Sunday, June 13, 2010

We don't have to say we love them

Good morning, this is our final weigh-in on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  We promise. At least until we experience another slow news day.

Let's remember again that this is Rolling Stone's list, not ours. It wears their revered nameplate, not the deeply respected but virtually unknown title of Six String Sanctuary.  If RS felt the need to update its original 2004 list to make room for Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River" and in doing ejected Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia," well that's the way she goes. It stings a little because you know what we think of Benton's 1970 classic. But we figure it's time to accept the notion that some records really are made to be broken.

Say goodbye as well to Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (that one also hurts), the Crystals' "Then He Kissed Me," Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back in Town," the Eagles' "Desperado" and Boston's "More Than a Feeling," all of which tumbled out of the RS 500. 

We bid those songs adieu, and brace ourselves for the next RS update because two great Rolling Stones songs are now on the RS Endangered List: "Brown Sugar" (No. 495) and "Miss You" (No. 498). The writing is also on the wall for Jackson Browne's "Running On Empty" (No. 496).

The world changes and the culture shift continues. Rolling Stone needs to make room for Rihanna, Jay-Z and Kelly Clarkson, not to mention the next American Idol.  It doesn't mean we need to. Meanwhile, not that it matters one bit, but can you remember the last great song by the Rolling Stones?  We can't.
 
Get no.
 
Satisfaction.

1 comment:

  1. "Mean Disposition" grows on me, as does all of Voodoo Lounge.
    But it ain't Street Fighting Man.

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