Most
days at work, I listen to Pandora. It’s nice to have a little background music
as I plan my programs and shop for books and what have you. I switch stations
from time to time, and I’m currently listening to The Clash radio. And I have
to tell you, this is my favorite station so far. It gives me the absolute best
of 70s rock, which a touch of weird 80s.
But
as I’ve been listening to this station, I realized something.
I
like the Rolling Stones.
Never
in my life have I considered myself a Rolling Stones fan, and even though I am
about to list ten of their songs for you, I still would not call myself a fan.
The thing about the Rolling Stones is that their catalog is so incredibly deep
that it’s almost impossible not to find ten songs you like.
However,
it took Pandora for me to realize this.
I
have a love/hate relationship with the Rolling Stones. There are a few Rolling
Stones songs that I just hate, which is not the case for any of the other bands
I’ve covered in my “top ten songs” series. When I was in middle school into
early high school, I only listened to oldies stations. This was pretty great,
as I exposed myself to some of my absolute favorite songs and bands that endure
to this very day. However, the oldies stations had some kind of unnatural
obsession with “Satisfaction.” It seemed as though every single time I had the
radio on, “Satisfaction” would play. EVERY TIME, no matter how short the drive.
There was one time “Satisfaction” came on, and I immediately changed the
station… only to find “Satisfaction” was playing on that station, too. I
couldn’t get away from it, and I can’t stand the song to this day.
I
also think “Jumpin Jack Flash” is TERRIBLE.
All
that aside, I do have ten Rolling Stones songs I actually truly love. And here
they are.
Paint
It Black
This
was the first Rolling Stones song I actually knew and loved. Weirdly enough,
the first time I heard it wasn’t on the radio. It was in that kind of terrible
90s movie Devil’s Advocate. It’s got Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino in it, and Al
Pacino ends up being Satan. Obviously. “Paint it Black” plays over the end
credits, and I LOVED it. I especially loved it as an angsty teenager: “I look
inside myself and see my heart is black,” “no colors any more, I want them to
turn black,” etc. I bet you’re glad you didn’t know me as an angsty teenager.
And if you did? I’m not that angry any more.
She’s
So Cold
“She’s
So Cold” was one of my later discoveries. I hadn’t heard it until I was
listening to the Current as a young twenty-something living in Minneapolis. I
just love Mick Jagger’s shouting. This song found a place in my heart forever
when I started working in state government and was constantly hit on by old
drunk men at 10am. I never acknowledged it, choosing instead to remain cold.
Every time that happened, “She’s So Cold” would run through my head.
Ruby
Tuesday
“Ruby
Tuesday” was possibly the second Rolling Stones song I ever heard – and I heard
it without having a clue it was the Rolling Stones. I loved it because of its
gentle and mournful tune. When I found out it was the Rolling Stones, I
couldn’t believe the same band responsible for “Satisfaction” could create this
lovely song. I wonder how the Rolling Stones feel about the restaurant chain of
the same name. (Fun fact: the only reason I ever wanted to eat at Ruby Tuesday
was because of this song.)
You
Can’t Always Get What You Want
There
are two camps when it comes to children singing in rock songs: either it’s
amazing, or it’s creepy as hell. I am firmly in the latter camp. This song
starts with a creepy children’s choir, which almost eliminated it from the
running. However, the song itself is just too great. Like “She’s So Cold,” it
always runs through my head when I don’t get what I want – or if I am unable to
give someone what they want. But the song is so upbeat that it’s ok that you
can’t always get what you want.
She’s
a Rainbow
As
it turns out, there are a lot of Rolling Stones songs I associate with my every
day life. I think of “She’s a Rainbow” every time I dress in bright clothing. I
also truly love the piano part in this song – it’s so lovely and sounds to me
like frolicking through a field of bright wildflowers.
Beast
of Burden
You
can’t hear “Beast of Burden” without at least swaying a little to the music.
It’s got such a great tune, and I love the halting way Mick Jagger sings the
verses. I also love the way they sing “pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty
pretty girls”: they sing “pretty” with a clear pause in between the syllables,
like “pri-TEE”. Whenver I say “pretty,” I unconsciously do the same thing.
Dandelion
“Dandelion”
is very clearly an early Rolling Stones song (1967), and I think it’s
absolutely adorable. It sounds a little like a nursery rhyme, and it’s so sweet
and innocent. The music lends itself to the psychedelic pop sound of the late
60s. It’s adorable.
As
Tears Go By
“As
Tears Go By” is another early Rolling Stones song (1964), and it’s definitely a
bummer. It’s the string background I love so much. It’s also very sweet and a
really interesting comparison to later Rolling Stones and how much they
changed.
Let’s
Spend the Night Together
This
song just kind of makes you want to dance. The lyrics aren’t anything special,
but the music is pretty delightful. I read on Wikipedia that the Rolling Stones
were denied permission to play this song on the Ed Sullivan show in the 60s
because the lyrics were too racy. I’m about to sound super old, but times have
sure changed!
Dancing
in the Street
I’m
cheating a little bit here because this is not an official Rolling Stones song.
However, it’s got Mick Jagger, so it’s close enough for my purposes. The song
itself is pretty ok; it’s one I have known for as long as I can remember. This song
makes the list mostly because of the completely ridiculous music video. It
features a very 80s-looking Mick Jagger and a VERY 80s-looking David Bowie, and
they are dancing (TERRIBLY) in the street. You HAVE to watch it.
-----
As
with all of my “top ten” lists, there are a few great songs that didn’t quite
make the cut. “Start Me Up” is an old favorite, but I have a hard time
separating it from the Windows 95 campaign. However, I tend to think of it when
starting my car in the winter. “Angie” is also a good one, partially because of
all the rumors surrounding it (is it about David Bowie’s wife? when Jagger and
Bowie were rumored to be sleeping together? WHO KNOWS). AND - a few days after I had this post all written, I remembered "Shattered." Which is AWESOME, mostly because of the use of the word "shadoobie."
At
the end of this list, I am still reluctant to call myself a Rolling Stones fan.
But there are ten songs that I love. So take it as you will.
(If you'd like to read about my other favorite bands and my ten favorite songs of theirs, here you go:)
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