50 SongsThat helped change the world

6 Style Periods of Western Art Music:

1. Medieval (500-1450 CE)

2. Renaissance (1450-1600)

3. Baroque (1600-1750)

4. Classical (1750-1820)

5. Romantic (1820-1900)

6. Modern (1900-Now)

1. Gregorian Chants (800-900?) (Medieval)

• Catholic Church

• Vocals only• Sung in unison

2. Greensleeves by Richard Jones (1580) (Renaissance)• Song was credited to Henry VIII

• A song sung by a man to his mistress• She is rejecting his love

3. Messiah by Handel (1741) (Baroque)

• One of the most frequently performed choral works in Western music

• Written in 24 days

• Tells the story of Jesus’ life beginning at birth and going through judgment day

• This excerpt is when God has achieved ultimate victory

4. Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven (1801) (Classical)• An instant success

• Interior struggle of the composer

5. 9th Symphony (Ode to Joy) by Beethoven (1824) (Romantic)• Beethoven’s last complete symphony

• First ever choral symphony

• One of the most performed symphonies in the world

6. Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner (1851) (Romantic)• Originally part of a larger opera called Die

Walkure; it is Wagner’s most famous work

• Die Walkure is the 2nd in a set of 4 operas called The Ring of the Nibelungs• The Ring fuses music, drama, poetry, and

stagecraft

• It is the most ambitious piece of theater of it’s time and is still the most influential contribution to opera a single composer has ever made

7. Ave Maria by Bach (1853) (Romantic)

• Bach composed the prelude and then a composer Gounod superimposed a melody over it

• The words are in Latin and translate to Hail Mary

• Ave Maria has become a standard song a weddings, funerals, quinceneras, and other big celebrations

8. Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg (1875) (Romantic)• Originally written as the

background music for the play Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen

• The music became more popular than the play, so Grieg separated it into songs (or suites) that could be performed by an orchestra or symphony without play actors present

9. March of the Toy Soldiers by Tchaikovsky (1892) (Romantic)• Part of the Nutcracker Ballet

• Originally this ballet did not get good reviews. It wasn’t until 1960 that it became popular

• Now it is one of the most popular ballets performed at Christmastime world wide

10. Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy (1905) (Modern)• French for Light of the Moon

• Originally written in 1890 and significantly revised in 1905

• Inspiration and title come from a poem by John Verlaine also titled Clair de Lune

11. Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin (1924) (Modern)• Established Gershwin’s reputation as

a composer and has become one of the most popular American concert works

• Title was inspired by the way James Whistler titles his paintings

• Used in countless movies including Fantasia 2000

12. Puttin’ on the Ritz by Irving Berlin (1927) (Modern)• Derives from the slang phrase which means to

dress very fashionably

• The original lyrics dealt with race, but Berlin revised them in the 40s to talk about white people instead• The song refers to rich white people who go to

Harlem, a poor black neighborhood, to listen to jazz players• The white people then see locals who are dressed up all

fancy to impress their white visitors

13. Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash (1953) (Modern)• Cash was inspired to write this after seeing a

movie called Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison

• The live recording of this song—recorded during a performance to inmates in Folsom Prison in 1968—became the #1 hit country music song for that year

• The song also reached the Billboard 100 chart in 1968; it got up to #32• This is significant because he beat out lots of

Motown and R&B performers who were more mainstream

14. Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley (1957) (Modern)• Rolling Stone named this #67 of the top

500 songs of all time• It is also part of Rock and Roll’s Hall of

Fame 500 songs to Shape Rock and Roll• Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame

in 2016• Numerous bands have performed covers

of this including the Beatles, Queen, and Motley Crue

• Elvis also created a movie of the same name where he created a choreography with male prisoners

15. La Bamba by Ritchie Valens (1959) (Modern)• Originates from the Veracruz, Mexico

• Valens wasn’t the first to sing/perform/record the melody and lyrics, but the rock and roll rhythms are what make his version so special

• A top 40 hit on US Charts

• Rolling Stone named this #354 of the top 500 songs of all time• It is the only song on the list that uses a

language other than English

16. The Twist by Chubby Checker (1960) (Modern)• Reached #1 on Billboard’s top 100 in

September 1960

• Made The Twist dance popular among high society after Checker performed live on the National American Bandstand

• Rolling Stone named this #451 of the top 500 songs of all time

17. Big Girls Don’t Cry by The Four Seasons (1962) (Modern)• Hit the Billboard Hot 100 on November 17,

1962

• Inspired by a line in the movie Slightly Scarlet when actor John Payne slaps Rhonda Fleming and then says “Big girls don’t cry.”

• Used in numerous episodes of Happy Days as well as other shows like I Love Lucy and movies like Dirty Dancing

18. Surfin’ USA by Beach Boys (1963) (Modern)• Part of the Rock and Roll Hall of

Fame 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll list

• Considered emblematic of “California sound”

• Serves as a guide to good surfing spots• Mentions 13 surfing spots in

California, 2 in Hawaii, and 1 in Australia

19. Paint it Black by Rolling Stones (1966) (Modern)• Hit #1 on the Billboard top 100 on May

7, 1966• First #1 song to feature the use of the sitar

• Designed to explain the intense grief, sadness, and depression after losing a loved one

20. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles (1967) (Modern)• Appears on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts

Club Band album• Rolling Stone named this the BEST ALBUM OF

ALL TIME

• Song is rumored to be about the drug LSD• Lennon and McCartney both insist this is

false: their imagery was pulled from a childhood drawing from Lennon’s son and Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland

• Lennon did admit to experimenting with LSD around the time the song was written which is what has fueled rumors

21. Respect by Aretha Franklin (1967) (Modern)• Otis Redding originally wrote the lyrics;

Franklin changed them slightly to showcase a strong, confident woman who knows she has everything her man wants

• Landmark song for feminism

• Considered by some to be the best R&B song of all time

22. My Way by Frank Sinatra (1969) (Modern)

• Spent 75 weeks on the UK’s top 40, a record that stands even today

• Also hit #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Easy Listening chart

• Sinatra’s signature song, but he hated it

• Donald Trump’s first dance as president of the USA was to this song

23. American Pie by Don McLean (1971) (Modern)• Number 1 hit in US for 4 weeks in

1972

• “The day the music died” refers to the 1959 plane crash that killed Richie Valens, The Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly

• The theme of the song is the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation

• Refers to Elvis Presley (the King) and Bob Dylan (the Jester)

24. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (1971) (Modern)• Often referred to as One of The

Greatest Rock Song of All Time

• #31 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

• Rumor has it that this song, if played backwards, contains satanic messages

25. Rocket Man by Elton John (1972) (Modern)• #245 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Songs

of All Time

• Inspired by a short story by Ray Bradbury called “The Rocket Man”

• Refers to a time in the future when space travel is an everyday thing• An astronaut bound for Mars has mixed

feelings about leaving his family

26. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan (1973) (Modern)• Written for a western film when

a sheriff is dying

• It has had multiple covers including ones by Dolly Parton, Guns N Roses, and Avril Lavigne

27. Piano Man by Billy Joel (1973) (Modern)

• #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974

• Selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for cultural, artistic, or historical significance

• Joel used his own experience as a piano lounge singer as inspiration

• #421 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of all Time

28. Dream On by Aerosmith (1973) (Modern)

• #59 on the Billboard Hot 100

• This is the band’s first big hit and is considered a classic rock staple

• The first song where lead singer, Steven Tyler, used his real voice

• Tyler says this song is about “the hunger to be somebody” and that it summed up perfectly “the s--t you put up with when you’re in a new band.”

29. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (1975) (Modern)• Most expensive single made at the

time of its release• First ever music video

• Topped numerous music charts worldwide

• Contains four distinct movements and four styles of rock

• Contains many parallels to the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ

30. Hotel California by The Eagles (1976) (Modern)• Considered the most famous

recording by the band

• #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list in 1977

• #49 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

• Interpretations abound in this song, but one thing is clear, it is about getting wrapped up in a bad situation and not being able to get out

31. Dust in the Wind by Kansas (1977) (Modern)• #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978

• Title based off of a bible verse in Ecclesiastes: • “I reflected on everything that is

accomplished by man on this earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile—like chasing the wind!”

• Also influenced by a bible verse in Genesis:• “For dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt

return.”

32. Redemption Song by Bob Marley (1980) (Modern)• Considered one of Bob Marley’s most

famous works

• Lyrics pulled from Pan-Africanist Orator Marcus Garvey

• #66 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

• Message: Emancipate yourself from mental slavery

• One of the most important political songs of our time

33. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor (1982) (Modern)• This song is the theme to Rocky III

• #1 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1982

• Voted VH1’s 63rd best Hard Rock Song

• They didn’t pursue legal action against Katy Perry when she used some of their words in her song Roar. Their reason: “I love Katy Perry’s song. It’s cute. It’s something that will come and go. Our song will be around forever.”

34. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson (1983) (Modern)

• Two conflicting accounts of the meaning of the lyrics• That MJ or his brothers fathered twins with a

female fan in real life

• That the groupies inspired MJ’s imagination for the lyrics

• One of the best-selling singles worldwide

• In his first live performance of this song, Jackson did the Moonwalk for the first time and wore his signature white glove for the first time

35. Pride (in the name of love) by U2 (1984) (Modern)• Written about Martin Luther King Jr.

• #388 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

• This isn’t about pride in a boastful sense but in the sense that you’re proud to stand for what you believe

• Highlights the struggle of nonviolence

36. Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen (1984) (Modern)• The Boss

• #275 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

• A tribute to his friends who were in the Vietnam War• He talks about the hardships they faced

when they returned to the US

37. Purple Rain by Prince (1984) (Modern)

• Refers to the end of the world when blood (red) mixes with sky (blue) to make purple rain• Prince describes it as letting go and letting

your faith guide you

• The last song Prince ever performed live before he died

38. Material Girl by Madonna (1984) (Modern)• The music video is intended to mimic a

scene from Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”

• #2 on Billboard Hot 100

• This became another name for Madonna that she regrets to this day

39. I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty (1989) (Modern)• #12 on Billboard Hot 100

• A message of defiance against unnamed forces• He made it after someone burned down his

house

• Played a lot on the radio after 9/11

40. We Didn’t Start the Fire by Billy Joel (1989) (Modern)• This song is a giant history lesson of the

years from 1949 to 1989

• Joel wrote it in response to a younger friend who said nothing happened in the 50s

• The lyrics form a stream of consciousness of all the things Joel and his generation weren’t responsible for

• Until the final stanza, every two lines represents a year

41. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana (1991) (Modern)• Named the Anthem for Apathetic Kids

• The title refers to the Teen Spirit deodorant brand

• #9 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of all Time

• Lyrics are often hard to understand, but it’s generally accepted that it’s a song for teen revolution

42. Dear Mama by Tupac (1995) (Modern)

• A tribute to Tupac’s mom Afeni Shakur

• Describes Tupac’s childhood of poverty and mom’s addiction to cocaine• However, he still has deep affection and love

for his mom

• Added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for being “culturally, historically, and/or aesthetically important”

43. Intergalactic by Beastie Boys (1998) (Modern)• The robotic voice was created using a

Vocoder, an early speech to text encoder• The robotic sound of the Vocoder inspired

the lyrics which mention Uranus and Mr. Spock’s Vulcan Death Grip

• Incorporates music from famous classical and jazz pieces

• Music video won MTV’s best Hip Hop Music Video Award in 1999

44. In the End by Linkin Park (2001) (Modern)

• Billboard’s second most played song of the decade

• Lyrics are based on the struggles lead singer Chester Bennington went through as a kid

• The opening lines are from a note a kid wrote before he shot two of his classmates at school

45. Hey Ya by Outkast (2003) (Modern)

• An upbeat-sounding song, Outkast describes this song as actually being about the difficulty of holding a relationship together

• Andre 3000 is the only vocal—He recorded his voice and layered it to sound like multiple people

• Most downloaded song on itunes and the first to reach platinum status from downloads

• You’re not actually supposed to shake a polaroid picture

46. Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day (2004) (Modern)• Depicts a couple that has been broken

apart because of the Iraq War

• Also has been dedicated to victims of Hurricane Katrina and 9/11

• Inspired when lead singer Billy Joe Armstrong’s father died of cancer in September 1982

47. Crazy by Gnarles Barkley (2006) (Modern)

• #100 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

• A collaboration between Danger Mouse and CeeLo

• Music video has a theme of Rorschach tests

48. I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas (2009) (Modern)• Highest selling digital download ever

• Dedicated to the party people all over the world

• First time all four band members sang simultaneously in a song

• The entire composition of the song is intended to capture the emotion of joy

49. Someone Like You by Adele (2011) (Modern)• 4th best selling single of the 21st century

• About a boyfriend who broke up with Adele after an 18 month relationship

• 3rd most popular song of all time in the UK behind Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody

50. We Are Young by Fun (2012) (Modern)

• One of McCune’s favorite songs

• #99 on Billboard’s Hot 100 of All Time

• Written after lead singer Nate Ruess’ “worst drinking night of all time”

• Glee performed this song and helped make it a hit