100 Best Songs Ever (20-29)
The months have flown by since I started listing my favorite songs, and we're edging closer and closer to my top picks!
29. Wannabe (Junior Vasquez Remix Edit) / 2 Become 1 / Spice Girls / 1996
More than a decade ago, the local radio station used to do this Saturday Night Hot Mix mash up of all the best club remixes thrown together for hours of danceable bliss. That’s when I heard this and fell in love. It took me years to find it again as I found various mixes of “Wannabe” only to be disappointed when it wasn’t the one. Finally, I came across this track on the girls’ “2 Become 1” single. Yes: Peppy brass and fabulous dance beat, here I come!
28. Wannabe / Spice / Spice Girls / 1996
This song holds very significant meaning for me. I was in middle school. I was a geek with braces, glasses and a far from perfect complexion. Then I heard this song. And I read about the artists. And I discovered ‘Girl Power’! From there, everything changed. I suddenly started to embrace my quirkiness and even though social circles in school were still stressful, it became easier to cope. This song will forever remain every bold girl’s anthem, from the opening laughter to the rap in the bridge, to the crazy lyrics and cheerleader vocals. It left no doubt about these girls’ strength and positivity, and helped define a generation. I was, and will always be, a Spice Girl fan.
27. Edge Of The Ocean / Long Distance / Ivy / 2001
Like many people, the first time I heard this was on Grey’s Anatomy. I immediately fell in love with the laidback groove and sweeping orchestrations. It’s the perfect song for a day at the beach, lounging on the sand (or driving along the coast). It gives you a feeling of floating or flying. The lyrics mention rekindled romance with shades of previous failure, but I never feel less than euphoric when I listen to this.
26. Little Lies / Tango In The Night / Fleetwood Mac / 1987
I vividly remember hearing this on the radio when I was a kid. Even as a 5-year-old, I recognized the magic in this song. The vocals are complete bliss and everyone recognizes the ghostly intro. In a way, this is a timeless song. There are a few elements that scream late 80s, but so much more makes this song accessible even by today’s standards. You can still hear it on the radio: There’s no mistaking its appeal.
25. Return to Innocence / The Cross of Changes / Enigma / 1994
During Enigma’s popularity boom, they released this surreal track. With Thai chants, electric guitars, strong drums, and inspirational lyrics, there had never been anything like it before. It’s been featured on countless shows, movies, etc. The drumbeat was sampled from Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks” (who knew)? It stirred all kinds of craziness, good and bad, and even resulted in a lawsuit regarding the borrowed chant vocals. Still, it continues to inspire me and lift my spirits. The remixes are all fantastic too, but the original has a charm never duplicated.
24. The Sign / The Sign / Ace of Base / 1994
This was truly the song that jumpstarted Ace of Base’s domination. It was different than everything else on the radio back then. Inspired by the budding electropop music scene and yesteryear’s dance tunes, Ace of Base burst onto the radio waves with this extraordinarily addictive tune and took the world by storm. The distinctive drumloop and synth melody is the song’s trademark, and are instantly recognizable.
23. What Else Is There? / The Understanding / Royksopp / 2005
Another spooky electronic tune, I discovered this on Pandora Radio. Royksopp has a reputation for producing outstanding chillout tunes and this is no exception. The video really gives you the ultimate thrill, but the song alone is enough to give you the creeps. Like other songs on my list, it has eerie melodies that create an ethereal musical atmosphere. This gives you the impression of walking (or floating) through a dark afterworld alone (watch the video). I’d never heard the trippy ending until I downloaded the track: What a crazy conclusion! I love it.
22. Miracle / Extra Virgin / Olive / 1996
A friend from England turned me onto Olive. The band no longer exists, but for a few years they were the definition of chillout triphop. The opening track on their debut left no doubt in their musical intention: They’re all about spooky chords and somber vocals (provided by Ruth-Ann Boyle). This is wonderfully hypnotizing and melodic, putting the listener into a musical trance. It’s a longer track, but makes the most of every second. Not meant to be rushed, it has minimal arrangements combined into a rich soundscape. It’s perfect for a night drive, but might freak you out (don’t say I didn’t warn you).
21. Every Breath You Take / Synchronicity / The Police / 1983
Can you blame me for including this? It’s only the most brilliant stalker song in the history of man, and arguably the bands’ best song. It topped charts everywhere and can be heard on radio stations to this day. The brilliance of the song shines in the seemingly sweet words that shadow a much darker intention. The effective guitar riff doesn’t hurt either as it shuffles along with the vocals. The bridge sees a little piano sprinkled here and there, and it really makes for a much tender interpretation of obsession.
20. Free Me (Full Intention’s Freed Up Radio Edit) / Free Me / Emma Bunton / 2004
Emma hit the spot with her retro-inspired album Free Me, and the title track was no exception. Even better than the album version is this club remix, which seems to give the track a stronger sensual flavor. It’s more earnest, less slinky than the original and much more in-your-face, which I love. The pulsing music makes me want to get up and go without hesitation. Emma sounds fabulous and extremely sexy: So long, Baby Spice!
29. Wannabe (Junior Vasquez Remix Edit) / 2 Become 1 / Spice Girls / 1996
More than a decade ago, the local radio station used to do this Saturday Night Hot Mix mash up of all the best club remixes thrown together for hours of danceable bliss. That’s when I heard this and fell in love. It took me years to find it again as I found various mixes of “Wannabe” only to be disappointed when it wasn’t the one. Finally, I came across this track on the girls’ “2 Become 1” single. Yes: Peppy brass and fabulous dance beat, here I come!
28. Wannabe / Spice / Spice Girls / 1996
This song holds very significant meaning for me. I was in middle school. I was a geek with braces, glasses and a far from perfect complexion. Then I heard this song. And I read about the artists. And I discovered ‘Girl Power’! From there, everything changed. I suddenly started to embrace my quirkiness and even though social circles in school were still stressful, it became easier to cope. This song will forever remain every bold girl’s anthem, from the opening laughter to the rap in the bridge, to the crazy lyrics and cheerleader vocals. It left no doubt about these girls’ strength and positivity, and helped define a generation. I was, and will always be, a Spice Girl fan.
27. Edge Of The Ocean / Long Distance / Ivy / 2001
Like many people, the first time I heard this was on Grey’s Anatomy. I immediately fell in love with the laidback groove and sweeping orchestrations. It’s the perfect song for a day at the beach, lounging on the sand (or driving along the coast). It gives you a feeling of floating or flying. The lyrics mention rekindled romance with shades of previous failure, but I never feel less than euphoric when I listen to this.
26. Little Lies / Tango In The Night / Fleetwood Mac / 1987
I vividly remember hearing this on the radio when I was a kid. Even as a 5-year-old, I recognized the magic in this song. The vocals are complete bliss and everyone recognizes the ghostly intro. In a way, this is a timeless song. There are a few elements that scream late 80s, but so much more makes this song accessible even by today’s standards. You can still hear it on the radio: There’s no mistaking its appeal.
25. Return to Innocence / The Cross of Changes / Enigma / 1994
During Enigma’s popularity boom, they released this surreal track. With Thai chants, electric guitars, strong drums, and inspirational lyrics, there had never been anything like it before. It’s been featured on countless shows, movies, etc. The drumbeat was sampled from Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks” (who knew)? It stirred all kinds of craziness, good and bad, and even resulted in a lawsuit regarding the borrowed chant vocals. Still, it continues to inspire me and lift my spirits. The remixes are all fantastic too, but the original has a charm never duplicated.
24. The Sign / The Sign / Ace of Base / 1994
This was truly the song that jumpstarted Ace of Base’s domination. It was different than everything else on the radio back then. Inspired by the budding electropop music scene and yesteryear’s dance tunes, Ace of Base burst onto the radio waves with this extraordinarily addictive tune and took the world by storm. The distinctive drumloop and synth melody is the song’s trademark, and are instantly recognizable.
23. What Else Is There? / The Understanding / Royksopp / 2005
Another spooky electronic tune, I discovered this on Pandora Radio. Royksopp has a reputation for producing outstanding chillout tunes and this is no exception. The video really gives you the ultimate thrill, but the song alone is enough to give you the creeps. Like other songs on my list, it has eerie melodies that create an ethereal musical atmosphere. This gives you the impression of walking (or floating) through a dark afterworld alone (watch the video). I’d never heard the trippy ending until I downloaded the track: What a crazy conclusion! I love it.
22. Miracle / Extra Virgin / Olive / 1996
A friend from England turned me onto Olive. The band no longer exists, but for a few years they were the definition of chillout triphop. The opening track on their debut left no doubt in their musical intention: They’re all about spooky chords and somber vocals (provided by Ruth-Ann Boyle). This is wonderfully hypnotizing and melodic, putting the listener into a musical trance. It’s a longer track, but makes the most of every second. Not meant to be rushed, it has minimal arrangements combined into a rich soundscape. It’s perfect for a night drive, but might freak you out (don’t say I didn’t warn you).
21. Every Breath You Take / Synchronicity / The Police / 1983
Can you blame me for including this? It’s only the most brilliant stalker song in the history of man, and arguably the bands’ best song. It topped charts everywhere and can be heard on radio stations to this day. The brilliance of the song shines in the seemingly sweet words that shadow a much darker intention. The effective guitar riff doesn’t hurt either as it shuffles along with the vocals. The bridge sees a little piano sprinkled here and there, and it really makes for a much tender interpretation of obsession.
20. Free Me (Full Intention’s Freed Up Radio Edit) / Free Me / Emma Bunton / 2004
Emma hit the spot with her retro-inspired album Free Me, and the title track was no exception. Even better than the album version is this club remix, which seems to give the track a stronger sensual flavor. It’s more earnest, less slinky than the original and much more in-your-face, which I love. The pulsing music makes me want to get up and go without hesitation. Emma sounds fabulous and extremely sexy: So long, Baby Spice!
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