#9

LINKIN PARK - NUMB

Points - 82

Average Score - 10.25

EYes, Chez Wombat(15)

 

I am not at all surprised that Numb becomes Linkin Park's highest placing. It's not my favourite but it does seem to resonate more with the public than any of their other tracks. If anything on this site I expected them to peak higher especially considering what I feel are a couple of surprises in the top 10.

#8

WHITESNAKE - HERE I GO AGAIN

Points - 83

Average Score - 10.375

RiseR, Gavin Deejay, Chez Wombat(15)

 

And speaking of those surprises. I would never have picked this to be such a favourite. Very much the epitomy of 80s hair Metal, Whitesnnake however, had been around since 1978 and singer David Coverdale was formerly of Deep Purple. This song is perhaps better known for it's 1987 re-recording although that wasn't specified in the nominations.

Brilliance for most of these as expected, particularly Bring Me To Life, Chop Suey, Uprising (by far and away my favourite of theirs), Kings And Queens, Seven Nation Army, Numb (basically most of the newer ones oops..)

 

Shame Uprising couldn't quite make the top 10 but very pleased System Of A Down managed it, been really getting into that track a lot of late.

#7

PINK FLOYD - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL

Points - 94

Average Score - 10.444

Chartpopfreak, Chez Wombat(15)

 

Perhaps suggesting that Pink Floyd's 1979 album has the most popular of their songs on it their only #1 single comes in at #7. It would be the final UK #1 of the 1970s and something of an oddity for a Christmas hit. Once again Roger Water's channelled his childhood traumas into a protest song on strict educational regimes and boarding schools. Despite receiving an initial payment of £1000 the scholl choir later filed for royalties which made each and everyone of them really rather wealthy in the end.

Numb is ok. I dont think I'd have paid it much attention if it wasn't for the Encore Mashup. I prefer What I've Done, Crawlin, In the End Break the Habit.

#6

LED ZEPPELIN - STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

Points - 97

Average Score - 10.777

Chartpopfreak, Chez Wombat, Charlie(15)

 

An all time genuine Rock classic now in the shape of a song whose intro is so well known that it became a gag in Wayne's World. Taken from their 4th album, variously known as Four Symbols, Led Zeppelin IV or simply Led Zeppelin it was the album that cemented their legend. The song itself finally became a hit single in 2007, a full 36 years after it first found fame. Whilst it was tempting to add the video for their hilarious poor Live Aid performance I felt obliged to do the track justice by playing an unofficial video.

Only 5 songs to go now and can perennial chart toppers Bohemian Rhapsody and Smells Like Teen Spirit hold of potential modern classics like Knights Of Cydonia and Welcome To The Black Parade. Or will Boston's More Than A Feeling sneak in and steal this from more widely acclaimed fare?

#5

NIRVANA - SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT

Points - 98

Average Score - 10.888

Chartpopfreak, Severin(15)

 

Nirvana's breakthrough hit has repeatedly topped more modern best of lists from the NME right through to Absolute Radio and beyond but here on Buzzjack it falters into a comparatively low position of #5. Nevertheless it remains a true anthem for a generation and has an almightly riff right at the heart of it. Kurt's vocal is raw and impassioned and Dave Grohl is a powerhouse behind the kit. It's quite easy to forget just how importnat Nirvana were back in 1991/2 and just how much they shifted the emphasis of what was considered the Rock mainstream.

#4

QUEEN - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Points - 98

Average Score - 10.888

Chartpopfreak, Dircadirca, Chez Wombat(15)

 

And now the other perennial poll topper - Bohemian Rhapsody. Probably the most famous and well loved Rock song of the 1970s (in the UK at least). A bizarre melding of Rock, Ballad and Opera it somehow just works. Freddie's bold vision had the band wondering what the Hell he was on about when he first played them the song, stood up midway through and said 'This is where the Opera comes in'. But they went with it and produced an enduring classic.

Not the two I expected to drop first from the top 5!

#3

BOSTON - MORE THAN A FEELING

Points - 100

Average Score - 10.111

Chartpopfreak, Gavin Deejay, Chez Wombat, Charlie(15)

 

If only this had come in next to Nirvana's Teen Spirit. The similarity between the 2 songs is not particularly subtle and Kurt himself acknowledged this. Writer Tom Scholz himself credits The Left Bank's Walk Away Renee as his inspiration for the song although the similarities are less obvious.

If you had asked me a the start if this would score so highly I'd have been sceptical but it isn't unworthy of this placing.

 

 

And that leaves just the top 2 as both 21st century acts. Muse and My Chemical Romance. Will the passing of time look as favourably on them as it has to the other acts in this countdown?

Edited September 14, 201410 yr by Severin

I would never have predicted the Top 2.

 

Smells Like Teen Spirit is great but they're a highly overrated band.

#2

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE

Points - 81

Average Score - 11.571

Eyes, Chez Wombat, Charlie(15)

 

 

#1

MUSE - KNIGHTS OF CYDONIA

Points - 96

Average Score - 12

Eyes, Gavin Deejay, Chez Wombat, Charlie(15)

 

And so My Chemical Romance pull up in 2nd place with Muse taking the crown with a 12 point average.

 

MCR's Black Parade is as far as I can recall the last proper, non campaign related, UK #1 Rock hit (although I'm probably forgetting something) and its position here is probably indicative of their one time popularity. For a brief while they really connected with a lot of people. It is perhaps no coincidence that the eternally loved Queen are an influence on both bands in the top 2.

As for Muse's Knights Of Cydonia it owes as much to The Tornados' Telstar as it does Queen and 70s Sci Fi Space Rock with a video referencing Westerns and the Buck Rogers TV show.

Both of these tracks have a somewhat over the top style but both are worthy of their final positions.

 

 

 

Thanks to all that contributed and I can only apologise for the drawn out nature of the countdown. I only hope it didn't drag out so long that no one cares anymore.

Edited September 14, 201410 yr by Severin

No surprise that Knights of Cydonia won when Chez Wombat was allowed to give it 15, twice. :P

Well, thanks for finishing it Severin, no matter how long it took. It's been an interesting read, and a very lovely (if unexpected) top 2.

 

I do prefer Welcome To The Black Parade ever so slightly but KOC is one of Muse's best songs so no complaints at it taking the crown and in some ways I'm not really surprised, there is nothing but love for it from the sorts of people who'd vote here. Although I am surprised Smells Like Teen Spirit was only 5th in the end, thought on seeing the top 5 that it'd be 2nd at least.

I can honestly all of that top 10 would be in my all time favourites so whatever result I would've been happy with - Knights of Cydonia is a brilliant epic, overture-like opera and MCR is amazing as it is, but I hold a lot of memories towards it which makes it extra special. One of my favourite UK number 1s ever for sure. They may not be as classic as the three below them (all amaze too ofc.), but I do think they, or at least MCR, have potential to be remembered over time, especially is pure rock is so sporadic in the charts these days, they'll definitely be remembered as perhaps some of the last truly big hits of that genre, or at least until something else pops out of the blue one day.

 

Thanks for finishing this Severin, however long it took. Was a great countdown.

No surprise that Knights of Cydonia won when Chez Wombat was allowed to give it 15, twice. :P

 

Looks like I managed to spell Eyes wrong somehow :lol:

Marvellous results all round. Any of the top five would have been worthy winners, maybe one of the first three to fall would have been more fitting but I completely adore "Knights of Cydonia" (and Black Parade for that matter) so incredibly pleased that it ended up winning.

Wow! I'm shocked Muse won! Fantastic song. :D

I got bored of Knights of Cydonia after a few weeks. It's still great fun live.