the list is interesting, I interviewed Henke about it when the Rock Hall opened in '95, but it's also pretty old, nothing newer than the early-'90s

Yes. This is THE list.

I am currently busy ranking the songs in order of importance. Any opinions on whether "American Pie" should be 347 and "Roxanne, Roxanne" 348, or the other way around?

I have also begun my own list of the second most influential songs (Numbers 501 to 1000). I don't wanna give it all away, but 501 is "The Monster Mash" and 502 is Mahler's "Der Abschied" from Das Lied von der Erde.

Oh, and 503 is that song with the guy in the gorilla suit (pace Bricklayer).

In general, pretty interesting and hard to argue with, but no "21st Century Schizoid Man" (King Crimson)?

500 . . . this could take us years to argue about.

They left off "Catholic Girls." What a travesty!

Lame

WHERE IS SLASH?

Oh, wait, there he is, with Welcome to the Jungle. Never mind.

American Pie should be omitted from any best-of list.

i thought "American Pie" had been officially outlawed.

Oh, "American Pie!"
I misread -- thought it was Warrant's "Cherry Pie." Yes, "American Pie" is now outlawed in 37 states and the District of Columbia.
Know why? It's made of...

...AMERICANS!!!!!!!!

Unlike too many of these lists, it doesn't seem to be so strongly biased towards one decade or specific genres.

Agree with Tom about "21st Century Schizoid Man". Nice to see Yes in the list, especially for something that's not "Owner of a Lonely Heart".

Quite an interesting list, with a lot of less than obvious choices. However, I think they should have titled it "Kazaa Shopping List."

I agree with Tim; it's nice to see the older songs getting some acknowledgment. And I know nitpicking these lists is like shooting fish in a barrel. They're written more as conversation pieces than anything else.

BUT.

Three U2 songs, two REM, but only one Nirvana? No Pixies?! And sure, Beck's 'Loser' is catchy, but I'm fairly certain it didn't (and won't) have the influence on rock that, say, half of the songs on OK Computer had.

Sure, I'm expected to point out there's no Bloodrock and maybe I'm expected to point out there's no MC5 - but, jeez, there's no PiL or New Order either! Out to fuckin' lunch - as usual.

I can live without the PiL, but no MC5 and no New Order are crimes - surely "Kick Out the Jams" and "Blue Monday" are more important than many songs listed here.

i am VERY impressed that big mama thornton made it... twice. this list is a very fair attempt at a joyfully impossible task.

I think they did a reasonably job gettign the artists right, but some of the songs they picked by those artists are inexplicable - look at the Who, for example.

yeah, i saw that (with other groups).

Culture Club? what the heck do they have to do with rock? the pseudo-soul element?

i even kinda like them, but still.

Actually, New Order was listed in their original form - Joy Division. And PIL was also listed, for the most part - The Sex Pistols. I do feel as if Depeche Mode deserved a nod during their Vince Carter phase - specifically for "Just Can't Get Enough." And where in the hell is Foghat's "Slow Ride?!"

I am sorry....Vince Clarke.....

(practically)
The same list, organized by year:

Which one came first?

As you can see, BOTH lists only go up to 1994 so unfortunately nothing from OK Computer (Paranoid Android? Karma Police?) would have made it on the list.(or The Bends for that matter).

The only difference i could find so far is "Tennessee" by Arrested Development.

I came across both lists a while ago and tried to think of songs that could be added if the list went on to at least the year 2000