20 Random Songs Ranked [3]

It’s time for the third installment in the “Matt shows off random songs he likes that he otherwise wouldn’t have showed off”.

Rules are the same as always – I put my “Liked Songs” Spotify playlist on shuffle and ranked the first twenty songs (maximum three per artist, and no repeats from my previous lists).

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Play It Once Or Twice

20 – I’m In Love With My Car (Queen)

On the same album where Freddy Mercury poured his heart into “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Roger Taylor decided to pen a love letter to an automobile.

It’s a fine song, but very weird and out of place compared to others in Queen’s discography.

19 – Red Red Wine (UB40)

Sometimes, when the mood is just right, “Red Red Wine” hits all the right notes. It’s smooth and anthemic, and you feel compelled to bob along.

It’s not a particularly interesting song, however, so I hardly ever play it.

18 – The World Is Not Enough (Garbage)

I’ve got lots of James Bond songs in my Liked Songs playlist, and for some reason they keep cropping up on these lists.

“The World Is Not Enough” is fine but it pales in comparison to other classics.

17 – Jazz [We’ve Got] (A Tribe Called Quest)

I’m always in the mood for some Tribe, but “Jazz (We’ve Got)” has never gripped me as much as some of the others.

Good Fun

16 – Death On Two Legs (Queen)

The opener to one of Rock’s greatest albums, “Death On Two Legs” is a lot of fun.

It’s not my favourite on the album by any means, but it does a great job of setting the theatrical tone.

15 – You’re The One That I Want (John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John)

The Grease soundtrack has lots of fantastic songs, but the finale number “You’re The One That I Want” has always stuck out to me.

That walking bassline is catchy as hell, and the two leads’ chemistry is off the charts.

14 – Cannonball (The Breeders)

What a bass tone.

“Cannonball” is one of those classic 90’s Alt Rock songs where the simplicity gets under your skin.

13 – Comedy (Bo Burnham)

The second song from Bo Burnham’s “Inside” is already a highlight of the whole project.

It’s very funny in a vacuum and musically catchy too, but it’s retroactively jarring (in a good way) when compared to how “Inside” plays out.

12 – From Russia With Love (Matt Monro)

Another Bond song, except this time it’s an underrated classic.

Matt Monro doesn’t get enough credit for his powerful rendition – it was the first proper “Bond Song”, after all!

11 – Scenario (A Tribe Called Quest)

A better Tribe song than “Jazz”. Great use of a sample, and the chorus is very catchy.

10 – Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground)

“Sunday Morning” sounds like a warm bath. It’s nostalgic and endearing, and weirdly life-affirming.

9 – Sunburn (Muse)

Muse got unlucky in my last two rankings, as both times the two featured songs landed in the bottom three. There were two Muse songs again in this new batch of twenty – and they were much better offerings.

“Sunburn” is the first Muse song on the first Muse album, and they open with an intensely dramatic and grandiose track. They would go on to do better and grander, but it’s a great start.

Banger

8 – Love Me Two Times (The Doors)

I can’t explain why “Love Me Two Times” is ranked so high on this list.

It’s simpler and not as catchy as some of the previous songs, and yet I can’t help but see it as a banger. The power of Jim Morrison, I guess.

7 – You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon)

As the years go by, I appreciate Paul Simon as a songwriter more and more.

The 80’s was arguably his most successful period, with “You Can Call Me Al” being his most successful song. It’s catchy with a hint of African rhythms and a dollop of 80’s cheese.

6 – The Hearts Filthy Lesson (David Bowie)

David Bowie was a different beast entirely in the 90’s – especially for the Brian Eno-produced “1.Outside” album.

“The Hearts Filthy Lesson” is definitely a highlight of the record, showcasing Bowie’s perverted yet undeniably engrossing new approach.

5 – Heat Waves (Glass Animals)

“Heat Waves” was undoubtedly the Summer Song of 2020. It was a shame nobody was outside and socializing to hear it.

It’s smooth and one hell of an earworm. I reckon I could listen to it on loop for ten hours and not get bored.

4 – Little Red Corvette (Prince)

In my mind, Prince was the best Pop artist of the 80’s. I’m sure I’ll get crucified for that opinion …

“Little Red Corvette” has a lot of heart, and Prince balances the slower and more upbeat sections masterfully.

3 – Wesley’s Theory (Kendrick Lamar)

I try to listen to a wide range of musical genres, even ones I wouldn’t normally listen to, both to broaden my horizons and to enhance any music ranking I make on this blog. “To Pimp A Butterfly” was an album I listened to on one of those musical excursions … and it opened up a whole new world of sound.

“Wesley’s Theory” is the opener to Kendrick Lamar’s landmark album, and it’s probably my favourite from the project. It has some of the best production I’ve ever heard – there are so many distinct layers to rediscover and re-enjoy on the hundredth listen.

A Personal Favourite

2 – Blue Monday (New Order)

New Order were one of the premier Electronic acts around, and “Blue Monday” is their magnum opus.

Its synth beats worm into your brain and get under your skin, and the harrowing story it tells sticks with you long after the song has faded out.

1 – Citizen Erased (Muse)

“Origin of Symmetry” has so many fantastic songs, and yet on some days I still consider “Citizen Erased” to be the best of the bunch.

It has some of Matt Bellamy’s best lyrics, and that chorus is immense. Some may not like the long, slow outro but I think it perfectly ties the whole thing together.

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: