“The thing is, I wrote that song in 1970, I just hadn’t seen that much back then, mostly fire and rain.
In 2015, Taylor told host Stephen Colbert that he had updated the song saying, Though many people falsely believe the line “Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground” is because of a plane wreck, it actually references Taylor’s previous band The Flying Machine and his regret at the fall out and disbandment of the group. Released as a single from his second album in 1970, this song is somewhat an autobiography of Taylor chronicling his reaction to the suicide of his childhood friend Suzanne Schnerr, his struggles with depression, fame, and drug and alcohol abuse. This beautiful and haunting James Taylor song definitely plucks a heart string or two every time it’s played. Don Henley adds that it’s more about “a journey from innocence to experience… that’s all…” 17) “Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground” Rumors began circulating saying that the song was about Satanism but The Eagles clarified that the song is more about speaking out against the greed and hedonism of the music industry in the 1970s like the typical issues of drugs, money and sex. The story of the lyrics speaks ominous lines such as “Kill the beast”, “Stab it with their steely knives,” and “You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave”. If you had to listen to this song in secret when it was released in 1976, your parents were probably more on the conservative side considering that this track was notoriously known as “that weird devil-worshiping song.” Every radio station aired this song which sparked a mystery on what the lyrics really meant. “Hotel California” is not only one of the most iconic rock songs of all time but also one of the most controversial in music history. Lennon, self-declared instinctive socialist, admitted that the song was “virtually a communist manifesto, even though I’m not a communist and do not belong to any movement.” 18) “Such a lovely place… Such a lovely face. As beautiful as the worlds and music of this song are, it was actually very controversial. In 2002, this came in #2 in a poll by Guinness World Records as Britain’s favorite single of all time. The strong political message has touched many audiences who were seeking the same peace for the world during a time of global political war and turmoil. Lennon encourages the listener to imagine a world without divisions, without barriers, without attachment to material possessions of the world.
It’s also one of the most iconic and meaningful lyrics of all time. John Lennon’s best-selling single of his solo career “Imagine” is a song that’s already transcended its own popularity. 19) “ You may say I’m a dreamer b ut I’m not the only one…” Imagine- John Lennon (1971) In times of trouble and anxiety, singing this song sure makes us feel that everything will turn out okay. Inspired by a dream McCartney had of his mother named Mary offering solace to him in his time of trouble, “Let It Be” would be the last song he would pen for the band. In addition to that, the meaning of the song not only reiterates an old Liverpudlian saying to simply “leave things alone” or “let things flow on its own”, it’s also resonant of the band’s fall out during the making of this record. Because the lyrics of the chorus just repeats the words of the title, the song as a whole isn’t hard to memorize.
It can be thought of as The Beatles’ “break up song” if you may. One of The Beatles’ greatest songs of all time, “Let It Be” was the final single the fab four released as a band before Paul McCartney announced he was leaving the band for good. Photo credit: Youtube channel “whoevertrevor” 20) “Whisper words of wisdom” Let It Be – The Beatles (1970) The song is so successful, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and was voted the world’s favorite song in 2005. That’s why it is so much fun to belt out the chorus of this song whenever we hear it, no matter where we are, or how old (or young) we get. These elements include: long and detailed musical phrases, multiple pitch changes in a song’s ‘hook’, male vocalists and higher male voices ala Freddie Mercury. It seems that “We Are The Champions” ticked off all the four key elements needed for a song to be “catchy”. Scientists have proven that this Queen classic hit is the catchiest song of all time after observing thousands of volunteers subjects sing along to a thousand songs. 21) “And we’ll keep on fighting…to the eeeeend!” We Are The Champions – Queen (1977)ĭeclared by scientific research as the most “sing-along-able” song there is, it’s no wonder why it seems everybody knows the lyrics to Queen’s 70’s rock anthem “We Are The Champions”.