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

The Top 1000 of my lifetime, #700-651

The hits are getting bigger! After this, we only have 650 more to go.

In this segment of our countdown, we have the groundbreaking “I Feel for You” by Chaka Khan (#673), the foot-stomping “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard (#683), Elton John’s classic “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (1974), and the current hit single “Airplanes” by B.o.B (#698).

Which of these 50 songs do you love? Hate? Hate to admit you love?

700  Tha Crossroads  -  Bone thugs-n-harmony  1996

699  The Lady In Red  -  Chris DeBurgh  1987

698  Airplanes  -  B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore  2010

697  Band On The Run  -  Paul McCartney  1974

696  One More Night  -  Phil Collins  1985

695  Waiting For A Star To Fall  -  Boy Meets Girl  1988

694  Nothin' On You  -  B.o.B. featuring Bruno Mars  2010

693  Don't Matter  -  Akon  2007

692  I'll Always Love You  -  Taylor Dayne  1988

691  Goodbye Yellow Brick Road  -  Elton John  1974

690  Motownphilly  -  Boyz II Men  1991

689  Is This Love  -  Whitesnake  1988

688  Little Jeannie  -  Elton John  1980

687  A Little More Love  -  Olivia Newton-John  1979

686  Knock You Down  -  Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo  2009

685  Live To Tell  -  Madonna  1986

684  Being With You  -  Smokey Robinson  1981

683  Pour Some Sugar On Me  -  Def Leppard  1988

682  Maniac  -  Michael Sembello  1983

681  Sundown  -  Gordon Lightfoot  1974

680  Alive & Kicking  -  Simple Minds  1986

679  Beverly Hills  -  Weezer  2005

678  You're The One That I Want  -  John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John  1978

677  Don't Talk To Strangers  -  Rick Springfield  1982

676  Time After Time  -  Cyndi Lauper  1984

675  Baby Don't Forget My Number  -  Milli Vanilli  1989

674  Lean On Me  -  Club Nouveau  1987

673  I Feel For You  -  Chaka Khan  1984

672  Stand Up  -  Ludacris featuring Shawnna  2004

671  The Game Of Love  -  Santana featuring Michelle Branch  2002

670  Let's Go Crazy  -  Prince & The Revolution  1984

669  A View To A Kill  -  Duran Duran  1985

668  I Don't Have The Heart  -  James Ingram  1990

667  Father Figure  -  George Michael  1988

666  On Our Own  -  Bobby Brown  1989

665  In My Head  -  Jason Derulo  2010

664  The Reflex  -  Duran Duran  1984

663  Right Back Where We Started From  -  Maxine Nightingale  1976

662  When Can I See You  -  Babyface  1994

661  Higher  -  Creed  2000

660  When I'm With You  -  Sheriff  1989

659  London Bridge  -  Fergie  2006

658  Saving All My Love For You  -  Whitney Houston  1985

657  Lovefool  -  The Cardigans  1997

656  Hold On  -  En Vogue  1990

655  Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days)  -  Monica  1995

654  If You Don't Know Me By Now  -  Simply Red  1989

653  I'll Be Loving You (Forever)  -  New Kids On The Block  1989

652  Over My Head (Cable Car)  -  The Fray  2006

651  Don't Walk Away  -  Jade  1993

The Top 1000 of my lifetime, #750-701

I have had a love affair with pop music since I was 12 years old—for better or worse. That’s why my favorite song in this segment of the countdown is “Pop Muzik” by M. But a close second would be “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World—an anthem for uncertain times.

On the other end of the spectrum, don’t make me hear Lionel Richie’s “Dancing on the Ceiling” or the Captain & Tennille’s “Muskrat Love.”

Hmmm, guilty pleasure, guilty pleasure … how about “Mambo No. 5” by Lou Bega?

Which songs do you love, hate, and hate to admit you love?

