Bernard Sumner (left) and Ian Curtis of Joy Division circa 1979 courtesy Getty Images.
Let the fearsome arguments, debates and disagreements begin! Legendary British music magazine NME is turning 60 and it has boldly declared what it deems to be the 100 greatest tracks of its lifetime. Given all the amazing music that’s been produced since 1952, the top 10 is flat-out shocking.
While both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones are represented, neither produced the NME’s best-ever song. They didn’t even make the top 10. The number one honour went to…. Joy Division for their 1980 signature song 'Love Will Tear Us Apart,' followed by the curiously-popular-in-England-only band Pulp for 'Common People.'
Weirdly, both the Beach Boys and the Stone Roses scored two songs in the top 20 and yet Elvis Presley, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, U2, the Police, Prince and Adele are conspicuously absent. Here it is:
The top 20 tracks of the NME's lifetime are:
1. Joy Division – 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' 2. Pulp – 'Common People' 3. David Bowie – ‘Heroes' 4. The Beach Boys – 'Good Vibrations' 5. New Order – 'Blue Monday' 6. The Stone Roses – 'She Bangs the Drums' 7. The Smiths – 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out' 8. The Specials – 'Ghost Town' 9. Dizzee Rascal – 'Fix Up, Look Sharp' 10. Oasis – 'Wonderwall' 11. The Rolling Stones – 'Sympathy for The Devil' 12. The Ronettes – 'Be My Baby' 13. Michael Jackson – 'Billie Jean' 14. Sex Pistols – 'God Save The Queen' 15. The Beatles – 'A Day in The Life' 16. The Cure – 'Boys Don't Cry' 17. Bob Dylan – 'Like a Rolling Stone' 18. The Beach Boys – 'God Only Knows' 19. Madonna – 'Like a Prayer' 20. The Stone Roses – 'I Am The Resurrection'
So, who else is missing from the top 20?
Alas, to see the full list of 100 picks – and presumably, to read more about the selection criteria – you’ll need to pick up a copy of this week's NME, which is on newsstands now or available digitally.
No Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen? No Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin? What about Hotel California by the Eagles? And so many other amazing tracks! wonder who makes up these lists.
Honestly, I have never even heard of a lot of these bands. I guess everyone has a right to name their favourite songs, but shouldn't most of the bands at least have some popularity...bs list No Elvis means someone is trying to show how cool THEY are...sad really..
Hmmm. At least they recognized the genious of songs like Sympathy for the Devil and A Day in the Life. I've even appreciated Madonna's Like a Prayer more than most of her other stuff. But I don't know about a lot of stuff on this list.
I have been an appreciator of music, all genre, for many years. This list blows. WTF is with the #1 song? I've never heard of it & even if I did... it sucks. Who voted for this? Absolutely bogus. FAIL!
After reading the comments here I see a lot of people who are really uneducated about music. You claim you are appreciators of music of all genres but obviously you really have no clue. I will admit that the list is biased towards UK musical tastes, after all NME is a UK magazine. However Europe is the taste makers in music, America usually catches up to musical trends about 2 years after the fact. And to the guy who never heard of Adele, you sir must live under a rock.
Being 60+, having DJ' since 1960, I can remember all except #7+#8 on the top 20. I don't agree that any of the top 20 should be there but that's what opinions are for and just like a***** ever one has one and has a right to use it.
The List of songs and Groups that are missing from this top 20 list is LOOONNNGGG!!! While some of these songs are ok, to put them on a top 100 list is rediculous. (Personally speaking Oasis should never be near a top 1,000,000 list!)
No Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen? No Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin? What about Hotel California by the Eagles? And so many other amazing tracks! wonder who makes up these lists.
Posted by: lily | 06/21/2012 at 12:11 PM
I consider myself a rocker even a metalhead but I have to admit I don't recognize half of these songs! And who the heck is ADELE?
Posted by: tony | 06/21/2012 at 12:14 PM
What is with this? I've only even heard 7 of the top 20!!! These guys don't have a clue. I played in Dance bands for 40 years and should know.
Posted by: Mikey jc66 | 06/21/2012 at 12:15 PM
What about Queen? Lots of songs that could have made that list! Like a Prayer by Madonna -- seriously??? Who judges this crap!
