100 Best Songs Ever (70-79)
Continuing my Best Songs Ever, you'll see I was on a Yanni kick...
79. Teenage Dream / Teenage Dream / Katy Perry / 2010
I don’t remember when I started liking Katy, but I do remember hearing this and really enjoying it immediately. It isn’t very complicated, it doesn’t have a ton of substance and it’s something most middle school kids understand completely, but despite its young appeal, or maybe because of it, I’ve fallen in love with it. I think we all want to hang on to our youth, and this song simply exudes that feeling of careless and passionate young love. Throw caution to the wind and let your guard down!
78. The End of August / In My Time / Yanni / 1993
Happy tears in a song: That’s how I describe this. I’ve loved it since I heard it years ago. Even as a teen I loved it so much I taught myself how to play the violin melody. It’s a difficult song to play, actually. But it flows effortlessly and makes for a very romantic listen. I like to think of this as a complete and content ending to something. The piano twinkles against the violin, and there’s a perfect musical conversation between the two. Just gorgeous!
77. Chasing Shadows / Chameleon Days / Yanni / 1988
This is my favorite track from Chameleon Days. Another song that doesn’t quit from start to finish, this gives me a feeling of driving along the coast on a warm summer evening as the sun sets, lots of palm trees blowing in the breeze. Yeah, it’s repetitive, but that makes it better: You can’t go wrong with a great arrangement, so why not repeat it? This has a very tropical flavor, and Yanni utilizes his favorite effect (the pitch-bend) throughout.
76. Point of Origin / Out of Silence / Yanni / 1987
When I hear this, I imagine fighting in a battle of epic proportions, and firing the final shot to seal the deal. The title of this song really makes sense: The track builds and builds until it explodes during the climax. It’s easy to describe a movie as packed with action, but in this case fits perfectly with this song too. This is like infinite intensity.
75. Looking Glass / Keys to Imagination / Yanni / 1986
Yanni is not just about hitting a note and holding it for an hour, and this proves it. Sure, it opens with melodic echoes and a dreamy dulcimer-like instrument, but patience pays off as the uplifting synths sweep in just after the first minute. After another stretch of flying-like chords, the percussion and driving electronics really take off. There are quiet arpeggios that continue throughout the whole song, complimenting the dominant melodies. This is a really ethnic track, totally timeless in its appeal.
74. Meet Me in the Red Room / Moulin Rouge! / Amiel / 2002
When I heard the snippet of playful brass from this song in the film, I wondered what it was. I had no idea what the name of the song was, or who wrote it. The music sounds like something from the 1940s, but the lyrics are especially intriguing and sensual. When I read this song title on the back of the films second soundtrack disc, I knew I had it in my hands. It’s a very silly and sexy song, with lots of innuendos, cooing and sighing: One of my guilty pleasures.
73. El Tango de Roxanne / Moulin Rouge! / Various Artists / 2001
This is such a showstopper! Every performance is emotional and intense. The tango flavor combined with the classic composition from The Police is an unlikely pairing, but you’d never guess it would have turned out like this. It sounds like an entirely new piece of work. If you’ve seen the film, you know how dark and dangerous the movie is by the time this song plays. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ll get a good sense of the obsession this represents. The violin soloist did a superb job! I only wish the spoken intro was included in the album version.
72. Weak / It’s About Time / SWV / 1992
I heard this in the salon the other day, and it reminded me what a wonderful song this is. It hit number one in the US and helped nudge the R&B/pop movement into the mainstream. The vocal arrangement is so dynamic and unique, but still extremely easy to sing, which is a rare combination. The harmonies are tight, effective and emotional. Without a lot of instrumentation, it relies heavily on the vocals, and the girls don’t disappoint.
71. All The Things She Said (Dave Aude Extension 119 Club Edit) / All The Things She Said / t.A.T.u. / 2002
Say what you will about these girls, but you can’t deny the impact this had on pop culture. The original track is brilliant, but of course I prefer track mixes, and this one is absolutely gorgeous. It speeds right in and doesn’t stop. The energy is contagious and makes you want to put the pedal to the medal. It takes you high and low simultaneously.
70. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) / I Am… Sasha Fierce / Beyonce / 2008
Long after the hype surrounding this died down, I finally discovered it. Fashionably late! I love this song (just like many other people do). It’s totally innovative. I usually don’t enjoy things without a lot of melody but this is an exception. The video certainly has a lot of spice too! Beyonce really nailed the delivery. She’s an extraordinary vocalist and totally shines here. I’ve never heard a drumbeat quite like the one in this song.
