100 Best Songs Ever (40-49)
My next batch of favorites spans almost thirty years and covers a wide variety of genres.
49. Drowned World/Substitute For Love / Ray of Light / Madonna / 1998
Before I listened to Ray of Light the first time, I knew the album was going to be epic. I wasn’t expecting to be totally blown away by the first track. This sets the tone for the entire album. Madonna spent a lot of time vocally training for her role in Evita, and recorded this album in the same time period. It really shows: Madonna has never sounded more pure and mature. Her confusion and honesty in this song is very real. The music is gorgeous and the lyrics really hit home. This is one of my favorite songs to sing when I warm up.
48. Happy Up Here / Junior / Royksopp / 2009
In stark contrast to another track I love from Royksopp, this song makes me grin from ear to ear every time I hear it. Even on my worst day this would never fail to pick me up. Opening with genuine laughter and continuing with playful lyrics, the drums thump and bounce, with synths that happily tease your ears. The track builds and builds into an explosion with a wall of sound. I’m not quite sure what this song is about, but that’s not the point: The only thing I want to do while listening to this is enjoy life and get lots of sunshine. I only wish it was longer!
47. Like A Prayer / Like A Prayer / Madonna / 1989
Admit it: Somewhere deep down, amidst all the controversy, you enjoy this. In modern times, the controversy pales in comparison to most of Lady Gaga’s work anyway. Still, this track made waves all over the world. The music is brilliant and Madonna sounds fabulous. But the video took shock and awe to a whole new level. I never saw the video until I was much older, but I always loved the song. Speculation has surrounded the lyrics for years, but the melody is simply divine. The choir adds a touch of class and serious spirituality to what would otherwise be just another Madonna dance track. I think it’s brilliant.
46. Witness / Surfacing / Sarah McLachlan / 1997
For me, this track is Sarah’s most beautiful and haunting. The waltz time signature gives it a whimsical feel while the haunting vocals create mystery. Many of the tracks on Surfacing have great tinges of rock and this is no exception. The bridge is fantastically emotional. It’s great that Sarah is singing from a sinner’s perspective, very ambivalent and honest. The thoughts in this song are easily relatable and very human. Sarah never sugarcoats her songs, and that makes them brilliant.
45. Summer Rain / At the End of a Perfect Day / Chris de Burgh / 1977
More than anything, this song has sentimental value. It’s one of the first songs I remember listening to (and singing along with) when I was very little. It was common to hear Chris de Burgh in the car during road trips, and this song was my very favorite of his. As I got older I learned to appreciate many of his tunes, but this one continues to make me smile and tap my foot. It has the quality many songs from the 1920s and 30s had, a melancholy simplistic melody that rings true no matter what age you are. Despite the veil of sadness, there’s something incredibly uplifting about it. The brass is the real highlight.
44. Take On Me / Hunting High and Low / a-ha / 1985
Yet another essential 80s tune, the video for this song really made a statement. I remember hearing about it before I saw it, which made for huge publicity. The song finally topped the charts after a full year of release. Musically, it has all kinds of staccato rhythms and melodies that dance all over the place. I remember blasting this on the radio years ago and I continue to crank it up when I hear it now.
43. Always Something There to Remind Me / Burning Bridges / Naked Eyes / 1983
If I’m not mistaken, Burt Bacharach who originally wrote this song in the 1960s actually preferred this version. It has all the elements of a 1980s track with a certain uniqueness thrown in. The tubular bells in the intro and outro really make it something special, and are ultimately my favorite part of the song. The verses aren’t particularly impressive, but as soon as the chorus starts it wins you over. If this isn’t one of your favorite 80s songs you must not have a pulse…
42. It Feels So Good (The Conductor & The Cowboy Amnesia Mix) / It Feels So Good / Sonique / 2000
I had to include this. It’s one of the best remixes I’ve ever heard. Rarely does a remix eclipse the original, but this one might. It flutters along with so much energy; it’s hard not to speed in the car when I listen to this. It’s actually quite repetitive, but what it lacks in variation it makes up for with inspiration. I feel like I can take on anything when I hear this song. Less desperate than the original, I like the happier demeanor of this version.
41. Running Up That Hill / Hounds of Love / Kate Bush / 1985
My mom played this for me and my sister when we were really young, and even back then I loved it. It sneaks in like a ghost and then the commanding drums start. Everything about this song is distinctive. It epitomizes Kate Bush’s entire career. There was even a bit of controversy regarding the subject of ‘God’ in the lyrics. Who would have thought? It’s a brilliant song, and the bridge is particularly powerful.
40. Caribbean Blue / Shepherd Moons / Enya / 1991
I distinctly remember hearing this on the radio the same time Mariah Carey’s “Can’t Let Go” was circling the airwaves. This new age Celtic track made a big impression on popular radio, and for good reason. It dances along gracefully, the raindrop arpeggios echoing around Enya’s magnificent oohs and aahs. This is a timeless song, with instruments that sound like they’re from the 18th century surrounded by modern electronic flavors. Enya’s vocals are so pure she could be singing something as old as time itself.
