# VH1's top greatest songs of the past 25 years. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148 "2003-06-11T16:57:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/1 "2003-06-11T16:57:28Z")
> **[MSNBC News - Breaking News and News Today | Latest News](https://www.msnbc.com/)** > > MSNBC breaking news and the latest news for today. Get daily news from local news reporters and world news updates with live audio & video from our team. As picked by VH1 executives. Which would explain Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” coming in at #4. I mean, fercryin out loud, this isn’t even _his_ best song. How did this make it to #4?? And, I’m not sure what actually shocks me more: the presence of Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” or the total lack of Beegees material. Happy ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/2 "2003-06-11T16:59:08Z")
That title should read “VH1’s top 100 songs…” Just for the record. :o ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/3 "2003-06-11T17:50:14Z")
I wondered if anyone was going to post about this newest list. I pretty much gave up on the list (although, really, who puts a lot of faith in an MTV organization to pick _any_ music?) when I saw that not only was Nirvana in the list, but they topped it, too. And Def Leppard’s one and only entry was “Photograph”? And Sheryl Crow was in the list, period? I wonder what they meant by “Greatest”… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/4 "2003-06-11T18:17:32Z")
The fact that they dubbed Creep Radiohead’s best song, and then putting it 55 places behind that Britney Spears song pretty much sums up how moronic this one is. 😛 :wally ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/5 "2003-06-11T18:37:17Z")
Meh, okay, that was a limited reply. I’ll add this: Teen Spirit isn’t Nirvana’s best song either, and best isn’t even remotely what this is really about. Too bad they couldn’t have titled it more honestly, like most famous or popular songs (or videos). Not that I’d have cared, and it’s not like I’ll watch VH1 anyway. But just in the interests of honesty. > [@](#): > > I pretty much gave up on the list (although, really, who puts a lot of faith in an MTV organization to pick any music?) when I saw that not only was Nirvana in the list, but they topped it, too. You’re surprised a Nirvana song was listed as one of the Top 100 of the last quarter-century? Like them or not, I’m puzzled as to how this is surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/6 "2003-06-11T19:21:52Z")
I’d throw out about half the songs, add some really good stuff and re-arrange the order severly. There are a lot of really good stuff in that list. But I’m not surprised by their choices, really. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/7 "2003-06-11T20:08:38Z")
Any credibility on the list flew out the window for me when I saw “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.” Susan ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/8 "2003-06-11T20:20:20Z")
The fact that Nirvana topped the list was one of the few good things about that list. Bad things include Nelly–and not only Nelly, but a Nelly song with some of the most idiotic lyrics ever penned, Greeen Day’s suckiest song, Hanson (!!), and the Backstreet Boys. Not to mention Alanis Morrisette, TLC, No Doubt, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi, and Britney Spears **all** beating out the Clash, the Ramones, Radiohead and Metallica. Good lord, people. Get a grip. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/9 "2003-06-11T20:39:19Z")
Early on, they used to start each of these “Greatest” (their name, not mine) lists by explaining how the voting system worked, and who got ballots. Now, they no londer explain it, and I’ve grown increasingly suspecious that these lists are complied by the mailboys at Viacom. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/10 "2003-06-11T21:55:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by susan\_foster \* > \*\*Any credibility on the list flew out the window for me when I saw “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.” > > Susan \*\* Well, nothing is as bad as “My Heart Will Go On” (#24). ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/11 "2003-06-11T22:47:07Z")
Bah! Drek… piffle… nonsense… crap… a sure sign of the coming apocalypse… and so forth. Only about 4 of those bands would have made a _real_ list, and it would have been for different songs. VH1 can lick my sack :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/12 "2003-06-12T01:43:32Z")
Well, at first, I was curious. Then, kabam! you guys come in and rescue me from what may have been the most frustrating experience of my life…! Danke sehr! ---
**Author:** ![RahRahMah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/54ee81/32.png) [@RahRahMah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RahRahMah)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/13 "2003-06-12T03:00:30Z")
I understand why Emminem got #4 with “Lose Yourself”: it won an Oscar. It’s not actually a _best_ list, as the term best is so subjective. It’s actually a Most Influential list. You can’t say these are the difinative best, but you can gauge pop-culture impact and cast a vote that way. “Thats why Smells Like Teen Spirit” always tops these things, its not their best but it was their biggest and most memorable. And I would like to add that some of those songs are obviously just pandering to the morons of my age group (15-20). For example, Nelly. I can’t tell you how many times I was subjected to that terrible song last summer. Mostly by guys in white jeeps that slowed down to honk at me and my friends. Lastly: The Ramones at #75??? A band that pretty much started an entire musical movement? At 75? WTF!!! ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/14 "2003-06-12T04:02:25Z")
I agree with RahRahMah in that it’s a pretty much a “most influential” list. Like it or not (and I agree that it’s not even their best), “Teen Spirit” is one of the few songs in history that clearly mark the “before” and “after” point of a sea change in pop culture. The Sex Pistol’s “Anarchy in the UK” is another, but it just missed the 25 year cutoff. Apparently though, the song had to be a huge hit too. Otherwise, I don’t see how NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton” isn’t on here as it pretty much launched gangsta rap. Lots of other debatable stuff too as others have pointed out, but that’s the fun isn’ it? ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/15 "2003-06-12T04:08:54Z")
Wow, what a great list! I just hope VH-1 makes all of these songs available on a 5-CD set for the low low price of $100.00 plus shipping and handling! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/16 "2003-06-12T04:11:56Z")
As I actually wrote on another message board earlier, ‘influential’ is usually measured in sales and airplay. But it’s hard to argue against _Smells Like Teen Spirit_ as the most influential in that regard, I think. And interestingly, the song apparently knocked _Thriller_ off the charts - rather significant as a changing-of-the-guard moment. [Props to the All Music Guide on that one.] ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/17 "2003-06-12T05:25:15Z")
How about “I Will Always Love You” at number 8? I guess it can be said to be influential, in that it influences me to want to destroy whatever device is playing that song. 😃 As for the rest, what you guys said already. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/18 "2003-06-12T08:05:51Z")
Three of these are on my own list of classics. More than I expected really. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/19 "2003-06-12T15:03:36Z")
there is no god. or rather no-one at VH-1 with any kind of decent musical judgement or knowledge. exactly how big a hit was ‘our lips are sealed’ by the go-gos anyway…? ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148/20 "2003-06-12T15:24:41Z")
Alicia Keys and The Backstreet Boys? Puhleaze. My 12 year old students are more talented than them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vh1s-top-greatest-songs-of-the-past-25-years/181148.md?page=2)