100 Best Songs Ever (1-10) !
This is one of my newest addictions. I discovered Ellie on Pandora online radio, and I’m so glad I found her! She’s a true original artist, and I love that she writes her own songs. This wasn’t the first song of hers I heard, but it’s definitely my favorite. The sounds throughout this song are heavenly with rich chords, catchy synthesizers, acoustic guitars and thick vocals layered all around your ears. Ellie’s voice is extraordinarily unique, with a distinct British accent and playful undertone. She sounds whimsical and inspired, intense and real. I have to blast this song when I hear it. The production is divine!
The Best Part: 2:29-3:15
9. Intuition (Ford’s Extended Mix) / Intuition / Jewel / 2003
Who’d have thought I’d include both an acoustic and dance track from Jewel in my list? Say what you will about Jewel’s take on contemporary pop culture during this period, but I thought she nailed it and had fun at the same time. There are several great remixes of “Intuition”, but this one tops my list. I love a good spooky sounding track, and something about the distant echoes throughout this song make me feel as though I’m running from something unknown. It gets my heart going, and is great for long drives in the night. The production is fantastic and not overdone with just the right amount of pulsing synthesizers during the chorus and energy-boosting percussion. I highly recommend this for workouts!
The Best Part: 4:29-4:52
This is one of Jewel’s older compositions and it finally made it on to an album! When Jewel was younger she trained operatically, and it really shows here. She’s aching for her lover, and I love the sentiment in her voice. Her low tones are rich and precise, and her beautifully controlled falsetto is simply breathtaking. It’s such a beautiful track: She must have been touched by an angel when she wrote this. It’s so real, so honest, and such a completely spellbinding track. There’s just enough minimal percussion and echoes of sound to give the impression of intensity. It’s like an inner burning. Fabulous!
The Best Part: 3:00-3:49
7. Stoned (Spiritchaser Mix) / Life For Rent (UK CD2 Single) / Dido / 2003
This remix is better than the original in some ways. I like the chords in the chorus even more, and the dance beat adds another spunky element. The remix is perkier than the original and consequently loses some of its sadness. This is one of my favorite long-drive songs. I come back to it whenever I’m driving along the coast. It helps take me to another place. When the percussion drops out during the bridge and it’s nothing but whimsical chords and Dido’s voice, the effect is just magical.
The Best Part: 3:48-4:49
6. Stoned / Life for Rent / Dido / 2003
This is definitely my favorite track from Life for Rent. In a way, it sticks out from the rest of the album like a sore thumb, but that makes it even more special. This is everything I look for in a great electronic tune: Rich and moving chords, otherworldly beeps, a persistent drumbeat and a somber atmospheric feel. This song was my anthem during some difficult emotional times, when I was attempting to get back in touch with myself. I love the way the sounds fade out until it’s just the piano at the very end. It’s is a bit of an enigma, a song with extremely sad lyrics but a sunny instrumental disposition, and that makes it brilliant.
The Best Part: 5:13-5:55
Before Eminem sampled Dido’s “Thank You” for his song “Stan”, I discovered No Angel on the store rack. The cover art looked cool, and the critics commended the album, so I bought it, even before hearing anything on it. As soon as I popped it in my player, I was floored: This was absolutely fantastic! I think I played this song five times before moving to the next track. It’s one of the most heartbreaking and yearning love songs ever, and Dido’s voice sounds sweet, sensual and desperate. I love drama in a song, and this envelopes it. The track took several years to create from start to finish, and its quality is undeniable. The strings, the electronic bass and mysterious percussion in the breaks: It all fits.
The Best Part: 1:19-2:53
Even Paul McCartney loves this song! Every once in a while, something nearly perfect comes out of the music world, and in 1966 this song was it. Despite all the controversy regarding the song’s title (someone’s releasing a song with ‘God’ in the title?!) it topped charts around the world. The instrumentation and arrangement of this song make it a masterpiece, and it’s one of the most honest love songs ever. So simple, but so incredibly real. It almost brings tears to my eyes, it’s so good. Like a fine wine, it just seems to get better with age.
The Best Part: 1:43-2:16
When Madonna’s album Ray of Light came out, I was a nerdy high school girl who wanted to be friends with everyone. I felt like I was ready to explode and this song perfectly captured my state of mind. The airy opening leading into driving synths and the addictive rhythm had me hooked. The lyrics are intuitive but still accessible, making it an extremely catchy tune. I love how the end feels like it just won't quit. This was one of the first songs that really put the electronica genre in the limelight, and helped make Ray of Light my favorite Madonna album. It’s probably still in my top ten albums ever.
The Best Part: 4:09-4:40
2. All Is Full of Love (Video Version) / Greatest Hits / Bjork / 2002
No collection of mine would be complete without this song. The original album version is beautiful, but this one takes the cake. If I had to pick one song to make love to, it might be this. It’s one of the most heightening and emotional tunes ever. I love the organic percussion and building melodies, with the ghostly strings and playful clarinet accents. The sitar is absolute brilliance. It’s no wonder this song was picked number one by Bjork’s own fans.
The Best Part: 2:11-3:40
My quintessential dance tune and instant courage-booster, this is the song that got me hooked on Bjork. Before I found this music video online in 2003 (Bjork dancing atop a truck bed for thousands of New Yorkers to witness), I thought Bjork was a rock band. When I heard this for the first time, I got major goosebumps. How could a little lady envelope so much excitement, uncertainty and joy all at the same time? I fell quick and hard for Bjork’s undeniable musical expression. Within a month of hearing this, I bought her entire discography. For several months, everything was Bjork, and she never left my cd player. Something about this song is magical, almost ethereal: The pulsing instrumentations, electronic arpeggios and her clear voice ring out so pure and true. This screams innocence and youth and I love that Bjork is referring to life in general as she sings this, not just relationships. "It takes courage to enjoy it: The hardcore, and the gentle, big time sensuality." I have a love affair with this song that will last a lifetime.
The Best Part: 3:44-4:09
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