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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: #4
Okay, okay...now, I'm ready. 
#4
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
Released: November 3rd, 1992
Points: 223
Ballots: 9
Highest Ranking: #1 (Strangergab)
The #4 song of the 20th century, according to ATRL, and the most popular song of Whitney Houston's career...is a cover. And better yet, it's a cover of a pretty damn good song, in its own right. Despite this...can anyone really say that Dolly Parton's version of this song is the most iconic and popular version? Not when the other version was #1 for a then-record 14 weeks on the Hot 100. Not when the other version is the one given all of the critical accolades. Not when the other version is the version that is played on every AC station on the planet to this day. Not when the other version has one of the single most iconic music moments of all time (*single drum beat* AND IIIIIIIIIIII-E-IIIIIII WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOUUUUUUUU). Not when the other version is one of the single most difficult songs to sing of all time. Not when the other version is the defining song of the singer that you guys just declared to be the best female singer of all time. I love you, Dolly, but let there be no doubt that Whitney's version of "I Will Always Love You" is the definitive version of the song, and one of pop's greatest ballads. Hey, at least you still have one of the most badass sounding and best country songs ever, right?
One song out of the way...and three to go. What classic song appears at #3? Find out soon!
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Member Since: 12/9/2007
Posts: 9,007
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"Bohemian Rhapsody"? or maybe "Imagine"? 
but yesss, "I Will Always Love You" is a flawless song.
This countdown has done an amazing job truly reflecting that members of ATRL. Way to go, Red! You've been amazing.
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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Ugh. I hate IWALY. It's in no way deserving of any position on this list.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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I prefer Dolly's version. And most of Whitney's discography. At least it didn't win.
My prediction:
1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Billie Jean
3. Imagine
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sound Check
This countdown has done an amazing job truly reflecting that members of ATRL. Way to go, Red! You've been amazing.
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Well, if it absolutely, 100% reflected the taste of ATRL's members, BOMT would be #1 and "Genie in a Bottle" #2. I think it represents what many members of ATRL WANT its taste to be. 
#3 is minutes away from being posted!
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Member Since: 12/9/2007
Posts: 9,007
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Quote:
Originally posted by Red
Well, if it absolutely, 100% reflected the taste of ATRL's members, BOMT would be #1 and "Genie in a Bottle" #2. I think it represents what many members of ATRL WANT its taste to be.
#3 is minutes away from being posted! |
I think ATRL is a lot more diverse than people give it credit for, but the fact that Britney even made it to the top 10 shows the amount of influence she has on the site and its members.
I'm prepared to see "Billie Jean" at #1. I'd be surprised if one of the seventies songs made it to #1.
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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: #3
#3
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Released: October 31st, 1975
Points: 225
Ballots: 9
Highest Ranking: #2 (Ulrihs, Moonage Daydream)
If you ever want to make Kworb's head explode, just point him to this post and watch the sparks fly. He hates Queen, but he REALLY hates "Bohemian Rhapsody". I've always found that hilarious, given that it's one of my all time favorite songs, and one of the most universally beloved songs ever. It's totally cliche to pick "Bohemian Rhapsody" as your favorite Queen song, especially when they have so many classics (including many that didn't make this list, like "The Show Must Go On", "Killer Queen", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Another One Bites the Dust", and so on). And yet, as hard as I try, I can't bring myself to choose anything else. The sudden change from a ballad to a fist-pumping anthem may just be my favorite music moment ever. The song goes from being one of the most tender ballads you'll ever hear to an anthem that still stands out today for its epicness and audacity. As with "Stairway to Heaven", entire bands were built from this six minute masterpiece. I mean, my favorite band would not exist if this song did not exist. For that reason alone, I revere this song as if it were a musical version of a deity. It doesn't hurt that the song itself is magical.
We are down to two. Did John Lennon take the #1 spot, or did the artist he and his Beatles bandmates inspired defeat him? Did "Imagine" reign supreme, or did "Billie Jean" top the top 100? Find out soon!
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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I actually think I prefer Billie Jean, but I think Imagine will win.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Quote:
Originally posted by Red
Well, if it absolutely, 100% reflected the taste of ATRL's members, BOMT would be #1 and "Genie in a Bottle" #2. I think it represents what many members of ATRL WANT its taste to be. |
And "Bad Romance" would somehow be #3, even though it was released a decade too late to qualify.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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Quote:
Originally posted by supaspaz
And "Bad Romance" would somehow be #3, even though it was released a decade too late to qualify.
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Even after its made perfectly clear that songs from after 1999 do not qualify. I'm shocked that it didn't actually happen.
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Member Since: 12/9/2007
Posts: 9,007
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The King of Pop is going to take home the #1. I can't with Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Freddie Mercury, and Whitney Houston all being in the top 4  4 of the most iconic artists of all time. 
