Best Song Ever Written: In My Life (Beatles)

Subject: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 10:45 AM

There may be several postings, I had a hard time starting this thread. Anyway, in the Washington Post today is an article about the Best Songs Ever Written (according to musicians, I gather, I haven't read the whole thing yet). They apparently decided that IN MY LIFE was THE best song ever written. Here is article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36122-2000Jul13.html. Interested in everyone's take on their choices, I gotta admit, much as I adore The Beatles, I'm not sure that this is one I'd pick even as THEIR best. And I love it, it's just, come on, aren't there better ones?

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Allan C.
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 10:56 AM

Here's the clicky for the article.

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 11:02 AM

Here's the list.

1. "In My Life" – The Beatles

2. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" – Rolling Stones

3. "Over The Rainbow" – Judy Garland

4. "Here, There And Everywhere" – The Beatles

5. "Tracks Of My Tears" – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

6. "The Times They Are A-Changin'" – Bob Dylan

7. "Strange Fruit" – Billie Holiday

8. "I Can't Make You Love Me" – Bonnie Raitt

9. "People Get Ready" – The Impressions

10. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" – The Righteous Brothers

Kind of a ridiculous concept, isn't it? What was the criteria etc. And where is Inna Gadda Da Vida on this list?

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Bagpuss
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 11:03 AM

I quite liked how it wasn't the most famous songs of particular artists that did well. And it was good to see The Smiths and Nick Drake in there.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Bagpuss
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 11:05 AM

Steve. They just asked songwriters what their favourite songs were. Simple as that, any criteria they wanted to use!!

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Peter T.
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 11:05 AM

This list was created by aging British rock musicians and songwriters (like Hal David) who are feeling their age: the songs (Tracks of my Tears!) they grew up with (Satisfaction). Fairly typical. But "In My Life" is actually a great choice, an adult choice. "Here, There, and Everywhere" (which is on the list) is a pretty good song too. But it is really a piece of nostalgia as a list, and "In My Life" is a signal of that wistful benediction of the past: 20 years earlier the list would be headed by "In the Mood" or "Stardust". But though not quite that old, I agree with the choice, probably for the same reasons: but it is such a fine song, really in the Schubert league.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: kendall
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 11:08 AM

I wonder what Shubert would think that Ava Maria wasn't even on the list..

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 11:18 AM

I agree totally for In My Life. I was reading the lyrics yesterday (no pun intended) and came very VERY colse to crying. The songs speaks so perfectly about what I'm feeling right now.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 12:38 PM

No argument that these are great songs, but the whole idea that there is one "best" song (or ten best songs, or a hundred) is pretty ludicrous. There seems to be a real proliferation of these lists lately -- the Most Significant Person of the Century/Millenium, the Most Important Invention, the Best Book, etc. Why are people so compelled to do this?

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:10 PM

Interesting question, Whistle Stop. Very human, isn't it? Or is it? If so, it comes right out of our animal nature, think of Alpha males in any troop of baboons. Or the lead elephant in the herd, she didn't just happen to be the leader, her herd considered her the best. C'est normal, quoi. Think of the phrase Top Dog...But I just can't think of In My Life as the best even Beatles tune. Not that I can think of any that I like better, it just wouldn't have popped up. But it IS a GREAT song.

Thanks for the blicky, Allan, someday I'll memorize the few extra keystrokes!

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:13 PM

I dunno WS......We do it all the time around here and it drives me nuts. I mean its interesting in some ways, but I can never get into it. Too many great whatevers and you always wind up with some kind of yahoo going batcrap and calling everyone else an idiot.

HEY!!! THAT'S IT!!! Biggest Idiot of All Time!!! Of course you can only vote if you're an idiot. So let me think about my pick...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:13 PM

In My Life is my favorite song EVER in the history of the world.

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 01:42 PM

These lists are made to stimulate conversation. Like "What album, sandwich, famous beauty, amphibian, and SUV would you want with you if you were on a desert island?" And the conversation was usually begun by some guy trying to sell you the SUV. Or a sandwich.

By the way - Couldn't Pick, PBJ, better not say, newt, Land Rover

Cheers from Bart, who believes that some marketing guy is behind everything

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Peter T.
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 03:20 PM

Catspaw, there is a reason why there is no Biggest Idiot of All Time list. There is no competition. Why? Think very, very hard......
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 03:29 PM

I would like to accept this award and thank all of the members for their support. Its been a long and arduous journey to this nadir of sordid and idiotic behavior and time does not permit naming the many who have contributed. Again, my sincerest thanks and.........(sob,sob).........I just don't know what to say..............(sob)..........You love me.....You really love me...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Susan from California
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 05:31 PM

Bartholomew, when you nominated newt were you nominating your favorite American politician :-) ?

