I was just perusing the many blogs I read on a daily basis and followed a link which brought me to another link, etc. In the end of the long line of links, I came upon an article on nme.com about the ‘Best Song Ever Poll’. Here’s the list:
The global top ten songs were:
1. ‘We Are The Champions’ – Queen
2. ‘Toxic’ – Britney Spears
3. ‘Billie Jean’ – Michael Jackson
4. ‘Hotel California’ – The Eagles
5. ‘La Tortura’ – Shakira
6. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ – Nirvana
7. ‘Yesterday’ – The Beatles
8. ‘One’ – U2
9. ‘Imagine’ – John Lennon
10. ‘Sultans Of Swing’ – Dire Straits
So I’m confused. They’re telling me that ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears is better than Billie Jean, Hotel California, and Imagine????? Is this a joke? I’m just really perplexed by this. That wasn’t even her most popular song! Apparently the survey was conducted in 44 different countries. I just don’t get it. The world’s gone mad! And Bohemian Rhapsody is better than We Are The Champions. Come on people! Bohemian Rhapsody is like four songs in one! It’s amazing!!!! Anyways, this post has no point really. I just found this pretty disturbing. Does anyone agree with the list?
OR
cleffler said,
March 1, 2007 at 2:34 pm
I can’t believe that “Toxic” by Britney Spears actually got ranked higher than Michael Jacksons “Billie Jean!!” That is outrageous!! Wow…I am shocked..those other songs are soo much better and Britneys song’s turn old after hearing them about 3 times!!! I agree with you that the worlds gone MAD!!
-Interesting post!
lilroxy said,
March 5, 2007 at 8:27 pm
That is a pretty crazy top 10 list, and I have to agree with you that ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is a better song than ‘We Are The Champions’. I can’t believe that Britney Spears’ ‘toxic’ got ranked so high. Out of all the songs that are out there in the world, that definitely would not be my number 2 choice. And, I have to admit, I have never even heard of ‘La Tortura’ by Shakira. Crazy…
christian11 said,
March 5, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Yes I disagree completely with this list, I am disgusted. “Oops I did it again” is so much better than “Toxic”. Wow, I couldnt keep a straight face long enough to keep that one going. I would have to say that that list is a bunch of bull crap. I’d like to know who they polled because I dont really agree with most of those songs. Oh and to Lilroxy, look up the ‘La Tortura’ video its actually pretty sweet, well from my perspective, which isnt that healthy.
zipzapzoop said,
March 6, 2007 at 2:12 pm
I have to agree with everyone else, the list is crazy. So it was done in 44 countries, must have been alot of tweens involved is all I can say!
kate said,
March 6, 2007 at 2:48 pm
How do they even make lists for 44 countries?
Brittney Spears isnt even classified as music as far as Im concerned so good call on the bunk list…
Cheers
sabrina05 said,
March 6, 2007 at 7:15 pm
I can definately see the merit of many of the songs on that list but Britney Spears really took me aback. First that she was even on the list and second that Toxic was ranked number two. Honestly that is like saying that American Pie is the best movie of all time.
Rachyj said,
March 6, 2007 at 9:11 pm
OK, this “word wide” list is awful. Haha to be dead honest with you, I have not even heard of all of those songs. I am not saying that I am in any way a music master and should have heard of all of these, but I do listen to music in all of those genres and I have never even heard of 1 or 2 of those songs. I think the world is going crazy. Since when is Brittney Spears in the top 2 of anything anymore? Haha this actaully makes me a little angry. This is why it is so hard to trust and live your life by the media because half the time the “results” they come up with are totally off base and in my opinion not fully accurate!
Good blog!
Jennifer said,
March 6, 2007 at 10:21 pm
I do not at all agree with that list! Where’s Ricky Martin, she bangs sooo should be at #1
(I am not at all a Ricky Martin fan, really). I think that list is not correct at all. I would tend to agree that Britney Spears does not belong on that list at all. I do not believe that she is a good singer, nor that she has any talent whatsoever except perhaps a talent to somewhat successfully market herself considering how trashy she’s become. I am sure that there’s a better band out there than Shakira… I wonder exactly what critera was used to choose these top songs.
gumballs said,
March 7, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I dont know why you are all so friggin shocked that Brittany Spears ranked higher than Michael Jackson. Lets be honest, in todays world a nice pair of tits is far more appealing than the local pedophile in white gloves…. Im totally kidding, I am just as appauled as the rest of you. I think its crap, but she did manage to make a name for herself, but that song is crap and I weep for the future of music if this is where it is headed. I wonder if they were tricking the foreighners into thinking that it was a better song, and then replacing it with Toxic. Do these people even speak english?? Do they know what this song is about or where they mezomorized by the BOOBS???
turtle23 said,
March 7, 2007 at 2:22 pm
who made this list anyway; because i know i don’t listen to pop but who is shakira?
Derick said,
March 7, 2007 at 2:33 pm
If this list were correct in any way, there would be nothing but U2 songs on there. Britney might show up somewhere around list entry 666. Actually 5 of my favorite all time songs are on there which is nice to see, because this validates almost nothing about me as an individual other than I am a comformist. Thanks.
dsll said,
March 7, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I guess you would have to look at who was voting on these songs! If a bunch of like 14 year old girls and or boys were voting then yea maybe that makes sense since they probably don’t even know what the other songs even were to vote for them. But I also agree if a Britney song is going to be on there I would think it would be “hit me baby one more time”!
soccer10 said,
March 7, 2007 at 3:27 pm
What??? I don’t even know what to say about this! Britney? What? The only way I can rationalize her being on the list is that she’s looney and so is MJ? When I think I top songs of all time, I think of the ones that are old but still rockin hard…like Queen, U2, etc so I do agree with those! Sure Britney Spears is the “it” girl (or was) But her music is not memorable or groundbreaking…she’s just hot!! I agreed with much of the list, but the whole B.Spears thing has made me wonder about what people think is good music these days?
biohelixx said,
March 7, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I bet I know why it turned out the way it did: Toxic was hugely huge in places other than North America, up there with Yeah by Usher in the club scene. And come on, of course if you include any sports fans in your query, “We Are the Champions” will so beat out Bohemian. It’s a crime, but there’s plenty of them out there. And how do we know how old the people who were asked were? Tweenies…*shudders*
Maybe it’s number 2 because everyone knows she wrote it about ex-hubby…and herself. *sniggers* Okay that was mean. Sorry.
This whole list just makes me shake my head. How much was it influenced by the respective songs’ videos, I wonder?
brianfantana said,
March 7, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Wow you’ve hit a nerve with this blog. Well done. I have to disagree with you on songs such as Hotel California being on there. It is easily one of the best songs of all time for its innovativeness and pushing the boundaries of the genre. I think this list is obviously bogus just like you do but I do believe certain songs on that list deserve to be that. You merely have to look at the artist’s name and you can tell if it deserves to be there. Millions would argue Kurt Cobain deserves a spot there, although not a fan, I would have to agree. The Beatles, Queen, and Michael Jackson are all deserving of top ten songs because of what they have contributed to the music scene over the last 40 years. Britney Spears on the other hand has only produced disgusting ‘candy pop’ music and fake boobs. Meh I guess it’s a win-lose situation with that one.
atnas said,
March 14, 2007 at 4:30 pm
You said that this list was collected by surveying people in 44 different countries, so it is not surprising to see what music ranked at the top of the list. All you have to do is look at the popularity of what we consider the most absurd forms of music, comedy, clothing in places such as japan and germany and you uwill see that the distaste of most of the music on the list is more an ethnocentric standpoint. We as westerners look for so much more meaning in all things while some cultures just eat up alot of what we produce at an exponential rate. This list also must reflect people tendency to think about things in ‘the moment’ which would explain the toxicity song, not a classic and would not be on any list in a years time , but highly recognizable and current.