It is time for a brand-new video. I am counting down the best song from my top fifty favorite rock bands. Here is part 5. I count down from #10 to #1. Feel free to watch part 1 or part 2 or part 3 or part 4 if you missed it. As always your feedback and thoughts are welcome.
The criteria I used for creating this list
Here are the three criteria I used to create it:
- It must be an original song – no covers.
- I do not have to own it on vinyl.
- It does not have to be a popular song.
The best Ramones song is “Blitzkrieg Pop”
Let’s start the list with the best song by The Ramones. Easy choice. It is “Blitzkrieg Pop”. All the rest of their music is based on this track which kicks off their awesome debut album.
Coming in at #10 is “Come Together” by the Beatles
Also at #10 is The Beatles. Super hard choice to make when it comes to this band. They wrote so many classic hits. Their best song is “Come Together”. It is the culmination of their music and their message. It is found on one of the later albums, Abbey Road.
The best song by INXS is “Don’t Change”
At #9 is my favorite Australian band, INXS. Their best is “Don’t Change” found on the album Shabooh Shoobah. I have never figured out what this album title means.
“Can’t Hardly Wait” is the best recording by the Replacements
At #8 is the Replacements. Their best song is “Can’t Hardly Wait” found on a great album, Pleased to Meet Me.
At #7 is “Guiding Light” by Mumford and Sons
Next up is Mumford and Sons. Hard choice because I like so much of their music. Their best song is not “I Will Wait”. No, it is “Guiding Light” found on their latest release, Delta.
The best recording by Switchfoot is “Dark Horses”
At #6, is Switchfoot. Another hard choice for me. My pick is “Dark Horses” found on the album Vice Verses. The opening guitar parts are so good. If you think that Switchfoot is a wimpy Christian band, then listen to this song. It will blow you away.
#5 – The Clash with “Safe European Home”
Coming in at #5 is the only band that mattered, the Clash. Their best song is not “Train in Vain”, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”, or “London Calling”. Rather it is “Safe European Home” that kicks off their severely underrated second album Give ‘Em Enough Rope.
Coming in at #4 – The Foo Fighters with “My Hero”
At #4 is the Foo Fighters Hard choice to make. The Foo Fighters’ best song is “My Hero” found on the album The Colour and the Shape. If you want to see a moving version of this track, watch the video of the Foos playing it with Taylor Hawkin’s son on the drums.
At #3 – SLF with “Gotta Getaway”
At #3 is the Irish punk band Stiff Little Fingers. Their best song is “Gotta Getaway” found on their second album Nobody’s Heroes.
The best song by the Rolling Stones is “Bitch”
At #2 is the Rolling Stones. There are a lot of choices here. My selection is “Bitch” found on the album Sticky Fingers. The guitar riff on this track is unbelievably awesome.
The best song by Led Zeppelin is “The Ocean”
This choice is super hard because I love so many LZ songs. My favorite is “The Ocean” found on the album Houses of the Holy. This track showcases the band at its finest with soaring guitar riffs, pounding drums, and over-the-top vocals.
Finishing off the list – “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2
The best song by my favorite rock band of all time, U2 is “Sunday Bloody Sunday”. It is the lead track on their classic album War. They showed the world that U2 is a different kind of band with a unique sound and attitude. Boy, they did a great job with this one and the rest of their records.
There you have it – part 5 of my latest list. If you want to listen to these songs feel free to use the Spotify playlist found below.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to my sons.