The Top 1000 of my lifetime, #450-401

Are you recognizing more and more of these songs? I guess I’m young enough that, even with only 1,000 hit songs listed, there were bound to be some not-so-memorable ones. That’s getting less and less true as we get higher and higher up the list.

My favorite song in this segment is the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Slide” from 1998-99—I still love to sing along and make up my own harmonies. I also love Marc Anthony’s “I Need to Know,” the Doobie Brothers’ “Black Water,” the Wallflowers’ “One Headlight,” Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling,” P.M. Dawn’s “I’d Die Without You,” and Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle.” How’s that for variety?

The absolute worst, without a doubt, is Paul Anka and Odia Coates doing “(You’re) Having My Baby.” Ugh.

How about you? Favorite? Least favorite? Guilty pleasure?

450  Hard To Say I'm Sorry  -  Chicago  1982

449  I Miss You  -  Klymaxx  1986

448  Get Up And Boogie (That's Right)  -  Silver Convention  1976

447  Brother Louie  -  Stories  1973

446  That's The Way (I Like It)  -  KC & the Sunshine Band  1976

445  Love Is Alive  -  Gary Wright  1976

444  The Loco-Motion  -  Grand Funk  1974

443  I'm With You  -  Avril Lavigne  2003

442  When I'm Gone  -  3 Doors Down  2003

441  No Diggity  -  BLACKstreet (featuring Dr. Dre)  1996

440  All 4 Love  -  Color Me Badd  1992

439  Black Water  -  Doobie Brothers  1975

438  (You're) Having My Baby  -  Paul Anka  1974

437  Because Of You  -  Kelly Clarkson  2006

436  Someday  -  Mariah Carey  1991

435  Rock Me Amadeus  -  Falco  1986

434  What's Luv?  -  Fat Joe featuring Ashanti  2002

433  I Need To Know  -  Marc Anthony  2000

432  Say It Right  -  Nelly Furtado  2007

431  Pump Up The Jam  -  Technotronic featuring Felly  1990

430  My Eyes Adored You  -  Frankie Valli  1975

429  Lollipop  -  Lil Wayne featuring Static Major  2008

428  One Headlight  -  The Wallflowers  1997

427  Hooked On A Feeling  -  Blue Swede  1974

426  Lips Of An Angel  -  Hinder  2006

425  This Is How We Do It  -  Montell Jordan  1995

424  Feelings  -  Morris Albert  1975

423  Half-Breed  -  Cher  1973

422  Replay  -  Iyaz  2010

421  Get Low  -  Lil' Jon & The East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins  2003

420  Bring Me To Life  -  Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy  2003

419  Do Anything  -  Natural Selection  1991

418  The Wild Boys  -  Duran Duran  1985

417  Livin' La Vida Loca  -  Ricky Martin  1999

416  I'd Die Without You  -  P.M. Dawn  1992

415  Boulevard Of Broken Dreams  -  Green Day  2005

414  Can't Nobody Hold Me Down  -  Puff Daddy (featuring Mase)  1997

413  Time In A Bottle  -  Jim Croce  1974

412  She Drives Me Crazy  -  Fine Young Cannibals  1989

411  Slide  -  Goo Goo Dolls  1999

410  Twisted  -  Keith Sweat  1996

409  Bubbly  -  Colbie Caillat  2007

408  Everybody Have Fun Tonight  -  Wang Chung  1987

407  Need You Now  -  Lady Antebellum  2010

406  T.S.O.P. (The Sound Of Philadelphia)  -  MFSB featuring the Three Degrees  1974

405  When I See You Smile  -  Bad English  1989

404  Baby Come Back  -  Player  1978

403  Nothing From Nothing  -  Billy Preston  1974

402  Didn't We Almost Have It All  -  Whitney Houston  1987

401  Use Somebody  -  Kings Of Leon  2009

The Top 1000 of my lifetime, #500-451

After a few days off for a wonderful weekend getaway to Portland, I’m ready to begin the second half of this monster self-indulgent countdown. But if we’re more or less contemporaries, then this is your list, too!

