Anyways, my first post is going to be a simple but interesting post: Talking about my 25 favorite songs of all-time. I thought about this for quite a long time, and eventually decided on 25 songs to use for this list. However, my music taste has change a lot since I last blogged, so don't expect to see all of your favorite 2010s trap and dance-pop jams on here. Most of these songs are from the 1990s and 2000s, and to be exact, there are 14 songs from the 1990s, 6 from the 2000s, 4 from the 2010s, and the last one is from the 1980s. If you're an average blogger from this community that's used to blogging about modern countdowns and charts, you will most likely not know a lot of these songs, so I will be posting YouTube embeds instead of album/single covers when announcing the song so you'll have an excuse to listen to them. I also have a Spotify playlist of these 25 songs for you to listen to if you prefer to use Spotify. It can be found on the sidebar right next to you if you're interested. But yeah, I highly recommend all of these songs for anyone who's looking for great music to listen to.
Before we dive in to the list, however, I would like to give a disclaimer. I love all 25 of these songs so much and they were extremely difficult to rank, so if there's a song or two or three you wanted to see higher or not sure why they're so high, just keep in mind that I have no real preferences and just ranked them because I had to. Also, three more things. One, I did have ten honorable mentions I was going to include, but I scrapped them at the last minute because I felt like the post would be too long with them. If you're interested in seeing them (and maybe more) in a future post, probably a part two to this list, let me know. Secondly, I apologize if my explanations for the songs are short and/or bad, I haven't done this in a while so I'm not used to doing it often. I'll try to improve on that in the future. And third, if you're a 2010s kid who knows nothing about 1990s or 2000s music, you don't have an excuse to say you haven't heard the songs because of the YouTube embeds and Spotify playlist. Just a quick listen to the songs you don't know and you'll be good. You'll love at least a handful of them, I promise. Enough said, now let's get to the list!
25. Lifehouse - Hanging By A Moment
There were many post-grunge songs from the early 2000s that were big hits and appeared on lots of charts, including Nickelback's How You Remind Me, 3 Doors Down's Kryptonite, Creed's With Arms Wide Open, Vertical Horizon's Everything You Want, Matchbox Twenty's Bent, and this. And while I do love all of those songs, this is without a doubt the best of all them. It has that weird amazing feel in it, unlike all of those other songs. And although I think Brad Arnold and Rob Thomas are better vocalists in general than Jason Wade, Wade shows his vocal abilities the best here. It also has a really energetic chorus that you won't find in those other 5 songs mentioned. And I think the other elements in the song fit really well together and contribute to how good it is. I won't go into detail about that, but I will say that it's sort of a standout from the rest of Lifehouse's discography. While I am disappointed that this never hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, it deserves the honor of the most popular song of 2001 and it remains as the second-best year-end #1 of the new millennium in my opinion.
24. Katy Perry - Firework
The first of four songs popular in this decade to appear on this list, I think the lyrics say everything here. I don't usually care for lyrics in songs too much, but they're what draw me into this one. They have to do with self-empowerment, which is something I'm sure all of us will need at least once in our life. Aside from that, the song is just fun. It can be played at dances or parties or anything because it's something that you can get down to. And I like about 99.9% of songs that are like that. Combining that with amazing vocals and those lyrics makes something pretty good. This is my personal favorite song from Katy Perry, who is definitely in my top 10 artists ever, and it's probably my favorite song of 2011. Dance-pop can't get much better than this.
23. The Offspring - The Kids Aren't Alright
I doubted quite a bit about including this song, because I haven't been into the song or this band for that long. But given the HUGE phase I had with them recently, I feel as if it would be wrong to leave them out of here. I picked this song because even though it's not one of their "joke" songs that they're famous for (Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), Why Don't You Get A Job, Hit That, etc.), it showcases everything they're capable of the most. It has those extremely catchy guitar riffs, great vocals provided by the amazing Dexter Holland, and an interesting story behind it. Based on research I've done, it seems as if it's about Dexter taking a trip back to the neighborhood he grew up in, only to see lots of people he had known cross paths with misfortune or tragedy. Also, Americana, the album that this song can be found on, deals with more positive aspects of life in America, which makes this song an anomaly off of that album. Pretty genius, right? Well, I love songs written by someone that seems like they have a high IQ, which makes this song a perfect fit for this list. Catchy. Euphonious. Genius. Exactly what I need in my life.
