Top Ten Songs of 2009
December 22, 2009
Filed under Music
Music critics are compiling their Best Of Lists for 2009 now, like the critics over at The New York Times. Sunday`s edition saw lists from Jon Pareles, Ben Ratliff (Jazz), Nate Chinen and Jon Caramanica. I`m reviewing their picks to see what they most value. I was surprised by the number of bands that I have still not experienced yet. The Grizzly Bears look interesting. As do the Dirty Projectors and Animal Collective. I`ll need to get with it!
Nevertheless, I did experience around a million other projects this year, so I`ll give you my Top Ten Songs of 2009 for now.
10. Party in the USA-Miley Cyrus This Bubblegum Ditty has been careening through the circuit board of every dude or chick that stomps the sacred soil of Mother Earth. Our Miley-Songbird has pipes that shatter champagne glasses and rattle subway platforms. Everybody is all the way with this one!
9. The Fixer-Pearl Jam-When Somethings cold, Lemme put a little fire on it. Backspacer easily had the best art work, by Tom Tomorrow. The Fixer, along with a strong cup of Java, will blast you out of the sack, and give you a shot of adrenalin to wrestle a bear with and maybe even take out the trash.
8. Baby Boomer-Monsters of Folk I picked this one up at Starsbucks as a freebie on itunes. Very catchy! I keep listening for the line about Vietnam. The way they exchange vocals here reminds me of The Travelin` Wilburys.
7. Hang You From The Heavens-The Dead Weather-Good vocals by Allison Mosshart and great guitar by Dean Fertitta. I Cut Like A Buffalo will blow you off your computer stool too!
6. Poison Arrow-Sonic Youth-Yes, I`ve included two Sonic Youth cuts. The Eternal is a must have!
5. Tomorrow Never Knows- Revolver-The Beatles-John`s reading on The Tibetan Book of the Dead along with a little pill that Timothy Leary use to promote. Simply the most original and influential Beatles song! I think of it as a new release with the re-masters! That`s not cheating. It`s not really a reissue since it`s completely remastered with new pics and documentary features. Revolver is one peak too.
4. Scumbag Blues-Them Crooked Vultures-Rock is resurrected from the dead with Them Crooked Vultures! Discover and nurture these 15 cuts.
3. Anti-Orgasm-Sonic Youth-The Eternal is maybe the best album for 2009. The return of punk is consummated. Not in an incubator, fully realized Art-Punk. Love the cover, a swirling ball of fire, right out of an astronomy textbook.
2. Bad Romance-Lady Gaga-You must include the video with this one. Arty and commercial in the same breath. Nice music, great dancing and she`s helping the economy too. Gaga is a compilation of disco, pop and avant garde art, but she`s totally original. Gaga is our Rubik`s Cube for the 21st Century!
1. Wild Horses-Susan Boyle-I would skip this track when playing The Stones` Sticky Fingers. But it`s one of Jagger/Richards best songs, really. When Susan sings it you can hear the lyrics clearly. It`s just unusual to hear Susan Boyle sing it. You immediately hit replay to see if you can figure it out this time. Highlight of the year.
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Many people are too astonished, and still unaccepting of Susan Boyle’s success. Kudos to you for naming Wild Horses the number one song of the year – I couldn’t agree more. Susan has broken many records, achieved multi-platinum in just 4 weeks in several countries, is the oldest person ever to debut at #1, the best female debut of all time…. the list goes on. And Wild Horses is incredibly beautiful!
[...] Dream – The Cinderella of Pop…. He has listed his top 10 Songs of the Year, with Susan at #1. Top Ten Songs of 2009 | Around The Water Cooler Leave him a comment if you can (no registering required) – and watch for his list of Top Stories [...]
I’m in complete agreement with your choice for #1. Wild Horses.
I’ve heard people say that they nearly wrecked their car when they heard that it was Susan Boyle singing it.
She’s proven herself and deserves to be where she is on the charts.
Fantastic.
I first heard “Wild horses” from the video from Perez Hilton’s website. I was immediately transfixed by Susan’s glorious voice and played it over and over again. It was hauntingly beautiful, touching my heart and soul. Then I became a fan of Susan Boyle.
thank you for your comments about susan and her cd, her success…
your comments were insightful, intelligent, truthful, and so go susan go, go susan fans go, go John go.
thank you
Love your choice of Susan Boyle’s “Wild Horses” as number 1. Couldn’t agree more. Susan is incredible and is here to stay. She appeals to every age group as evidenced by the many comments on various web sites in spite of what some of the media types say. We love Susan and wish her many many hears of success. Thank you for your great review.
I agree with Canadian Bill—-I might add that Susan Boyle is an experience like none other. I find it quite amazing that she actually sounds better than the original artist in all of her songs to date. I don’t believe that we have heard the best out of her yet. She definitely has a gift that not too many folks have. In a few words, she is incredible. She will be around for many years to come!!!!
evm in cherokee village, arkansas Christmas Day 2009 at 11:16 a.m.
In my opinion, you are spot on, Mr Kays. To be honest, I had never heard the song and was only passably fond of the Stones. But Susan’s haunting rendition of this lovely melody and moving lyrics is stunning. She has truly made it her own as much as if it were written just for her.
How could you choose anything else?
Thank you for your positive review of ‘Wild Horses’, and thank you for “getting Susan Boyle”! ! She is incredibly talented, no phony gimmicks, a one of a kind with talent that knows no expiration date, and she will be with us a long time if we are lucky. Having a #1 best selling album worldwide from release date and continuing is no small feat.
Thank-you Mr. Kays – you have great taste! I am a huge Susan Boyle fan and think Susan’s version of Wild Horses is incredible. It nearly brought me to my knees the firrst time I heard it. Susan has shown the world once and for all what she is – a brilliant one-of-a-kind artist. She has the voice of an angel – I’m so glad you noticed and reported it!