The title comes from a feature in the English music magazine "Q", where celebrities (including Ozzy Osbourne etc), say the last 10 songs they ever want to hear before the apocalypse. I thought "what would other MoFoers last 10 songs be, before everything goes BOOM?" To begin, here are the 10 for me. What would yours be? Why?
This is a very difficult thing to do cos I have 9500 songs on my iPod to choose from, and over 1000 of them are what I consider 5 star quality...But anyway.
10. Meat Loaf: Id Do Anything For Love (But I Wont Do That) (12:01) (Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell, 1993)
Jim Steinman is one of my favourite songwriters. He has an ability to make songs so flamboyant and over the top, YET make it fun and human. Only Meat Loaf can do a song like this. His best songs are always the longer ones, and this is probably his longest one. From the powerful opener, to the quiet opening verses, to the fast, to the slow this is brilliance on a grand scale. I heard this song years ago, and when I heard it again a few years ago I was SO happy! I especially love the repeated use of the song title about 8 minutes in, and the guitars get faster and fasterbrilliant!
9. Crush 40: It Doesnt Matter (4:27) (Crush 40, 2003)
OK the song was 1998 as it was on SA, but the Crush 40 album came out in 2003, so I put that date on instead. TNTs Tony Harnell makes the song his own. I dont think I have to explain why this song is great, because Im sure everybody will agree with me how brilliant it is.
8. Pink Floyd: Sorrow (8:47) (A Momentary Lapse Of Reason, 1987)
Its funny I choose this because the album a few songs aside is rather poor. The Walls Comfortably Numb almost made it here, but Sorrow -whilst a little inferior to the song just mentioned- still rocks in my opinion. One of the finest album closers of all time. The ending guitar work that is in the last few minutes is some of the finest guitar work ever. The live version on Pulse is fantastic (and longer too!) aswell. Brilliant
7. R.E.M.: Nightswimming (4:16) (Automatic For The People, 1992)
Judging by most of the songs on the list, I quite like sad songs. Well yeah, I do, but Nightswimming cannot be ignored. I will never forget when I saw R.E.M. live, when they played this song. It made my hair stand on end. It was so haunting and lovely, that many songs cannot replicate. Sublime.
6. Radiohead: No Surprises (3:4
(OK Computer, 1997)
When Thom Yorke sings Such a pretty house and such a pretty garden, no alarms and no surprises, no alarms and no surprises please, I feel as though the world stops sometimes. Many people say OK Computer is the greatest album of all time. I disagree (though it beats Nevermind). It is ONE of the greatest albums of all time. The song has many layers, which I enjoy. The xylophone is a wonderful instrument used to full effect, and you can really only know half the song until you watch the music video. Theres not much to it but when you see it. Youll see
5. blink-182: Going Away To College (2:59) (Enema Of The State, 1999)
Say what you want about their puerile humour, but boy did these guys know how to make a tune. This song works for me on 2 levels. One it reminds me of a lovely sunny day when I listened to the album. Nothing special happened that day, but it was just a lovely day. Secondly, its just such a sunny, happy song, which always makes me feel happy. When hearing this, I dream of going to an American Pie 2 style holiday.
4. The Beach Boys: God Only Knows (2:50) (Pet Sounds, 1966)
Goodness knows how good this song must have sounded almost 40 years ago, let alone today! In the liner notes, Brian Wilson said he wanted maximum vibes for this song, and boy is it delivered. It warms me whenever I hear it, and confirms that the guy is a genius. I love it today in 2005.
3. Jimmy Eat World: Your House (4:45) (Jimmy Eat World, 2001)
I remember the first time I ever heard this song. I dont remember my reaction, but whatever I thought of it at the time, even since I got the album, I would play (at times) only this song off this album. The album itself is brilliant, but this song to me is what I love of JEW. Heartfelt, epic its brilliant. The 2nd half of the song with its repeated use of If you love me, dont call is ironically lovely LOL. I have seen Jimmy Eat World twice now, and twice they havent played this song which saddens me (though they did play 23 once which made up for it!)
2. The Smashing Pumpkins: Starla (11:01) (Pieces Iscariot, 1994)
I admit its quite strange to have a B-side (from 1991 single I Am One Pieces Iscariot is a b-sides compilation) so high up here, but why it wasnt put on an album is beyond me. The first few minutes are pretty boring admittedly (though its still good), but its just the jam freak out 5 minutes in that clinches it for me. Its just 4 minutes of wild soloing, that makes my hair stand on end. One of the best songs people are unlikely to hear
1. The The: Uncertain Smile (6:53) (Soul Mining, 1983)
This is quite difficult, because it was a choice between this or This Is The Day off the same album. To me, This Is The Day is just as brilliant, but Uncertain Smile has a quality to it, that I seldom find in any other song. Whenever I tell people to listen to this nobody has said that it sucked. The final 3 minutes is some of the best music I have ever heard. Its a piano solo that sounds like its been done by at least 2 or 3 people, but its all done by Jools Holland (guesting on the song). It still feels fresh every time I hear it, and I hear it a lot! The lyrics are also brilliant, but I expected nothing less from Matt Johnson. Absolutely wonderful. Uncertain Emotions force an uncertain smile.
