Posted in: Rock by RJ Chamberlain on September 5, 2008 | 23 Comments
A countdown to The Rock radio stations Rock 1000 Top 10 of 2008.
As New Zealand’s top radio station The Rock counts down its top 1000 rock songs of all time for 2008, I thought it appropriate that I give you an insight into what the top 10 should be but probably won’t be. Some of the songs should actually make the top 10 but how many, and in what order, will be the choice and voice of The Rock listeners.
Now keep in mind that this is a list of songs compiled by one person and that one person’s opinion. Please add to the list in the comments section if you think there are songs that will be in the top 10 that I have not mentioned.
Listed also are 5 songs which narrowly missed this top 10 but could possibly make the cut in the actual countdown.
This lonely tale of Anthony Kiedis’ days spent tripping under a Los Angeles bridge as outlined in his autobiography Scar Tissue, practically turned this underground rock/funk band into global superstars and set the scene for what would eventually become one of the greatest rock ballads of all time.
(Image Source: www.flickr.com)
The rest of the band said it was too long and too wordy and dismissed it as a song that would never make it. Only Freddie Mercury’s insistence on putting on the album, A night At The Opera, made the song and the band a global phenomenon.
Virtually unknown until the release in 1994 of the compilation Triple J’s Hottest 100 Volume IV, Glycerine became a rock anthem in which eventually every rock enthusiast new the words.
Arguably the greatest song of Pearl Jam’s illustrious career alongside Daughter and Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town, Eddie Vedder’s unique sound keeps listeners mesmerized over and over again.
For early 80’s babies like you and me, it wasn’t until Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994 that we started paying attention to the grunge sound of Nirvana and their greatest song Come As You Are. Smells Like Teen Spirit could be argued as their greatest song but Nirvanas refusal to play it during concerts as a revolt against the mainstream, lead Come As You Are to make this list ahead of it.
(Image Source: www.flickr.com)
Somewhat of a one hit wonder again bought to fame by the compilation album Triple J’s Hottest 100 Volume IV in 1994, Everclear managed to get gigs at great legendry music festivals like the infamous Woodstock 99′.
The dictatorship known as The Smashing Pumpkins controlled by Billy Corgan put out some great grunge tunes despite Billy’s leadership style. The best of them was released on their album Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness in 1995.
(Image Source: www.flickr.com)
Formed in 2002 the Velvet Revolver has had a number of non-mainstream hits including Fall to Pieces which is definitely the best of them.
One of the top hard rock groups of all time; Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters top their list of many number one hits and an illustrious career.
Yet another song propelled to stardom from the compilation album Triple J’s Hottest 100 Volume IV in 1994, Tool has produced some excellent hard rock music over the past decade not to mention some seriously freaky video clips.
Possible others for the top 10 which didn’t make this list:
Leo R eyes September 5th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Nice selections
The Quail September 5th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Rock On!
Ruby Hawk September 5th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Thanks for keeping us up to date. Best wishes,Ruby
desmonrock21 September 5th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Killing in the name and welcome to the jungle. m/
Speed Limit September 5th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Some great ones are missing, but the list is ok. It would be nice if you listed links to the songs.
RJ Chamberlain September 6th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Thanks for the comments people. Appreciate it a lot.
Unofre Pili September 6th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Nice stuff.
Juancav September 6th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Pleasant stuff,as I am a previous young rocker, I´d add “Johnny be goode”,Chuck Berry.
Shearyadi September 6th, 2008 at 10:42 am
So, who is actually sit on #9 and #10 between Metallica and Tool? I guess it’s Mettalica at #9
Nice compilation btw and almost agree 100% about Under the Bridge at #1 and it must be hard decision to put Bohemian Rhapsody at #2 
Anne Lyken-Garner September 6th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I didn’t think that there would be any song to top Bohemian Rhapsody. Then, now, never.
RJ Chamberlain September 6th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Metallica is at number 9 Shear. Publishing error on the site. Sorry about that. Glad you liked my article. Peace.
Lost in Arizona September 6th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Love the list, you’ve got a lot of my favorites on there. It wouldn’t quite be a list without Nirvana or Queen. Awesome.
B Nelson September 6th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I am probably older than you.. I gotta say, I loved 80’s music the best, and really dont find much to my BIG TIME liking now..for sure what you get in NZ is different than here in Canada as well..
try listening to “She Wants Revenge” they are my favorite modern band.
pedro September 7th, 2008 at 5:24 am
glycerine? santa monica? fall to pieces? really? granted all are good songs but they would be lucky to make my top twenty. i think youre missing some absolute classsics like – led zep, stairway to heaven, nirvana, smells like teen spirit, metallica, one and master of puppets, tool, aenima, eagles, hotel california, black sabbath, paranoid, acdc, back in black and would put either zero or disarm as the pumpkins reps.
chur chur
RJ Chamberlain September 7th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hey Pedro,
Yeh pretty much all of the ones you mentioned in your comment were in the running for my list but I went with songs that I felt influenced me the most. All great songs you have listed.
Bridget September 8th, 2008 at 3:24 am
Another awesome article, keep up the writing, and I look forward to seeing whether your picks are accurate compared to the actual rock countdown!
Rookie Expert September 15th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I have such a backlog on the latest music and needed to be updated. Like Speedlimit suggested, links to the songs would have been great. Nevertheless, the list helps.
Callum September 22nd, 2008 at 4:59 am
meh. dont think thaaaat hugely of that list…. loved under the bridge tho. where is stairway to heaven????????
ah well i realise this is just one persons opinion and what im saying aint gunna change it.
ehhh alright selection i guess, couldve had some john leenon in tho…
Lindalulu October 4th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Love all the songs you listed!
Jackie Stroud-Painter October 5th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Surprised to see that alternative rock is so popular in so many places because I love alternative. I don’t think I would write if it weren’t for music. Good job.
X October 15th, 2008 at 10:07 am
What about “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, or “How You Remind Me” by Nickelback, or “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, or “We Will Rock You” by Queen, or “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence?
I have a lot more songs, but I can’t think of them right now.
Jon from the Good Ole U. S. of A. December 21st, 2008 at 8:27 pm
1. Led Zeppelin-Stairway to Heaven of course and if we can have more than one by one artist Kashmir.
2. Guns N Roses-November Rain.
3. The Who-Won’t Get Fooled Again, Baba O’Riley, or My Generation.
4. Queen-Bohemian Rhapsody.
5. Rush-2112, Tom Saywer, Time Stands Still or Moving Pictures
6. AC/DC-Back in Black
7. The Rolling Stones-Satisfaction, You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Honkytonk Woman, or Wild Horses.
8. Black Sabbath-Iron Man
9. Metallica-One, Enter Sandman, or For Whom the Bell Tolls
10. Boston-More Than a Feeling
11. The Beatles-Hey Jude, Let it Be, or Strawberry Fields
12. Lynyrd Skynyrd-Freebird
13. CCR-Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Born on the Bayou, or Green River.
14. Pink Floyd-Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here, Money, Time, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Echoes, Brain Damage/Eclipse.
15. The Clash-London’s Calling
16. Nirvana-Smells Like Team Spirit
no particular order just a bunch of songs i deem worthy
Pie Man September 5th, 2009 at 2:50 am
do you like pie?