Best Songs

Best Jazz Albums

The best songs inspire, elevate, and move one’s soul the way few things can. But with so many great songs, choosing a play list can be an ear-worm of a nightmare. Likewise, choosing the top songs for this list was no easy feat. What makes a good song? Is it the melody, the mood it invokes, or the lyrics? Perhaps what makes a song great is its ability to transcend time and space and take us back to memories long since past. Whatever it is, we know it when we hear it. In this list of the best songs, you’ll find a wide array of songs reflecting different genres of music and the transcendent feelings they provoke. Enjoy!

1.

 Gladys Knight and the Pips
Imagination
1973

 How can you resist belting this one out? With its smooth rhythm and vocals, "Midnight Train to Georgia" is an all-time favorite for many. This song showcases the talent, musical ability, and substance of Motown’s very best.

2.

 Nirvana
Nevermind
1991

 Nirvana’s disgruntled and alienation-infused 1991 hit became a generation’s battle-cry against conformity, resulting in one of the best songs of the early 90's. Melodic and surprisingly insightful, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" ushered in the era of grunge music, paving the way for bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.

3.

 Otis Redding
The Dock of the Bay
1967

 Smooth and mellow, this song perfectly captures a feeling of longing, melancholy, and nostalgia felt at one time or another by us all. Listening to Redding makes us remember what is truly important in life, while wishing we too were sitting on the dock of the bay.

4.

 Elton John
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
1973

 Elton John spoils us with hit after glorious hit, year after year, and choosing just one from his laundry list of iconic hits was very difficult. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" fully encompasses Elton John’s lyrical genius and mastery of musical composition.

5.

 Aretha Franklin
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You
1967

 You can call her a diva, a goddess of soul, or just one of the greatest female voices of our time; however, regardless of the title, when Aretha Franklin demanded respect, the world sat up and took notice. This all-time classic call to arms puts men on notice, and gives women worldwide the wherewithal to demand some respect for themselves.

6.

 Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
The Chronic
1993

 You can argue about the vices and virtues of rap, but you cannot deny the power of the 1993 summer classic, "Gin and Juice." Snoop Dogg’s trademark mellow style of rapping coupled with Dr. Dre’s raspy, low-sung vocals combined in such an electrifying manner that it forever changed the American culture. Rap was brought to the masses. Snoop and Dr. Dre’s iconic The Chronic is one of the best-selling rap albums of all time and with good reason. The Chronic harkened back to a time when the pleasures of life were simple; the backyard barbeque, a fierce game of volleyball and of course, a nice, tall cold one. Teenagers everywhere stood up and took notice. We’ve all grown up since then, but we still like to sit and reminisce about a time when “G Thang” became a part of our lexicon.

7.

 U2
The Joshua Tree
1987

 Can one man change the world? U2’s Bono comes very close. However, before bringing awareness to the plight of the African continent and breaking down AIDS stereotypes, Bono was on a roof top in LA. Shutting down traffic and wreaking havoc with police contingency plans, U2 gave the people what they wanted - a good live show filled with good live music. U2 went on to produce a string of hits, but it was with "Where the Streets Have No Name" that America really began to listen. Infused within the song seems to be a melancholy and longing that harkens back to the band's roots in Ireland. Forever grateful, we continue to support the band's music and humanitarian efforts.

8.

 Donna Summer
Endless Summer: Donna Summer’s Greatest Hits
1979

 Donna Summer’s forlorn-sounding intro alerts the listener that something great is about to happen and "On the Radio" does not disappoint. Melodic, dramatic, and just plain great, this song ushered in the era of Studio 54, and signaled to the world that it was time to party. Donna Summer delivers in this hip-swinging, booty-shaking late-70’s classic.

9.

 Salt-N-Pepa
Hot, Cool & Vicious
1987

 Where would TLC, Destiny’s Child, and Queen Latifah be without these three smoldering tempests in teapots? Their bawdy lyrics and gyrating hips taught a female generation that it was okay to express their sexual needs. With a theme of healthy self-respect running throughout, "Push It" got women off of the dance floor and where they belonged - behind the microphone. How’s that for cultural impact?

10.

 Britney Spears
…Baby One More Time
2000

 I know you think I’ve lost my mind, but before clutching your Carole King CD to your chest and running for the hills, hear me out. Britney batted her doe-eyed peepers and slammed shut the door on grunge rock. Before Ms. Spears came on the scene, women had thrown out their lip gloss and men seemed to have headphones permanently attached to the sides of their heads. Ah, what a time! It was all about substance and letting the inner soul glow. But perhaps it got a little too real? Britney ushered in the era of the "pop tarts," and once again we donned our makeup and gussied up. Say what you want about Britney, she did teach us that music could be fun again, and that happiness and music are not mutually exclusive.

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