Two Totally Different Lists

Recently there were two lists released. The first was from the New York Times and it ranked the Top 100 TV Shows of the 21st century. The second list came from Rolling Stone and it was the Top 200 Rock Songs of the 21st century. One list is normal and full of items that you would expect…the other is, well it is kind of bonkers. 

This is a great list. I do not agree with all of them, but I can understand the argument for them. I think I have watched at least 36 of these shows from beginning to end, and I have watched some of at least 15 others.

Now that brings me to the Rock list. Obviously a list of the best 200 songs of of the last 26 years is going to be all over the place. And yet as I went through the list, and I did suffer through all 200 songs. I was confused about some of the choices. For example, they listed “Real Emotional Trash” by Stephen Malkmus at #89. Now, you know that I like Stephen Malkmus. And there are a few songs of his that I might put on this list, but this is not the one. It is good, but not the best of his. Even weirder, if you look at his most popular songs on say Amazon Music, it is not even in the top 20. Weird.

The top song is “Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It is a solid song, but the top song of the 21st century? Hell, I did not even remember it. I asked Lindsey, and she barely remembered it as well. The number two song? “7 Nation Army” by The White Stripes, which is a sensible pick. You hear that song played at every stadium across the world.

The Rolling Stone list just feels like they were trying too hard to be as obscure and edgy as possible. The NYT list looks like a list that took it’s job seriously.