Nirvana Song Called Best of Past 25 Years

AP (Via Yahoo) ^ | 06/10/03 | Christy Lemire

[Drew68]

Nirvana Song Called Best of Past 25 Years

BY CHRISTY LEMIRE, AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK - Here they are now, entertaining us — or at least entertaining VH1, which named Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" the greatest song of the past quarter-century. The Seattle band's groundbreaking grunge anthem is No. 1 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years."

The whole countdown will air over five nights, starting at 10 p.m. EDT Monday on the video music channel. The series will feature clips of videos and performances by the artists along with interviews from musicians and celebrities discussing why the songs matter.

Of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan said: "That was really a breakthrough for a great scene that had been going on for a long time up in Seattle. And it was kind of another victory, I think, for a misunderstood music, you know. The dam broke when 'Teen Spirit' came out."

While no one performer or group dominated the countdown, which was chosen by a panel of VH1 executives, several had two songs featured.

Michael Jackson had the second-highest song, "Billie Jean," and was at No. 40 with "Beat It." Eminem reached No. 4 with "Lose Yourself," while his "My Name Is" was No. 85. Madonna's "Like a Virgin" was No. 10 and her "Ray of Light" was No. 100.

Rounding out the top 10 were "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses, "One" by U2, "Walk This Way" by Run-D.M.C., "When Doves Cry" by Prince, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston and "Every Breath You Take" by The Police.

In May 2001, VH1 picked the 100 greatest videos of all time; Jackson's "Thriller," a 17-minute mini-movie, was No. 1, but it didn't even make the list this time.

Related Links:
• 100 Greatest Songs (VH1)

[Drew68]

The Seattle band's groundbreaking grunge anthem is No. 1 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years."

I can live with this. Nirvana was an important band.

At least they didn't give the number one spot to some gangsta rapper.

[GSWarrior]

Great. Another major label list compiled by music "insiders" that totally ignores independent, out of the mainstream music.

Could do worse than Nirvana, though.

[Numbers Guy]

VH1, which named Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" the greatest song of the past quarter-century.

Pretty good choice, though I think some of their other material (esp the second half of "Nevermind") was even better.

[kjam22]

Important in what way? Because they influenced a bunch of garage sound bands that can't find guitar players that can play interesting leads?

When you consider all of the music over the past 25 years...(since 1978) I don't know that even Nirvana makes the top 100. imo

[Pharmboy]

Kurdt was a genius; a bipolar genius, but a genius nonetheless.

[GSWarrior]

I don't know. That list looks pretty "PC" to me.

[Chad Fairbanks]

'Bleach' was better, IMHO...

[Petronski]

POP SUCKS

[OOPisforLiberals]

No kidding? Smells like Teen Spirit? Nirvana had some great songs on Nevermind - but that one was the absolute worst. Nirvana's "genius" was confined to that one album.

And in the broader sense of -all- music in the last 25 years? Oh, heck no.

[Always Right]

How could any song be more significant and better than "Kung Foo Fighting"?

[Drew68]

Important in what way?

Nirvana destroyed hair-metal. For this, they are to be celebrated.

As a 34 year-old, I hold little fondness for the music of the 1980s and viewed Nirvana (and grunge) as a fresh sound when they arrived.

Now if only a band could come out today and put the death knell to rap/hip-hop the way Nirvana did to hair bands!

MTV won't let that happen though. MTV hated grunge. It was too white.

[kdmhcdcfld]

Everybody was kung-fu fighting...Those cats were fast as lightning...In fact it was a little bit frightening...

[Alberta's Child]

I really have to question any list of the top 100 songs of the last 25 years that doesn't include Don Henley's "Boys of Summer," Collective Soul's "The World I Know," or anything by the Counting Crows.

[Chad Fairbanks]

"She's a T-Bone Talkin Woman but She's Got a Hot Dog Heart"

I have a cover of that, performed by Jim Nabors ;0)

[AmishDude]

Weird Al's version was better.

[Petronski]

Now if only a band could come out today and put the death knell to rap/hip-hop the way Nirvana did to hair bands!

I would point out to you the velvet teddy bear, the round mound of sound, ROOOOOOOOOOOOO-PERT.

[Drew68]

I really have to question any list of the top 100 songs of the last 25 years that doesn't include Don Henley's "Boys of Summer,"

I agree. That was one of my favorite songs in Junior High.

I never turn it off when it comes on the radio. It was one of the handful of 1980s songs that I liked.

[habs4ever]

Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads is much better.Hard to beat the the output of music from '78-'80, with 1979 being an extraordinary year for new music.The best stuff from then still sounds killer.

[OOPisforLiberals]

After reading the list : I'm going to go ahead and call "totally bogus". Maybe 10% of that list is even worth considering. Nelly? OutKast? -2- Eminem songs? Bogus.

Not a single song off Dirt? Not a single Thorogood song? Bah.