Top 40 Greatest Songs on the Planet

I’ve wanted to put together a greatest songs list for probably a couple of years now. My goal was to produce a 25 greatest songs of all time list. I started with a list of about 50-60 and narrowed from there. When I felt I could not possibly remove another single GD song, I still had 33 left on the list. Shit is what I said. Now what. The “top 33 greatest songs of all time” seemed like a goofy number, so I went back to work giving a pardon to two songs that had been cut. Only I sucked at doing that too. So, the final result is I added back in 7 more and produced the top 40 greatest songs ever. Enjoy.

40. Grace Kelly, Mika (2007)

39. Good Vibrations, Marky Mark (1991)

My buddy Steve and I are not great dancers. We’re not the worst, but definitely not real good. EXCEPT. Except…when this song comes on. Then I assure you we are fucking fantastic.

38. Spirit in the Sky, Norman Greenbaum (1969)

37. Float On, Modest Mouse (2004)

36. Dreams, Van Halen (1986)

This was probably my favorite song for about 5 years. Then I started getting laid more often. There’s no real point with this other than I thought it would be kind of funny to put the word “laid” in here.

35. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen (1975)

34. Good Riddance, Green Day (1998)

It was a great ride Seinfeld!

33. London Calling, The Clash (1979)

Before it was a kick-ass ringtone to attach to your boss’ phone number, it was a helluva song.

32. Close to Me, The Cure (1985)

31. My Kind of Town, Frank Sinatra (1964)

If you’re not too familiar with this song, you need to give it a few run-throughs. It’s got a great build up in it from the beginning. Not nearly as dramatic as a Stairway to Heaven (Zeppelin) or All These Things (Killers), but impressive for being 46 years old.

30. The Story, Brandy Carlisle (2007)

29. Santeria, Sublime (1996)

Thanks for killing yourself douchebag.

28. What You Need, INXS (1985)

27. Living on a Prayer, Bon Jovi (1986)

Ahh..brings back good memories of my buddy Steve getting blown behind me while my other buddy Ryan yelled at parked cars for not moving. And Brett and I argued about who made a better Bon Jovi mix tape. All in one station wagon.

26. The Boxer, Simon & Garfunkel (1969)

25. Crazy Train, Ozzy Osbourne (1980)

Most of my personal bests in the gym have come while this song was on. I should make a playlist that is just 60 minutes of this song and then look out ladies.

24. Landslide, Fleetwood Mac (1975)

The Dixie Chicks remake of this blows just like they do, but Smashing Pumpkins did a shockingly good version.

23. The Scientist, Coldplay (2003)

Know how I know you’re gay? You made a Top 40 greatest songs list and Coldplay is the only repeat artist.

22. Strangers, The Kinks (1970)

21. Mo Money Mo Problems, Notorious BIG (1997)

Reminds me of driving home from work on Friday nights. Thanks Biggie.

20. Paint it Black, Rolling Stones (1966)

19. Yellow Ledbetter, Pearl Jam (1992)

In my pre-iTunes life, I would pray to the radio Gods that this song would get played. Inevitably, I would usually hear it about once a month, usually as the last verse was wrapping up. Then iTunes came along and I told the radio to fuck off.

18. Sabotage, Beastie Boys (1994)

17. We Can Work it Out, Beatles (1965)

16. All These Things, Killers (2005)

Ever hear a song and it makes you think you want to be a musician. For me it’s this song at about the 3 minute mark on. I just took a shot of confidence (Patron) and may go pick up my guitar for the first time in months. Should have rated this song higher.

15. Hook, Blues Traveler (1995)

XOXO

14. Fix You, Coldplay (2005)

13. Muzzle, Smashing Pumpkins (1996)

12. Moon River, Andy Williams (1961)

How can this be on here at 12 you ask? Dude, how can it not be? Probably the most beautiful song ever. God, the number of times I’ve gotten laid to this song…  [also not true, but again just seemed really funny]. But on a serious note, I do picture this being a song that an old couple would dance to on their 50^th wedding anniversary or something. They know their lives together are winding down to the end.  They’re thinking back to all the things they did together and the great run they had, and how they wouldn’t change a thing. And how they still can’t wait to wake up next to each other the next morning. That’s real love.

11. Over The Rainbow, IZ (1993)

This plays at the end of the episode where Dr. Green dies, my father-in-law says he wants it played at his funeral, and it makes me remember trips to Maui when my boys were little. Maybe the lead singer of Sublime was listening to this shit and couldn’t take it anymore.

10. Faithfully, Journey (1983)

9. Somewhere Only We Know, Keane (2004)

The best song to come out this decade. My only question is will it hold up another 10  years from now.

8. Follow You, Follow Me, Genesis (1978)

7. I Want You Back, Jackson 5 (1969)

6. More Than a Feeling, Boston (1976)

Some of my best speeding tickets when I was young came while this song was on.

5. Two Step, Dave Matthews Band (1996)

The most underrated song in this history of music. And Ice Cream Man by Van Halen.

4. Peace Train, Cat Stevens (1971)

3. In a Big Country, Big Country (1983)

Speaking of true love, I almost killed me and my wife in the car one day while we were dating because I was so excited this stupid song came on. You know, there was something kind of charming about the radio and dying to hear a song get played. Our generation will be the last to know what that feeling was like.

2. Solsbury Hill, Peter Gabriel (1977)

The 1990 version of this song gets the #2 nod, The original would get dinged back to the 20s or 30s.

1. Where the Streets Have No Name, U2 (1987)

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