What are your top 10 ‘Pop’ singles of all time?

Does it matter? In the great scheme of things no, but it’s fun (if a bit hard) to do!

Just to get things started, I’ve had a go at my 10 favourites – I haven’t put them in preference order (it was hard enough just choosing 10!), but have taken the easy way out and put them in date order instead. In doing this, I realised that they are all from the 70s and 80s! This wasn’t deliberate, but I guess it reflects my younger years (!), but doesn’t mean I don’t like anything since 1986! So my selection has turned out to be my top 10 favourites from the 70s and 80s and here they are:

–    Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen – 1975
–    Baker Street – Gerry Rafferty – 1978
–    Hit me with your Rhythm Stick – Ian Dury & The Blockheads – 1978
–    Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits – 1978
–    Message in a Bottle – The Police – 1979
–    Spirit of Radio – Rush – 1980
–    Ghost Town – The Specials – 1981
–    Jump – Van Halen – 1984
–    Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads  – 1984
–    Don’t Give Up – Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush – 1986

And what may you ask has all this got to do with Christianity? Well, perhaps not a lot, I chose them because I like them!

But then again, in looking at the lyrics of some, I realised that they do speak of matters that I feel would be of concern to Jesus: restlessness/unfulfillment (Baker Street); loneliness (Message in a Bottle); urban decay, unemployment and violence in inner cities and towns (Ghost Town); the sacrifice of youthful ideals and dreams for conventional success (Once in a Lifetime), and the despair of those who feel isolated and defeated by the economic system (Don’t Give Up). As followers of Jesus, we should be concerned about such things too and want to do something about them.

Where does that leave the others (e.g. Hit me with your Rhythm Stick!) – does it matter? They’re just fun and perhaps God who created all things through Jesus did make things some things for sheer enjoyment, so why shouldn’t people reflect this creativity in some small way.

So I’d love to see your lists – they could be across all years or a particular time period or genre if you prefer. If you don’t want to do ‘Pop’ singles, then how about favourite pieces of Classical or Jazz music?