by Let’s say I have a favorite band, and they’re called Favorite Band. And hell, let’s say they’re your favorite band too. And further, let’s say they’ve had a long career, released multiple albums–studio and live–, and written maybe one hundred tunes. I’d bet we could name our favorite song, our ten favorites, maybe even twenty. That’d be easy, right? But what about forty or fifty, or one hundred? Is anyone obsessed enough with Favorite Band, or any band for that matter, to take the time and effort to rank all of there songs from best to worst?
Well, if your favorite band is Cheap Trick, you might not need ever worry about undertaking such an endeavor since someone else already has. I give you one-time Sony recording artist, Colin Gawel, and his ranking of all their songs, from one “I Want You To Want Me,” all the way down to 184, something called “You Drive, I’ll Steer,” which I’ve never heard.
The dedicated obsession is pretty impressive. There are comments, some of them lengthy, about many of the songs, linked videos, and even a sublist of the best Cheap Trick albums. I can’t help but wonder if it’s a living thing, something constantly being tweaked and updated. “Shit, Heaven Tonight should be 24, not Clock Strikes Ten!” I know Colin so I suppose I could ask him, but I’m a little afraid of being drawn into that discussion as I disagree with some of the rankings.
For example, “Voices” should be way higher than 46. I remember hearing that song on the radio when I was in 6th grade and being pulled in by those whispers at the beginning, the opening a cappella vocal lines, the cool overlapping voices at the end. Great tune.
(I) Your voices
(Heard your voice) Cool voices
Warm voices
It was just what I needed to
(Words) Cool voices
(Don’t seem right) Warm voices
Your voices
It’s just what I needed for
(Love) Warm voices
(Is the word) Your voices
Cool voices
It was just what I needed to
(I) Your voices
(Heard your voice) Cool voices
Warm voices
It was just what I needed to
Just what I needed to
Just what I needed
It’s a top ten entry for sure.
And then there’s this, my vote for number one. Colin has it seventh, but he’s right in the effect of Robin Zander’s voice. Chills every time.
“Life goes on and on and on…” So does Colin’s list.
