My 50 favorite songs

A few months ago I promised I would write about my 50 favorite songs. Well, as it turns out, it’s not easy to choose 50 favorite songs. I like a lot of songs. Also – it’s hard to write a post like this when you’re living in Australia and traveling and sleeping and eating and basically just doing lots of other things.

Before we get started, here are a few things you should know:

– I did not use multiple songs from the same artist, which made it difficult to choose from some of my favorite bands like The Beatles, The Who, and Led Zeppelin.

– I did not include any jazz or classical songs – every song on here is post-1960.

– If I didn’t include those two qualifiers, the list would look entirely different and would be populated by only a handful of artists. Plus it’s just non-sensical to compare Beethoven with The Rolling Stones.

– I tried to be as honest as possible. I don’t think there are any embarrassing songs on here, but I really tried to make the list my true top 50 rather than what I thought would look best.

– Like my movies post, I didn’t rank them 50-1, because that would be impossible. The songs are just listed in alphabetical order.

– If you’re unfamiliar with the song or artist, do yourself a favor a click on the link. I wouldn’t steer you wrong.

– And finally, I chose these songs for a variety of reasons. They don’t necessarily have the best lyrics or the coolest guitar solos. I chose these songs because they define different points of my life. I associate them with the best experiences I’ve ever had. This is an entirely personal list.

**

A Day In the Life, The Beatles

All Right Now, Free

All Star, Smash Mouth

Angels, Robbie Williams

Beer, Reel Big Fish

Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen

Box of Rain, Grateful Dead

Chelsea Dagger, The Fratellis

Closing Time, Semisoni

Come on Eileen, Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Dialogue, Chicago

Dream On, Aerosmith

Drops of Jupiter, Train

Free Bird, Lynyrd Skynyrd

Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival

Get Up Offa That Thing, James Brown

Gimme Shelter, The Rolling Stones

Hook, Blues Traveler

If I Could Give All My Love (Richard Manuel is Dead), Counting Crows

Imagine, John Lennon

Iris, Goo Goo Dolls

Jesus, Etc., Wilco

Kashmir, Led Zeppelin

Landed, Ben Folds

Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan

Maggie May, Rod Stewart

Magnificent, U2

Nothing Ever Hurt Like You, James Morrison

Ocean, John Butler Trio

Ohio, CSNY

Old Enough, The Raconteurs

One Headlight, The Wallflowers

The Only Living Boy in New York, Simon & Garfunkel

Rock’n Me, Steve Miller Band

Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), Bruce Springsteen

Semi-Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind

Times Like These, Foo Fighters

Tiny Dancer, Elton John

Too Much, Dave Matthews Band

Try a Little Tenderness, Otis Redding

Under Cover of Darkness, The Strokes

Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Jimi Hendrix

Wake Up, Arcade Fire

Walcott, Vampire Weekend

The Way, Fastball

A Whiter Shade of Pale, Procul Harum

Werewolves of London, Warren Zevon

White Rabbit, Jefferson Airplane

Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd

Won’t Get Fooled Again, The Who

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