WXPN song lists

[mellytu74]

WXPN, the University of Pennsylvania's station, is one of my favorite radio stations.

Currently doing the 885 countdown of best songs (and 88 worst).

I only wish I'd had this list when we were doing Mr. K's song quiz a couple months ago -- would have sparked some ideas.

I fully admit that We Built This City is a guilty pleasure and I wil;l never deny that.

http://xpn.org/music-artist/885-countdown

[SpacemanSpiff]

Some of the "worst 88" are songs that aren't so bad, but went into mondo heavy rotation (even now on classic rock stations) that I can see why they are there -- people are tired of them.

I'm surprised that Bloodrock's "DOA" isn't on there. Maybe it wasn't a big enough hit to merit notice.

[rayxtwo]

WXPN, the University of Pennsylvania's station, is one of my favorite radio stations.

Currently doing the 885 countdown of best songs (and 88 worst).

I only wish I'd had this list when we were doing Mr. K's song quiz a couple months ago -- would have sparked some ideas.

I fully admit that We Built This City is a guilty pleasure and I wil;l never deny that.

http://xpn.org/music-artist/885-countdown

Made me think of "Weird Al's" version of this song from years ago.

Ray

[Estonut]

Adding insult to injury, they don't even get Terry Jacks' name right...

[Vandal]

Here is the complete Worst 88 list:


1 Starship -We Built This City
2 Baha Men -Who Let The Dogs Out
3 Billy Ray Cyrus -Achy Breaky Heart
4 Paul Anka -(You're) Having My Baby
5 Los Del Rio -Macarena
6 Debby Boone -You Light Up My Life
7 Rebecca Black -Friday
8 Justin Bieber -Baby
9 Nickelback -Rockstar
10 Rod Stewart -Do You Think I'm Sexy
11 Aqua -Barbie Girl
12 Meatloaf -Paradise By The Dashboard Light
13 Journey -Don't Stop Believin'
14 Captain & Tennille -Muskrat Love
15 Terry Jack -Seasons In The Sun
16 Tiny Tim -Tiptoe Through The Tulips
17 Richard Harris -MacArthur Park
18 Bobby Goldsboro -Honey
19 Starland Vocal Band -Afternoon Delight
20 Celion Dion -My Heart Will Go On
21 Robin Thicke -Blurred Lines
22 Nickelback -Photograph
23 Paul Mccartney And Wings -Wonderful Christmastime
24 Village People -YMCA
25 The Archies -Sugar Sugar
26 Rick Dees -Disco Duck
27 Pharrell Williams -Happy
28 Vanilla Ice -Ice Ice Baby
29 Meatloaf -I'd Do Anything For Love
30 Right Side Fred -I'm Too Sexy
31 The Eagles -Hotel California
32 Rupert Holmes -Escape (Pina Colada Song)
33 Billy Joel -We Didn't Start The Fire
34 Blackeyed Peas -My Humps
35 Train -Hey Soul Sister
36 Lou Bega -Mambo #5
37 Phil Collins -Sussudio
38 Led Zeppellin -Stairway To Heaven
39 Miley Cyrus -Party In The USA
40 Styx -Mr. Roboto
41 Don Mclean -American Pie
42 Hanson -Mmm Bop
43 ABBA -Dancing Queen
44 Daft Punk -Get Lucky
45 Lynyrd Skynyrd -Free Bird
46 Psy -Gangnam Style
47 Ohio Express -Yummy Yummy Yummy
48 Tony Orlando And Dawn -Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree
49 Eddie Murphy -Party All The Time
50 Chumbawamba -Thumbtumpin
51 Kiss -Rock And Roll All Night
52 Creed -With Arms Wide Open
53 4 Non Blondes -What's Up
54 Crash Test Dummies -Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
55 America - -Horse With No Name
56 Toni Basil -Mickey
57 Kid Rock -All Summer Long
58 Neil Diamond -Sweet Caroline
59 The Beach Boys -Kokomo
60 James Blunt -You're Beautiful
61 Paper Lace -The Night Chicago Died
62 Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods -Billy Don't Be A Hero
63 Limp Bizkit -Nookie
64 Olivia Newton-John -Let's Get Physical
65 Milli Vanilli -Girl You Know It's True
66 Bruce Springsteen -Born In The Usa
67 Barry Manilow -Mandy
68 Hellen Reddy -I Am Woman
69 Morris Albert -Feelings
70 The Beatles -Yellow Submarine
71 Bon Jovi -Livin' On A Prayer
72 Bobby McFerrin -Don't Worry Be Happy
73 Rednex -Cotton Eye Joe
74 Bonnie Tyler -Total Eclipse Of The Heart
75 Maroon 5 -Moves Like Jagger
76 Barry Manilow -Copacabana
77 Rick Astley -Never Gonna Give You Up
78 Guns N' Roses -Sweet Child O' Mine
79 Brittney Spears -Oops I Did It Again
80 Queen -Bohemian Rhapsody
81 Paul McCartney/Stevie Wonder -Ebony & Ivory
82 Dexy's Midnight Runners -Come On Eileen
83 Miley Cyrus -Wrecking Ball
84 Billy Joel -Piano Man
85 Eiffel 65 -Blue
86 Jimmy Buffett -Margaritaville
87 Sisqo -Thong Song
88 Billy Joel -Uptown Girl

