Jitterbug…face it, when you hear that word, what’s one of the first things you think of?  If you’re my age or even 20 years younger, it’s this song.  That’s how huge this song was back then and still is today.  Even the Spanish version that came out during the Transylvania movies was huge.  Some would think George Michael’s ultimate ballad should belong in this place, but in the end, after multiple listenings, this track ended up right here, and I would argue with anyone on its place above all the other competition below.  Coming in at #3 for the top …..more →

The third and final entry of the band responsible for Throwing Copper is the band’s biggest hit ever, and rightly so.  It might make the list of the top 10 rock ballads of the 90s.  This was on so many different playlists and the track has maintained resonance and importance in a wide range of avenues, and was also covered a lot due to its simplicity in its chord progression.  We’re getting close to the top and at #3 for the 1994 countdown, it’s Lightning Crashes by Live.

We now approach the only time a “deep-cut” track makes the countdown, and to think of this track as a deep-cut, i.e. a song that was never released as a single, it goes to show how huge of a song this track is, not just for the year but for this band.  Some fans of the group would call it their favorite, and it would probably be the band’s last best-known track for years to come.  Coming in at #4 for the top songs of 1994 is Better Man by Pearl Jam.

I’m willing to bet that when you learned that this song was coming up next, you were like wow, 1984 was a crazy year!  When I learned this song would be entering the discussion of 40 year old songs, I knew we were in for a doozy.  This track has been heard in every avenue imaginable, from commercials to movies, it’s been quoted over and over again, and part of it is because this track and its vocal performance is uncoverable.  A real lightning in a bottle moment. Coming in at #4 in the top 20 songs turning 40 years …..more →

Trying to position the top 5 songs released in 1984 was really hard, especially since this year spawned one of the most iconic soundtrack-based movies of the era.  The king of the soundtrack makes his return again to this countdown with another upbeat classic, and it’s hard to not feel like you want to dance when you hear this song.  This song would still sound fresh it were released today, but it was actually released in 1984 and is #5 in this countdown.  It’s Footloose by Kenny Loggins.

We now hit the top 5 of the songs turning 30 years old, and we arrive at this band’s (arguably) biggest hit ever.  Long after grunge made its impact, this fourth of the founding groups finally gets its due with this incredible rock track, subtly balancing grunge and progressive rock.  The video was considered groundbreaking in its disturbing visual nature, and it’s still a well-loved track today.  Arriving at #5 is Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden.