt”. Has she ever “hurt”? I can’t say she
has, not in the depths and stresses the song talks of. Sure, she got hit in the
face two years ago by some idiot, but has she ever been depressed? And by
depressed I don’t mean she split up with her boyfriend and felt down. I mean
she has suffered through anxiety and can’t face to looking out of her own
window. Has she ever felt like hurting herself, to deal with depression? Has
she ever felt suicidal? I really doubt she has.
I’m a very lucky guy. I’ve never been depressed. I’ve never
felt like killing myself. But I know a lot of people who have. I’ve had to
watch some of the closest people to me suffer with symptoms they have very
little to no control over. It’s awful. It’s distressing. But what I feel is
nothing in comparison to how some of them feel. If I could sing, I too, would
have no right to cover this song.
But for Leona Lewis to even contemplate covering such a
song, is appalling. This isn't a pop song. This isn't a song that a pop singer
with a cushy lifestyle should be touching. And I’m sorry I’m being blunt but in
comparison to what the people who find comfort in this song have gone through,
she has a cushy lifestyle. Yes, Trent Reznor was addicted to drugs. I’m sure a
lot of people who understand and seek assurance with the track have too. But,
does Leona Lewis don't have any idea what the song is about? And if she does,
is she really a person that should be singing a song about such upsetting
topics?
This cover version isn’t about raising awareness, if it was
I’m sure Leona Lewis would have made that clear by now. If she has suffered, or
a friend or family member suffered, and she wants to show understanding, she
would have said so by now. And if it’s about homage, has she even come to
understand that it’s Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails that wrote this song? If
so she hasn’t shown it.
There is an argument to this opinion of mine, one that I am
aware of, and that is about the rights to the track. Does Trent Reznor, the
lyricist, or Interscope Records, the record company, have rights to the track?
It’s still not clear if Reznor has the rights, or if it’s the record company.
There’s a point to be made regardless of who has the rights to the song and
that is in the end, Reznor gave away the move for this cover version to happen
in the first place. If Intercrope have the rights to the song, it’s only
natural that they would agree for such a huge pop star like Leona Lewis to
cover the song, as it would give them a lot of money. If however, it is Reznor
that has the rights to his own music, then he gave Leona Lewis direct
permission to cover the song. And if so, why? Trent Reznor is a clever man in
the respect that he rarely makes moves based on money and greed, but for the
good and honourable options available. Johnny Cash is a country music legend,
and someone who was unfortunately close to a terminal state when he asked for
the rights to cover the song. Leona Lewis is a pop singer, and it’s often clear
that Reznor has a large distaste for that genre of music. In my opinion the
chances are low that it is Trent that gave Leona Lewis a big, juicy thumbs up
for covering this song but it’s not been made clear at all.
In the end one thing is for certain is that someone is
cashing in on Leona Lewis’ mainstream popularity against the logic and understanding
of the contents in which she will be singing. Someone once said that the topic
shouldn’t dictate who sings it, but there should be I feel. Especially when
it’s such an important topic. But it doesn’t matter what I think, what matters
is on written paper contracts, and the empires that control them. And if it is Interscope that have the rights to this song, this is an empire that does exactly just that. And while
it’s not the “empire of dirt” that Trent speaks of in this prestigious song,
it’s an Empire of Dirt that chooses making money over keeping songs like this
immaculate and untouched. An Empire of Dirt that would rather put their slime
on the feelings of thousands of sufferers for the sake of making a quick buck.
And it really shows that money indeed, is what makes the world go round.
Do you agree? Disagree? Am I being too sensitive? I don't think so but I can see why you might think so. Comment below with your thoughts. Thanks for reading.
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To view part 1, click here. To view part 2, click here. To view part 3, click here. To view part 4, click here. To view part 5, click here. To view part 6, click here.
Here's the beginning of my official Top 40, from #40 to #31!
