Here’s the next installment of the best 24 songs ever. This time we’ve got a few 70’s songs before we jump to the 90’s. It’s distressing to see the 80’s unrepresented, but if you need something to hold you over, try this song.
Pink Floyd- Speak to Me/Breathe
I’m sure many people might say this isn’t even the best song on Dark Side of the Moon, but to me this is the cut that stands out the most. Dark Side’s tightly wound narrative about the forces in everyday life that lead humans to insanity I believe makes for the best concept album of all time, and “Speak to Me/Breathe” is the perfect intro for it. It starts off with various audio clips of people speaking about insanity that will be replayed later in the album. The section ends with what sounds like delirious screaming, but if you listen closely to the later song “the Great Gig in the Sky,” it’s just a snippet of the woman singer straining to reach the highest notes of her solo. The second half of the song has a dream-like atmosphere that creates the perfect feel of the societal daze that Pink Floyd urges its listeners to wake up from by the end of the album. It seems like every time you listen to this song you notice something new.
Led Zeppelin- Ten Years Gone
Here’s another one that I think many will disagree with me on. The reason it made the list is because it’s the one song that got me into Led Zeppelin, thus making a huge impact on my musical tastes as a whole. This song also represents everything that makes Led Zeppelin great- a good calm intro (see: “No Quarter”), driving guitar riffs (see: “The Ocean”), Robert Plant’s great vocal range (see: “Since I’ve Been Loving You”), and John Bonham’s breathtaking drum fills (see: “Moby Dick”). If you aren’t into Led Zeppelin, 1- stop listening to Avril Lavigne and 2- listen to this song.
Fleetwood Mac- Dreams
“Dreams” barely beats out “You Make Loving Fun” here, but it would have been a travesty if my Fleetwood Mac representation on this list didn’t have Stevie Nicks on lead vocals. Nicks is in top form on “Dreams,” as it sounds like she has 8 or 9 cotton balls stuck in her mouth as she sings her lyrics (which is what makes her voice so charming). The harmonies in the chorus are great, too. This song has also been covered by some great acts in recent years, most notably the Fleet Foxes and the Morning Benders.
Pearl Jam- Black
As I mentioned in my last post, I don’t really listen to much Pearl Jam anymore. That doesn’t mean that they haven’t had a huge impact on my musical appreciation, though. Before I got into Pearl Jam in the 8th grade, Tool was probably my favorite band and I downloaded songs from bands like Drowning Pool on my 56k internet connection. “Black” is one of those songs that builds and builds, and Eddie Vedder’s last lyrics can send chills down your spine. “Black” ends with a great vocal melody, and is a cornerstone of any of their concerts if you see them live.
Dave Matthews Band- #41
I’ve always thought there are two undeniable truths about DMB: 1- they make great music, and 2- people who like DMB too much tend to get way into other bands that fucking suck, like OAR and Dispatch. The trick is to find a happy medium between liking and becoming obsessed with them. With songs like “#41” it can be hard to stay away from the latter, but one listen to OAR’s “A Crazy Game of Poker” will make any sane person wary of falling into this trap.
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