Top 10 Lists (by the Friends of BMOWP)

March 24, 2006


The Corey Vilhauer Top-100: a list that defines the idea of a “great song,” in my opinion at least. Beginning Monday, and progressing through until the end of the week, I’ll be posting my top 100 countdown.

My top 100 is centered in indie rock — widely varied and obscure to most of those that haven’t listened to college radio in the past ten years. It is one person’s tastes in music (mine) and it’s bound to be skimmed by a majority of my readers. One hundred songs is a lot of entries. I’d skim it myself, if it wasn’t my list.

Because of this I asked others to list their top ten; their 10 favorite songs. I also wanted to bring together my friends and family – the real life ones and the members of my adopted blogosphere family – and I’ve assembled a rather interesting group of people.

One striking thing is how different everyone’s tastes are. It was rare to see an artist repeated, let alone a specific song. Some people’s picks were stationed primarily in one genre, while others bounced throughout the spectrum of music. A few people slipped in some really obscure stuff, while others stuck to the well-known, time-tested classics. In short, every list was original.

There’s also an amazing lack of songs that would be considered “important” in the history of popular music. As Scott Hudson said when compiling his top ten, “There is a huge difference from the ten greatest songs (or singles) of all time and my personal favorites.” It’s true. Sure, we all know that “Hey Jude” could be considered the most important – the “best” – Beatles song written, but it’s not my favorite. Give me “In My Life.” Scott would take “Help!” My mother chose “Helter Skelter.”

Like Rob Gordon in High Fidelity, I believe a person can be defined by the music, movies, and books that they indulge in. It’s not an exact science, but you can really tell a lot by glancing at someone’s music collection or book shelves. Additionally, there’s a certain excitement in knowing someone likes the same stuff as you.

I’ve recently realized how close, at times, my friend Sara (the 2nd grade teacher who often camps out at Bonnaroo) and I overlap in musical tastes. The same goes for Hudson, though his indie-rockerness is a few years removed from mine. And the fact that Kerrie and I often overlap goes without saying – we’ve influenced each other’s tastes quite a bit over the past eight and a half years.

So without further adieu (as they say in “the biz”) I present to you The Friends of BMOWP’s Top Ten Lists.

Oh. You’ll have to go to the next page to see them – I didn’t want to take over the page with these lists.

Enjoy.

————–

UPDATE:

Yes. Sometimes my friends get me things after the deadline. That’s okay — I do the same thing; often, actually. You’ll have to go to the second page, and you’ll have to scroll to the bottom, but they’re there. Eric brought two lists, as did his roommate Tim. An old friend, Jason, rounds out the rest.

So enjoy — regardless of the lateness.

Tags: The Top..., Blogging, Music, Friends |

Comments

14 Responses to “Top 10 Lists (by the Friends of BMOWP)”

  1. Ryan on March 24th, 2006 503 pm

    Those were great, I had to second guess some of my choices reading through the other lists. I still think my list is far superior to all the others.
    Eric where’s your list?

  2. kerrie on March 24th, 2006 646 pm

    Sara!! You said the word “sucks” … and not just once but twice! My mother told me once that she thought that word was worse than the F-word. I can’t believe this coming from yee who teaches the lil ones.

  3. roberta on March 24th, 2006 805 pm

    what’s this crap? Kerrie gets 20 because she is sleeping with the the guy that runs the website?? Bull shit.

  4. Ryan on March 25th, 2006 348 am

    I agree Roberta. It’s kinda bull shit. Although I did have 15.

  5. Heather on March 25th, 2006 358 am

    I agree with Sara. I spent way too much time coming up with reasons why I didn’t even want to start this thing, and way too much time making fun of Ryan, for spending way too much time on this thing. And guess what. I got way too pissed off to even finish. Corey is the lucky one. He got to list 100. Anyone can come up with 100 favorite songs. The hard part is coming up with only 10. (BRING IT ON)

  6. roberta on March 25th, 2006 1032 am

    Thanks Ryan–for having my Eternal Flame lovin back (even though you got 15? suspicious? perhaps messing around with the website’s author? could be)

  7. kerrie on March 25th, 2006 103 pm

    All I have to say is that it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. There were no special favors here. I just wasn’t strong enough to only pick 10 songs.

    And Ryan, if you be messin’ with my man… I be messin with you.

  8. Corey Vilhauer on March 25th, 2006 224 pm

    Actually, I found it harder to pick 100 than to pick 10. 10 is easy — they are the best of the best and they can be chosen nearly without looking. 100 is difficult because, well, I had about 170 songs that absolutely HAD to be on my list.

    There’s no remorse in cutting a song from your top 10 — it’s an exclusive group that deserves only the best of the best. Cutting a song from your top 100 is harder, like choosing one kid over another for a special achievement. Sure that kid did a great job, and it would mean a lot to them if they got it, but they just weren’t one of the 100 best. So that kid gets depressed because he’s not only not good enough to be in the top 10, but not even good enough to place in the top 100. See?

    Also, try ranking 100 songs. 10 is way easier.

    If you want, you’ll see my top 10. Look at it this way — if you don’t like my getting 100, then go ahead and just look at my top 10 and pretend the rest of them aren’t there. Then you’ll get my top 10 — it would be the same list.

    (CONSIDER IT BRUNG!)

    P.S. — Heather, I think galosh is a word:

    ga·losh Pronunciation Key (g-lsh)
    n.

    1. A waterproof overshoe.

    So you’re right… it is a galosh.

  9. eric on March 27th, 2006 903 am

    yeah, sorry, i didn’t put in a list. i’m stupid. maybe i’ll send corey one soon if i still can. are you still gonna put new ones up? i was thinking about it, i just had no idea where to start. i have favorite songs for everything. should it be my favorite songs for riding the bus, waiting in an airport, getting ready for work or getting drunk? they are all very very very different. maybe i’ll send in a list of my favorite songs to listen to while i tie my shoes.

  10. Corey Vilhauer on March 27th, 2006 1234 pm

    You could always just post it at Misc.Asst.

  11. sara on March 27th, 2006 842 pm

    boo, hoo corey… I almost feel sorry for you. You must have a pretty strong emo showing on your list.

    ok, so I think I should make a “why didn’t I think of that list:” Pass the Mic, Pinball Wizard, Come on Eileen, Kind & Generous, Solsbury Hill, something Blues Traveler, Elton John and REM… This little adventure will linger on in my mind for many weeks.

    Kerrie…what?? No paperboy? what’s up with that?

  12. Kerrie on March 28th, 2006 1123 am

    Sad I know.
    No Whoop There it is, no Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock and no SWV. And no Another Bad Creation. (Remember them?)

  13. black marks on wood pulp » What I’ve Been Doing on April 3rd, 2006 1038 pm

    […] Top 10 Lists (by the Friends of BMOWP) […]

  14. eric on April 4th, 2006 1034 am

    the day after i sent the list in i realized a travesty bigger than the “oops i forgot outkast” tragedy. how did i skip the roots? i have all of their records and listen to them more than most others. what the fuck? well, 100% dundee is my favorite bus song by them if you wanna know. it’s sweet.

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