750  Tragedy  -  Bee Gees  1979

749  Pick Up The Pieces  -  Average White Band  1975

748  Grease  -  Frankie Valli  1978

747  Dancing On The Ceiling  -  Lionel Richie  1986

746  Do It ('til You're Satisfied)  -  B.T. Express  1974

745  One Last Breath  -  Creed  2002

744  I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)  -  Pitbull  2009

743  Exhale (Shoop Shoop)  -  Whitney Houston  1996

742  When I Think Of You  -  Janet Jackson  1986

741  Nights In White Satin  -  Moody Blues  1972

740  U Remind Me  -  Usher  2001

739  Shining Star  -  Earth, Wind & Fire  1975

738  Higher Love  -  Steve Winwood  1986

737  Miami Vice Theme  -  Jan Hammer  1985

736  Sugar, We're Goin' Down  -  Fall Out Boy  2005

735  You Sexy Thing  -  Hot Chocolate  1976

734  Emotion  -  Samantha Sang  1978

733  Step By Step  -  New Kids On The Block  1990

732  Mo Money Mo Problems  -  The Notorious B.I.G. (feat. Puff Daddy & Mase)  1997

731  The Middle  -  Jimmy Eat World  2002

730  Ride Like The Wind  -  Christopher Cross  1980

729  Don't Stop The Music  -  Rihanna  2008

728  Sledgehammer  -  Peter Gabriel  1986

727  Without You  -  Mariah Carey  1994

726  She Ain't Worth It  -  Glenn Medeiros (featuring Bobby Brown)  1990

725  Let's Dance  -  David Bowie  1983

724  Amazed  -  Lonestar  2000

723  If I Can't Have You  -  Yvonne Elliman  1978

722  Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)  -  Lou Bega  1999

721  Lose My Breath  -  Destiny's Child  2004

720  Good Vibrations  -  Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch/ Loleatta Holloway  1991

719  (I Just) Died In Your Arms  -  Cutting Crew  1987

718  All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You  -  Heart  1990

717  If I Ain't Got You  -  Alicia Keys  2004

716  Sara  -  Starship  1986

715  Follow Me  -  Uncle Kracker  2001

714  Who Can It Be Now?  -  Men at Work  1982

713  Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?  -  Bryan Adams  1995

712  Everything She Wants  -  Wham!  1985

711  You're Sixteen  -  Ringo Starr  1974

710  Can't Stop This Thing We Started  -  Bryan Adams  1991

709  Muskrat Love  -  Captain & Tennille  1976

708  Where Do Broken Hearts Go  -  Whitney Houston  1988

707  Justify My Love  -  Madonna  1991

706  Picture  -  Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow or Allison Moorer  2003

705  Pop Muzik  -  M  1979

704  I Love Your Smile  -  Shanice  1992

703  Annie's Song  -  John Denver  1974

702  Sunshine On My Shoulders  -  John Denver  1974

701  Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)  -  Aretha Franklin  1974

The Top 1000 of my lifetime, #800-751

We’re one quarter of the way through this monster list of the 1,000 biggest pop hits of my lifetime. If you’re roughly my age, this is basically your list, too!

I’ve got a few real favorites in this list. But if I had to pick one, I’d go with Boyz II Men’s “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” (#756), from the winter of 1991-92. Whatever happened to a cappella harmony? I’m ready for it to come back!

Just don’t make me listen to H-Town’s “Knockin’ Da Boots” (#790) from 1993 ever again. Boooooring—and the same goes for “I Can Love You Like That” by All-4-One (#794).

Best guilty pleasure in this list? Gotta be Joey Scarbury’s “Theme from ‘The Greatest American Hero’ (Believe It or Not)” (#764).

What’s your favorite song in this 50-song segment? And which hits could you have done without?

800  If Wishes Came True  -  Sweet Sensation  1990

799  C'mon 'N Ride It (The Train)  -  Quad City DJ's  1996

798  Private Eyes  -  Daryl Hall & John Oates  1981

797  Keep On Loving You  -  REO Speedwagon  1981

796  The Heat Is On  -  Glenn Frey  1985

795  Start Me Up  -  The Rolling Stones  1981

794  I Can Love You Like That  -  All-4-One  1995

793  Blurry  -  Puddle Of Mudd  2002

792  Lonely Night (Angel Face)  -  Captain & Tennille  1976

791  50 Ways To Leave Your Lover  -  Paul Simon  1976

790  Knockin' Da Boots  -  H-Town  1993

789  Secret Lovers  -  Atlantic Starr  1986

788  Stickwitu  -  Pussycat Dolls  2006

787  Just The Two Of Us  -  Grover Washington, Jr./ Bill Withers  1981

786  I Go Crazy  -  Paul Davis  1978

785  You Needed Me  -  Anne Murray  1978

784  All Around The World  -  Lisa Stansfield  1990

783  My Life  -  Billy Joel  1979

782  You Should Be Dancing  -  Bee Gees  1976

781  Run-Around  -  Blues Traveler  1995

780  Do You Really Want To Hurt Me  -  Culture Club  1983

779  Pon De Replay  -  Rihanna  2005

778  Feel Like Makin' Love  -  Roberta Flack  1974

777  Imma Be  -  The Black Eyed Peas  2010

776  Whatta Man  -  Salt-N-Pepa featuring En Vogue  1994

775  (Can't Live Without Your) Love And Affection  -  Nelson  1990

774  Lost In Emotion  -  Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam  1987

773  I'll Remember  -  Madonna  1994

772  Open Your Heart  -  Madonna  1987

771  Most Girls  -  Pink  2000

770  Come And Get Your Love  -  Redbone  1974

769  Notorious  -  Duran Duran  1987

768  Dead And Gone  -  T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake  2009

767  Sussudio  -  Phil Collins  1985

766  Jump Around  -  House Of Pain  1992

765  Love Will Never Do (Without You)  -  Janet Jackson  1991

764  Theme From Greatest American Hero (Believe It Or Not)  -  Joey Scarbury  1981

763  To Be With You  -  Mr. Big  1992

762  I Don't Want To Wait  -  Paula Cole  1998

761  Fallin' In Love  -  Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds  1975

760  The Tide Is High  -  Blondie  1981

759  Right Here, Right Now  -  Jesus Jones  1991

758  Boogie On Reggae Woman  -  Stevie Wonder  1975

757  Lowdown  -  Boz Scaggs  1976

756  It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday  -  Boyz II Men  1992

755  Baker Street  -  Gerry Rafferty  1978

754  I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'Round)  -  Alicia Bridges  1979

753  I Try  -  Macy Gray  2000

752  Shame On The Moon  -  Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band  1983

751  Dream Weaver  -  Gary Wright  1976