I still think it was a horse race between France and Italy right up until Italy performed, at which point I started to see them as the more likely winners. Top 5 this year was immaculate.
A column bringing up Boney M, Eurovision, and Weird Al at different points is music to my ears. Off the Deep End is so fascinating in how it comes right at the intersection of grunge and ‘80s pop/rock. The polka medley has Losing My Religion, Cherry Pie, Ice Ice Baby, and Enter Sandman, and it blows my mind that those songs all came out within the same three years.
I don’t know why but “It ultimately didn’t matter that Wind Beneath My Wings sounded like pigshit” made me snort. Also, yes, even with the overplay, Let It Go is a 9.
Zitti e buoni goddamn slaps. Speaking as a Eurovision fan, Italy finally winning this thing after a solid decade of excellent songs that couldn’t reach the summit is a huge achievement, and in true Italian fashion, they did it in the way you’d least expect (I preferred France ever so slightly, but oh well - it was always going to be one of those two). Beggin’ being their bigger hit is bizarre, but I think overall they’re quite the talented outfit. They are also all my age or younger, and doesnt that make me feel like an underachiever?
1) I love Gloria Estefan, but it's a crime that probably Miami Sound Machine's best song, "Falling in Love (Uh-Oh)," stalled at #25. You want a 10? That's a 10.
2) "Always on My Mind," as covered by Pet Shop Boys, is also a 10, especially that transcendent cover they did with The Killers at Glastonbury. That whole set was incredible, but shout-out to another special guest, Johnny Marr. The dude not only sat in on "Mr. Brightside," but when they did "This Charming Man" and the drummer went into it too fast, Johnny didn't pause the song and made them start over because it's finger-blisteringly difficult at any speed. No, that motherfucker rolled it with it and played it faster than he usually does, no complaints, note-perfect. Best guitarist of all time, short of maybe Prince.
This really sucks. I cannot begin to emphasize just how much I love "The Humpty Dance." Will always be in my all-time top 10 rap songs. It's just so oddball and catchy and Shock G absolutely kills it. He'll always be a legend.
I typically have faith in Simpsons episodes that parody a band without necessarily featuring the band. Maybe it’s just lingering fond memories of Homer’s Barbershop Quartet.
You don't have to copy-paste "'Weird Al' Yankovic’s highest-charting single, 2006’s “White & Nerdy,” peaked at #9. It’s a 7"
You can say it's a 10 next time!
So pumped for the book! This song is majestic and totally deserves its vaunted reputation. U2 may not have always been cool, but they've damn near always (emphasis on the "damn near") been great. Weird that they haven't made the top ten since "Discoteque" though - I thought "Beautiful Day" was a big hit.
I just did my vote and checked the standings, and I am delighted to see Fela Kuti is leading the fan vote! Did NOT see that coming but I'm not complaining (the other four at the moment are Tina Turner, Foo Fighters, the Go-Go's, and Iron Maiden - not bad, honestly. Jay-Z, perhaps unsurprisingly, is currently at the bottom, because rap doesn't equal rock rabble rabble rabble). If it's those four plus Jay and Kate Bush, I'd be satisfied (also maaaayyybbbeee swap Carole King in for Iron Maiden, just my two cents).
I'll admit, this is the hardest I've squinted at one of Tom's ratings in a while since maybe "Broken Wings." Am I the only one who really doesn't like this song? That hook, man. I don't care for it. I give it a 3.
(Yes, I am still ridiculously salty that Steve Miller and Chicago made it in the one and only time the Smiths have shown up on the ballot. That was some absolute bullshit.)
You could legit make a serious case for every single one of these artists as a Hall of Fame inductee. I’ve been following the Hall since 2015 or so and I’ve never been able to say that before (and nine times out of ten, it’s the least deserving one that wins the fan ballot and gets in over actual impactful musicians). You could mmmaaayyybbbeee say Mary J. Blige or Dionne Warwick are slightly lower than the rest, but then you’d just have to play “Family Affair” or “Walk on By” and I would change my mind immediately. Heck, I kinda get the Foos backlash, but they’re still a tight group of musicians and any band that put out even one album as good as their stretch from ‘95 to ‘07 would be worthy of induction.
Holy fuck, that’s a good shortlist. Any five of them would be an awesome class (and I’m ecstatic that they’re finally considering Tina’s solo career so she isn’t forever only inducted alongside Ike).
If I only had to pick five, I’d say:
- Jay-Z
- Foo Fighters
- Kate Bush
- Carole King
- Tina Turner
But that answer could change daily!
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