Top Ten Songs Poll

Today is the deadline for votes in Norm's 10 best songs poll.

I'm asking you all to send me your ten (10) choices for the greatest songs of rock and pop music. The background to this is that, for his fiftieth birthday, my friend Drew compiled his top 50 of same, and a formidable list it is. Being prone to this kind of thing myself, I am in the process of compiling my own list - of which more in due course. The exercise is what inspired this poll.

Here's are the votes of the Cheadle Hulme jury:

Blue Öyster Cult: Astronomy Specifically the live version from 1977's "Some Enchanted Evening". It's one of those song for which I can always remember the first time I heard it. Forget the lame cover by Metallica, forget the overplayed 'Reaper' or the lumbering 'Godzilla'. This is why BÖC are one of my favourite bands.

Rainbow: Stargazer. It wasn't for many years that I realised it was partly a ripoff of 'Kashmir'. But I still love the song.

Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb. While everybody thinks of that solo, the entire song is a classic.

Deep Purple: Highway Star. Just turn it up to eleven!

Queensrÿche: Breaking the Silence. Operation Mindcrime is one of those albums where it's difficult to single out one great song; they're all great. But this one's my favourite.

Rush: La Villa Strangiato. 'An exercise in self-indulgence' So you have a problem with that?

Marillion: This is the 21st Century. Marillion may be old lags, but they're not into endlessly recycling their past; this one's very modern-sounding with it's loops and samples, and just gets stuck in your head.

Yes: Gates of Delerium I'd be letting my reputation slip if I didn't include a side-long 70s prog-rock epic. The closing 'Soon' section has to be one of the most spine-tingling bits of symphonic rock ever recorded.

Dream Theatre: Disappear. DT are known for amazing chops and endless solos. But this song shows how amazing they can be when they keep it simple. What Radiohead might have sounded like if Thom Yorke could actually sing.

Budgie: Wildfire. Amazing what three Welshmen could do with four chords and a lot of energy. Who needs punk? Brings back memories of barnstorming live performances from the early 80s.

Posted by TimHall at January 16, 2005 05:11 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Funny you should mention Budgie.

They are still on the go! Saw them twice last year. Still rockin, just to smaller and older audiences!

Posted by: Ian Bayntun on January 17, 2005 11:25 AM

Who's in Budgie nowadays? I vaguely remember they'd reformed with the original mid-70s lineup.

Posted by: Tim Hall on January 17, 2005 06:28 PM

Looks like Burke Shelly's still there and the guitarist is Simon Lees. Guitarist Magazine guitarist of the year no less! http://www.simonlees.co.uk/
Don't know about the drummer though but he only hits things anyway :-)

Posted by: Chris on January 21, 2005 10:34 PM


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