July 18, 200619 yr Author 25 Arcade Fires - Rebellion (Lies) (2005 UK#19) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNfWC4Sgkcs.swf The 4th single from last year's fantastic critically acclaimed debut album "Funeral" from this Canadian band suggests great things for the future.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 24 Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights (1978 UK#1) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxWatcP8Mao.swf This debut single by Britain's greatest female singer/songwriter features Pink Floyd's David Gilmour on guitar. This video is the rarer Red Dress version.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 23 Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (1983 UK#1, US#1) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVRGw_BR2PA.swf This song IS Michael Jackson at his best & helped him (along with the Thriller album) become the "King Of Pop". Remember him this way.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 22 Led Zeppelin - Kashmir (1975 Led Zep never did singles) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66kt_jmng3E.swf Taken from 1975s Physical Graffiti. The greatest collective four musicians (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones & the late great John Bonham) to bestride the planet. Show me a Queen fan & you can guarantee that they have not listened to the greatest Rock'n'Roll Band EVER & their back catalogue beyond Stairway to Heaven & Whole Lotta Love. The most imitated band in Rock History but no one has got close IMHO.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 21 Aimee Mann - Wise Up (1999 never a single) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86ZOUkSnGk0.swf Taken from the fantastic Magnolia soundtrack which incorporated the music of the critically acclaimed Canadian/Boston based singer songwriter Aimee Mann. This video is taken directly from the movie & this heartbreaking song was nominated for an Oscar but sadly did not win.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 20 Kinks - Waterloo Sunset (1967 UK#2) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEx2UX1MSL4.swf This is arguably the best song written about London. Ironically, Ray Davies' first lyrics for the song were about the death of Merseybeat (the song was originally titled Liverpool Sunset), but he wisely changed it.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 19 Madonna - Like A Prayer (1989 UK#1, US#1) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icrUkBaSefs.swf Over the years since it's release, this song has become Madonna's most popular track amongst her fans & the public. Sadly you never hear the original single anymore with the Prince guitar solo fade-out.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 18 Radiohead - Paranoid Android (1997 UK#3) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d5dG-H3oFo.swf The lead track from their 3rd & best album to date - the groundbreaking OK Computer. The Oxford-based band readily admit that this was their attempt at writing their Stairway To Heaven or Bohemian Rhapsody. IMHO they succeeded.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 17 Oasis - Live Forever (1994 UK#10) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay8Wu-jY7ew.swf This Noel Gallagher penned track from their debut album Definitely Maybe was about comparing themselves to the Beatles - something that a lot of critics have done since. However it does little to disguise the fact that this song is brilliant & up their with the best of the Beatles back catalogue. I have enclosed the little seen US video.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 16 Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb (1980 Never a single) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJOyykaFfnU.swf This song from The Wall concept album is a perfect example of Dave Gilmour & Roger Waters collaborating at their best. Does anyone remember the movie The Wall starring Bob Geldof in the lead role of "Pink"? This video is taken from their show stopping one-off Live 8 comeback, the first time they had played together for 25 years!
July 18, 200619 yr Author 15 Annie - Chewing Gum (2004 UK#25) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa_220QkumU.swf In my opinion the best pop song of the 21st Century so far. I just do not understand how this piece of pop heaven from Norway's answer to Kylie failed to spend weeks & weeks on top of the UK singles charts.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 14 U2 - With Or Without You (1997 UK#4, US#1) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li99qCf100w.swf The lead track taken from their 1987 seminal album the Joshua Tree. One may run it close, but this remains my favourite U2 song.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 13 David Bowie - Heroes (1977 UK#24) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PYCN93HshI.swf This video features a rare UK performance by the David, appearing on the last ever Marc Bolan show, a week before Marc died. This song has become an anthem to many people over the years (especially in Eastern Europe) - making it's lowly chart position of the time, now seem deeply mystifying. [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koxR3pnlzrE.swf While here is his performance opening up the 2001 concert for N.Y. 911 victims.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 12 Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven (1971 Never a single) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK-CCTlZ6z4.swf Yes it is THAT song. Taken from their biggest & (arguably their) best album - Four Symbols. Any act worth their sort will try & produce their own Stairway To Heaven. Interestingly this track took 27 Hrs to record with minimal overdubs, whilst Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody took over 250 Hrs to record. Examples include: 1. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody 2. Oasis - Champagne Supernova 3. Metallica - One 4. Radiohead - Paranoid Android 5. Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection 6. Meat Loaf - Paradise By The Dashboard Lights 7. Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond 8. Foo Fighters - Everlong
July 18, 200619 yr Author 11 Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush - Don't Give Up (1986 UK#9) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsJUrt7XLtQ.swf Taken from Peter Gabriel's So album this song is about the uselessness a man feel when he is unemployed & the support his partner/wife gives him to keep him going. A deeply moving lyric matched by the wonderful vocals of Peter & Kate. Remember in the 1980s unemployment did not fall below 2,000,000 & the population was nearly 10 million lower than what it is today within the UK.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 10 John Lennon - Imagine (1971 US#3, 1975 UK#6, 1981 UK#1) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj8LR25HeJA.swf The first record I ever bought. The utopian lyrics may have dated, but the sentiment remains, especially at times of conflict. Of course this song will forever have a poignancy that it never had whilst John was alive due to the tragic way he was gunned down by a fan.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 09 Propaganda - Duel (1985 UK#21) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBpkbJEnBTY.swf This German act featuring Claudia Brucken on vocals were part of the ZTT stable in the 1980s. Forget Frankie Goes To Hollywood, ABC, Seal, Dollar, Grace Jones, etc - this is Trevor Horn's finest 4minutes as a producer on a song that never made the Top20.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 08 Vitamin C - Graduation (Friends Forever) (1999 UK Flop!, US #4) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t33USBlh6I.swf I to this day, do not understand how this gigantic US hit single / college anthem failed to chart in the UK. Still at least Andy McCluskey (ex-OMD), has admitted he took inspiration from the song to write the very similar (& massive UK#1) Whole Again for Atomic Kitten.
July 18, 200619 yr Author 07 The Beatles - Hey Jude (1968 UK#1, US#1) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD3ovfZXO5Q.swf This song spent 9 weeks at #1 in America & was the biggest selling single of the 1960s in the USA. Paul originally wrote this song about John's oldest son Julian, after John had split from his first wife Cynthia to move in with Yoko Ono. Of course he changed the lyrics from Hey Jules to Hey Jude & the rest is history. Altogether now: "Na Na Na Na-na-na-Nah, Na-na-na-Nah, Hey Jude..."
July 18, 200619 yr Author 06 Crowded House - Better Be Home Soon (1988 UK Flop, US #40) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOenp3MUnh0.swf This song is there only Australian chart topping single, taken from their second album Temple Of Low Men. I would recommend their Best Of: Reoccurring Dreams to anybody. This song was played at their drummer Phil Hester's funeral.
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