[MarkBarrett]

I checked the list twice and could not find "Shake Your Love" by Debbie Gibson.

[littlebeast13]

I checked the list twice and could not find "Shake Your Love" by Debbie Gibson.

There's already enough great songs on this list that don't deserve to be there.... why add another one?

Let me guess... this list was made up by wannabe hipster college kids who believe they are the heavenly appointed arbiters of taste? There's a reason popular music is.... well, popular. This list is a crock!

lb13

[AlphaDummy]

Eyegor did a much better job of covering the truly wretched with his TURRDS (This Unfortunate Record Really Does Suck) game a few years back...

[mellytu74]

There's already enough great songs on this list that don't deserve to be there.... why add another one?

Let me guess... this list was made up by wannabe hipster college kids who believe they are the heavenly appointed arbiters of taste? There's a reason popular music is.... well, popular. This list is a crock!

lb13

lb -

1) I became aware of the list because a friend (actually the son of an old neighbor who went from funny little boy to really cool adult) posted something on EFB.

He was saying how much he liked so many of the songs. And how funny it was how many of the songs show up on both lists -- such as Bohemian Rhapsody (which was 11 on the best list), Happy, American Pie, Don't Stop Believin'.

2) XPN's listener base is pretty broad, actually. It's probably the only local station I know that you can hear at an IBEW work site, Urban Outfitters, a local bookstore and a senior citizen center.

Now, admittedly at 885 songs, you can cover a lot of ground but the best list is pretty eclectic -- not many stations where the listeners will give you a best list that includes The Lumineers, Wilco, Beastie Boys, Marvin Gaye, Sinatra, Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, Nirvana, Velvet Underground, Billie Holiday, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Dave Brubeck, The Temptations, Reba McEntire, The Jackson 5 and Jackson Browne.

As well as Springsteen, The Beatles, Stones, Dylan, etc.

It's listener-supported and next to to another listener-supported radio station on the FM dieal, WRDV, which has an even more eclectic lineup -- polka shows, The Italian Hour, Big Bands and a weekend of doo-wop/rare oldies.

Even Boonie and I voted on the best list. I kinda like the idea of a traditional radio station where I can have input on the content - not some suit at Clear Channel or CBS or wherever.

AND I now have a new Halloween costume for next year - hipster wanna-be.

[mellytu74]

Eyegor did a much better job of covering the truly wretched with his TURRDS (This Unfortunate Record Really Does Suck) game a few years back...

Now THAT is an oldie but goodie, AD!

[Ritterskoop]

I stopped reading when I saw "American Pie" - I get some of the cheese and one-hit wonders on the list are just for fun, but this one is About Something.

And I love cheese, so there. Someone is jealous because they didn't build a city yet.

[mellytu74]

Did anyone at least SKIM the best list?

http://www.xpn.org/music-artist/885-cou ... tdown-2014

I thought that would have at least gotten a mention.

Too much Springsteen? Too much Beatles? Stones?

Is American Pie too low at #80 on best list?

Is Imagine too low at #3 on the best list?

I'm kinda disappointed at the quality of discourse this has generated.

