15 on 15 - Top Songs of All Time
D | Wednesday, February 15, 2006

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Derek's Top 15 Songs of All Time*
For anyone who mails me a copy of their Top 15 burnt on a CD (or just mails me a blank disc), I will make you a mix of my Top 15 and mail it back to you. I would love to exchange as many discs as possible (within all copyright laws, of course).

15. Fire on the Mountain, Marshall Tucker Band
This was the first song I ever learned on guitar. It is the song I learned the guitar to be able to play. My version sounds a little different than Tucker's original (undoubtedly). To this day, if someone says, "Play me something" I play this or Hotel California.

14. Wicked Game, Chris Isaak
Every time I hear this song, I just want to get naked and roll around on the beach. My favorite "sex song" of all time.

13. Come Pick Me Up, Ryan Adams
For anyone who has ever had a bad break-up... I first heard this song when a friend played it for me out at Philmont and I immediately loved it. This song conveys the precise sounds and rhythm and emotion I feel when I am totally dejected. Although I know it's not true to my own life, when I find myself wallowing in self-misery I play this song and imagine that I am the singer and that my woman has left me to for my friend.

12. Help Me Rhonda, The Beach Boys
I can only attribute this to one woman, my highschool crush. I remember the first night we kissed. After I drove her back to her car, I rocked out my Volvo station wagon with all the windows down at midnight (it was November and very cold), blasting chorus after love-struck chorus of Help Me Rhonda. Also, to this day, I have no idea what the first line of this song is: "Well since she put me down, I've been out doin' in my head." What?

11. I Don't Mind, Tabasco Donkeys (307kb PDF, page 46)
I doubt a single person who reads this blog has heard this song. It was written by a Philmont Staffer describing why we love being there and all the other crap in life that we really "don't mind" if you were to take away from us (loans, offices, desks, dress-up clothes, etc). I memorized this song and used it in reflections when I was a Ranger.

10. Movement #4, Marsch, from Symphonic Metamorphosis, Hindemith
A little known piece by a little known 20th Century German composer, Paul Hindemith. I was fortunate enough to sight-read this piece once when I was in highschool. It was amazing. The brass sections just rip chords and have this soaring theme. And the whole piece is in march tempo and at the end (if you find a good rendition) it just cooks. The very end always made me want to play french horn - these powerful glissandos - fabulous.

9. Cheek to Cheek, Sinatra
I know there are a lot of versions of this song, and I know this is not a Sinatra original, but I've heard the other versions and I like his the best. Whenever I hear this song, I want to get up and dance cheek to cheek. It makes me want to move. That's pretty magical.

8. You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin', The Righteous Brothers
She's lost that lovin' feelin' Goose. No Mav, no she hasn't - I hate it when she does that. How many unsuspecting women have been the victim of this song at my hands? Too many, for sure. I actually re-enacted this scene from Top Gun for presentation in highschool, which means I sang this song, in public, before grade school students, many, many, many times.

7. We Didn't Start the Fire, Billy Joel
I know every word. Word-for-word. Not that I know all the historic significance of the names and places, but hey, I know every word to the song. When we went to parties in highschool, we would quite literally perform this song (also the next song on my list). And you can't go wrong with almost any Billy Joel song.

6. The Devil Went Down to Georgia, Charlie Daniels Band
Ever heard of "air-fiddle"? It's a lot like playing "air guitar" to your favorite rock ballad. "Air-fiddle" or "air-fiddling" was invented in highschool when myself and my friend Josh would re-enact the song. One guy was The Devil and one guy was Johnny and when required, we would get into fiddle position and go absolutely crazy. And in case you are wondering (like I once was), the confusing line is "Granny does your dog bite? No child, no."

5. The Gambler, Kenny Rogers
The second song I learned on guitar (taught to me be Jack, which should say something about how many times he had to play this song with me over and over and over). Because we had nothing else to play and since I only knew about five chords, we actually just kept changing the tempo and phrasing of The Gambler so I could practice. In one version, I am pretty sure we put it in 3/4 time which made it sound like a rap song. And every time I play this song for someone from the South, they go, "Why are you playin' that so darn fast?" "Blame Jack," I say.

