80. "Black" by Pearl Jam (Ten)
Yeah, I know. Totally obvious and totally "safe" pick. But I really do think this is a great song. One of the few by Pearl Jam that I still like. Boy did they get annoying quickly.
Line: "I know some day you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a sun in somebody else's sky but why, why , why can't it be, why can't it be mine?"
79. "Who Needs Sleep?" by Barenaked Ladies (Stunt)
There's that damned band again...
This song probably wouldn't even have made it on this list a year ago. I just never listened to this album that much, and when I did, I just kind of ignored this song. Then one day I messed up putting songs on my mp3 player, it ended up in the play list, and I was like, "Wait, where the fuck did this little ditty come from? And is that a flute?" Indeed. Indeed it is. The most surprising thing is that I didn't pay attention to it even though it's about insomnia, which I've had off and on battles with since high school.
Line: "Now I lay me down not to sleep."
78. "Regret" by New Order (Republic)
So, what happens when one of the biggest Electronica/ New Wave/ whatever you want to call it bands of the '80s puts out their newest synth-pop album the same year Nirvana's Nevermind, Pearl Jam's Ten, and Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream come out and totally destroy the known musical landscape? Well, it gets ignored, like Republic did. Shame, too, because it's got some of their best music on it. This one may not be the best, but it's my favorite.
Line: "Maybe I've forgotten the name and the address of everyone I've ever known, but there's nothing I regret."
77. "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak (Heart Shaped World)
Yeah, I'm a total fag for this song, I'll admit it. And Jesus that is one sexy ass video. Oh. The song. Right. It's awesome. And did I mention the video? Dayum. In seriousness, though, there are very few songs that are delivered with this much passion. And if you actually put your dick away and listen to the lyrics, it's just a phenomenally written song. 4 and a quarter stars, says Ed McMahon. (And if you get that reference you get a prize.)
Line: "I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you. And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you."
76. "Sound" by James (Seven)
This will probably be one of the songs that cause me to go deaf. At which point I will become irreversibly depressed and take out my anger on frogs. Why frogs? Why not? Sorry, just in a goofy ass mood tonight. Really though I crank the shit out of this song. The live version below was from the "farewell" James show, in 2001. (Luckily 7 years later they got back together and released the outstanding Hey Ma.) Sorry, I'm tired, keep getting sidetracked. Let's try this again. The live version below is from the "farewell" James show, in 2001. They released the show (or shows, actually - they played two shows, then took the best bits of each) as a live double album that spanned pretty much their entire career up til then, and this song was one of the main highlights. The album version is a bit shorter (yeah, sorry bout that 10 minute running time...) and a little better, I think, especially at the end, when it just descends into chaos. This version is pretty damn good too, though. I especially like the little tribute to his dad around the 7:45 mark. Nice little touch.
Line: "Do everything you fear. In this there's power. Fear is not to be afraid of."
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2 comments:
Who needs sleep is by far one of my favorite BNL songs.
"Black" is an awesome song. It's still one of my faves, though I don't cry over it any more!
And yes with "Wicked Game." Did you ever hear Chris Isaak talk about the making of that video? Says he thinks he creeped Helena Christianson out. Or something to that effect.
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