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: GUEST,A Boy Named Sue
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 05:38 PM

I would have voted for "A Boy Named Sue".

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Peter T.
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 05:48 PM

There are idiots I remember, all my life, and nothing's changed -- some to senators, some to governors, some have gongs, and none have brains -- in my life, I've shunned them all. But of all these total morons, there is no one compares with you, and these idiots lose their meaning, and I think of dumb as something new -- though I know I'll never lose affection, for completely dim bulbs that went before, I know I'll always have to go around them, but in my-y-y-y life, I love you more....(sob)
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 06:02 PM

Very touching Peter.....I shall cherish this song and this moment forever, or at least til my next bowel movement....whichever comes first. Again, I thank you for this great honor as I also thank Cleigh O'Possum, Cletus,Paw,and the Reg Boys, all the staff at the Neil Young Center for the Terminally Screwed and the adjoining James Taylor Rehab Clinic for the Catatonically Bland, thousands of Tiple makers everywhere, the butts-up workers at the Assparagus farm, Fly-By-Nite Industries (makers of the Amish Australian Pitchfork Moustache Tuner), and of course the Waylon Heron.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Peter T.
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 06:07 PM

[Somebody, could you get this guy off, we are already running an hour late as it is --- what an idiot -- cue the hook!!!]

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: DougR
Date: 14 Jul 00 - 06:08 PM

A bit like who makes the best chili, it seems to me (of course that's no contest ...I do). But to try to name even the 100 best songs, just boggles my mind. Impossible!

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Allan C.
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 08:10 AM

Rick Fielding is far too modest to make note of it here, but if you haven't already heard his recording of "In My Life" on his CD,"This One's the Dreamer", you have missed some really nice music. The other songs on that recording are mighty good, too! (There are many who would accuse me of understatement here - I'm sure they are right!)

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Mrrzy
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 10:25 AM

Peter T - LOL!! I'm posting that one in my office!

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Willie-O
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 11:05 AM

It was for 'bestsong of the century', not ever, and In My Life is a nice and OK safe choice. (Strange Fruit ranking #7 is not so safe--which gives these selections some credibility.)

So what does In My Life have? First, a lovely simple six-note guitar hook, and a gorgeous instantly singable melody that meshes so well with the lyric you can't imagine separating them (ok, Peter can but he's a card-carrying heretic, that's his job). Then the lyric: once again elegant, understated, and anyone can relate to it. It also accomplishes the difficult task of putting a really cliched sentiment of romantic love in a slightly different context and plot order--the context, is first setting up the scene and then putting the mushy stuff at the end.

The plot is the same as Sarah McLachlan's "Your love is better than ice cream" or (shudder) Julio Iglesias "To All the Girls I've Loved Before". But the staging and delivery are perfect.

A lot of the rest of that list, I don't get.

W-O

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 11:18 AM

I saw this article too. What struck me was that it was a survey of composers yet they listed performers alongside the song. Surely, one criterion for a great song is the number of people who want to perfofm it? It used to be said that "Stardust" was the most recorded song. I would think some Gershwin/Kern song is probably performed,recorded more than Lennon?McCartney over a long period of time but, as has been said, Rick's recorded "In my Life" so it can't be all bad!
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Peter T.
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 11:37 AM

Yeah, but he always gets the words wrong! (the damn folk process at work).

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: Willie-O
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 11:45 AM

Satisfaction? Well, its simple, and has an EIGHT-note guitar hook. But I don't get it.

Over the Rainbow I am fine with, and young Judy did a lovely job--but listen to the 18-year-old Aretha singing it, and you will hear something utterly out of the ballpark.

W-O

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 01:48 PM

This list reads like the set list for a bad wedding band, especially "Strange Fruit", since bad wedding bands always do some off-the wall number that leaves everyone shaking their heads.

And Roger, you have it right, because it is hard to take a list of the best songs ever written seriously when the listmaker doesn't even bother to list the names of the songwriters.

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: GUEST,The Burren Ranger
Date: 17 Jul 00 - 01:59 PM

What!!!! No Stardust on the list???? TBR

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: JedMarum
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 10:39 PM

In mY Life is certainly on my list of top songs. I've been singing it for years, and sing it nearly every time I play.

Subject: RE: BS: Trying Again - In My Life Best Song
From: GUEST,truckerdave
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 11:00 PM

IN MY LIFE???? what is that? I don't guess i've ever heard it and no i'm not joking.