#40. "I Predict a Riot" - Kaiser Chiefs Released: 1/11/04 Album: Employment Accolades: #36 in NME's 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever Chart Positions: UK - #9, US - #34 (in Alternative Songs Chart), Best Elsewhere - Ireland - #25 For a song with no appearances in the media and one major accolade it's ridiculous that this song hasn't gone more. This song is just simply one of the biggest anthems of the decade. It's a proper lads song, it's one of those songs that you can just shout the lyrics to at the top of your voice. It sounds great, it's got awesome lyrics and it's quite simply one of the most important songs of the decade. If it wasn't for this song or the popularity of it, the band wouldn't have been the same.
#39. "Fell in Love With a Girl" - The White Stripes Released: 23/4/02 Album: White Blood Cells Accolades: Rolling Stone's 40 Songs That Changed Rock History Chart Appearances: Rock Band (video game) Chart Positions: UK - #21, US - #121 (#12 in Modern Rock Tracks Chart) Another song that makes you wonder how it hasn't got any more accolades or appearances to its name. But this isn't a list just about accolades and appearances, it's about other things. It's about airplay, it's about how often the song was played at the time, and more importantly, going in to the future. And "Fell in Love" is one of those songs that just stand out so well in the decade as a quick little ditty of greatness. It's a song that sounds so raw yet it has such fantastic charm it's unbelievable. How often can you describe something as raw and charming in the same sentence? Well this song does both. Naturally the video is the appeal to a certain extent, such a simple idea of getting band playing in lego form made such cool viewing. But the song itself, while probably wouldn't have been commercially as successful without the video, can stand on its own two feet against other songs and win many climatic battles as one of the most important songs of the decade. This song won't leave our radio stations and music channels anytime soon, trust me.
#38. "Last Resort" - Papa Roach Released: 23/4/00 Album: Infest Appearances: The One (movie), Training Day (movie), Pay it Forward (movie), Smallville (TV series), Cold Case (TV series), Rock Revolution (video game), Rock Band (video game), Tap Tap Revenge 2 (iPhone game), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (movie) Chart Positions: UK - #3, US - #57 (#1 in Alternative Songs Chart), Best Elsewhere - Germany - #4 Wow I never knew this song got to #3 in the UK. For a song of its genre, of its lyrical theme, you wouldn't have imagined it getting this high up our pop and RnB orientated charts. You can easily make a case for this song to being on of the first true modern "emo" songs, although it was in the badly reputable "nu-metal" genre at the time. "Cut myself into pieces, this is my last resort" is arguably one of the most well known lines in any song of the decade. The video, while very simple in its broadcast, is very iconic, showing poor little kids being depressed in their homes, and then apparently enjoying a Papa Roach gig. Papa Roach have had a decent career, their lifespan is longer and more respected than Limp Bizkit's and they haven't "sold out", something a lot of people Linkin Park have done. But this song will never be beat for popularity, and most importantly, it's significance and impact on the world of music.
#37. "Dare" - Gorillaz Released: 29/8/05 Album: Demon Days Chart Positions: UK - #1, US - #87 (#8 in Alternative Songs Chart), Best Elsewhere - Belgium - #3 For a song with no appearances, no major accolades, this song gets a TONNE of airplay. Surely this song is one of the most played songs of the decade, in clubs, radio stations and music stations? This song was much more prominent on its release than "Feel Good Inc" was, although the former was a bigger hit in the US. "Dare" was just a fantastic blend of alternative rock, brit pop, techno and dance music. This song pretty much sums up the Gorillaz in one sweep in terms of what their music sounds like. It's still the bands only #1 hit in the UK so far, and you could argue it was universally accepted by all music fans of all diversions. It's a true quality track that lives up as arguably the bands most popular time in their career so far.