79. Teenage Dream / Teenage Dream / Katy Perry / 2010
I don’t remember when I started liking Katy, but I do remember hearing this and really enjoying it immediately. It isn’t very complicated, it doesn’t have a ton of substance and it’s something most middle school kids understand completely, but despite its young appeal, or maybe because of it, I’ve fallen in love with it. I think we all want to hang on to our youth, and this song simply exudes that feeling of careless and passionate young love. Throw caution to the wind and let your guard down!
78. The End of August / In My Time / Yanni / 1993
Happy tears in a song: That’s how I describe this. I’ve loved it since I heard it years ago. Even as a teen I loved it so much I taught myself how to play the violin melody. It’s a difficult song to play, actually. But it flows effortlessly and makes for a very romantic listen. I like to think of this as a complete and content ending to something. The piano twinkles against the violin, and there’s a perfect musical conversation between the two. Just gorgeous!
77. Chasing Shadows / Chameleon Days / Yanni / 1988
This is my favorite track from Chameleon Days. Another song that doesn’t quit from start to finish, this gives me a feeling of driving along the coast on a warm summer evening as the sun sets, lots of palm trees blowing in the breeze. Yeah, it’s repetitive, but that makes it better: You can’t go wrong with a great arrangement, so why not repeat it? This has a very tropical flavor, and Yanni utilizes his favorite effect (the pitch-bend) throughout.
76. Point of Origin / Out of Silence / Yanni / 1987
When I hear this, I imagine fighting in a battle of epic proportions, and firing the final shot to seal the deal. The title of this song really makes sense: The track builds and builds until it explodes during the climax. It’s easy to describe a movie as packed with action, but in this case fits perfectly with this song too. This is like infinite intensity.
75. Looking Glass / Keys to Imagination / Yanni / 1986
Yanni is not just about hitting a note and holding it for an hour, and this proves it. Sure, it opens with melodic echoes and a dreamy dulcimer-like instrument, but patience pays off as the uplifting synths sweep in just after the first minute. After another stretch of flying-like chords, the percussion and driving electronics really take off. There are quiet arpeggios that continue throughout the whole song, complimenting the dominant melodies. This is a really ethnic track, totally timeless in its appeal.
74. Meet Me in the Red Room / Moulin Rouge! / Amiel / 2002
When I heard the snippet of playful brass from this song in the film, I wondered what it was. I had no idea what the name of the song was, or who wrote it. The music sounds like something from the 1940s, but the lyrics are especially intriguing and sensual. When I read this song title on the back of the films second soundtrack disc, I knew I had it in my hands. It’s a very silly and sexy song, with lots of innuendos, cooing and sighing: One of my guilty pleasures.
73. El Tango de Roxanne / Moulin Rouge! / Various Artists / 2001
This is such a showstopper! Every performance is emotional and intense. The tango flavor combined with the classic composition from The Police is an unlikely pairing, but you’d never guess it would have turned out like this. It sounds like an entirely new piece of work. If you’ve seen the film, you know how dark and dangerous the movie is by the time this song plays. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ll get a good sense of the obsession this represents. The violin soloist did a superb job! I only wish the spoken intro was included in the album version.
72. Weak / It’s About Time / SWV / 1992
I heard this in the salon the other day, and it reminded me what a wonderful song this is. It hit number one in the US and helped nudge the R&B/pop movement into the mainstream. The vocal arrangement is so dynamic and unique, but still extremely easy to sing, which is a rare combination. The harmonies are tight, effective and emotional. Without a lot of instrumentation, it relies heavily on the vocals, and the girls don’t disappoint.
71. All The Things She Said (Dave Aude Extension 119 Club Edit) / All The Things She Said / t.A.T.u. / 2002
Say what you will about these girls, but you can’t deny the impact this had on pop culture. The original track is brilliant, but of course I prefer track mixes, and this one is absolutely gorgeous. It speeds right in and doesn’t stop. The energy is contagious and makes you want to put the pedal to the medal. It takes you high and low simultaneously.
70. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) / I Am… Sasha Fierce / Beyonce / 2008
Long after the hype surrounding this died down, I finally discovered it. Fashionably late! I love this song (just like many other people do). It’s totally innovative. I usually don’t enjoy things without a lot of melody but this is an exception. The video certainly has a lot of spice too! Beyonce really nailed the delivery. She’s an extraordinary vocalist and totally shines here. I’ve never heard a drumbeat quite like the one in this song.
Comments
Post a Comment