9lives Top 200 Tracks: Part V (#100 - #76) Aug 16 '05    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 Mai by Eri Sugai From $4 The Bottom Line From songs that make me laugh to songs that make me cry, literally. 9lives Top 200! Part IV features Bon Jovi, Britney Spears, Bryan Adams, Chris Rea, Creed, Crowded House, Dire Straits, Duran Duran, Europe, Extreme, INXS, Jamiroquai, Manic Street Preachers, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Reef, Robbie Williams, Savoy, Soundgarden, Terrorvision, The Black Crowes, The Darkness, The Sex Pistols. Part V of my Top 200 Tracks countdown. Part I is here Part II is here Part III is here Part IV is here 100. Baby One More Time - Britney Spears Own it on: Greatest Hits...My Prerogative Year: 2004 When I'm not with you I lose my mind I do feel slightly guilty listening to Britney. I can't say I even find her that attractive. Sexy, yes. But there's something timeless about the sound of this pop classic. They'll still be playing it in 20 years, guarantee. 99. Heat of the Night - Bryan Adams Own it on: Greatest Hits - So Far So Good Year: 1993 Met a man with a message from the other side/Couldn’t take the pressure, had to leave it behind I own a lot of greatest hits. Probably says more about how little I like an artist rather than how much I do. But Bryan Adams had his hot streak in the mid 80s and although 'Heat of the Night' is from one of his less distinguished albums (1988s "Into the Fire") it manages to be a hot, classic slice of gritty rock. File this right up there alongside 'Summer of '69'. 98. Something So Strong - Crowded House Own it on: Recurring Dream - Best of Crowded House Year: 1996 I’ve been feeling so much older/Frame me and hang me on the wall Crowded House are a great enigma of pop music. For a start they are Kiwis rather than Aussies, as is generally believed (I think Australians spread that rumour when they hit the big time). And for a band that have so many memorable singles (three of which appear on this countdown), they only managed one top ten hit in the UK (one of their most irritating singles, 'Weather With You'). 'Something So Strong' never even made the UK Top 40 despite it's uptempo, pop-rock sound and catchy lyrics. 97. Skin Trade - Duran Duran Own it on: Decade Year: 1989 So big deal/It's what rules/When it comes to making money/Say 'yes, please, thank you' Although it was the single that began the beginning of the decline (peaking at #22 in the UK after 10 top ten hits in a row) it was no weaker a track than the likes of 'Union of the Snake' or the awful 'Wild Boys' (incredibly a #2 hit). 'Skin Trade' is a dirty, unglamorous lampooning of the glamour business and features a great rhythm coupled with a sexy horn section. 96. More Than Words - Extreme Own it on: More Than Words Single Year: 1990 More than words is all you have to do to make it real/Then you wouldn’t have to say that you love me/Cos I’d already know I make no apologies for including a ballad with more syrup than a warehouse full of ice cream sundaes. Considering that their prior single was the lawless, raunchy bass-driven 'Get the Funk Out', 'More Than Words' took many by surprise. Just an acoustic guitar and Nuno Bettencourt's tuneful vocals alongside the band's perfectly-timed backing but it's another example of "less is more". 95. True Faith - New Order Own it on: True Faith Single Year: 1994 I don't care 'cause I'm not there/And I don't care if I'm here tomorrow I'm going to include the 1994 version of 'True Faith' even though it was the original 1987 release that I was addicted to first. New Order had already made their name with 'Blue Monday' in 1983 (a song re-mixed and re-released in 1988 and 1995) when they unloaded the powerful alternative-pop tune, 'True Faith', landing their highest charting single at #4. The re-release hit #9 seven years later. Never had a fast-tempo song sounded so brooding. 94. Daylight's Wasting - Savoy Own it on: Mary Is Coming Year: 1996 Daylight's wasting/Daylight/I can taste it/As it falls from the sky We've covered the whole Savoy thing in an earlier part of the countdown so I'll simply say that the opening track of their recording career lands in my chart at #94. A bleak look at the real world ('A customer's bagging his supply') and a scathing attack on former a-ha bandmate, Morten Harket ('I had a band of certain fame... The singer was fair but got it wrong/He never did justice to my songs/He did more for me and that's a fact/When he went and stabbed me in the back/So, I've gotta do now, do't you know/What I should've done five years ago'). Even discounting the terrific alt-rock sound, that lyric alone (harsh and unfair as it seems) would make the song worthy. 93. Blow Up the Outside World - Soundgarden Own it on: Down on the Upside Year: 1996 Nothing seems to kill me no matter how hard I try/Nothing is closing my eyes When this quite brilliant downbeat rocker failed to make more than a tiny dent in the UK (#40) I knew that the charts had lost all their credibility. It's classic grunge-style 'soft verse/hard chorus', and it works brilliantly, Chris Cornell's unrestrained roar of 'I’ve givin’ everything I need/I’d give you everything I own' sums up his passion and talent in just a couple of bars. Genius. 