Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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

Monday, August 30, 2010

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

Friday, August 27, 2010

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

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

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

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

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