NationStates Jolt Archive

Alright, this is cheesy, but last night on American Idol (reportedly) the finalists had to sing a song that was on the billboard charts from the year of their birth and then another one from the charts this year. If you were up there, which songs would you do?

Here is the link I used to find what was on the charts for each year:
http://www.alaskajim.com/charts/yearlysingles/yearlysingles.htm

Aaand I'll go first. I was born in 1982, and I like a lot (well, some) of the songs, but the one I think I'd perform best would be "Leather and Lace" by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley, which I guess topped at #6 in January.

As for today, I couldn't get a full 100 listing cause you have to subscribe to it apparently. If anybody has that access, would you post it? This link has the top 50 of today:
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=The+Billboard+Hot+100

...aaaand it is hard to pick because I'm sick of almost everything on here, but I'll go with "You're Beautiful" by James Blunt because it would be easy for me to sing and I am not yet quite ready to kill myself and everybody else when it comes on the air. It won't be long though, if they keep overplaying it.

EDIT: I changed my mind, I'd do "Move Along" by The All-American Rejects.

Your turn.

Either Joy to the World by Three Dog Night, Mr. Bonjangles (that year done by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) or my top choice:

Theme from Shaft.

Aw yeah...

Rapture by Blondie (a classic)

or

The theme from Greatest American Hero (my kids love that song.... and the show)

footloose by kenny loggins circa 1984 ;)

and a song from today, probably you're beautiful by james blunt...

Rapture by Blondie (a classic)

or

The theme from Greatest American Hero (my kids love that song.... and the show)
I watched that show every week...

In '88, it would've been something by INXS or Guns 'n Roses. But the music today sucks, so I refuse to pick one. In addition to that, American Idol sucks, so I don't even know what I'm doing here. *walks away*

A few years ago I was somewhat alarmed to find that Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) by Benny Hill was number one in the week I was born ('72), and so I guess I would have to go with that one. A case of being doomed since birth, really.

In '88, it would've been something by INXS or Guns 'n Roses. But the music today sucks, so I refuse to pick one. In addition to that, American Idol sucks, so I don't even know what I'm doing here. *walks away*

Look, American Idol sucks, but it would be so much better if it was only NSers, wouldn't it? Eh? Am I right?

A few years ago I was somewhat alarmed to find that Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) by Benny Hill was number one in the week I was born ('72), and so I guess I would have to go with that one. A case of being doomed since birth, really.

Wow.

Look, American Idol sucks, but it would be so much better if it was only NSers, wouldn't it? Eh? Am I right?
It would add so much more to the entertainment value. :D Ahh...I can imagine catfights on stage right now...between guys, no less. ;)

It would add so much more to the entertainment value. :D Ahh...I can imagine catfights on stage right now...between guys, no less. ;)

Well, that goes without saying.

Theme from Shaft.

Aw yeah...


Who's the black private dick
That's a sex machine to all the chicks?
SHAFT!
Ya damn right!


sorry, flashback...

Wow.

'Wow' at bad pop or 'wow' at old age? Think carefully before answering, lest you offend.

EDIT: it ain't fair, my two sisters were born in the weeks when Get Back by The Beatles and Reach Out, I'll Be There by The Four Tops were at number one. How come I ended up the one born under a bad sign?

'Wow' at bad pop or 'wow' at old age? Think carefully before answering, lest you offend.

A wow at bad pop. I never even looked up the year. For all I know, it was on the 2005 charts.

'Wow' at bad pop or 'wow' at old age? Think carefully before answering, lest you offend.

It's definitely the old age. Who wouldn't love a song about the fastest milkman in the west? :p

I watched that show every week...
it's out on DVD :D and it's got awesome extra's!!!!

*has addicted her kids to 70s and 80s cheezy TV shows*

it's out on DVD :D and it's got awesome extra's!!!!

*has addicted her kids to 70s and 80s cheezy TV shows*

Hey, nice!

it's out on DVD :D and it's got awesome extra's!!!!

*has addicted her kids to 70s and 80s cheezy TV shows*
Ah, DVDs...doing to the next generation what syndication and an overall lack of cable did to ours...

Ah, DVDs...doing to the next generation what syndication and an overall lack of cable did to ours...
yep, we have no cable presently, so DVDs are a must. I have (okay, they were my husband's but I stole them when we got married) the original Star Trek on DVDs, just today during TV time my 4 year old says (we are half way through the second season) "do you ever get the feeling that Kirk is arrogant?" and I laughed so hard.... see? she is learning HAHA

wow there are some great songs from 1957!