49. Drowned World/Substitute For Love / Ray of Light / Madonna / 1998
Before I listened to Ray of Light the first time, I knew the album was going to be epic. I wasn’t expecting to be totally blown away by the first track. This sets the tone for the entire album. Madonna spent a lot of time vocally training for her role in Evita, and recorded this album in the same time period. It really shows: Madonna has never sounded more pure and mature. Her confusion and honesty in this song is very real. The music is gorgeous and the lyrics really hit home. This is one of my favorite songs to sing when I warm up.
48. Happy Up Here / Junior / Royksopp / 2009
In stark contrast to another track I love from Royksopp, this song makes me grin from ear to ear every time I hear it. Even on my worst day this would never fail to pick me up. Opening with genuine laughter and continuing with playful lyrics, the drums thump and bounce, with synths that happily tease your ears. The track builds and builds into an explosion with a wall of sound. I’m not quite sure what this song is about, but that’s not the point: The only thing I want to do while listening to this is enjoy life and get lots of sunshine. I only wish it was longer!
47. Like A Prayer / Like A Prayer / Madonna / 1989
Admit it: Somewhere deep down, amidst all the controversy, you enjoy this. In modern times, the controversy pales in comparison to most of Lady Gaga’s work anyway. Still, this track made waves all over the world. The music is brilliant and Madonna sounds fabulous. But the video took shock and awe to a whole new level. I never saw the video until I was much older, but I always loved the song. Speculation has surrounded the lyrics for years, but the melody is simply divine. The choir adds a touch of class and serious spirituality to what would otherwise be just another Madonna dance track. I think it’s brilliant.
46. Witness / Surfacing / Sarah McLachlan / 1997
For me, this track is Sarah’s most beautiful and haunting. The waltz time signature gives it a whimsical feel while the haunting vocals create mystery. Many of the tracks on Surfacing have great tinges of rock and this is no exception. The bridge is fantastically emotional. It’s great that Sarah is singing from a sinner’s perspective, very ambivalent and honest. The thoughts in this song are easily relatable and very human. Sarah never sugarcoats her songs, and that makes them brilliant.
45. Summer Rain / At the End of a Perfect Day / Chris de Burgh / 1977
More than anything, this song has sentimental value. It’s one of the first songs I remember listening to (and singing along with) when I was very little. It was common to hear Chris de Burgh in the car during road trips, and this song was my very favorite of his. As I got older I learned to appreciate many of his tunes, but this one continues to make me smile and tap my foot. It has the quality many songs from the 1920s and 30s had, a melancholy simplistic melody that rings true no matter what age you are. Despite the veil of sadness, there’s something incredibly uplifting about it. The brass is the real highlight.
44. Take On Me / Hunting High and Low / a-ha / 1985
Yet another essential 80s tune, the video for this song really made a statement. I remember hearing about it before I saw it, which made for huge publicity. The song finally topped the charts after a full year of release. Musically, it has all kinds of staccato rhythms and melodies that dance all over the place. I remember blasting this on the radio years ago and I continue to crank it up when I hear it now.
43. Always Something There to Remind Me / Burning Bridges / Naked Eyes / 1983
If I’m not mistaken, Burt Bacharach who originally wrote this song in the 1960s actually preferred this version. It has all the elements of a 1980s track with a certain uniqueness thrown in. The tubular bells in the intro and outro really make it something special, and are ultimately my favorite part of the song. The verses aren’t particularly impressive, but as soon as the chorus starts it wins you over. If this isn’t one of your favorite 80s songs you must not have a pulse…
42. It Feels So Good (The Conductor & The Cowboy Amnesia Mix) / It Feels So Good / Sonique / 2000
I had to include this. It’s one of the best remixes I’ve ever heard. Rarely does a remix eclipse the original, but this one might. It flutters along with so much energy; it’s hard not to speed in the car when I listen to this. It’s actually quite repetitive, but what it lacks in variation it makes up for with inspiration. I feel like I can take on anything when I hear this song. Less desperate than the original, I like the happier demeanor of this version.
41. Running Up That Hill / Hounds of Love / Kate Bush / 1985
My mom played this for me and my sister when we were really young, and even back then I loved it. It sneaks in like a ghost and then the commanding drums start. Everything about this song is distinctive. It epitomizes Kate Bush’s entire career. There was even a bit of controversy regarding the subject of ‘God’ in the lyrics. Who would have thought? It’s a brilliant song, and the bridge is particularly powerful.
40. Caribbean Blue / Shepherd Moons / Enya / 1991
I distinctly remember hearing this on the radio the same time Mariah Carey’s “Can’t Let Go” was circling the airwaves. This new age Celtic track made a big impression on popular radio, and for good reason. It dances along gracefully, the raindrop arpeggios echoing around Enya’s magnificent oohs and aahs. This is a timeless song, with instruments that sound like they’re from the 18th century surrounded by modern electronic flavors. Enya’s vocals are so pure she could be singing something as old as time itself.
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