Music like politics has evolve over the course of time. The genre that defines our era musically has changed over time.
Below I have picked my top 10 songs that had the biggest impact on American music.
10. Video killed the Radio Star – Buggles.
Why its Number 10: This song helped change almost everything about music. This song which helped launch MTV and changed music from a completely audio medium to split between visual and audio. It also all but killed the fat, overweight rock star, and gave birth to the pretty but not so talented aritst.
Song that was almost number 10: Michael Jackson-Thriller Only one song could represent the video music era and it is really close in my mind between the two. Thriller brought music videos to a whole new level before they were generally just the band playing and thriller made it an art form.
9. Cum on feel the noise – Quiet Riot
Why its number 9: Because it started hair metal, took what we think of a Rock and Roll star to new heights and helped introduced the power ballad. Sex, drugs and rock and roll took off after this band made it big, every hair metal band got signed after this song his the charts.
You know this song isn’t that great but it is really catchy.
8. Smells like teen spirit – Nirvana
Why its number 8: It ended the Hair Metal band craze and started the grunge scene. Flannel shirt, torn jeens and a captivated youth are what this song got. It help convert music to harder sound and issued a newer era of properity. Also, I like to think that artists started taking the money end of the music business more seriously.
It also gave all of us who couldn’t sing a chance at being the lead singer of a rock band.
7. God save the queen – Sex Pistols
Why its number 7: The sex pistols were the first band not made up of people who met oneday and decided to be a band, they were put together by their manager. This band was created for one purpose, to make money. The idea that music could be created for the sole purpose of making money was a new idea. All of those pop bands in the future, all of the reality shows about bands, and as Coz called it this song created “Fast food music.” Not to forget the fact that this song helped ushered in the punk scene.
EMO bands, pop groups, top 40 radio is all the sex pistols fault. Maybe they shouldn’t be on this list.
6. Like a virgin – Madonna
Why its number 6: Women as media stars, before this song it was rare if ever. Madonna has done nearly everything Rock Star, Movie Star and top selling author. This song was not Madonna’s first but it was her first number 1 hit. Lots of female stars now use sexuality as a gimmik or an addtioin to their musical appeal and Madonna took sexuality to a whole new level. Madonna helped revolutionized the music video business.
You know she is to blame for all those female pop singers of the 90s damn you madonna damn you. My ears will never forgive you, but my eyes thank you
5. Walk this way – Aerosmith and Run DMC
Why its number 5: Because unlike the artist at number three this was a colbartive effort between a white artist and black artists and it was a huge success. This song, more then any other song, brought hip-hop into the mainstream. Hip-Hop had been around before, black artists had been a success before, but this song took everything to a whole new level. I’m saying without this song we have no Diddy running the city, NO Jay-Z buying the Nets, no one jumping up and down at rock concerts, no one using the phrase “Yeah boy”.
This song is responsible for Vote or Die, Poetry slam and is a major influence on the “culture war”.
4. Iron Man- Black Sabbath
Why its number 4: If ever there was a revolution in music, it wsa the advent of Rock and Roll. Rock and Roll, which many just called a fad, has become the dominat form of music of the modern era. To me, without this song, this band, none of the other songs from the forty years or so would be as popular or even exist. This song really just changed it all.
song that was almost number 4: Stairway to heaven. It took me a while to decide between the two sorry
3. Blue Moon of Kentucky – Elvis Presley
Why its Number 3: This song made Elvis a star as he was able to take what was succeeding in the African-American music scene and transfer that to Popular music success. This song help form the legend of a man who still has people thinking he is alive. Elvis set a bar for single performers that people measure themselves against. People still impersonate elvis and there is a culture where people do everything elvis, including a race where everyone dresses up like elvis and runs 6 miles.
Elvis was a deputy member of the ATF and he fought served his country is the War, that is why he is the King.
2. I Want to Hold Your Hand – Beatles
Why its number 2 It started Beatle mania. Before this song hit the airwaves in 1963 no European band could make in America, even the beatles. The beatles are the number 1 selling band, their success and influence is the yard stick by which all other performers measure themselves.
Let us not forget us that the Beatles were once bigger the Jesus, now they just get squished whenever I see them.
1. White Chrismas -Bing Crosby
Why its number 1 Because it is by far and away the most popular song ever recorded. This song has sold more copies, been played on the radio more, sung by more people. When it comes to music every one is trying to emulate this song.
What do you think?