92. Middleman - Terrorvision Own it on: How To Make Friends and Influence People Year: 1994 Don't blame the middleman, come to me/I'll tell you what i can, all you need After the manic 'Alice What's the Matter' and 'Oblivion', 'Middleman' allows us to catch our breath. Catchy, understated pop-rock that your dad would probably like (not that he'd ever admit it). 91. God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols Own it on: Never Mind the B*llocks Year: 1977 God save the Queen/The fascist regime/They made you a moron/Potential H-bomb I'm delighted I was only a few years old when these hooligans were upsetting everyone, burping on TV, flashing their arses and generally making big fools of themselves. 'God Save The Queen' is a strangely likable punk-number with inanely hilarious lyrics like 'She aint no human being' and ''Cos tourists are money'. Probably a bit harsh. Probably. 90. Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi Own it on: Crossroad Year: 1994 I've seen a million faces/And I've rocked them all! I've still got this uneasy feeling about having Bon Jovi songs in here, but considering that I've got Extreme and Britney not far away, it's probably justified. Thankfully 'Wanted Dead or Alive' is one of those classic rock songs that gives no hint of the tiresome music they are capable of ('Always', 'Bed Of Roses'). Cowboy boots, spurs, mountain tops, dust, six-shooters, empty bottles of JD - this song brings it all to the mind's eye - absolutely superb. 89. Lazy Days - Robbie Williams Own it on: Life Thru a Lens Year: 1997 Lazy days don't let them get you down/Wear your smile/I don't want to see you frown/Don't let them get you down Not perhaps the greatest example of lyric writing (check out the above) but there's something very tasty about this mid-tempo effort from the former Take That star. I realise that many Americans may only know small things about Robbie (if indeed you know anything at all about him), but Mr Williams was the 'little monkey' from UK boy band sensations, Take That. He hit the booze and drugs, got fat, decided he had enough of the teenage adulation and walked to have a solo career. And while the rest of the band have done very little on their own, Robbie has become a by-word for slick, savvy and talented. His worldwide record sales are thought to be around 50m. Damn. 88. Fists of Fury - Terrorvision Own it on: Good To Go Year: 2001 it seems such a shame/But it kept us entertained now 'Fists of Fury' never made it to single status (apparently Radio 1 in the UK refused to put it on their playlist as Terrorvision were 'no longer relevant') and that's just a damn travesty. Breakneck beat, great guitar-mix, do-do-do-do backing vocals and a real cool riff - it was perfect. 87. Road to Hell (Part 2) - Chris Rea Own it on: Road to Hell Year: 1989 This ain’t no technological breakdown/Oh no, this is the road to hell I was far too young to appreciate the brilliance of Chris Rea's astoundingly dark 'Road To Hell' album but I did grow attached to the title track, a top 10 hit in 1989. On the album, a near-five minute intro track, 'Road to Hell (Part 1)', is a complete 180 from what's to come. Chris' famous gravelly voice is a perfect foil for the Mark Knopfler-style classical guitar that became his trademark over the last few decades. 86. Love Foolosophy - Jamiroquai Own it on: A Funk Odyssey Year: 2001 Seems so true, all the lies you're telling/Tragically compelling and/My love it means nothing to you/So maybe I'm still a love Fool Any biography of Jamiroqaui will more than likely describe them as 'irresistible'. As the album title suggests, this is a funky number with a retro 70s dance-beat - like pretty much every Jamiroquai song. Nice lyricset too. 85. You Stole the Sun From my Heart - Manic Street Preachers Own it on: This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours Year: 1998 I paint/The things I want to see/But it don’t come easy/I love you all the same Last of two efforts from big Welsh stars, the Manic Street Preachers. They hit gold with this poignant and potent 1998 single, a cri de coeur about a broken man who has lost the love of his life and, it seems, his will to live life to any degree outside of using oxygen. I especially love the lyric 'I’ve got to stop smiling/It gives the wrong impression/I love you all the same' 84. It's a Sin - Pet Shop Boys Own it on: Actually Year: 1987 When I look back upon my life/It's always with a sense of shame/I've always been the one to blame Boy did this one rip up a storm when it hit the #1 spot in the UK for five weeks in 1987. Riddled with atmospheric, sweeping electronics and a lyrically damning indictment of organised religion, there are so many great lyrics to contemplate here: 'At school they taught me how to be/So pure in thought and word and deed/They didn't quite succeed', 'Father, forgive me, I tried not to do it/Turned over a new leaf, then tore right through it' and 'For everything I long to do...It's a Sin'. Distressingly compelling. 