Posted by: Sandy | 06/21/2012 at 12:35 PM
Who came up with that list? I can only see one or two songs on it that I like at all. Most of them, I can't stand!
Posted by: Marty | 06/21/2012 at 12:37 PM
Honestly, I have never even heard of a lot of these bands. I guess everyone has a right to name their favourite songs, but shouldn't most of the bands at least have some popularity...bs list No Elvis means someone is trying to show how cool THEY are...sad really..
Posted by: Larry | 06/21/2012 at 12:48 PM
Hmmm. At least they recognized the genious of songs like Sympathy for the Devil and A Day in the Life. I've even appreciated Madonna's Like a Prayer more than most of her other stuff. But I don't know about a lot of stuff on this list.
Posted by: bo | 06/21/2012 at 12:53 PM
I sure would like to know what morons made this list. This is the best they could do for the BEST top 20 songs in 60 years??
Are you frigging kidding me???
Posted by: Darrell | 06/21/2012 at 12:58 PM
Whoever put together this list is totally wacked!!
Posted by: ladyhawk | 06/21/2012 at 01:15 PM
I have been an appreciator of music, all genre, for many years. This list blows. WTF is with the #1 song? I've never heard of it & even if I did... it sucks. Who voted for this? Absolutely bogus. FAIL!
Posted by: Cindy | 06/21/2012 at 02:07 PM
2 words..." Led Zeppelin " ..ever heard of them ??
I think they're British !!
Posted by: Joe | 06/21/2012 at 03:37 PM
Lush Life...written
by Billy Strayhorn,more then 50 years old but still the gem.
Posted by: enoughalready | 06/21/2012 at 03:41 PM
After reading the comments here I see a lot of people who are really uneducated about music. You claim you are appreciators of music of all genres but obviously you really have no clue. I will admit that the list is biased towards UK musical tastes, after all NME is a UK magazine. However Europe is the taste makers in music, America usually catches up to musical trends about 2 years after the fact. And to the guy who never heard of Adele, you sir must live under a rock.
Posted by: Ivan | 06/21/2012 at 03:56 PM
Being 60+, having DJ' since 1960, I can remember all except #7+#8 on the top 20. I don't agree that any of the top 20 should be there but that's what opinions are for and just like a***** ever one has one and has a right to use it.
Posted by: Stephen | 06/21/2012 at 03:57 PM
I recognize exactly 3 of these song titles, and I am
66 years old.
Geez, who picked these?
Posted by: Rumplestiltskin | 06/21/2012 at 04:05 PM
The opinions of the so called judges do not reflect the opinions of Intelligent, informed, and insightful people.
Posted by: Howard | 06/21/2012 at 04:07 PM
This list sucks! Don't know many of the songs and the Beatles and Dylan are over-rated. Where is "Knights in White Satin?"
Posted by: Karen M. | 06/21/2012 at 04:12 PM
Who chose these? Its a bad list totally out of touch.
Posted by: brian | 06/21/2012 at 04:29 PM
Queen, Led Zepplin, Procol Harem and Journey are all missing, among others. I think the list sucks, too - it's totally amateur.
Posted by: Anna | 06/21/2012 at 04:33 PM
That is the strangest bunch of songs to call the top 20 I have ever saw. I might have picked 5 of the 20. #s 4,11,12,12,17.
Posted by: WJC | 06/21/2012 at 04:42 PM
LOL!!
Posted by: hey now | 06/21/2012 at 04:44 PM
The List of songs and Groups that are missing from this top 20 list is LOOONNNGGG!!! While some of these songs are ok, to put them on a top 100 list is rediculous. (Personally speaking Oasis should never be near a top 1,000,000 list!)
Posted by: Rob | 06/21/2012 at 04:47 PM
And I thought Rolling Stone made crappy 'best of' lists.
LMAO!! (talking about lmao,I'm surprised they didn't make the list)..B ahahaha!
Posted by: hey now | 06/21/2012 at 04:47 PM
It's a joke list....right??
someone mixed in some of the "worst of" list? starting with #1?
Posted by: Stunned | 06/21/2012 at 04:56 PM
What? no Air Supply? Gasp!
Posted by: Allan Holm | 06/21/2012 at 05:05 PM