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Discussion: ATRL's Top 100 Songs of the 20th Century (The top 2!)
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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ATRL's Top 100 Songs of the 20th Century: 10-8
Alright, enough talk, enough speculation. We have just a couple of updates to go before we find out what was voted as the #1 song of the 20th century by the users of ATRL! Let's start off the top ten with its first three songs!
10-8
#10
![](http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff463/WPActor/Eagles.jpg)
Eagles - Hotel California
Released: February 1977
Points: 149
Ballots: 7
Highest Ranking: #2 (CountryFriedChick)
This is another of the first songs that I ever fell in love with. I just loved the sound that this song came up with. The proud bass of Randy Meisner, the smooth vocals of Don Henley, and the triple guitar combination of Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Don Felder all come together to create an unforgettable song, though my favorite part (and most people's favorite part) remains the solo, up there with "Comfortably Numb" and "Stairway to Heaven" as one of the most beloved solos in music's long history. At over two minutes long, it never feels too long or too drawn out. I can actually pinpoint the exact part of the solo that ALWAYS gets me: A little after halfway through the solo, where the solo builds to its crescendo, a repeat hammer-on that still gives me chills.
#9
![](http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff463/WPActor/Prayer.jpg)
Madonna - Like A Prayer
Released: March 21st, 1989
Points: 151
Ballots: 7
Highest Ranking: #1 (electroheart)
No surprise that this is Madonna's highest ranked song, given how praised it has been on ATRL over the years, including by yours truly. I still feel that this is one of the finest pop songs ever made and one of Madonna's most bold and ambitious songs, which is saying a lot, given who we are talking about. Many people remember this song for the imagery and controversy surrounding the video, but the song itself is equally memorable and impressive, featuring one of my favorite choir implementations in any pop song, introspective lyrical content about the emotional distress that Madonna was feeling at the time, and what remains one of the most awesome instrumental pieces in the pop genre, finding a way to combine funk and gospel and make it sound absolutely glorious.
#8
![](http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff463/WPActor/Respect.jpg)
Aretha Franklin - Respect
Released: April 1967
Points: 169
Ballots: 9
Highest Ranking: #3 (Benzene)
What remains most impressive about Aretha Franklin's "Respect" is what she did to the song itself. Originally written and performed by R&B maestro Otis Redding, the song performed by Redding was a more mid-tempo offering. It's good in its own right, and it features the trademark Otis vocals that still stand out, even now...but Aretha took that song, sped up the tempo, and turned the song from what was essentially a ballad into perhaps the most important female song of all time, given its importance to the feminist movement and the empowerment that the song pushed onto both males and females. And that's before you get into the song itself. And really, what needs to be said about it that hasn't already been said? Aretha's voice is amazing and booming in its power, the sax solo is awesome, the "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" section is one of the single most iconic moments in the history of recorded music...seriously, it's "Respect", for crying out loud.
Seven songs left to go through! I hope to get to the next set (and I can't decide if I want to do 7-5 or 7-4 yet) tonight, but, if not, I know it will be posted tomorrow, so stay tuned!
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Member Since: 6/20/2007
Posts: 37,153
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Madonna - Like A Prayer ![worship2](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/310230f4.gif)
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Member Since: 12/9/2007
Posts: 9,007
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"Like a Prayer" and "Repsect" ![weeps](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRLSmilies/52b0f867.gif)
"Hotel California" though... ![Bibliotheque](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/biblio_zps23dff242.gif)
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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Two of those songs are great songs!
The other... ![Doc](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/doc_zpsc886535c.gif)
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Member Since: 11/30/2007
Posts: 26,796
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Respect and Like a Prayer.
I like Hotel California but it kind of drags on a little too long.
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Member Since: 8/31/2011
Posts: 18,529
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"Respect" was also big for the Civil Rights Movement as well.
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Member Since: 3/22/2011
Posts: 26,525
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Hotel ****ing California
The other 2 are nice too.
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Member Since: 5/1/2012
Posts: 10,570
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Respect.
The other two are good songs too.
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Member Since: 9/16/2011
Posts: 50,981
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It's excellent to see RESPECT so high, although it will be a shame to see Britney Spears even higher.
Oh well, I'll take what I can get.
(why the **** I didn't participate in this is beyond me. ![Ace Reject](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/c74c86fd.gif) )
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Member Since: 9/16/2011
Posts: 50,981
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Wait. Red, please for the love of all that is holy tell me that Whitney has a song coming and these flops didn't exclude her. ![JonnyϟLightning](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/jonny_zpsc73391c5.png)
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Member Since: 12/19/2009
Posts: 10,504
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Hotel California in the top 10 ![:)](http://www.atrl.net/forums/images/smilies/images/smilies/smile.gif) also glad to see Aretha there with Respect. I wonder why not a single person voted Hotel California as #1 though ![confused](http://www.atrl.net/forums/images/smilies/images/smilies/confused.gif)
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Member Since: 8/19/2006
Posts: 6,475
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"Like a Prayer" and "Respect" ![worship2](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/310230f4.gif)
"Hotel California." meanwhile... It's okay, but way too overplayed for my taste. I DO love Don Henley's voice, though. I've been listening to "The End of the Innocence" at least once a day over the past few days... ![clap3](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/67d90ee8.gif)
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Member Since: 1/23/2011
Posts: 4,434
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Ugh, I really want to love Like a Prayer but I just can't. I mean, the intro is everything but the final chorus just doesn't friggen stop. By the time I hear "Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there" for like the 18th time in a row I'm so over it and ready to move on with my life.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Good start to the top ten.