#36. "Supermassive Black Hole" - Muse Released: 19/6/06 Album: Black Holes and Revelations Appearances: Twilight (movie), Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (video game), FIFA 07 (video game), Supernatural (TV series), Doctor Who (TV series) Chart Positions: UK - #4, US - #6 (in Alternative Songs Chart), Best Elsewhere - Denmark - #7 It's quite hard to choose one single by Muse as their most important, their most groundbreaking, their most popular, their best song in the decade. My punt is "Supermassive Black Hole". It's arguably their first worldwide hit, with it hitting the Danish, Finnish, European, Irish, Italian Top 20's. When "Time is Running Out" came out, America still paid very little attention to the band. When "Uprising" came out they were all over Muse. Yet this was the middle ground, this was when America started to notice this cool British band, yet Europe embraced them. It's still their biggest hit in this country. It's also, in a biased way, one of their coolest songs, the riff is fricking awesome. So that's my justification for it being the highest Muse entry in this listing.
#35. "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters Released: 21/8/07 Album: Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace Accolades: #47 in Rolling Stone's 100 Best Songs of 2007, Nominated for Best Rock Song at the Grammy Awards, Nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards, #5 in Triple J's Hottest 100 Songs Appearances: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (video game), Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades (video game), Rock Band (video game), Tony Hawk's Proving Ground (video game), Californication (TV series), CSI: Miami (TV series) Chart Positions: UK - #8, US - #37 (#1 in Alternative Songs Chart), Best Elsewhere - Norway - #3 This was a huge song. For a hard rock track it got very high in many charts and it topped the US Alternative Songs Chart for longer than any other song in the year 2007. It was #1 for 18 weeks. Not only is it a big song chart wise but look at those appearances and accolades, despite it not winning, I don't think any song so far on this chart has been nominated for two Grammy awards. The Foo's always pull big about of the bag and have done so now consistently for a good 12 years, they're just this big and fantastic band that has universal praise. I just have an infinite amount of respect for this band and this song was easily one of their biggest of the decade, there is one more song by the band that I think is more important however... stay tuned to see it and how high it gets on this chart!
#34. "Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon Released: 8/12/08 Album: Only by the Night Accolades: Winner of Record of the Year Award at the Grammy's, Winner of Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Award at the Grammy's, Winner of Best Rock Song Award at the Grammy's, Nominated for Song of the Year Award at the Grammy's Chart Positions: UK - #2, US - #4 (#1 in Alternative Songs Chart), Best Elsewhere - Belgium - #1 What was the bigger song? "Use Somebody"? Or "Sex on Fire"? They were both HUGE hits, and both are responsible for the Kings of Leon being on top of the rock world right now. For me, "Sex on Fire" is the bigger song, you'll find out how much bigger in this listing later on. "Use Somebody" was the song that finally brought the band's breakthrough in America. It was a beautiful ballad, and was proof that the band's sound was changing, for better or for worse. It was definitely a more mainstream sound that's for sure. But the transition of Kings of Leon, including their beards, is a fascinating story, it's one of the most interesting stories of the decade artist wise. I remember, and I'm sure many of you do too, a time when Kings of Leon were just random Americans singing country and garage rock hybrid songs on MTV2. Now look at them, you couldn't have imagined this song being any wheren near as big as it was six or seven years ago. It's fascinating, and kudos to them for that.
#33. "Oh My God" - Kaiser Chiefs / Mark Ronson Released: 17/5/04 / 16/7/07 Album: Employment / Version Appearances: Driver: Parallel Lines (video game) Chart Positions: UK - #6, Best Elsewhere - Ireland - #27 / UK - #8, Best Elsewhere - Ireland - #21 / I was debating whether or not to put this original song in, the very well received Mark Ronson cover version. So I thought I'd put both as one entry as they're both important and successful. Also, it's the same song. Now I'm effectively cheating as this is the fourth and final Kaiser's song on the list, when I said in the beginning that I'd be setting a cap of three songs per artist. But if we're getting THAT picky, consider it Mark Ronson's entry. "Oh My God" is still arguably the Kaiser's most important song, it's got one of the greatest, catchiest and simplest choruses in the decade. The song, while being released the second time, did very well in the charts and shows you how far the band had came. In 2004, this song got to #66, yet in its re-release it jumped 60 places. The Kaiser Chiefs, as explained in other entries, are just a great, humble band that are just so happy making music and enjoying the fame they are getting. "Oh My God" was their little baby that started it all off, and it's arguably their finest moment. The Mark Ronson cover version was great, the band also appeared in the video and it was just a really cool jazz version of the song. Mark Ronson did a great job of covering many songs, and this one is one of the bigger and more important songs. I don't think you can go through this decade of music without mentioning Mark Ronson.