4. Duel of the Fates, John Williams
My favorite Star Wars piece. My favorite John Williams piece. This track came out my senior year of highschool just before the theatrical release of The Phantom Menace. I can remember recording the music video off the television so I could listen to this music. I once played this in the car for my brother and a friend of his while we were driving somewhere. After about 2 minutes, the friend turns to me and goes, "Are you trying to scare the shit out of us, Derek?" The chorus work is haunting. And the pattern of the song, which repeats 3x, just builds and builds. Amazing. I can't listen to this song without conducting those brass staccatos on each off-beat.

3. Buckeye Battle Cry, TBDBITL
The fight song of my alma mater. This sends chills down my spine. If you have never been to an OSU game, sat in that horseshoes, heard the band, felt that excitement, you don't know what you are missing.

2. Enter Sandman, Metallica
This was my first introduction to "hard rock" (if it can even be called that nowadays). I loved this song instantly and it will probably remain my number 1 rock song of all time. I don't know what to say about this - it just kicks ass. When I want to get really fired up about something, I put this in and crank the volume.

1. Movement #4, Allegro con Fuoco, from The New World Symphony, Dvorak
This is my favorite piece of music ever. The entire Ninth Symphony is exceptional, but the 4th movement, the Finale, is the coup de grace. Right form the beginning, it grabs you and pulls you in. It gets your attention and for all 9 minutes just captivates you. The theme is interesting and playful, yet my favorite parts are the brass crescendos which just belt out this wonderful melody. Admittedly, one reason why I love this piece so much is that the Lakota marching bands played an amazing arrangement of the entire 9th Symphony the year before I started and two years after I graduated. So while I never got to play these pieces, I knew them and love them because that is just how much of a super-dork I am.

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Other receiving votes that you've heard of (in no particular order):
Everything I Do (I do it for you), Bryan Adams; November Rain, Guns and Roses; Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen; Eternal Father,The Navy Hymn; Mack the Knife, Bobby Darin; For Whom the Bell Tolls, Metallica; One Song Glory, Rent The Musical; New Mexico Rain, Rod Taylor and others (p.24); Hotel California, Eagles; My Hero, Foo Fighters; Callin' Baton Rouge, Garth Brooks; Anyway You Want It, Journey; Pianoman, Billy Joel; Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice; Alex F, Harold Faltermeyer; Hang on Sloopy, The McCoys; American Pie, Don McLean; It Don't Mean a Thing (if it ain't got that swing), Duke Ellington arranged for marching band

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Others receiving votes that you probably haven't heard of, but should download (in no particular order):
The General and Outloud, Dispatch; Homeward Bound, Simon and Garfunkel; Dixieland Delight, Alabama; Closer to Fine, Indigo Girls; Sell Out, Reel Big Fish; Remember When it Rained, Josh Groban; Durham Town, Roger Whittaker; Standing Outside the Fire, Garth Brooks; Paradise, John Prine (p.34); Southern Accent, Johnny Cash/Tom Petty; Just to See You Smile, Tim McGraw; Angel, Aerosmith

*Again, recall these are only my personal list. My list would be different if I was working for Rolling Stone and trying to compile a "Top 15" most influential songs of American rock and roll or something.

D | 2/15/2006 06:31:00 AM | Post your comment

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Comments:

RE: We Didn't Start The Fire


http://www.rareexception.com/Garden/Eighties/Fire.php

RE: The rest. Great call on Dvorak. I've always been kinda pissed at John Williams for lifting half his work from Dvorak, though.
 Craig | February 15, 2006 7:34 AM | permalink
 

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Mine is up here.
 IrishBrooke | February 15, 2006 9:44 AM | permalink
 

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No Unforgiven II? For shame.
 Ruvym | February 15, 2006 10:48 AM | permalink
 

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OK, somehow I messed up the link and linked to your page. My list can actually be found here.
 IrishBrooke | February 15, 2006 11:39 AM | permalink
 

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Nice list, D.
Mine's here.
 Alex | February 15, 2006 6:05 PM | permalink
 

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This has got to be the best 15 on 15 to date. Excellent work everyone (especially Craig who made a Top 30 and wrote about each and every song with a dedicated post - Wow).