"Like a Prayer" was high up on my list. It's got one of the best choruses in pop music, and it just crescendos from there into an irresistible explosion of euphoria.
For me, the greatness of "Respect" centers on Aretha's vocal performance, which is one of the most indelible in music history.
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Member Since: 8/16/2010
Posts: 15,137
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Great set, love all three songs. ![Alexz](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ec20fb7f.gif)
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Member Since: 8/16/2012
Posts: 670
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Now, i am waiting for Smells Like Teen Spirit in top 5
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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ATRL's Top 100 Songs of the 20th Century: 7-5
7-5
Quote:
Originally posted by buseta77
Now, i am waiting for Smells Like Teen Spirit in top 5
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Might want to keep waiting. ![eli's_rhythm](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/eli_zps0932edf9.gif)
#7
![](http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff463/WPActor/Spirit.jpg)
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Released: September 10th, 1991
Points: 177
Ballots: 10
Highest Ranking: #6 (Skyian)
Imagine, if you will, that you are a teenager in 1991. You're fed up with the hair metal that permeates the rock scene at the time. Bon Jovi, Poison, Skid Row, Warrant, those bands...you need something new. Badly. Then, one day, you're watching MTV. The standard hair metal, rap, and pop are all there. But what's this? There's this video in a school gymnasium. This looks interest--BAM. The moment that the main riff kicks in, the song immediately has your attention. Then comes the chorus, which blasts into your face with the force of a thousand sticks of dynamite. And all you can think is, "Dear god...the saviors have arrived!" That's what "Smells Like Teen Spirit" did to millions of teenagers in 1991. Say goodbye to hair metal and welcome to a new era of rock music.
Alright, let's just get this one out of the way..
#6
![](http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff463/WPActor/Time.jpg)
Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time
Released: September 30th, 1998
Points: 186
Ballots: 8
Highest Ranking: #1 (Crazytowel, Mr, Loco)
Well, all of you knew that this was coming. The debut single from the artist that, let's face it, built ATRL. The reactions surrounding this song will be quick and will be brutal: "What the hell is THIS doing here?" "Top ten? Ahead of "Teen Spirit"?!" And I can understand those feelings. I mean, how did this piece of pop fluff defeat some of the most historically revered songs of all time? But really, think about it for a second. This song was one of the defining songs of my generation (and many of yours). The song even went #1. Not just on TRL, but on the Hot 100. And the song itself remains one of Britney's best vocals, as well as one of her catchiest songs ever. And I haven't even mentioned the video! Whether or not "...Baby One More Time" deserves a spot in the top ten is one thing...but let's not pretend that this isn't worthy of being a top 100 song.
#5
![](http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff463/WPActor/Stairway.jpg)
Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
Released: November 8th, 1971
Points: 187
Ballots: 8
Highest Ranking: #1 (CountryFriedChick)
That's right, this beat out BOMT by ONE POINT. Let THAT one sink in for a moment. Okay, really, what else needs to be said about "Stairway"? It's one of the most famous songs of all time. It's a rock staple (hell, it's a MUSIC staple). The musicianship found in this song is so perfect that it has been constantly mimicked (and never duplicated). The song is so revered that it became a habit to yell out "Stairway!" at concerts of artists who certainly were not Led Zeppelin. The solo here is one of the most seminal pieces of guitar music of all time, a solo that built hundreds of bands on sheer power alone. When you hear people talk about "epic" songs, "Stairway" is going to be one of the first songs to pop up, guaranteed. And lest we forget the lovely vocals of Robert Plant, which range from wanting to soothing to "I AM GOING TO ROCK YOUR ****ING FACE OFF!" Hell, at one point, this was the #1 song on this list, so it's obviously left one hell of an impression on you guys, too.
Well, this is it. There are only four more songs left, and we are going to count them down in separate posts! Some notes about the top four:
- The top four are separated by 22 points total.
- Three solo acts and one band are in the top four.
- There's two songs from the 70's, one song from the 80's, and one song from the 90's.
- All four of these songs are generally considered to be among the absolute best of their genres.
- At one point, every song in the top four was #1 on this list.
Four of the greatest songs of all time...and only one can claim #1. Which song did it? Find out soon, as this top 100 FINALLY crosses the finish line.
Oh, and let me spoil one of the songs right now...
Quote:
Wait. Red, please for the love of all that is holy tell me that Whitney has a song coming and these flops didn't exclude her.
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She might.
Have fun guessing the top four!
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Member Since: 3/22/2011
Posts: 26,525
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Britney ![JonnyϟLightning](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/jonny_zpsc73391c5.png) Only on ATRL would she be this high. ![JonnyϟLightning](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/jonny_zpsc73391c5.png)
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Member Since: 5/1/2012
Posts: 10,570
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Smells like Teen spirit with 10 ballots, such a classic.
BOMT so high.
Stairway to Heaven should be #1, but I'm okay with its position.
The only song I'm sure will be on top 4 is "Bohemian Rhapsody". ![Dancehall Queen](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/dancehall_zps88e4c4c6.png)
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Yes, "...Baby One More Time" is probably too high. But I can't at some of acting like it's some piece of trash that was fueled onto this countdown by pure delusion. It represents one of the most iconic moments of '90s culture, the cornerstone of an entire generation of music, and fantastic pop songwriting. So just save it.
The other two in this set are obvious but deserving choices. I personally prefer "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for its propulsive, stirring rage.
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