22. Semisonic - Closing Time
Ah yes, the first of five truly amazing alternative songs from 1998 to appear on this list. It's not the best of them, but still worth including on here. Also, remember me talking about the cool meanings behind the previous two songs I mentioned? Well, if you thought that was cool, then enter the smart head of Dan Wilson, who wrote this song well enough for it to have not one, but TWO interesting meanings behind it. They are, as Songfacts says, "This song has a very literal meaning - being asked to leave a bar - but it goes much deeper than that. Semisonic lead singer Dan Wilson wrote the song when his wife was pregnant with their first child, which turned out to be a daughter named Coco. Halfway through writing the song, he realized it had a double meaning. 'It's all about being born and coming into the world, seeing the bright lights, cutting the cord, opening up into something deeper and more universal,' Wilson told Mojo." So basically, it is about the "closing time" at a bar, as the title implies, or spending your first moments in the world. It's really interesting how those two subjects can come together in this one song, and I'm impressed at how well Dan Wilson wrote it. And if you think he sounds cool, he became a very famous songwriter after Semisonic broke up, writing many hit songs such as Not Ready To Make Nice by the Dixie Chicks and Someone Like You by Adele. Very cool indeed. So yeah, this is a very great song that is a great way to start off the category of great late 90s alternative songs that will appear on this list.
21. Third Eye Blind - Jumper
"I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend..." I think this lyric is what changed my perspective on this band and turned them from a random 90s four-hit wonder to an all-time favorite for me, enough that one of these hits found a spot on this list. In fact, I would go as far as to call this my favorite song from them, as it's definitely a 90s pop-rock gem that I always think of when that category comes to mind. (And pay attention because we will be seeing quite a few more of those on here) I love the guitars in the song, and they fit very nicely with Stephan Jenkins's vocals, which are also great. And when it all has built up and comes down to the final chorus, I LOVE IT! This is the third of many flawless 90s songs that appear on this list, and while the ones to come might be slightly better than this, I still love this song a lot and the album this appears on is definitely an all-time favorite.
20. Chamillionaire/Krayzie Bone - Ridin'
The second of ten hip hop/rap songs to appear on this list is definitely one worth talking about, because the story behind it is part of what makes up my love for it. But aside from that, the song is just an anthem. I have no idea why but I love the beat a lot and think it makes the song sound like such an anthem. The chorus is also amazing and you can tell that Chamillionaire is excited to rap it. Both of his verses and Krayzie Bone's part are great as well. But that's not what I came to talk about. From how people interpret rap songs, I know that at first it sounds like he's trying to drive away from the police and not get caught with drugs in the car. If you thought the song was about him being a criminal like this, well, you're wrong. The topic of the song is the constant stereotyping of black people driving down the streets, especially in rough cities like Houston (which is where this guy is from). Whenever police see an African American driving down the streets somewhere like this, they always think that they're up to something, given how a lot of those situations ended up, and that's what Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone decided to rap about here. And they did such an amazing job at it. And honestly, from the way they wrote and composed this song, I don't think it could've been any better. Chamillionaire chose exactly the right words for a catchy chorus, and they did a great job making the song to be about this stereotype. This is a truly iconic and amazing song, and it definitely deserved to hit #1. Good job, guys.
19. Boyz II Men - End of the Road
I can't really say I'm a fan of R&B music from the 1990s. I don't dislike the R&B genre as a whole, but I find its songs to be boring often times, and a lot of 90s R&B songs are nothing but snoozefests to me. The songs made by Boyz II Men, however, are an exception. I do not know why, but their music appeals to me way more than average 90s R&B music does. And if I had to pick a favorite song from them, it's definitely this amazing ballad. And not to mention its 13 weeks at #1, which was a record at the time. Pretty impressive. As for the song itself, the production in this song is amazing. I don't know why, but it sounds very good to me and I think it fits very well with the song. And not to mention the vocals. They are exactly the kind of vocals I want to hear in an R&B song like this. Good thing they didn't just use their amazing vocals in this song and that they used them in other great hits like I'll Make Love To You and another certain song you will see someplace on this list. This song is a big reason as to why I think Boyz II Men's slow jams are way better than their upbeat songs like Motownphilly and Thank You (although those are good songs), and I recommend it even if you hate R&B music, because it's one of the best things we've ever gotten out of that genre.