Included in this segment is one of two significant hits that has been a significant hit TWICE in my lifetime. The first time, in 1976, it hit #9. On its second release, in 1992, it went all the way to #2 courtesy of the movie “Wayne’s World.” Have you guessed which of these 50 songs it is?

Better yet, can you guess, before we count down to it, the OTHER song that has been a big hit twice since 1972? I bet not. (Remember that different artists doing the same song don't count -- it has to be the same song, same artist, twice -- but it doesn't have to be the exact same recording. And "Unchained Melody" missed the top 1000.)

A lot of other memorable songs populate this portion of the countdown. My favorite of this bunch is a very recent one: “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay, from 2008. I just can’t seem to get sick of it. But I’ll also throw in the following songs as personal faves: “Will It Go Round in Circles” by Billy Preston, “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley, “Walkin’ on the Sun” by Smash Mouth, and “No Air” by Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown.

And what about you? Do you like piña coladas … and getting caught in the rain? And what do you want in your drink … some ice, ice, baby?

500  You Give Love A Bad Name  -  Bon Jovi  1986

499  Viva La Vida  -  Coldplay  2008

498  Billy, Don't Be A Hero  -  Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods  1974

497  Crazy  -  Gnarls Barkley  2006

496  Wild Night  -  John Mellencamp with Me'Shell NdegeOcello  1994

495  Kiss Kiss  -  Chris Brown featuring T-Pain  2007

494  Lady Marmalade  -  LaBelle  1975

493  Magic  -  Olivia Newton-John  1980

492  Friends And Lovers  -  Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson  1986

491  Love Hangover  -  Diana Ross  1976

490  Heartbreak Hotel  -  Whitney Houston feat. Faith Evans & Kelly Price  1999

489  Escape (The Piña Colada Song)  -  Rupert Holmes  1980

488  In The End  -  Linkin Park  2002

487  Underneath It All  -  No Doubt featuring Lady Saw  2002

486  It's Been Awhile  -  Staind  2001

485  Glory Of Love  -  Peter Cetera  1986

484  Love So Right  -  Bee Gees  1976

483  Ice Ice Baby  -  Vanilla Ice  1990

482  You And Me  -  Lifehouse  2005

481  California Gurls  -  Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg  2010

480  Walkin' On The Sun  -  Smash Mouth  1998

479  Thank You  -  Dido  2001

478  Touch Me In The Morning  -  Diana Ross  1973

477  I'm Your Baby Tonight  -  Whitney Houston  1990

476  The Hustle  -  Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony  1975

475  Gloria  -  Laura Branigan  1982

474  Papa Don't Preach  -  Madonna  1986

473  I'm Your Angel  -  R. Kelly & Celine Dion  1999

472  I Honestly Love You  -  Olivia Newton-John  1974

471  All My Life  -  K-Ci & JoJo  1998

470  Behind These Hazel Eyes  -  Kelly Clarkson  2005

469  3 AM  -  Matchbox 20  1998

468  I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)  -  Meat Loaf  1993

467  Gives You Hell  -  The All-American Rejects  2009

466  There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)  -  Billy Ocean  1986

465  Cradle Of Love  -  Billy Idol  1990

464  (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song  -  B.J. Thomas  1975

463  Release Me  -  Wilson Phillips  1990

462  Girlfriend  -  Avril Lavigne  2007

461  Black Velvet  -  Alannah Myles  1990

460  Top Of The World  -  Carpenters  1973

459  All I Have  -  Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J  2003

458  Don't Let Go (Love)  -  En Vogue  1997

457  Will It Go Round In Circles  -  Billy Preston  1973

456  Every Morning  -  Sugar Ray  1999

455  Misty Blue  -  Dorothy Moore  1976

454  Bohemian Rhapsody   -   Queen  1992

453  Semi-Charmed Life  -  Third Eye Blind  1997

452  No Air  -  Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown  2008

451  Beautiful  -  Christina Aguilera  2003

The Top 1000 of my lifetime, #550-501

I hesitate to propose that the songs are getting better as the hits get bigger. It doesn’t usually work that way.