#32. "Hurt" - Johnny Cash Released: 8/3/03 Album: American IV: The Man Comes Around Accolades: Winner of Single of the Year Award by the Country Music Association, #1 in Rate Your Music's Top Singles of the 2000s, #1 in UpVenue's Top 10 Best Music Covers, #60 in Triple J's Hottest 100 Songs of All Time, #15 in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Songs of the Decade, #2 in CMT's Songs of the Decade Listings: Best Videos, Top 100 Songs of the Decade Chart Positions: UK - #39, US - #33 (in Alternative Songs Chart), Best Elsewhere - Norway - #8 No song in the world, even the original Nine Inch Nails version, gives me the goosebumps, the feeling, the emotion that this song gives me. I could probably babble on for paragraphs about how this song makes me feel, I've already talked about it twice on thie site before, on the Best Videos page, and on the Favourite 100 Songs page. It's not hard to explain why this song was important. No, the song didn't chart well, but some songs on this list have a legacy no sales records can touch. Johnny Cash, country rock 'n' roll legend, took a song from an industrial metal artist from 1994 and turned it into this heart wrenching, tear dropping, dark yet elevating masterpiece. It's hard to imagine a better way to end your long 50 year career than this way. Most rock stars (I know he's a country star but I always see him as a rock star too, he's far cooler than other people who call themselves "rock stars") die in their prime, or just after their prime. But was there a prime with Cash? Was there a sparkling moment in his career? You could argue it was the Folsom City Blues era, yet "Hurt" is arguably more prominent than any of his original songs, I think "Ring of Fire" is the only song that touches the song for popularity and "I Walk the Line" for importance. This was a man around half a century in his career. And look at the song. It's just so amazing, so real, his iconic vocal chords trembling through the guitar and piano. It's just an iconic moment in the decade, and in music history in my personal opinion, it's the hardest song to place in this list that's for sure, but I've put it here at #32.
#31. "Run" - Snow Patrol Released: 26/1/04 Album: Final Straw Appearances: The Chumscrubber (movie), Rescue Me (TV series), The Guardian (movie trailer), Doctor Who Confidential (TV series), Cold Case (TV series), Jericho (TV series), Life As We Know It (TV series), Wide Sargasso Sea (TV series), One Tree Hill (TV series), Empire Falls (TV series), Mad Dogs (TV series) Accolades: #874 in The Rock FM's The Rock 1000 Songs Chart Positions: UK - #5, US - #15 (in Alternative Songs Chart), Best Elsewhere - Netherlands - #22 Someone like myself, who doesn't hasn't (until now) done a great deal of research on Snow Patrol, never knew that "Run" was on their third album. Third time lucky I guess, as this was a mega hit. It was also the second single off that album too, so the song's quality shines very well. More evidence is the fact that Leona Lewis chose to cover this song, and got it even more mainstream attention, so much in fact that it this original version re-entered the charts as a result four years later. Snow Patrol would later have more chart success than this track, yet when I, as someone who isn't a fan of the band, think of one song by them, this comes to the front straight away. I'm sure a lot of people feel exactly the same.
To view part 8, click here. To view part 9, click here. To view part 10, click here. To view the winner, click here. To view my methods and explanations, click here. To view a full archived stats index of the songs listed, click here.
Welcome to Part 8 of 10, we are entering the section of the listing that if I were to rate songs based on how much I like them, they’d all probably be ****3/4 or ***** star tracks. But I’m not going to rate songs, it seems a bit too forward for my liking, I’d rather rate albums as full pieces of work than individual songs. Anyway, let’s get under way.