[Ritterskoop]

I didn't want to try the Best list because there are so many great songs and so much subjectivity in the making of the lists.

But I guess that was true of the Worst list also.

As long as "Imagine" is high I am fine with it. That is the most important lyric ever written. Be good regardless of a reward.

[Ritterskoop]

I like the top 20 or so except I think Dylan should write but not sing. I hate that eliding thing he does where he can't ever hit a note without sliding up into it. But his lyrics are amazing.

"Gimme Shelter" gives me the willies because it's so violent but I loved the way it was featured in the movie "20 Feet From Stardom". Rape and murder, indeed. I had no idea.

I might argue for "Imagine" to be No. 1 but it's hard to dispute "Thunder Road" - a very powerful story-song.

[Ritterskoop]

More thoughts: my personal list would not include so much Stones or Beatles - I am like most people in that my favorites are the artists I found between age 13-16, when we start shifting from our parents' music.

I would include the Stones' "Can't Always Get What You Want" because it was on the "Big Chill" soundtrack, which I saw at 16.

My list would have some Boston, Ben Folds and a good bit of Marshall Tucker/Skynrd/Molly Hatchet/like that.

Just for fun, I consulted my iTunes Plays feature to see what songs I have played the most. I guess it knows when a song starts and I hit FF, and doesn't count those.

It's pretty sad, though this is plays over the past 12 years or so.

1. Celine Dion "To Love You More" - I swear there is a killer violin solo is why I like it.
2. Del Amitri "Roll To Me"
3. Ben Folds "All You Can Eat" - finally one I am not embarrassed about
4. Gnarls Barkley "Crazy"
5. Michael Buble "Save the Last Dance for Me"
6. ELO "Mr Blue Sky" - also not embarrassed about this one
7. Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons "Who Loves You"
8. Taylor Hicks "The Runaround"
9. Murray Head "One Night in Bangkok"
10. Asia "Don't Cry" - one song by this group would also make my top 20, maybe "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes"

I more listen to legitimate rock in the car. The iPod is walking and working music.

[littlebeast13]

5. Michael Buble "Save the Last Dance for Me"

Thank you... I think you just answered for me who plays this version on the current Mecca CD without having to look it up myself. Mecca loves them some Buble.... who actually isn't...... that bad. Before last year, I'd only known him as indigo's BFF...

lb13

[littlebeast13]

It's listener-supported and next to to another listener-supported radio station on the FM dieal, WRDV, which has an even more eclectic lineup -- polka shows, The Italian Hour, Big Bands and a weekend of doo-wop/rare oldies.

Even Boonie and I voted on the best list. I kinda like the idea of a traditional radio station where I can have input on the content - not some suit at Clear Channel or CBS or wherever.

I didn't realize these lists were voted on by listeners.... my bad! Or maybe I should say... the listeners' bad!

While I doubt I'd care much for the polka or the big band, I'd love a radio station that played real music variety... which is pretty much nonexistent in the world of corporate radio. The dreaded "playlist" totally ruined my variety station about 3 years ago, but nothing better has come along since....

lb13

[Ritterskoop]

5. Michael Buble "Save the Last Dance for Me"

Thank you... I think you just answered for me who plays this version on the current Mecca CD without having to look it up myself. Mecca loves them some Buble.... who actually isn't...... that bad. Before last year, I'd only known him as indigo's BFF...

lb13

David Foster produces a lot of Buble's stuff, and I've always liked his ways, especially after he left Chicago. Anything that is heavily piano-based is OK by me.

Damn, now I need Foster and Folds to do an album together.

[Ritterskoop]

One last Buble comment - I was kind of appalled at this treatment of "Save the Last Dance" because it was written by a man who had an illness that meant he couldn't dance anymore, for his wife who had been a Rockette. Very poignant. The Buble version is more just about literally being danceable.

So I love it even though I hate the idea, kind of like Madonna's "Like a Prayer," which is horribly blasphemous but still has that gospel groove I can't turn away from.

[Estonut]

David Foster produces a lot of Buble's stuff, and I've always liked his ways, especially after he left Chicago. Anything that is heavily piano-based is OK by me.

Damn, now I need Foster and Folds to do an album together.

