"The English may not like music - but they absolutely love the noise it makes." - Thomas Beecham (Top 10 Singles)

Member Name: ILoveJackDaniels

Product:	Top 10 Singles
Date:	05/10/01 (947 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See Opinion

Disadvantages: See Opinion

Anyone who has read any of my recent opinions will know how I love quotes - I find they make much better titles that my best attempts could ever be. This time, I've had some trouble picking one I liked - there are just so many relating to music! It's hardly surprising though, when you bear in mind the impact music has on people. Indeed, Lenin once famously said that "the best and the quickest way to undermine any society is through it's music"!

With that in mind, I guess I should be a touch cautious. The last thing I want to do is bring the UK to its knees by picking the wrong tracks! It's a good job I've spent so long over the last couple of days listening to just about every CD I own trying to narrow the field to my ten favourites. It's been a difficult task.

Narrowly missing out on top spots were the likes of the Beach Boys, Dodgy, Kid Rock, Apollo 440, the Beastie Boys, Longpigs (the list actually IS endless) - it's been tough work picking my ten! Nojahoda, A1, Craig David, The Spice Girls and similar artists can wait until I do by Top 10 Worst singles.

Enough of my rambling. Here you have, my Top 10 Singles of All Time:


<<< Number Ten: Dandy Warhols - Bohemian Like You >>>

Imagine the scene - it's a Saturday afternoon, in the heat of summer, and you're on the beach with your best friends, about to have the best night of your life, then go on holiday the next day. If you were to play any piece of music, then you would want something that sounded happy, that brought a smile to your face. A funky, exciting, summer track - and this is it. If you are wondering why you've never heard it, you probably already have - it's the soundtrack to the latest Vodafone adverts.


<<< Number Nine: Space - Neighbourhood >>>

Space are another of my all time favourite bands, and I think it's a shame we don't hear more from them. Neig
hbourhood has been one of my favourites since I heard the lyric "In 666 there lives a Mr. Miller. He's our local vicar and a serial killer". Mr. Miller was my housemaster as school, and it would be no great surprise to me to learn that in fact he is a serial killer. He always struck me as one of those people who was quiet in public and then hid in a dark room somewhere plotting hit next evil murder spree!


<<< Number Eight: Hey Jude - The Beatles >>>

"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." - The Decca Recording Company rejecting the Beatles in 1962

I know, i know - I've got John Lennon in my list as well. But fans will swear blind that the styles of music are very differnt, and to a certain extent they are right. The music and lyrics of Lennon are unquestionably brilliant, but when combined with the Beatle's musical talent (Paul McCartney and George Harrison on guitars especially) result in amazing things. Hey Jude is my favourite because every time I play it, things just seem to go right. I'll play it when I post this opinion in the hopes of having it read a thousand or so times!


<<< Number Seven: William Orbit - Barber's Adagio for Strings >>>

A true modern classic, William Orbit's adaptation of this classic piece of music was simple, but resulted in one of the most beautiful sounds I have known. Being self-employed is one of the most stressful situatons imaginable, and I have found no better cure for stress than good music - and this has to be the single most relaxing track in my collection, if not the entire Universe.


<<< Number Six: Faithless - God is a DJ >>>

Maxi Jazz described the lyrics of this track as the best ever written. Modesty may not be one of his strong points, but his lyrical talents are obvious. They are simple yet effective, and still send tingles down the back of my neck
when I hear them. This is without a doubt a dance track, yet difficult to describe as such. The words dance track inspire thoughts of heavy bass lines and repetetive tunes, however this track seems to stand above that description.


<<< Number Five: Eels - Novacaine for the Soul >>>

The Eel's first album, of which this is a part, has been described as 'despressing' and 'morbid'. I have yet to see an adeqaute description of their second, which was recorded shortly after two members of the lead singer's family passed away (including his sister). This track is typical of the Eels' style. They have a very distinct style of both their music and their lyrics, which in this case are cheerful and morbid respectively. Still, it sounds great, and is a must-have for any music connoiseur.


<<< Number Four: Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death >>>

Made famous recently through its inclusion in The Matrix, the soundtrack to hundreds of adverts and just about every so called Chillout Album, this track was originally released by Rob D several years ago. I first heard it in a Caffrey's advert (I think around 1997), and was instantly hooked. It's another track that sounds as though it's based on a classical piece of music, and much like the Barber's Adagio is a great track for just chilling out.


<<< Number Three: UNKLE - Be There >>>

UNKLE have two versions of this track, and it is almost impossible to decide which is better. The single version features Ian Brown's vocal talents, but the instrumental is a different track. Well, it's the same, but sounds very different. Personally, I favour the instrumental. It's nothing against Ian Brown, I just feel that the music is so good that it almost spoils it to have someone singing over it!


<<< Number Two: 3 Colours Red - Nuclear Holiday >>>

A great rock track, Nuclear H
oliday should really be heard while in a field of thousands of people, at the loudest volume possible, and preferably just after the words "We've been told we can't play this, but we're on stage now!". This song is loud and cheerful - if it was a drink, it would be tequlia slammers ... no wait, it would be jumping up and down and shouting at the top of its voice. My flatmate describes 3 Colours Red as 'a watered down version of The Wildhearts'. I disagree - I reckon they're far better - much easier on the ear and with a better blend of sounds, though my flatmate will moan at me for saying so.


<<< Number One: John Lennon - Imagine >>>

Quite how anyone could leave this out of their top ten is beyond me. It is the epitomy of good music. It's not just the stunning tune or superb singing that make this track the most memorable single ever created, it's the lyrics. To mention this track without including the lyrics would be worse than sacrilege, it would be utterly criminal:

"Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one"

It's widely accepted that John Lennon is one of the greatest musicians of all time. Modern artists could learn a l
ot from his career. If you haven't heard this track, you must have had your head stuck somewhere that sound can not penetrate - or maybe you have just been unlucky. If you haven't heard this song yet, STOP READING. Run to the nearest record shop and spend as much as you need, and take my word for it, you will not regret it.



That's the lot. I hope that this persuades you to give these artists a try if you haven't already. As a final note, I'll include the various quotes I found while hunting down a title for this op - enjoy!

"Music, the greatest good that mortals know, and all heaven we have below." - Joseph Addison

"Modern music is three farts and a raspberry, orchestrated." - John Barbirolli

"Hell is full of musical amateurs: music is the brandy of the damned." - George Bernard Shaw

"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to." - Elvis Presley

Summary: