The 10 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time

Now, I am certainly not going to subject you to all 1,043, but I figure the top ten is worth discussing. Do you agree with the list? Any notable snubs? To see the entire list, here is the link: http://www.q1043.com/pages/top1043/2008.html

Every year for the 4-day Thanksgiving weekend, my favorite radio station (from whom I won a trip to Ireland on which I got engaged) Q104.3 New York does a countdown of the 1,043 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time. Yes, you read that right - 1,043 songs.

Now, I am certainly not going to subject you to all 1,043, but I figure the top ten is worth discussing. Do you agree with the list? Any notable snubs? To see the entire list, here is the link: http://www.q1043.com/pages/top1043/2008.html

10. John Lennon - Imagine
I always felt this song was a bit over rated. Lyrically, it was fantastic, and it truly challenged people to look at materialism in today's world. Technically, I felt it left something to be desired, but maybe that's because I was more accustomed to a touch more energy from Lennon. I prefered "Instant Karma" more, but that's probably just my taste.

9. Eagles - Hotel California
Great song, great album. Despite spending only one week in the Billboard #1 spot, this song feuled this album to be one of the best sellers of all time. There is much debate over how high this song should go, since Rolling Stone has it 49th and here, 104.3 has it 40 spots better. Despite numerous claims of the lyrics meanings, the band has made it clear that the song details Los Angeles County High Life. The song goes hand-in-hand with "Life in the Fast Lane."

8. Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Floyd has two songs in the top 20, I just think they have them flip-flopped. Comfortably Numb was such a beautiful, yet dark and passionate tale of drug addiction, as the addicted self prescribes medication to the victimized self to cope with pain and illness. This song fit so well with the rest of the album "The Wall," though I'd rather see Q's # 18 song, "Wish You Were Here," in this spot.

7. Lynard Skynard - Freebird
I get it. I do. I am not the biggest fan of this song (I prefer other L.S. classics such as "Gimme Two Steps") but I recognize it's place in classic rock history. The guitar solo has stood the test of time, and every time I hear it, I still see Jenny from Forrest Gump on that balcony in her heels. This song is in a good spot.

6. Who - Won't Get Fooled Again
Fun song. Great song. I think a lot of the younger generation associate these guys with CSI, though. Here, we see another dissention between Rolling Stone (133rd place) and Q104.3. This song is an anthem of rebellion, telling the story of an uprising in Pete Townshend's "Lifehouse" project.

5. Beatles - Hey Jude
Absolutely my favorite Beatles song. The version Paul McCartney did on Saturday Night Live still stands as one of the best SNL Music performances ever. The song itself is a great story - McCartney wrote it driving to the house of Lennon's ex-wife Cynthia, out of concern for their welfare. Lennon's son, Julian, was very close with Paul.

4. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
I fish I had Freddy Kreuger's knife-glove, because this song being #4 makes me want to violently purge every decent bit of musical sense I have. The fact that this over rated mumbly hack has a marginal song that is considered one of the 4 best of all time by Q104.3 really bugs me. The song is about trying to escape Asbury Park, NJ - and I sure understand why - but that's it. It isn't the deep love song "Boss" apologizsts claim. I wouldn't put this song in the top 25.

3. Derek and the Dominos - Layla
Clapton's greatest guitar performance, I think, and also one of the remaining all-time great love songs. While Rolling Stone claims it is only #27 on the all-time list, this controversial song about Clapton's love of the Beatles George Harrison's wife remains a recognized classic, especially for its opening guitar lead. Clapton's 1992 Acoustic version is also amazing.

2. Who - Baba O'Reilly
I agree with this song hitting the top 5. Another one of Townshend's "Lifehouse" workshop plans, Baba O'Reilly combined early hard rock sound with experimental electronica, hitherto untapped. Oddly enough, Rolling Stone places this classic as #340 on the all time list...

1. Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
No shock here. Stairway is considered by many to be the greatest classic rock song of all time, and often goes back and forth against The Rolling Stones "Sympathy for the Devil," which is oddly out of the top 10 here. Despite never being released as a single in the US, Stairway is the most requested AND most played song on FM radio (the most played used to be "Yesterday," but Stairway overtook it rcently). The guitar layering builds to the orgasmic crecendo and the infinitely screamable lyrics "And there's a wino down the road..."

Notables outside of the Top 10:
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (#13)
Beatles - Let It Be (#14)
Rolling Stones - Sympathy (#16)
Rolling Stones - Satisfaction (#19)
Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone (#21)
Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (#22)
Elton John - Funeral / Love Lies (#27)
Don MacLean - American Pie (#37)

What do you think of Q104.3's top ten list? Who shouldn't be there, and who got snubbed. Feel free to post your own top-5 or top-10, just be sure to provide reasons for your list.

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