More likely now that they're both in the Yamaha family.

Ben Folds Joins the Yamaha Artist Family

[mellytu74]

Skoop -

Probably not as much Beatles on mine, as well. Mine would have more soul music. And Four Seasons.

And Jackie Wilson Says, which is my favorite Van Morrison song. And Time Is Tight but Booker T and the MGs.

I use my Sansa Fuze (a Christmas gift four or five years ago and one of the best presents I ever got) for nighttime relaxing music and writing.

For the sleeping/nighttime -- lots of Chet Baker, jazz, Big Band vocalists, Buble (although not Save the Last Dance for me).

For writing -- lots of soul oldies, Philly oldies, Springsteen.

I like XPN because it opens up new music for me - as much as SNL or the LS games here (:) ). I don't like all of it - but that's true of any genre, I think.

[T_Bone0806]

melly, I would obviously find this, and DID find this, very interesting,,in fact I saved the link in my favorites section for further digestion. It's harder to comment for me...as Skoop said, it is a very subjective thing. Most of the songs on both lists I can't quibble with, although wI differ on where they are ranked..God Only Knows would be much higher for me, for instance...there are a few ..only a FEW, mind you, on the bad list that I like, and some on the good list that I don't care for, and some I don't even KNOW..I will check out the ones I don't know, though my suspicions are that I will not find them to be as wonderful as they do..who knows, though?

As far as my personal tastes, well you can never have too much Beatles, but that's me. Otherwise...

Well, I was gonna wait until it was closer to fruition, but I am in the middle...literally halfway through...a massive project, as part of the organization of some 12,000 songs on my iPod, in which I hope to eventually unveil..the ALL-TIME Boneys. The albums will be easier to do than the songs, which will undoubtedly result in some agonizing choices.

I'm nowhere near close to finishing it, and my health issues are slowing it down, but I continue to work on it.

But I did want to thank you for posting the list. I did find it quite interesting.

[T_Bone0806]

More thoughts: my personal list would not include so much Stones or Beatles - I am like most people in that my favorites are the artists I found between age 13-16, when we start shifting from our parents' music.

I would include the Stones' "Can't Always Get What You Want" because it was on the "Big Chill" soundtrack, which I saw at 16.

My list would have some Boston, Ben Folds and a good bit of Marshall Tucker/Skynrd/Molly Hatchet/like that.

Just for fun, I consulted my iTunes Plays feature to see what songs I have played the most. I guess it knows when a song starts and I hit FF, and doesn't count those.

It's pretty sad, though this is plays over the past 12 years or so.

1. Celine Dion "To Love You More" - I swear there is a killer violin solo is why I like it.
2. Del Amitri "Roll To Me"
3. Ben Folds "All You Can Eat" - finally one I am not embarrassed about
4. Gnarls Barkley "Crazy"
5. Michael Buble "Save the Last Dance for Me"
6. ELO "Mr Blue Sky" - also not embarrassed about this one
7. Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons "Who Loves You"
8. Taylor Hicks "The Runaround"
9. Murray Head "One Night in Bangkok"
10. Asia "Don't Cry" - one song by this group would also make my top 20, maybe "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes"

I more listen to legitimate rock in the car. The iPod is walking and working music.

Skoop, since you bravely postecd your affection for that Celine song, I will stand by you and admit that I, too, like that song, for the same reason...that violin riff is a real strong hook to the ear.

I also love that Del Amitri tune.

[Ritterskoop]

Phone-A-Friend Buddy and I got to talking about this list last night.

We always end up picking away at our ten albums we would take to the island list.

His includes the B-52's Rock Lobster, a Doors album (sorry I don't remember which one) and I think he picked the Beatles' White album. He is five years older than me and it shows in our conversations about music. Oh, yeah, he also would take a U2 disc and I have never paid for anything of theirs except the single "Stuck in a Moment" - because we all get stuck in a moment now and then.

My list would have the Broadway cast albums of West Side Story, My Fair Lady and Wicked, plus Boston's first album, a Ben Folds album TBD (probably the first one), and Billy Joel's The Stranger.

We said no hits albums but that soundtracks are allowed so he might take Saturday Night Fever even though he does not yet own it. Ha. Easy birthday gift coming up.