18. Mariah Carey/Boyz II Men - One Sweet Day
I had my doubts about including this song on this list because I haven't been really into it for very long, but I don't think that matters considering how amazing this is. And I'm not sure if there's much explaining to do because the song kind of speaks for itself. The topic of the song is losing a loved one, and I think this is the best song I've heard with that as the topic. And this song is by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, who are probably two of my favorite R&B artists from the 90s, so I'm not surprised at now good they sound together. The song was also well-written and contributed some to how good I think it is. I'm not really sure what else to say because you can tell what's good about it just from listening to it, but I just wanted to mention that Despacito did not deserve to match this song's record of 16 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, because it is extremely inferior and only fueled by memes. This song's record should remain forever because it was highly deserved.
17. The Notorious B.I.G./Puff Daddy/Mase - Mo Money Mo Problems
If you know my taste really well, you might be surprised at how low this song is on this list, because I've said before that this is in my top 5 songs ever and top 2 90s songs ever. But times change, and it's here now. Either way, the song is very catchy and the fast-paced verses by all three of these rappers are fire and really show their talent. I also like the inspiration behind this song's title and chorus, which is the Biblical proverb "the love of money is the root of all evil". This song is interesting, to say the least, and deserved to hit #1 because of that. Sad that Biggie died so young because he had a great life and career ahead of him.
16. Run-D.M.C. - It's Tricky
The one and only 80s song to appear on this list is a rap classic that I never forget about when thinking of my all-time favorite rap songs. In fact, this is probably one of those songs that you know and have heard a lot in public places, but don't know the name of. It's a classic anthem that's played at sports games and other places like that, and I think it's perfect of those occasions. The beat, which was sampled from The Knack's hit My Sharona, is catchy and fits well with the rest of the song. And while I think the verses are good, the chorus is my favorite part. It's so infectious and gets stuck in your head really easily. I couldn't believe it only peaked in the 50s on the Hot 100, because it deserved to be way higher than that. #LongLiveJamMasterJay
15. Savage Garden - Truly Madly Deeply
I am a huge fan of Savage Garden, but I'm not sure why. I don't know whether it's the amazing vocals from Darren Hayes or the catchy instrumentals provided by Daniel Jones, but I have never disliked a song from them, because they're that good. If I had to pick a favorite song from them, it would definitely be this, even over some amazing songs like Affirmation, To The Moon and Back, I Want You, Crash and Burn, Chained To You, Carry On Dancing, etc. And the weird part is, I can do long explanations as to why most of those six songs I just mentioned are amazing, but I can't come up with much for this. I love the production in it for some reason, and Darren sounds great as usual. I don't care for the lyrics, but I think the chorus is awesome for some reason. I'm not really sure what else to say other than that this is probably my second favorite song on the Billboard Decade-End Chart for the 1990s, behind another certain song I'll get to in a minute, and my third favorite song on the all-time chart behind that song I just mentioned and another popular 2000s song. But yeah.
14. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis/Ray Dalton - Can't Hold Us
There was a time when I would get really excited when I'd hear Macklemore's name, and it was largely because of his work with Ryan Lewis that included this song. Sure, they have other jams like Thrift Shop, White Walls, and Downtown, and Macklemore had Glorious as a solo artist, but those songs don't compare to this. In fact, Macklemore's verses in this song might be the best I've heard from a white rapper other than Eminem. But the fun doesn't really start until the chorus, which gives the song its reputation in my opinion. It's so uplifting and the vocals used to sing it are also great. The beat also contributes to that. I'm so glad this song and this rapper/duo were as successful as they were, because it was well-deserved.