And I wouldn't say "Bohemian Rhapsody" is my favorite Queen song, but I still feel as though it's their best song, their magnum opus.
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Member Since: 5/1/2012
Posts: 10,570
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"Bohemian Rhapsody" should be #1. 
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Oops, I guess my sudden confidence in Queen's popularity on ATRL was misplaced.
Anyway, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is absolutely brilliant. It's an outlandish piece of pop songwriting, but somehow it just works on every level.
What I find interesting is its enduring appeal. It often got played at my high school dances and people would be singing along to the entire thing. That's some pretty remarkable reach for a labyrinthine rock opera.
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Member Since: 7/9/2010
Posts: 31,471
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I hope "Billie Jean" is #1
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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It's hard to argue with either song in this top two. I honestly can't decide which one I want to see win.
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Member Since: 3/3/2011
Posts: 23,567
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Wow, only #3 and with no #1 votes. Interesting.
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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: #2
Alright, kids. Let's decide this, once and for all. IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD* AS WE KNOW IT!
(* "THE WORLD" = this top 100.  )
#2
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Released: January 2nd, 1983
Points: 232
Ballots: 10
Highest Ranking: #1 (Phoenix83, RadioKaKa, Benzene)
You guys really threw your support behind one Michael song throughout the entire vote. Sure, two other MJ songs made the list, but neither of those were the song generally considered to be his second most popular song ("Beat It"), and the rest of the popular songs either just missed out or didn't even receive votes. If you were going to choose any song in particular to back of MJ's, I guess I'm not surprised that it's "Billie Jean", though. When people think of MJ's music, really, what song are they going to think of first? "You Are Not Alone"? "Bad"? Please. "Billie Jean" WAS Michael Jackson's music defined in one song. Surprisingly epic for a pop song, musically proficient in a way that no other pop star has been since (thanks, in no small part, to the maestro Quincy Jones), all while supporting that music with a voice that has always been better than people as a whole think it is. People mostly praise MJ for being a flawless entertainer, the most incredible entertainer music has ever seen...but his voice was almost as amazing. Off the Wall REALLY showcased this. "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" have some incredible vocals. But his vocals here are (here's that damn word again) iconic. When you think of Michael Jackson's voice, come on, you think of "Billie Jean". You think of that incredible chorus, you think of the ending sequence, you think of "Don't think twice (DON'T THINK TWICE)", and you think, "Gee, that Michael Jackson sure was something." And you'd be right.
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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I was right! That's definitely one of his best singles.
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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: #1
No mystery left, let's get right to #1.
#1
John Lennon - Imagine
Released: October 11th, 1971
Points: 245
Ballots: 11
Highest Ranking: #4 (Red)
And so, we end the top 100 with a song...that didn't even receive a single top three vote. Hell, my vote was the highest, which may be the only time that my ranking was the highest for any song in the top 100. This song wasn't even on top for most of the vote tally. In fact, that was "Bohemian Rhapsody". But suddenly, out of thin air, more and more people started to put "Imagine" on their lists. More and more people started to recognize the brilliance of Lennon's masterpiece. And then, out of nowhere, the song vaulted to the top with the most ballots. And it would stay that way.
What can I say about such an amazing and groundbreaking song that is really very simple to perform musically? It's just John Lennon singing, with a piano and strings-based sound and a slight drum and bass backdrop. There's nothing OVERLY impressive about the arrangement. But you don't really notice that while listening. The music is secondary...actually, more like tertiary to the meaning and to the vocals. The message is also quite simple: Imagine a world without religion or countries. Imagine a world as one, united, together. But the simplicity doesn't overshadow just how beautiful of a message it is. And Lennon's voice services that meaning beautifully. They are not Lennon's best vocals. They are not his most powerful vocals. But no doubt about it, they are Lennon's most passionate vocals. He means every word that he sings. And because of this, no matter how many times we listen to the song, we find ourselves enraptured with the meaning and with Lennon's passion. Judging by the fact that it's the #1 song of the 20th century, according to the members of ATRL, it's a formula that remains just as potent now as it ever was. The #1 song on the top 100 is a song with a simple meaning, a simple musical arrangement...and a special and otherworldly mixture of vocal and meaning that can never, ever be duplicated.
And that, FINALLY, is that. I'd like to thank everyone who has sent in ballots, commented about the list, and critiqued the list and why certain songs should not be on the list.
With that, I bid all of you adieu for now. And maybe, just maybe, I can get ANOTHER top 100 done and dusted now. Maybe.
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Member Since: 5/1/2012
Posts: 10,570
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Quote:
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Highest Ranking: #4 (Red)
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Incredible. 
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