#30. “The Fight Song” – Marilyn Manson
Released: 2/2/01
Album: Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)
Marilyn Manson had a shite decade overall. But the few sparks in a declining career were and are evident. Holy Wood was a decent album but the best thing about it was the fantastic singles released off it. The same apply to The Golden Age of Grotesque. So the two albums combined, the singles off it, actually make Marilyn Manson reach the three single cap in this listing, starting off with this metal anthem. And it is just that, a metal anthem. The Fight Song was a huge metal hit in the underground metal scene and is still (albeit a lot more rarely now) played in clubs today. The “Fight! Fight!” chant in the chorus is too catchy for it not to be. The lyrics are also brilliant too, with the stand out line being “The death of one is a tragedy/the death of a million is just a statistic”. The Fight Song was easily one Marilyn Manson’s best songs, not just in this decade but his entire music career. It’s a cracker of a song.
#29. “Grounds for Divorce” – Elbow
Released: 10/3/08
Album: The Seldom Seen Kid
Listings: Best Riffs
Elbow are a band that I’ll admit, seemed to have drifted past me somehow. They’ve been active for some time, but I hadn’t heard their music until the past few years. But it seems I’m not the only one, Elbow just blew up in recent years in terms of popularity. I’m sure there are a billion Elbow fans that will insist they heard their music back in the start of the decade and I’m sure most of them didn’t. It happens all the time. Anyway, “Grounds for Divorce” is definitely the highlight track for me. “One Day Like This” will get all the plaudits, all the attention, all the requests for it to be used on all programs, but for me, “Grounds for Divorce” is the Elbow sound I want to hear more. Guy Garvey’s soft and poetic voice works well for both styles of song, but that guitar… the build up to that guitar… it’s just magical. It’s just an amazing sound when you hear that guitar go, I want more songs like this. “Grounds for Divorce” is a track that I want to hear played as often as “One Day Like This” actually IS played. It’s a shame it won’t be.
#28. “How I Could Just Kill a Man” – Rage Against the Machine
Released: 20/2/01
Album: Renegades
It’s odd to think of Rage Against the Machine actually releasing material in this decade but it’s true. They released two singles from their cover versions album, “Renegades” with both of them being fantastic renditions of the original songs, so good that they both make the list. The first is their version of “How I Could Just Kill a Man”; the original by was by Cypress Hill (which is also quite good, as someone who isn’t a big fan), in which Rage add more metal to the already hard edged hip hop group from California. The blend of rap and metal, a combination in which Zach de la Rocha is pretty much a king of now, plays perfectly in this track. The lyrics are also very interesting, although they have caused controversy for obvious reasons. “How I Could Just Kill a Man” was an awesome song, it’s just weird to think of Rage releasing songs in this decade, but it did happen.
#27. “Blue Orchid” – The White Stripes
Released: 30/5/05
Album: Get Behind Me Satan
I love “Blue Orchid”. I put in “Seven Nation Army” into the Best Riffs listing but this was very close to replacing it. I love that bass-rich guitar riff, it sounds fantastic. I don’t know what it is about a strong bass, or at least a strong bass-rich riff, it just sounds so gorgeous. Jack White’s brilliant guitars and Meg’s vintage simple yet effective drumming makes this song just simply ooze greatness. There’s nothing more to be said really, apart from that I think this is The White Stripes’ best effort to date.
#26. “Hurt” – Johnny Cash
Released: 8/3/03
Album: American IV: The Man Comes Around
Listings: Best Videos
I’m telling you straight now, this is the hardest song to place in this list. It’s also featured in the unbiased list, and it was featured in the “Best Videos” list too. It’s so fucking hard to place this song in any listing of any type. The reason is very straightforward. It’s too good to rank. It’s too good to place. It’s too heart wrenching to think about placing it in something as trivial in comparison, like a music listing. But I’ve placed it here at #26.
I can’t always listen to this song. Sometimes I’d rather not, and skip it. The same rule does apply to the Nine Inch Nails original, but more emphatic in this version. It’s hard, really hard, listening to this song, without feeling the goosebumps, without feeling an urge to shed a tear. The man passed away and this was his goodbye gift. He still sung as beautifully in this song as he did 40 years before. He is just quite simply one of the most important men in the history of music, no, in the history of the twentieth century.