13. Matchbox Twenty - Real World
This criminally underrated single from this band's debut album was one I made sure to include, regardless of where I thought it would be on the list. And if you want an idea of how robbed it was, it only peaked at #38 on the Hot 100. That's pretty weak considering that Back 2 Good hit the top 25 and Push and 3AM technically were top 5 hits, and this is better than two of those songs (little spoiler for later maybe?). Anyway, like most songs on this list and in general, I like the chorus the most, mainly because of the amazing vocals and the "yeeeeah" part at the beginning of it. The verses aren't nothing, though, because as Wikipedia says, "The song was written by lead singer Rob Thomas, and details him wondering about what it would be like if he lived in various settings other than the current one, including a superhero, a rainmaker, and being a boss at a job, and if they would worsen or improve his life." I love this theme for some reason, and Rob Thomas is a genius for writing a song about it, and recording it in such an amazing way. I'm quite confused as to why I think the Yourself or Someone Like You era was my favorite from Matchbox Twenty, because it was their debut and they weren't too experienced, along with some other things I won't mention. But a little spoiler I'll give is that one other song from that album will appear on here somewhere soon. So get excited for that, I guess. Moving on for now.
12. Kid Rock - Born Free
I might get some hate for this one, just because it's Kid Rock and every music fan should know about his bad reputation and all that. But I don't care, because I absolutely love this song. Actually, it might be the only song I remember hearing a lot in my childhood (my dad would play his album of the same name a lot when I was around) that's on this list. I loved it when I was younger, and I love it now. If you love Kid Rock and/or rock/country music in general, I recommend this. If you hate Kid Rock and/or rock/country music, I recommend this. It's the best that country rock can get, by a long shot. I love his voice and the guitars in the song, and I haven't heard much better of the latter in a song like this before. But the lyrics are what draws my attention. He just describes how he's born free, and the figurative language in the verses really shows it. Connecting freedom to nature was a great idea for a song like this. And when it gets to the last minute or so, it's the best. When he yells out that he's born free for the last couple times, it's great. I love a lot of songs from Kid Rock, but if I had to pick a favorite I would not hesitate to say this one. It deserved way more popularity because it's so good in every way.
11. Eminem - Sing For The Moment
Eminem has two songs on this list, and this is the first of them. So in other words, both of his songs on here are in the top half. Impressive. I wouldn't quite say he's the rap god, but he's certainly up there. As for this song, the Aerosmith sample does a lot. It gives the song a structure and a mood. But that's not the best part. The best part is the amazing rapping that Eminem provides here, and it's the second-best he's ever done in a song. They describe a few different things at once, which isn't something every rapper can do. And those few things were able to connect to a sampled chorus that Eminem didn't even write. That is also impressive. At this point, I've covered pretty much everything, so I'm not sure what else to say. Let's get to the top 10!
10. Wiz Khalifa/Charlie Puth - See You Again
I didn't want to include any 2010s songs in the top 10 for certain reasons, but I had to make an exception for this beautiful song. In fact, just listen to it (if you haven't already) and you should tell why it's loved and popular. It has a fantastic chorus delivered by Charlie Puth, who really isn't the best vocalist out there. But you can tell he wanted to make this song a good one because of the theme and all, so that's probably why it's that good. And not to mention Wiz Khalifa's rapping. Wiz is one of those rappers that isn't too loved and I really shouldn't love him, but I do anyway. He was the perfect choice for the rapper in this song, and he absolutely killed his verses. As for the lyrics/theme, it was a great tribute to Paul Walker and can be used for a tribute to pretty much everyone. They chose all the right words and used them at the right times, and that's part of why this is that good. Another thing is that when I was first getting into hit music back in 2015 or so, this is one of the songs I'd hear on the radio a lot then, so it kind of marked something there. Overall, this song has great vocals, great lyrics, and was just always a song I loved, so this definitely deserves a spot on this list and in the top 10. It deserved every bit of success it got as well.
9. Mobb Deep - Shook Ones, Pt. II
To be quite honest, I'm not totally sure how to explain my love for this song. It's kinda one of those songs that you have to listen to to see the deal. But I'll try my best and see what I can do. First of all, the beat is exactly what I look for in a rap song. It sounds so good with the rapping and the rest of the song. And I really love that sample (whatever that instrument is) for some reason. Not sure why. Both Prodigy and Havoc slayed their verses and flowed nicely when rapping a message to all wannabe thugs out there. The part that leaves me shook, though, is that hook. I have no idea why I love it, but I just do. It could be the way he says "shook" or his vocals in it, I don't know. But I do really enjoy it. Not really sure what else I can say other than that as critics say, this song is the proof you need that sequels aren't always inferior to the original song. But yeah, this is very iconic and has everything I need in a rap song. Absolute perfection.
8. Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.
The Clan are some of the gods of rap, and one of the best groups to ever set foot in the music industry, so I made it a priority to represent them on this list. I chose this song because it's referred to as their signature song, and it can be well-known from other places. (Apparently there's a new Iggy Azalea song that sampled this song and copied the chorus from this, and while that might be good, this is still the OG) But I mainly picked it because it's so amazing in many different ways. First of all, the rapping is just on point. Raekwon's verse flows very well and describes the scene where he grew up very nicely. The other verse, which comes from Inspectah Deck, and in this verse he, as Genius says, "takes you through the whole cycle of street life: from scrambling on the street, to hustling, to trying to teach the youth a better way and them not hearing you – and showing how there’s no answer." He actually might've done it better than Raekwon did since it's that good. But that's not the fun part. The fun part, and the best part of the song by far, is the chorus, which is rapped by Method Man (my personal favorite member of the Clan). It is rapped with pride, great vocals, and best of all, the right words. It gets stuck in your head sometimes because of how well-written and well-performed it was. Props to Method Man for that. And not to mention that beat. RZA did a superior job on it, and it gives the song so much of a classic and old school feel. I love that a lot for some reason. So yeah, I love this song so much, and it's without a doubt one of my favorite old school rap songs ever. When I listened to this song for the first time, it totally changed the way I viewed the subgenre of old school hip hop/rap, because it left me so shook at how good it was. So when the critics say that Wu Tang are one of the best rap groups of all-time and that Enter The Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers is one of the best rap albums of all-time, they aren't lying.
7. The Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
If you're a 90s kid or anyone who knows a lot about big chart hits, you probably have heard or heard of this song quite a few times. And when I heard it for the first time (not sure when that was), I knew right away that this is definitely my type of song and something I would always love. The guitars in it sound great, and while this isn't John Rzeznik's best vocal performance in my opinion, it still fits with the song really well and sounds good. I'm not sure what I can say about the lyrical content other than that it's not just nothing that we saw a lot of in the 90s. The chorus of this song fantastic, but I'm not sure why. It just has a great feel to it. But yeah, I don't think there's much else I can say. This is definitely my favorite Goo Goo Dolls song, and out of all the great pop-rock songs we saw in the late 90s, this is among the best of them.
6. Usher/Lil Jon/Ludacris - Yeah!
Here's a song that you have to have heard many times before if you're a music fan. But as much as I love it and Usher, there wasn't quite enough room for it in the top 5. But that's okay, because there's still a lot of fire in the top 5. Anyway, the main thing I like about this song is that insanely catchy hook. It is classic in every way possible and is very memorable because of how fun it's made to be. The other thing is Usher's vocals. They are wonderful throughout the entire song. He's without a doubt in my top 3-5 singers ever, if not my favorite. If someone other than him sang it, it wouldn't be as good. I also love the production in this song, as it really gives it quite a fun and amazing feel. I like Lil Jon's contribution fine, and as little as it sounds I can't picture the song without it. But there's also that amazing verse from Ludacris, one of my favorite 2000s rappers, that makes me love the song even more. Even the outro is iconic in its own way. This song is a big reason why Usher's Confessions is probably my favorite R&B album of all-time. It is an overall flawless song that really deserved to be the 2nd biggest song of the 2000s. Usher and Ludacris can't get any better than this.
