500? Of all time?!? One is bound to fail – either through poor music taste, a limited music history, or shameless copying of all lists that came before. You may conclude I am guilty of all three after reading through all 500 of these choices. So here, I shall take the opportunity to state my goal – it’s quite simple really: After much online exploration, I could not find a broad, definitive list of the greatest songs that made a space for both Bob Dylan and Andrew W.K., so I said ‘Fuck it, I’ll do it myself.’
At the end of the list is a Spotify playlist with only 491 of the 500 songs (Thanks JAY-Z!) – I would put it up here for convenience, but that would be anti-climactic and annoying.
Enjoy!
500. Angelo Badalamenti – “Twin Peaks Theme” (1990)
499. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “American Girl” (1976)
498. Eminem – “My Name Is” (1999)
497. Run the Jewels ft. Zack De La Rocha – “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)” (2014)
496. Kool & The Gang – “Summer Madness” (1974)
495. Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris – “We Found Love” (2011)
494. Lil Wayne – “A Milli” (2008)
493. Brian Eno – “St. Elmo’s Fire” (1975)
492. Joy Division – “Disorder” (1979)
491. The Joubert Singers – “Stand on the Word (Larry Levan Mix)” (1985)
490. Coldplay – “Clocks” (2002)
489. T.I. – “What You Know” (2006)
488. Phil Collins – “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
487. Taylor Swift – “Style” (2014)
486. XTC – “Making Plans for Nigel” (1979)
485. Andrew W.K. – “Party Hard” (2001)
484. Neil Young & Crazy Horse – “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) (1979)
483. Public Enemy – “Brothers Gonna Work It Out” (1990)
482. Neil Diamond – “Sweet Caroline” (1969)
481. Roy Ayers Ubiquity – “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” (1976)
480. Lorde – “Royals” (2013)
479. Hall & Oates – “She’s Gone” (1974)
478. Bon Iver – “Holocene” (2011)
477. Donovan – “Season of the Witch” (1966)
476. Suicide – “Ghost Rider” (1977)
475. Gang of Four – “Damaged Goods” (1979)
474. Calvin Harris ft. Frank Ocean & Migos – “Slide” (2017)
473. Darlene Love – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (1963)
472. The Foundations – “Build Me Up Buttercup” (1968)
471. The Shins – “New Slang” (2001)
470. Built to Spill – “Carry the Zero” (1999)
469. Justice – “D.A.N.C.E.” (2007)
468. Disclosure ft. Sam Smith – “Latch” (2012)
467. Interpol – “Obstacle 1” (2002)
466. Bobby Womack – “Across 110th Street” (1973)
465. The Angels – “My Boyfriend’s Back” (1963)
464. Phoenix – “Lisztomania” (2009)
463. The Rapture – “House of Jealous Lovers” (2002)
462. Bob Marley & The Wailers – “Waiting in Vain” (1977)
461. Radiohead – “Pyramid Song” (2001)
460. Nirvana – “All Apologies” (1993)
459. Band of Horses – “The Funeral” (2006)
458. Rhythim Is Rhythim – “Strings of Life” (1987)
457. The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face” (2015)
456. Blondie – “Dreaming” (1979)
455. Eddie Cochran – “Summertime Blues” (1958)
454. Britney Spears – “Toxic” (2003)
453. Brian Eno – “1/1” (1978)
452. Led Zeppelin – “Immigrant Song” (1970)
451. Joni Mitchell – “Free Man in Paris” (1974)
450. Ben E. King – “Stand By Me” (1961)
449. Wire – “Outdoor Miner” (1978)
448. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “Radio, Radio” (1978)
447. T. Rex – “Metal Guru” (1972)
446. Sparks – “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us” (1974)
445. The Doobie Brothers – “What a Fool Believes” (1978)
444. The Easybeats – “Friday on My Mind” (1966)
443. Gang Starr – “DJ Premier in Deep Concentration” (1989)
442. Jimmy Eat World – “The Middle” (2001)
441. Funkadelic – “Can You Get to That” (1971)
440. Belle & Sebastian – “Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying” (1996)
439. The Congos – “Fisherman” (1977)
438. Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers – “Just the Two of Us” (1980)
437. The Jesus and Mary Chain – “Just Like Honey” (1985)
436. Panda Bear – “Bros” (2007)
435. Vince Staples – “Norf Norf” (2015)
434. Dick Dale and His Del-Tones – “Misirlou” (1962)
433. Beck – “Where It’s At” (1996)
432. Pretenders – “Brass in Pocket” (1979)
431. The Beach Boys – “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)” (1966)
430. Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson – “The Bottle” (1974)
429. Cocteau Twins – “Lorelei” (1984)
428. Electric Light Orchestra – “Mr. Blue Sky” (1978)
427. Merle Haggard – “Mama Tried” (1968)
426. The Rolling Stones – “Rocks Off” (1972)
425. The Monkees – “Daydream Believer” (1967)
424. Nirvana – “In Bloom” (1991)
423. Erykah Badu – “On & On” (1996)
422. Sufjan Stevens – “Chicago” (2005)
421. New Radicals – “You Get What You Give” (1998)
420. Dinosaur Jr. – “Freak Scene” (1988)
419. Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built” (2012)
418. Grimes – “Flesh Without Blood” (2015)
417. The Left Banke – “Walk Away Renee” (1966)
416. The xx – “Intro” (2009)
415. Bikini Kill – “Rebel Girl” (1993)
414. Dionne Warwick – “Walk On By” (1964)
413. Elton John – “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (1973)
412. The Postal Service – “Such Great Heights” (2003)
411. Bat For Lashes – “Daniel” (2009)
410. Gwen Stefani – “Hollaback Girl” (2004)
409. New Order – “Bizarre Love Triangle” (1986)
408. JAY-Z & Kanye West – “Ni**as in Paris” (2011)
407. MGMT – “Time to Pretend” (2007)
406. Pet Shop Boys – “West End Girls” (1984)
405. Neil Young & Crazy Horse – “After the Gold Rush” (1970)
404. The Orb – “Little Fluffy Clouds” (1990)
403. Donna Summer – “Love to Love You Baby” (1975)
402. The Mamas & The Papas – “California Dreamin'” (1965)
401. The Shangri-Las – “Give Him a Great Big Kiss” (1965)
Bitter Melodies 