#25. “Lucid Dreams” – Franz Ferdinand
Released: 18/8/08
Album: Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand’s third and final entry into my Top 100 is one of the most odd entries. It’s one minute, forty-nine seconds longer than the second longest track in the listing (which is #9 in this entire listing. For your information, the shortest song is actually “Pin” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which is ranked #38, which clocks in at exactly two minutes) which I suppose is some form of record any way. This eight-minute masterpiece isn’t as well received, as I believe it should be, it’s one of Franz Ferdinand’s rare variances from their comfort zone, deciding to mix their sound with that of the early 1980’s new wave/electronica genres. I just love the song from start to finish, I love the music, I love the lyrics, I love the fact that it takes eight minutes of your time to listen to it. I love listening to it too, every note, every beat, everything. It’s a musical mastepiece. I truly believe that. It’s a shame not many other people, even other Franz Ferdinand fans, like it as much as I do.
#24. “Rock Star” – N.E.R.D.
Released: 8/10/02
Album: In Search Of… (Reissue)
I’d like to make it clear that this is the single version of the song because if you didn’t know, there are two version of this song. The first release of “In Search Of…” was pretty much an RnB album, but the Reissue had real instruments and man, naturally, it made things so much better. No more than this track, man the simple yet effective drums and bass make this song so much better. There’s nothing fancy about the instruments but it does make a fantastic racket, a great great sound that works so well with Pharell’s vocals. I just absolutely love this song and am not afraid to admit that.
#23. “Right Now” – KoRn
Released: 7/10/03
Album: Take a Look in the Mirror
"That's a song about waking up and wanting to kill everybody." – Jonathan Davis
Thanks Jonathan, it’s one of my favourite themes too. The subject of the song, and also, the music video aside, this song is brilliant. KoRn know how to work those guitars, and this is one of the best songs that brings that crunching industrial guitar to the fore. And regardless of the subject matter, the “Shut up, shut up, shut up or I’ll fuck you up” hook is just so good, it just makes you want to trash your house (and NOT kill people, stay safe kids) and shout at the top of your lungs. KoRn just have that ability to make great sounding industrial metal in a unique and particular way, it’s just a shame Jonathan’s lyrics are quite silly sometimes.
#22. “Sonne” – Rammstein
Released: 12/2/01
Album: Mutter
Another great metal anthem from the decade. Those industrial guitars, a common theme you will see in the buildup to the #1 spot as it’s my favourite genre, are just iconic now. Rammstein know how to make those guitars make a damn good noise, and Sonne is just a phenomenal track from a brilliant album. Of course a lot of people remember the video, loosely based on the Snow White story (but warped of course) but I prefer to remember this song for its great opening riff and a certain dance called the Menheneott dance. I’d post the video but I’m not sure if certain people would be too pleased… we’ll see!
#21. “Fever for the Flava” – Hot Action Cop
Released: 4/3/03
Album: Hot Action Cop
Mmmmmmm. If you’ve never heard this track before and like yourself a bit of the funk/rap hybrid of say the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bloodhound Gang then listen to this. It’s a fantastic song, and the lyrics and video are just full to the brim of innuendo it’s funnily stupid. I heard this song way back in 2003 whilst watching MTV2 and in honesty; I hadn’t seen the song on television since. Yet when I saw it that once I did my research on the band and got their album. Thankfully I did because if I didn’t I probably would have forgotten about this band (that being said my good friend Michele does also like them). Just give it a listen; if you like your funk/rap and like or tolerate the lyrics then you’ll like this song.
That’s it for today; we’re about to hit the Top 20. A lot of these songs are in the metal genre because on the whole I prefer my metal to my alternative rock. It’s just that it’s getting very difficult to find decent metal bands nowadays. Fuck knows why. Anyway, I hope to see you back here tomorrow evening. Take care.
To view part 9, click here. To view part 10, click here.
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