Brooke
Craig
Ruvym
Alex
Ashley
 D | February 16, 2006 1:35 AM | permalink
 

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A success indeed; this 15-On-15 is spreading like wildfire. You thought mine was going to be "highbrow?" Interesting assumption. Yours was actually more highbrow than I expected; ironic isn't it? So for next month, what about video games? That might be too hard to be honest. Hmmm... What about girlfriends? I haven't even had 5, so that would be hard. Maybe actors/actresses? TV shows? I'll try to think of more.
 Ruvym | February 16, 2006 2:06 AM | permalink
 

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OK, I'll comment on yours song-by-song like I did for Alex's:

15. Don't know it.

14. Ditto.

13. Great song - another one of those that proves that sometimes Ry-Ry can stop being an ass long enough to write a good song. Ever heard the Counting Crows cover? If not, I'll include it on the next CD I make for you. It's pretty sweet.

12. Like it.

11. Never heard it (not surprising).

10. Never heard it. Would I have liked playing horn on it?

9. Never heard it, but I like Sinatra's voice.

8. How could anybody not love this song?

7. Like it.

6. Ah, the air fiddle. Very fun song.

5. Like it.

4. Not familiar with pieces in Star Wars.

3. Not familiar with it. Not big on fight songs of any school (even my own).

2. I'm not really a Metallica person.

1. I like Dvorak, but I'm not familiar with the specific compositions.

So to sum up: I like Ryan Adams when he's writing non-sucky songs. Oh, and I'm impressed with the country showing in your list, particularly considering how often I hear people say, "I like all music except country." (And on that note, I'll have to include Robbie Fulks' "Every Kind of Music But Country" on your next CD.)
 IrishBrooke | February 17, 2006 3:29 PM | permalink
 

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My suggestion: Top 15 television series, with a strong suggestion that you mention your favorite episode in the description.
 IrishBrooke | February 18, 2006 1:21 PM | permalink
 

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Sorry, I'm a little late!

1. In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
2. With or Without You - U2
3. The Space Between - DMB
4. It's Been Awhile - Staind
5. It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World - James Brown
6. Fire and Rain - James Taylor
7. Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
8. Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
9. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
10. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
11. Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd
12. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
13. Gett Off - Prince
14. Better Man - Pearl Jam
15. Belief - Gavin DeGraw
 Kate | February 19, 2006 2:37 PM | permalink
 

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you were wrong. someone did read this site who knew who the tabasco donkys are/were. i was actually looking for the chords to "I don't mind."
 chris | January 09, 2007 12:48 AM | permalink
 

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Chris,
Did you find the chords? I NEED them. Please. I'm going to cry if I can't play this song. :(
I love the Donkeys so so much.
(IWGBTP!!)
 DCMS | February 26, 2007 11:45 PM | permalink
 

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You can find the chords for I Don't Mind here:

http://www.pineapplefish56.net/TobascoDonk.html
 D | February 27, 2007 12:13 AM | permalink
 

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Derek, I'm so glad that is one of your favorites. Mine too, but if it wasn't for you I would be putting "Track 16" (I know it's 19 now, but it's #16 on the CD I happened upon from a friend in Memphis of a friend in Kansas of a friend in New Mexico... whew!). I just googled 'Tabasco Donkeys song list' hoping I would find the names to their songs. They're awesome!!
 Nick | January 18, 2008 10:48 AM | permalink
 

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I know the Tabasco donkeys! Yeeahhh Philmont!
 Anonymous | August 09, 2008 6:46 AM | permalink
 

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