83. I've Got Something to Say - Reef Own it on: Rides Year: 1999 I know your hurting/It will get better everyday Third of four Reef songs, this is a slow-building but stunning power-ballad. Gary Stringer strains his way through pained but simple lyrics like 'I love all that you are/You are what I live for'. Especially magical is the 'ha-na-na-na-na' mid-section that the lead singer does so well with his patented, off-the-cuff grunts and notes. 82. From Out of Nothing - Terrorvision Own it on: Good to Go Year: 2001 From out of nothing/I see before me/Restricted access to/Former glories Ok it's the final visit to Terrorvision at #82. This is a heart-breaking tune. If 'Fists of Fury' was the second single from "Good to Go" that was never released, 'From Out of Nothing' was the third one. A beautiful, tear-jerking number, it's almost a lament to their lost career and deserves a single release. Check out the 'Restricted access to former glories' line above and then the all-telling chorus of 'And I wonder was my head in the clouds/Cos I had it all and let it go/Should I've listened to the sound of the crowd/I don't know'. Gorgeous piano, suitably economic use of instrumentation and an exquisite guitar solo from Mark Yates sum this tune up perfectly. With Terrorvision back doing a few gigs now I'd love to see this get a release four years too late. 81. Twice as Hard - The Black Crowes Own it on: Shake Your Moneymaker Year: 1990 Twice as hard/As it was the first time/I said goodbye Changing the pace completely, this dense blues-metal opener to The Black Crowes career was a great counter-balance to their more upbeat releases like 'Hard to Handle' and 'Jealous Again'. The band's performance is fervent, Chris Robinson knowing exactly where he wants to take this song - this is as dirty as a perfectly produced song can sound. We've two more from the Crowes futher down the list. 80. Get Your Hands Off My Woman - The Darkness Own it on: Permission to Land Year: 2003 Octoped, you've got six hands too many/And you can't keep them to yourself How 'Get Your Hands Off My Woman' even got a single release, never mind just missing out on the top forty (and this was before The Darkness were household names), I'll never know. Featuring a string of obscenties, but most importantly a deep, heavy, classic metal sound, climaxing in the hilariously brilliant chorus 'Get your hands off my woman, motherf*cker'. 79. My Sacrifice - Creed Own it on: Weathered Year: 2001 We've seen our share of ups and downs/Oh how quickly life can turn around/In an instant I felt weathered after listening to the rather poor album of the same name. One of the few moments worth hitting repeat on, was the (probably over-sentimental) hyper-powerballad, 'My Sacrifice'. Full of post-grunge angst and emotive lyrics like 'Within my heart are memories/Of perfect love that you gave to me', 'Above all the others we'll fly/This brings tears to my eyes' and 'It feels so good to reunite/Within yourself and within your mind/Let's find peace there'. That part of it is a bit hard to take but it is a worthwhile tune with an untypically robust chorus. 78. So Far Away - Dire Straits Own it on: Brothers in Arms Year: 1985 I'm tired of being in love and being all alone/When you're so far away from me When my uncle bought me "Brothers in Arms" in 1985 he must have mistakingly thought I would be in to contemporary adult rock. Surprisingly, I was. Opening track 'So Far Away' is a bluesy ballad full of classic licks and extremely memorable. Having seen Mark Knopfler perform it in concert recently I can tell you that it doesn't half get a capacity crowd going. 77. The Final Countdown - Europe Own it on: Greatest Hits: 1982-1992 Year: 2000 We're leaving together/But still it's farewell/And maybe we'll come back/To earth, who can tell? There's no doubt that this song was a departure for Europe and subsequently it has become an institution. They never hit those highs again (follow up single 'Rock the Night' failed to make the top 10) and I guess it's fair to say that the song is somewhat above their station. But the glory is there for all to see - a great rock tune, backed by the masterful synth and a memorable guitar solo. It's top, top stuff. 76. By My Side - INXS Own it on: X Year: 1990 In the dark of the night/Those small hours/Uncertain and anxious/I need to call you Played at the funeral of the former INXS lead-singer, 'By My Side' has had added poignancy since that day. Reading the above lyrics you can transplant them to the moments that Michael Hutchence spent in his hotel room before his fateful decision to end his life. There are few songs that make me cry, but when the mood is right, this is one. Part VI coming soon

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