Banana Boat (Day-O) - Harry Belafonte (#5)
Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino (#2)
Bye Bye Love - The Everly Brothers (#2)
Chances Are - Johnny Mathis (#1)
In The Middle Of An Island
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley (#1)
That'll Be The Day - The Crickets (#1)
Wake Up Little Susie - The Everly Brothers (#1)
Walkin' After Midnight - Patsy Cline (#12)

and those are just the ones id consider singing.

id go with "chances are"

I'll sing '1969' by Iggy and the Stooges.

Today? I looked over that list and saw nothing I like. A goodly chunk of those fifty acts are permabanned on my internet radio station... for teh über suckage.

So I'll sing '1969' and then I'll heroically burn a pile of top-100 CDs onstage, afterwards - to the recorded sounds of Jupiter - Bringer of Jollity, as performed by the MSO under Charles Dutoit - while a looped film of people eating fastfood is projected above me.

There we go.

Well for my year of birth I have the following choices:
"Moon River".................Danny Williams
"The Young Ones"..........Cliff Richard and the Shadows
"Rock-A-Hula Baby"........Elvis Presley
"Wonderful Land"...........The Shadows
"Nut Rocker"..................B. Bumble and the Stingers
"Good Luck Charm".........Elvis Presley
"Come Outside"..............Mike Sarne with Wendy Richard
"I Can't Stop Loving You".Ray Charles
"I Remember You"...........Frank Ifield
"She's Not You"..............Elvis Presley
"Telstar".......................The Tornados
"Lovesick Blues"..............Frank Ifield
"Return To Sender"..........Elvis Presley

So I will choose "The young ones" as it was actually number 1 on my Birthday (UK) and it is a damn sight better than "Come Outside"!

Like many others I refuse to sing anything from this year. (Franz Ferdinand if my life depended on it.)

So I will choose "The young ones" as it was actually number 1 on my Birthday (UK) and it is a damn sight better than "Come Outside"!

Nah: sing Telstar instead.

Nah: sing Telstar instead.

I had considered Nut Rocker, but I prefer the ELP version ( would that count?)

I'd go for "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. for the birth year and "Liam" by In Extremo for the modern one, though I honestly have no idea if that one made it onto the charts.

Then again, I can't stand "Idol" and I'm proud to say I've missed every episode of the the three seasons of the German equivalent DSDS.

Huh .... well from my birth month/year, I'd go with "Evil Ways" by Santana/Miles.

From today, I'd personally agree not to stab an ice pick into Ryan Seacrest's eye.

From 1985: Either 'In Between Days' by The Cure, or 'Running Up That Hill' by Kate Bush.

As for this year, fuck knows. It's all a pile of crap anyway. Does it have to have charted? Ooooh...actually...I think 'Hoppipolla' by Sigur Ros charted. At #35 in the UK. :) I'd do that. Anyone here know Hopelandish?

For my year of birth, Funkytown (Pseudo Echo), Walk Like An Egyptian (The Bangles), or Livin' On A Prayer (Bon Jovi).

For this year, probably Not Ready To Make Nice (The Dixie Chicks) or Something's Gotta Give (LeAnn Rimes). Yes, I know country isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's a damn sight better than rap, and rap seems to be dominating the charts.

I used http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/billboard_hot_100/2006/17 to get my songs. They have the Hot 100 from every week this year, I believe, and no sign-ups involved.

Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
September Song- Liberace

1952---Not a good year for music.

1972: "Goodbye to Love" - The Carpenters (topped out at #7)

2006: "You're Beautiful" - James Blunt (currently #10)

And looking over the stuff currently in the top 50, I nearly wanted to cry. That's what music's come to? :(

1952 may have been bad..but the mid 80s were worse.

I'll be bringing you all my rendition of the Bangles "Manic Monday" now, and follow it up with some...umm...well, if i actually listened to the radio I might know some of these artists; however, I don't, so I don't, so I'll just sing...a song about an aardvark instead!

Get Back - The Beatles

I swear I really don't think I recognize any of the top 50 songs of 2006, so as my encore, I will perform Proud Mary, by CCR, in my best short white chick Tina Turner impersonation.

Possibly "Start Me Up" by the Stones, or "Back In Black" by AC/DC from 1981. "The Winner Takes It All" is also possible.

Dunno about today... Someone's hash up of Dreams is in there (I don't care if it's still sung by Stevie Nicks, they screwed it up) so I could just redo the original of that.

Wow! I don't know which one to pick!!
1979- I Will Survive, My Sharona, and Do Ya Think I'm Sexy

That's a tough call... I'll take out I Will Survive, cuz my voice is a bit too deep, and I'd feel a little weird singing it.
But I like the other two.
I had no idea these songs were written on the year of my birth. :) Interesting fun fact.

Edit: Don't Get Me Down by ELO! That one's great, too! \
Bad Case of Loving You
In the Navy!

I want a time machine, now...
Or, maybe I'll just find the songs online... :p