5. Coolio/L.V. - Gangsta's Paradise
We're kicking off the top 5 with a song that people call the most iconic gangsta rap song of all-time for a reason. I'm pretty sure most people who know 90s music charts really well recognize it as the #1 song of 1995 that also appeared in the top third of the 1996 chart. And out of the many gangsta rap songs we got in the late 80s and 90s, this is easily and objectively the best one. Even N.W.A. couldn't top this masterpiece with some of their amazing songs from the late 80s. Also, even if you disagree and think songs by someone like N.W.A. are better, this one was still more successful than all of those songs. And if Ridin' by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone, which was the #20 song on this list, was discussing troubles of ghetto life and ended up being one of the most successful rap songs of the 2000s, this song was the Ridin' of the 1990s. The first thing that immediately stands out about the song is the beat. It's not the usual sound you'd hear from the 90s rap scene, but I think it fits well with the song. Then it gets to the verses, which basically describe the "Gangsta's paradise", as the song calls it. Every verse has a different story to tell, and while I'm not sure if it necessarily gets better after each one, it's still good. And after each amazing verse comes the chorus. Out of all the amazing parts in this song, the chorus is definitely my favorite. It's one of those choruses where the vocals and lyrics are so good that it gives you chills pretty much every time. That's how good it is. I do not know who this LV guy is, and I've heard of Coolio but I don't know much about him. The only thing I do know about them is that based off of this song, they have some amazing musical abilities, because they were able to put together this amazing song. I'm glad this song was really popular and successful, because it deserves it. Most gangsta rap songs released in the late 80s and early 90s weren't very popular, but I'm very glad this one is an exception.
4. The Wallflowers - One Headlight
Yes, as crazy as it sounds, I love this song enough to call it the fourth best song I've ever heard. There might be a lot I'd have to explain, but we'll get to the fun parts in a minute. As for the basics, I think that bass/guitar/whatever that is in the background sounds really good, and it was fitting for this song for some reason. Jakob Dylan (who is Bob Dylan's son, by the way) did an amazing job on the vocals, and because they're that good I can't really picture anyone else singing it. But the thing that really makes this song stand out from the others is the lyrics and theme. I don't usually pay attention to lyrics in songs and judge songs off of them, but this is one of the most well-written songs I've heard in my life. And as much as I don't want to be that guy, all I can really tell you is that you have to listen to the song to see the deal. It's like Radiohead's album Kid A: You probably won't get it within the first few listens, but there's a point when it finally clicks with you and you really enjoy it because of that. (OK, I haven't listened to Kid A enough times and "gotten it" yet, but still, not my point) It took me around 10-20 listens to get it and understand everything behind the words of the song, and while I'm not trying to force you to do that, this song has a lot of potential in it that is waiting for you. The least I can really say about the theme is that it can be inspiring in many different ways, as this and other songs like it sort of helped me get through my last weeks of middle school, which were kind of hard for me. You'll see why if you give it a chance. It's overall a musical masterpiece that is so good that there are only three songs out there that are better than it in my opinion. And now is the time to introduce those three songs, so let's get to it.
3. Matchbox Twenty - 3AM
Well this is that one song of theirs that I foreshadowed would be coming while I was talking about Real World. And as much as I'd hate to say it again, this is another one of those songs like Kid A that you have to listen to lots of the times in order to understand. Alright, now here's a flashback to last winter. I was in the car with my dad one day and I think I heard a song of theirs (it was most likely Bent) on the radio. I told my dad I sort of liked the band, and that's when he recommended this song to me. And next thing you know, I was at home listening to it. I enjoyed it, although I didn't quite like it as much as the other two songs I knew from them (Bent and Unwell). I listened to it more over the next couple of months, and then there was a point, probably in around February or March, when it finally clicked with me and I was able to understand it and really love it. It took over two months, but it happened and that's what matters. Anyways, aside from my personal experiences, this song is from the point of view of lead singer Rob Thomas as a teenager, when his mom had cancer and was given six months to live. It's a very touching topic and one that seems hard to write about sometimes, but it was written very nicely and doesn't have much room for improvement. And just like pretty much all of the other songs on this list, these words are put into song form in a very great way that really catches my ears. I'm not quite sure if this is Rob's best vocal performance in my opinion, but it's up there. And the guitars add to the song for sure as I think they flow with it very well. All of these things end up being put together, and for me it results in something totally amazing and worth putting this high on the list. It's definitely not a song for everybody, but it's definitely one for me.
2. Linkin Park - In The End
Linkin Park are awesome. They have so many jams that it's hard for me to remember them all. In fact, they might even be my favorite rock band ever considering how easy it is for them to make a great song. Their big break on this list is right here at the #2 spot with a song that is hands-down the best hard rock song ever made. And honestly, most of the explaining for this can be done when listening to the song, because even if you don't like it, it's not too hard to see why it's so loved. It has lots of things I usually hear in an awesome song: Great vocals, great rapping, great instrumentation, great lyrics, and a very high energy level. It also contains a combination of genres, which I love to hear as well, especially when Linkin Park does it. Mike Shinoda's rapping really couldn't have been much better, and the same goes for Chester Bennington's vocals. They are totally on point. And you might be able to tell by now that I love high energy songs, and this is no exception. This is a truly incredible song that in every way deserves to be this high on this list, as much of an honor as it is. And I don't want to be that guy, but just one listen and you can tell why everyone loves it. Best hard rock song ever.
