Help my friend - a music teacher - come up with 70 songs....

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I'll start with the "easy" decade for me... the 70's. And these are just OPINIONS. :sqbiggrin:

In no order.

1. Stairway to Heaven.... This song alone has generated over a billion dollars in revenue - as reported by Billboard Mag... #1 of all time

2. Freebird - It is THE face of "southern rock "

3. Night Fever - Was there a bigger disco hit?

4. Do You Feel Like We Do - 19 minutes of a "live" song that was on the biggest selling "live" album ever.

5. That's the Way I Like It.... Number 1 on 3 US charts and #4 in the UK.

6. More Than a Feeling.... Because it was from what I believe was the best debut album that came out in the 1970's.

7. Disco Inferno - Because when I was a DJ in the 70's, this song always packed the dance floor.

8. Brick House - It was sexy, and fun, and had a lot of funk.

9. Bridge Over Troubled Water..... just because... LOL

10. American Pie..... Is their ANYBODY over 40 years old who has not sung this song out loud? And VERY LOUD, at that?

So there is my list of the 70's. I gave my OPINIONS why I chose them. How about you?

Stayin' Alive should def be on this list.

Sweet Home Alabama
 
Stayin' Alive should def be on this list.


Staying Alive or Night Fever... Like my mama says "Six of one, half a dozen of the other". I'm not sold that either one deserves it more than the other. I just picked Night Fever.

And Sweet Home Alabama over Freebird? :sqerr::sqerr::sqerr: Surely you jest. BTW, Skynyrd is my 2nd favorite band, and I even personally enjoy Sweet Home Alabama more, but you really can't make a logical argument for it over Freebird. If you think you can, I want to hear it.
 
The only time anyone thinks about freebird in this day and age it is because of Guitar Hero.

And I never ever have played Night Fever ever..at a gig.

Stayin' Alive is a norm in this neck of the woods.
 
I think it is hilarious how we are all straying away from country?

This seems to be a small issue with me! LOL :sqlaugh:


But really...I would think a tune or two should make the top 10??

I dunno!
 
The only time anyone thinks about freebird in this day and age it is because of Guitar Hero.

And I never ever have played Night Fever ever..at a gig.

Stayin' Alive is a norm in this neck of the woods.

You are so wrong here..... It is the basis of many comedy skits, you have seen it in movies, and it just is the face of southern rock. If you were older you would understand.
 
You know what truly is sad..you have put together an awesome list..and I love the songs..I just can't see them as a top 10.

Same with Jeff's 80's list..and yours...collectively it looks like you two have nailed it for the most part.

Of course I am no expert...but still you two did a great job.
 
I think it is hilarious how we are all straying away from country?

This seems to be a small issue with me! LOL :sqlaugh:


But really...I would think a tune or two should make the top 10??

I dunno!


The 70's and 80's weren't huge for country, at least not like disco, new wave, and old school.... And I could be wrong, but I don't remember too much country music in the 70's either, though I sure know some big songs... But we're trying to define a decade by the songs, and I'm not sure country music defines the 70's or 80's with its songs....

I would definitely say I could fit some in the 1990's and 2000's.
 
The 80's weren't huge for country, at least night like disco, new wave, and old school.... And I could be wrong, but I don't remember too much country music in the 70's either, though I sure know some big songs... But we're trying to define a decade by the songs, and I'm not sure country music defines the 70's or 80's with its songs....

I would definitely say I could fit some in the 1990's and 2000's.

A song that comes to mind is ring of fire...but this is so topsy turvy.

Just kinda a thought as I have been rereading your lists.

But then a person could say country never really defined any decade really?

There was big hits in every decade..but yea..none really defined one. Interesting thought to ponder.
 
This is what his list is so far.

He must have changed his criteria but this is what he just sent me.... it goes back to the 1920's.

Name Time Album Artist
George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blu… 9:49 The 20's George Gershwin

Summertime 2:55 Billie Holiday

Somewhere Over the Rainbow 3:40 Judy Garland

This Land is Your Land 2:20 This Land is Your Land: The Asch Re… Woody Guthrie

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (Single) 2:44 5'O Clock Whistle [Alfred F. Jones FST] The Andrews Sisters

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 2:49 The Rolling Stone Magazines 500 Gr… Hank Williams

I Get a Kick Out of You 1953 3:13 Frank Sinatra

That'll Be the Day 1957 2:17 The Buddy Holly Collection Buddy Holly

Hound Dog 1957 2:20 Elvis: 30 #1 Hits Elvis Presley

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 2:56 50's Jerry Lee Lewis

Johnny B Goode 1958 2:42 Chuck Berry

I Want To Hold Your Hand 1963 2:27 1962-1966 [Disc 1] The Beatles

I Walk The Line 1964 2:45 Country Classics - Disc 1 Johnny Cash

Oh, Pretty Woman 1964 3:03 Romantic Collection Golden Vo Roy Orbison

The Times They Are A-Changin' 196… 3:17 Greatest Hits Bob Dylan

Like A Rolling Stone 1965 6:10 Greatest Hits Bob Dylan

The Sounds Of Silence 3:06 Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits Simon &
Garfunkel

My Girl 1965 2:44 Born On The Fourth Of July The Temptations

Stop! In The Name Of Love 3:00 The No. 1's Diana Ross & The Supremes

Respect 1967 2:29 Forrest Gump (Disc 1) Aretha Franklin

Good Vibrations 1966 3:39 Sounds of Summer Very Best Of- Beach Boys

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction 1965 3:50 Greatest Hits The Rolling Stones
Purple Haze 1967 2:45 Hendrix, Jimi

Fortunate Son 1969 2:20 Chronicle, Vol. 1 Creedence Clearwater Revival

Let It Be 1970 3:52 1967-1970 (Disc 2) The Beatles

Imagine 1971 3:05 John Lennon

Stairway To Heaven 1972 8:00 Mothership Led Zeppelin

Wish You Were Here 1975 5:21 Echoes: The Best Of Pink Floyd (Disc… Pink Floyd

bohemian raphsody 1976 5:54 Queen

Hotel California 1976 6:30 Their Greatest Hits The Eagles

Stayin' Alive transfer 1977 4:45 Saturday Night Fever (The Original … Bee Gees

I Will Survive 1979 4:49 Gloria Gaynor

Every Breath You Take 1983 4:13 Greatest Hits The Police

8675309 Jenny 3:47 Tommy Tutone

Billie Jean 1983 4:54 Thriller Michael Jackson

Jump 1984 4:02 The Best Of Van Halen, Vol. I Van Halen

Material Girl 1985 3:53 The Immaculate Collection Madonna

Livin' On A Prayer 1986 4:11 Cross Road Bon Jovi

Walk This Way 1986 5:13 Run DMC (feat. Aerosmith)

GUNS N_ ROSES - Sweet child of mine 5:56

One 1991 4:36 Achtung Baby U2

Smells Like Teen Spirit 1991 5:01 Nervermind Nirvana

Losing My Religion 1994 4:29 Out Of Time R.E.M.

Wannabe 2:53 Spice Spice Girls

Hit Me Baby One More Time 1999 3:32 Britney Spears

I Want It That Way 1999 3:33 Millennium Backstreet Boys

Since You've Been Gone 3:09 cd Kelly Clarkson

Complicated 4:06 Avril Lavigne

American Idiot 2:58 American Idiot Green Day

Hey Ya 4:11 Speakerboxx/The Love Below Outkast

Paper Planes 3:24 Kala (Bonus Track Version) M.I.A.

Poker Face 3:59 The Fame Lady GaGa

Empire State Of Mind 4:37 Blueprint 3 Jay-Z Ft. Alicia Keys
 
OK, Jeff, I'll do the 80's as well.. BTW, I could have posted Steve Earl for ya.... There was no doubt you would include him. :sqwink:

1. Like a Virgin.... Controversy and something "new".

2. Come On Eileen.... Nothing else like it.

3. Lady in a Red Corvette..... Without it, would Prince have become Prince?

4. Thriller..... I just screwed up... obviously this belongs here.

5. Fighting on the Same Side, by the Hooters... What, are you kidding me? Nope... when this song broke it paved the way for a major infusion of Philly music.... Robert Hazard, The A's, John Eddie, Tommy Conwell, Pretty Poison..... and a few more. I bet Philly artists put out 20 top ten hits in just a few years.

6. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.... written by Robert Hazard, and an iconic song for women... and even covered by Miley Cyrus ( yuck! ) Used in many TV commercials.

7. Ice Ice Baby.... a white dude rapping and people dancing to it 20+ years after its release?

8. Rapture.... I don't believe this myself, but some people credit Blondie with starting rap music.

9. I Love Rock and Roll... A hard rock anthem still sung today.... and from a woman... not too common back then for sure.... Plus, essentially, Joan Jett is a Philly girl.... Her hometown is real close to Philly.

10. Every Rose Has Its Thorn.... made it cool for all the hair band guys to sing sappy love songs. Think about that and see if I'm wrong....



I haven't been to bed yet, and I'm not awake enough to do my own list (yet), but...

I vote to remove Rapture and in it's place put in The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
 
I tried to take a stab at the 90s (my decade) and failed, because there are too many genres and sub-genres that people would consider characteristic of the 90s. I think that the same goes for the 80s, although I am surprised that nobody picked a song like "Take On Me" by Ah-Ha. ;)
 
OK, this will be hard since I really hate the hippy California music of the 60's.....

Again, No order.

1. The Twist.... popular then, and still popular.

2. White Rabbit.... because of the drug references.

3. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida..... hell, it was referenced in the Simpson's.

4. Purple Haze .... because there has to be at least one Jimi song

5. Mustang Sally / Midnight Hour.... 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.

6. I Heard it Through the Grapevine.... Great song... soundtrack, commercials, and singing grapes.

7. I Want You Back.... The Jackson 5's first single.... Michael Jackson will be a superstar.

8. Sweet Caroline.... As popular now as it ever was.

9. Hey Jude.... It is what it is....

10. Satisfaction... My favorite Stones song from the 1960's. And covered by Devo and Britney Spears. WoW!
 
Here's the deal. He wants songs that people feel best represent each decade from the 1940's until today.
Anybody want to help?
Thanks, to whomever helps. In 2 weeks I will compile them and send the list we have to him.

For the purpose of the homework excercise, may I suggest two?... for the late 1960's.........Buffalo Springfield - "For What It's Worth"...the lyrics best explain the reason for the pick...and The Rolling Stones - "Gimme Shelter"...who doesn't hear this song & think of Army helicopters or the Vietnam War?
 
The only time anyone thinks about freebird in this day and age it is because of Guitar Hero.

What?!?

Everybody knows the old bit of yelling "Freebird" at any live performance. Hell, they even do it in the Disney/Pixar movie Cars. Conan O'Brien wrapped up his last Tonight Show with a bunch of rock greats, Will Farrell and himself performing Freebird. I'm not particularly fond of the song, but it is somewhat legendary.
 
What?!?

Everybody knows the old bit of yelling "Freebird" at any live performance. Hell, they even do it in the Disney/Pixar movie Cars. Conan O'Brien wrapped up his last Tonight Show with a bunch of rock greats, Will Farrell and himself performing Freebird. I'm not particularly fond of the song, but it is somewhat legendary.

I think, really, it is Adam's age. He didn't live it.
 
I think it is hilarious how we are all straying away from country?

Well actually I had Steve Earle on my list and I really fought with weather to put Randy Travis on or not

The 70's and 80's weren't huge for country, .

I got to disagree with you there Chuck. If you weren't a country fan it may have been unnoticed but there were some big crossover hits

Dan Seals - Bop

Kenny Rogers - The Gambler

Kenny Rogers/ Sheena Easton - We've Got Tonight

Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton - Islands In The Stream

The whole Willy/Waylon outlaw thing

Kristofferson - Help Me Make It Through The night (which I believe was a defining moment...Alot of others tried to copy the style of this song and sounded sleazy...Think Lookin For Love)

Eddie Rabbit - Rainy Night/Drivin My life Away

Juice Newton - Queen of Hearts

And there are dozens more