But this segment does feature some truly fabulous R&B songs, such as “Try Again” by Aaliyah, “Weak” by SWV (despite the obvious derivative influence of “Knocks Me Off My Feet” by Stevie Wonder), “I Wanna Know” by Joe, and “Again” by Janet Jackson.

Unfortunately, we are also subjected to “Right Thurr” by Chingy and “Always” by Bon Jovi …

Additionally, perhaps you might feel guilty to find yourself singing along to “Karma Chameleon,” "Funkytown," or “I Am Woman”!

550  Missing You  -  John Waite  1984

549  Drop It Like It's Hot  -  Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell  2005

548  You Don't Bring Me Flowers  -  Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond  1979

547  Glamorous  -  Fergie featuring Ludacris  2007

546  Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue  -  Crystal Gayle  1977

545  Buttons  -  The Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg  2006

544  I Believe I Can Fly  -  R. Kelly  1997

543  Rhythm Is A Dancer  -  Snap!  1993

542  Love Don't Cost A Thing  -  Jennifer Lopez  2001

541  Rump Shaker  -  Wreckx-N-Effect  1993

540  Give Me One Reason  -  Tracy Chapman  1996

539  Rise  -  Herb Alpert  1979

538  Love Song  -  Sara Bareilles  2008

537  Weak  -  SWV  1993

536  Babe  -  Styx  1979

535  Best Of My Love  -  Eagles  1975

534  Change The World  -  Eric Clapton  1996

533  Suga Suga  -  Baby Bash featuring Frankie J  2004

532  Right Thurr  -  Chingy  2003

531  Bump N' Grind  -  R. Kelly  1994

530  Missing  -  Everything But The Girl  1996

529  Tears In Heaven  -  Eric Clapton  1992

528  Please Don't Go  -  KC & The Sunshine Band  1980

527  Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)  -  Eurythmics  1983

526  Fergalicious  -  Fergie  2007

525  Black Or White  -  Michael Jackson  1992

524  He Don't Love You (Like I Do)  -  Dawn  1975

523  Try Again  -  Aaliyah  2000

522  Again  -  Janet Jackson  1994

521  Candy Shop  -  50 Cent featuring Olivia  2005

520  Ride Wit Me  -  Nelly featuring City Spud  2001

519  Always  -  Bon Jovi  1995

518  Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)  -  Christopher Cross  1981

517  Return Of The Mack  -  Mark Morrison  1997

516  I Wanna Know  -  Joe  2000

515  Human  -  The Human League  1986

514  I Am Woman  -  Helen Reddy  1972

513  It's All Coming Back To Me Now  -  Celine Dion  1996

512  Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang  -  Dr. Dre (featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg)  1993

511  I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)  -  Daryl Hall & John Oates  1982

510  Hero  -  Enrique Iglesias  2001

509  Addicted To Love  -  Robert Palmer  1986

508  All I Wanna Do  -  Sheryl Crow  1994

507  Karma Chameleon  -  Culture Club  1984

506  Funkytown  -  Lipps, Inc.  1980

505  Breakaway  -  Kelly Clarkson  2004

504  Music  -  Madonna  2000

503  Together Again  -  Janet  1998

502  Hot Child In The City  -  Nick Gilder  1978

501  Burning Heart  -  Survivor  1986

The Top 1000 of my lifetime, #600-551

Oh, so many good songs in this segment! I still adore Owl City’s recent hit “Fireflies.” Two from 1992 leap out at me: “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and En Vogue’s “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It).”

Guilty pleasures: Heatwave’s “Boogie Nights,” Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats,” and Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the U.S.A.” Yes, you heard me right. Yes, I’m guilty as sin.

But please don’t make me hear “Have You Ever?” by Brandy ever again. The grammatical errors alone drive me up a wall.

How about you? Which songs jump out at you, and why? Are there memories you associate with some of these songs, for good or ill?

600  Part-Time Lover  -  Stevie Wonder  1985

599  Have You Ever?  -  Brandy  1999

598  Sad Eyes  -  Robert John  1979

597  Here Comes The Hotstepper  -  Ini Kamoze  1995

596  I Don't Wanna Know  -  Mario Winans featuring Enya & P. Diddy  2004

595  What A Girl Wants  -  Christina Aguilera  2000

594  Ridin'  -  Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone  2006

593  Lean Back  -  Terror Squad  2004

592  Let's Hear It For The Boy  -  Deniece Williams  1984

591  Nobody  -  Keith Sweat featuring Athena Cage  1997

590  All For Love  -  Bryan Adams/ Rod Stewart/ Sting  1994

589  Boogie Nights  -  Heatwave  1977

588  You Make Me Feel Like Dancing  -  Leo Sayer  1977

587  Before He Cheats  -  Carrie Underwood  2007

586  Just Another Day  -  Jon Secada  1992

585  Someday  -  Nickelback  2004

584  I Want It That Way  -  Backstreet Boys  1999

583  Fireflies  -  Owl City  2010

582  Always On Time  -  Ja Rule featuring Ashanti  2002

581  Say My Name  -  Destiny's Child  2000

580  Get The Party Started  -  Pink  2002

579  Break Your Heart  -  Taio Cruz featuring Ludacris  2010

578  Makes Me Wonder  -  Maroon5  2007

577  All Out Of Love  -  Air Supply  1980

576  You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)  -  Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.  1977

575  I Wanna Love You  -  Akon featuring Snoop Dogg  2007

574  Take A Bow  -  Rihanna  2008

573  Party In The U.S.A.  -  Miley Cyrus  2009

572  Why Don't You & I  -  Santana featuring Alex Band or Chad Kroeger  2003

571  Work It  -  Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott  2003

570  Let It Rock  -  Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil Wayne  2009

569  Sexy Chick  -  David Guetta featuring Akon  2010

568  Under The Bridge  -  Red Hot Chili Peppers  1992

567  With You  -  Chris Brown  2008

566  9 To 5  -  Dolly Parton  1981

565  I Love A Rainy Night  -  Eddie Rabbitt  1981

564  Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go  -  Wham!  1984

563  Celebration  -  Kool & the Gang  1981

562  Woman  -  John Lennon  1981

561  Telephone  -  Lady GaGa featuring Beyoncé  2010

560  Heartless  -  Kanye West  2009

559  OMG  -  Usher featuring will.i.am  2010

558  Hips Don't Lie  -  Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean  2006

557  Delta Dawn  -  Helen Reddy  1973

556  Too Much Heaven  -  Bee Gees  1979

555  Don't Turn Around  -  Ace Of Base  1994

554  My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)  -  En Vogue  1992

553  Case Of The Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)  -  Mya  2000

552  The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia  -  Vicki Lawrence  1973

551  The First Night  -  Monica  1998

A Place for Mary in a World of Martha

by Josh Hosler, Associate for Christian Formation

for The Collect, a publication of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Medina, WA

When I talk about my vision for the St. Thomas youth groups, sometimes I feel like a bit of a hypocrite. The whole idea is to offer a place for youth to get away from the mad rush. But first, I have to add to the mad rush with my own dates and times!

And sometimes I feel pushy with my incessant invitations to retreats, beach parties, hikes, special church services, etc. Regardless of the type of event, the idea is to build community in a space where God’s voice just might come through. And building community takes time and commitment—not just from me, but also from those who participate.

I grew up in a small tourist town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. There were no soccer leagues, no summer baseball teams, no Girl Scout camps, no competitive cheerleading squads, no Young Life events, and no mission trips. There was one woman in town who taught piano. My brother Seth and I were the only two kids in the Episcopal Church, so we took turns as the lone acolyte. In the summertime, there was absolutely nothing to do.

For a while, I fell in with an Assemblies of God youth group. I am forever grateful to these wonderful friends for helping me clarify what I do and don’t believe: our theologies overlapped very little. But I had an amazing time! I was able to be myself there, even when everyone else seemed to believe very different things. I didn’t need just the right group—I only needed a faith-filled group. God took care of the rest.

That’s my hope for the youth of St. Thomas. In a city with so many excellent opportunities, we spend an inordinate amount of energy trying to get our kids into just the right sport, just the right musical group, and eventually, just the right college or university. We ourselves might spend decades trying to find just the right church! But does it exist?