So we have reached that all-important moment where I reveal what you guys have been waiting for: My favorite song of all-time. As amazing as all of these 24 songs are, it wasn't a very hard choice to put this song above all of these, because it's such a flawless masterpiece that sounds amazing in every single aspect. But what could it be? A cool pop song from the 2000s? Nah. An awesome rock song from the 90s? I wish, but no. A very aggressive rap jam that has some of the best lyrics every written with a theme that is very inspiring in it? Well...
1. Eminem - Lose Yourself
If I had to be honest, who doesn't love this song? It has lots of cool things in it that at least one of them has to be for you. And as for me, it has pretty much everything I need in it, and all of these things combine nicely enough to make something awesome. As for these things, there's lots of them. First, the song definitely has meaning in it. The lyrics are some of the most memorable ones written by Eminem because of the theme and how well they fit together. Also, I can't say this about too many songs, but the intro in this song is perfect. It sets the stage for the song in the right way, especially with the spoken words in it. The building up instrumentals do a lot for me, too. The first verse describes Jimmy Smith Jr., also known by his stage name B-Rabbit, who is the protagonist in 8 Mile, the movie that this song was written for, and the movie's opening scene where B-Rabbit gets the chance to be in a rap battle but "choked" and couldn't come up with a single rhyme. Basically, he was so nervous that he wasn't even able to recite the lines he wrote down in advance. The time eventually runs out and he loses the battle. As bad as that sounds, the next lines describe him after this loss: Going back to the real world and realizing that he's just a broke man working a dead end job and there's not a big chance of him leaving Detroit. But he knows that he's not gonna give up, and that although his back is on the ropes (think boxing), he can still seize the moment and achieve his dream of becoming a famous rapper. The entire first verse is extremely well-written and there is not a better way that he could have described the story through there. But that's not all.The chorus of this song is so iconic that I can't even put in words how much I love it. It sums up what was mentioned in the intro and seals the song's lyrical quality. It goes back to the topic about if you get one shot to do something you've dreamed of doing, you should take the opportunity, because there's not always another chance. What I also love is how it connects to Eminem's rise as a rapper, and that this is the situation he faced. His demo tape made it to famous rapper and producer Dr. Dre, even after Em came in second in the Rap Olympics competition shortly before. He got his one shot when he met Dre for the first time, and at that meeting they recorded three songs, including My Name Is, in under six hours. After My Name Is was a big hit, Em's career had taken off. That's why I think the chorus is so significant, as he made it about what to do if you face that situation, and he connected it with his story and rise to fame. Amazing. The second and third verses are amazing as well. The second verse described how B-Rabbit can become successful and his state of mind after losing the battle, and after hearing that iconic chorus once again, we hear the third verse, where it is confirmed that the song is from the perspective of Marshall Mathers and not B-Rabbit. The verse is about him about to take his next shot at battling, knowing it may be the only opportunity he'll get. And then the chorus goes in again to top it all off. So yeah, there's basically everything I need here: A great beat that combines rock and rap perfectly, great vocals, a great theme, and a very energetic chorus. It's practically impossible to make a song as good as this one, which is why it's without a doubt my favorite song ever. Good job, Eminem, You really pleased me this time around.
And that wraps up this post! If you stuck around long enough to get here, thanks, I really appreciate it. As for future plans for this blog, I just plan on posting more lists of my favorite songs and maybe some chart or album reviews. If you have any comments about this post or want to suggest a future post idea, then be sure to comment and let me know about those. But until then, have a great day and I hope to post again soon!
Also, the Spotify playlist with these songs is on the sidebar if you're interested in listening to the songs that way. Trust me, you'll like a lot of them. Now I'm done. See you next time!
Parker, nice post.
ReplyDeleteThank you sir!
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