Other songs I would add would be Butterfly (Weezer), Photograph (Def Leppard), Radiation Vibe (Fountains of Wayne), Hallowed Be Thy Name (Iron Maiden), Sleep The Clock Around (Belle and Sebastian), Nicotine and Gravy (Beck), The Remedy (I Wont Worry) (Jason Mraz), While We Were Hunting Rabbits (Matthew Good), Change of Heart (Hardline), Grand Designs (Rush), Dream Brother (Jeff Buckley), A Change of Seasons (Dream Theater), Were In This Together (Nine Inch Nails) etc. See how hard it was? LOL
Very, very simple, my selection...
10. Flight of the Bumblebee
Mmmyes, I love this one... IT PWNZ, no less. Especially the piano version. ^_^
9. Habanera, from Carmen Suite No.2
I love this as well! XD Go listen for yourself. The transition from minor to major is astounding. ^_^
8. Fur Elise
Ahh, Ludwig Van Beethoven. PWN. ^^
7. Mariage d'Amour
A minor piece, but I love it. It's a great piece to listen to when someone's playing it on the piano. Richard Clayderman, for instance.
6. Malaguena
This song has many versions, but they're all still the Malaguena.
5. Asturias (Leyenda)
Now THIS is great. A fast-paced, Spanish song. Pretty hard for a n00b such as I to play, too. >>;
4. Farruca
Yet another Spanish one. XD! Well, this is a nice one. It's traditionally played for men to dance to, and has that lively feel despite being in A-minor. ^_^
3. Una Limosnita por Amor del Dios
*grumling* If I even got that title right... Eh? Oops! >>;
Whee! A tremolo piece! Wahaha. =3 Una Limosnita is a great minor piece, with tremolo to boot. R0xx0rz. ^^
2. Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Yet another tremolo piece. It makes the transition from minor to major and back very smoothly as well... YOU MUST LEESTEN TO EET.
1. Romance d'Amour
The most beautiful piece I've heard yet! I love this piece... It's what got me started on my guitar, it's easy to play, but it's also a great one to listen to. Easily the top of my list... It also has a special meaning for me, which I SHALL NOT DISCLOSE. XP
Just one. The Song that Never Ends. That way, the song will never end and the world will live on. Yar.
On a more serious note:
10. Metroid Prime 2: Escape-it's a good headbanger, what can I say?
9. The Flame (Froim "Requiem From the Darkness")- this song just rules.
8. Star Wars main theme-dude. it's Star Wars.
7. Supernova Goes Pop from PM5K-hey, it's Powerman singing about the end of things. It fits.
6. The Galaxy Song by Eric Idle and Monty Python-yeah. Just to put things in perspective.
5. Want It All Back by The Seatbelts-this song rocks. It's from Cowboy Bebop, and it rocks.
4. We Like to Party by the Vengaboys-hey, if it's the end of the world. May as well.
3. Dead by They Might Be Giants-I think it's self-explanatory.
2. the 1960s Batman theme-danananananananananananananaBATMAN!
1. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life-hey, we're all gonna die, let's enjoy this last song!
Hmm...Some of these just come straight to mind, but some of these require a lot of thought, 10 songs just isn't enough...
10. "Take on me" ~ Aha
I dunno why, I just think this would suit the mood. It's a nice feel-good song, because you don't want to go out being depressed do you?
9. "A Spaceman came travelling" ~ Chris DeBurgh
Slow things down a bit here...It's a very lush and sombre song, and the lyrics kinda fit the mood.
8. "I don't like Monday's" ~ Boomtown rats
Would work especialy well if the apocalypse was on a Monday...
7. "Manhattan Project" ~ Rush
It's all about the lyrics wth this one. Very fitting.
6. "Cruel" ~ Toto
There had to be some Toto in here somewhere...It's a very jazzy song as it's written by Bobby Kimball, but the lyrics would brighten up even an apocalypse.
5. "Africa" ~ Toto
It's my favourite song ever...It needs no reason other than that.
4. "Time stands still" ~ Rush
The instruments and the lyrics would just fit perfectly with an apocalyptic situation...Wouldn't you want time to stand still?
3. "The Vision" ~ Chris DeBurgh
It's a song that actually has an apocalypse as it's lyrical theme. And it rocks majorly. Win win situation.
2. "Child's Anthem" ~ Toto
This a powerful instrumental piece which would suit many different situations, and an apocalypse situation is one of them. It also builds upon itself into a climax, which is perfect at this point, and it is leads well onto the final song...
1. "The final countdown" ~ Europe
Oh come on, it's the most obvious song to play for the finale of the world. The powerful synthesisers and rocking guitar rhythmn make for a good way to go out.
Damn forgot about The Final Countdown...would be more appropiate than Uncertain Smile!
You could also add the vinyl version of "The Wanderer" by U2. If i recall right, on the vinyl version, there's a groove that repeats itself again and again, meaning the song never ends. Thus no apocalypse - hoorah! On the CD it is just white noise, so perhaps it'll get on your nerves after 5 minutes LOL. The song's merely OK, but it's a loophole nonetheless!