Eventually, time runs short. Kids are only kids for a little while. What did they commit themselves to? What did they stick with through thick and thin? Lessons learned from not quite fitting in may be far more valuable than the energy we spend jumping from one opportunity to the next in a quest for perfection. Becoming a pivotal part of a community that sometimes rubs you the wrong way is far holier than maintaining a safe, marginal connection.

Slow down. Sit at Jesus’ feet for a while. Let that Martha energy go, and be Mary. Commit your child to a faith-filled group. Commit yourself to a community of faith, whether or not it’s St. Thomas. Choose a place to bloom. If you don’t, you may never slow down long enough to hear God’s call to you.

The Top 1000 of my lifetime, #650-601

OK, how can I choose a favorite in this segment? Maybe it’s easier for you than for me. But I’ll have to go with a few different ones.

For a rollicking good sing-along time, it’s a draw between “Rosanna” by Toto and “Hey Soul Sister” by Train.

For deep wisdom and repeated listens that have meant different things at different stages of my life, it’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2

For a guilty pleasure full of nostalgic college memories, it’s gotta be Right Said Fred with “I’m Too Sexy.”

And if you’ve never heard “Playground in My Mind” by Clint Holmes, just … don’t seek it out. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Well, maybe my worst enemy … but not my second worst.

650  Cherish  -  Kool & the Gang  1985

649  Heaven  -  Bryan Adams  1985

648  Boogie Fever  -  Sylvers  1976

647  Afternoon Delight  -  Starland Vocal Band  1976

646  Say It Isn't So  -  Daryl Hall  John Oates  1984

645  Grillz  -  Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp  2006

644  Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)  -  Billy Ocean  1984

643  Empire State Of Mind  -  Jay-Z + Alicia Keys  2010

642  Do Me!  -  Bell Biv DeVoe  1990

641  Womanizer  -  Britney Spears  2009

640  Looking For A New Love  -  Jody Watley  1987

639  I'm Too Sexy  -  R*S*F (Right Said Fred)  1992

638  Angie  -  Rolling Stones  1973

637  Frankenstein  -  Edgar Winter  1973

636  Kokomo  -  The Beach Boys  1988

635  Listen To Your Heart  -  Roxette  1989

634  Mickey  -  Toni Basil  1983

633  All The Man That I Need  -  Whitney Houston  1991

632  Wannabe  -  Spice Girls  1997

631  I'll Be There For You  -  Bon Jovi  1989

630  Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough  -  Patty Smyth with Don Henley  1992

629  Don't Worry Be Happy  -  Bobby McFerrin  1988

628  Save Tonight  -  Eagle-Eye Cherry  1999

627  Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)  -  Beyoncé  2009

626  Good Times  -  Chic  1979

625  Water Runs Dry  -  Boyz II Men  1995

624  Heaven  -  Warrant  1989

623  Playground In My Mind  -  Clint Holmes  1973

622  Ironic  -  Alanis Morissette  1996

621  Toy Soldiers  -  Martika  1989

620  It's Gonna Be Me  -  'N Sync  2000

619  Seasons Change  -  Expose  1988

618  Rosanna  -  Toto  1982

617  Rude Boy  -  Rihanna  2010

616  MacArthur Park  -  Donna Summer  1978

615  Lay Down Sally  -  Eric Clapton  1978

614  Mony Mony  -  Billy Idol  1987

613  Dancing In The Dark  -  Bruce Springsteen  1984

612  I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For  -  U2  1987

611  Giving You The Best That I Got  -  Anita Baker  1988

610  Harden My Heart  -  Quarterflash  1982

609  All Star  -  Smash Mouth  1999

608  I Adore Mi Amor  -  Color Me Badd  1991

607  Forever Your Girl  -  Paula Abdul  1989

606  Don't Phunk With My Heart  -  Black Eyed Peas  2005

605  Love In This Club  -  Usher featuring Young Jeezy  2008

604  Don't Leave Me This Way  -  Thelma Houston  1977

603  Where Is The Love?  -  Black Eyed Peas  2003

602  Hey, Soul Sister  -  Train  2010

601  Head To Toe  -  Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam  1987