The Legacy of the Top Five

Everybody loves Top Fives. Top Fives are an American, nay, a worldwide institution. Can anyone think of a better way to see how greatly you disagree with people you thought you liked?

For instance, if we were talking about Top Five Best Albums and you put Steely Dan, I'd know you were nuts. If you put the Spice Girls I'd know you have a good sense of humor. If you put "Achtung Baby" or "The Joshua Tree" I'd know you were brilliant and that we must be related somehow.

So for at least a couple weeks now we're going to run a daily Top Five here on the andrewosenga.net forum. I'll post the topics on my blog and myspace page, but link to the forum for the actual lists and discussion. Hopefully this will help kickstart a bit of a community over here.

So make sure and swing by here often and don't be afraid to jump in the fray. After all, if you really believe Perfect Strangers is the best TV show ever, you now have a chance to change all of our minds and make this world a better place.

TOP FIVE SONGS FOR AUTUMN

Comments

[Matthew Smith]

I would put Achtung Baby in my top 5...and we ARE related somehow. By marriage. To my cousin. Holla.

[nick flora]

I love The Fray!!

[Bo]

"Bosom Buddies" anyone?

I know its making my top five shows. ;)

[alove]

Finally, someone speaks truth about Steely Dan. Talented musicians no one really wants to listen to!!!

Anyhwo, my autumn top five (okay, six):

Bruce Hornsby/Don Henley: "End of the Innocence"
Elliott Smith: "Say Yes" or "Pretty Mary K" (New Moon version)
Josh Ritter: "Monster Ballads"
Richard Ashcroft: "Science of Silence"
Wilco: "The Late Greats"

All butt-kissing aside, one of the best songs for fall:
The Normals: "Romeo on the Radio"

[RB]

Ryan Adams-Dear Chicago
Counting Crows-Murder of One
Damien Rice-Amie
Jesse Malin-NY Nights
Ari Hest-They're on to Me

of course, these will all change tomorrow, but hey, whatever...

[Bill from NJ]

Steely Dan was great in their time. Loved Katy Lied and Aja. I don't really have any Autumn songs, except for "Autumn Leaves" as performed by the late Eva Cassidy on her live album. That one can be numbers one thru five because it is such a great song.

[Peter]

First of all I love Steely Dan, but they are probably not in my top 5, maybe not even in the top 100 I lean towards Andrew Peterson, Buddy and Julie Miller, Daniel Lanios, Bruce Cockburn, Emmy Lou Harris and the like. I bought my first Patty Griffith CD yesterday and if her other CD's are similiar they may make a top 5.

I) If I had Wings.... Andy Osenga
2) Urge for Going- I really like Tony Rice's version ( I believe it a Joni Mitchell song).
3) Are You Happy Now? Richard Shindell
4) Goodbye-Steve Earle
5) Fields of November- Norman Blake

[Michael Wallace]

Rb is brilliant
only five, but i wish i could put more
1. Ryan Adams- dear chicago
2. Counting crows- Amy hit the atmosphere
3. Coldplay- see you soon
4. Bob Dylan- Boots of Spanish Leather
5. Phil Collins- Take Me Home (guilty pleasure)

[Manders]

Michael Wallace - Props on the Dylan; that's one of mine, too. :)

Andy, I'd put down Achtung Baby, too. But I'm Korean, so we're probably, like, eighteenth cousins twice removed or something.

[chuck]

No particular order...

1) Diana - Waterdeep
2) Moonshadow - Cat Stevens
3) Close of Autumn - Caedmon's Call
4) God Only Knows - Beach Boys
5) Linger - The Cranberries

[jason]

I totally agree about Romeo in the Radio.
I would also include:
Jealousy - Natalie Merchant
Running to Stand Still - U2
Close of Autumn - Caedmon's Call
Sensitivity - Ralph Tresvant (sorry, it's just my thing)

[Terry]

I don't get it. Shouldn't the top 5 songs of autumn actually be about autumn?
I'm probably the only one around here old enough to remember this one:

Mark Heard
From the album Appalachian Melody, © 1979

Appalachian melody drifting softly down
Instruments of gold and red and brown
Do not need no dulcimer or banjo-fiddle sound
For right now I'll watch these leaves come down

How peculiar liking old dead leaves against the sky
There is something more than meets the eye
Funny how I sit and watch these leaves come down from high
But these things are music to my eyes

Such a pretty song I see, have I been beguiled
This day is not imagination's child
Every time the leaves come down I've just got to smile
For they sing a melody so mild

How peculiar liking old dead leaves against the sky
There is something more than meets the eye
Funny how I sit and watch these leaves come down from high
But these things are music to my eyes

[Keith Harris]

Clay Aiken.......all fall......all the time!!!

[Tom]

I don't think the top five songs of autumn need to be about autumn at all- they just need to symbolize and evoke that season for the person that chooses them. That was the case with my list anyway and I think Andy's list is like that too.

[Tommie]

I'll throw out some good music from some different genres:

(Not in any order):

1. Midnight in Montgomery- Alan Jackson
2. This House is Not For Sale- Ryan Adams
3. A Long December- Counting Crows
4. Fred Jones, Pt. 2- Ben Folds
5. Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape- UnderOath

Also, I usually re-discover the Normals again. They were (are) a good fall/winter band.

[BethL]

My top 5:
1. "I'm Fine" - Patty Larkin
2. "Beautiful Broken World" - Warren Barfield
3. "High School Band" - AO (because Autumn is when marching
band is!)
4. "Rhymes and Reasons" - John Denver
5. "Jonas & Ezekiel" - Indigo Girls

Honorary top 5 (for cheesiness) = "When October Goes" by Barry
Manilow

All of these have something specific to do with Autumn except for "Jonas & Ezekiel" which conjures up images of Autumn to me and may not to anyone else!

Somehow it's the sad and/or nostalgic songs that speak of Autumn...

[Brandon]

1. "I've Got A Picture" - Radney Foster (See What You Want To See)

2. "Mushaboom" - Feist (Let It Die)

3. "Soul Meets Body" or "Crooked Teeth" - Death Cab For Cutie (Plans)

4. "Gotta Have You" or "World Spins Madly On" - The Weepies (Say I Am You)

5. "Lonely Road" - Fernando Ortega (Home)