Category / Music

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iTunes Top 200 Wrap-Up

itunes_imageLast week, we wrapped up our latest look at the top 200 songs I’ve listened to, according to iTunes, since 2008.  Now it’s time to take a final look at those 200 (or 203) songs and the 109 artists that made them.  The average number of listens was just over 28, with the median number being 20.

Most Represented Band

Foo Fighters – 17
The Beatles – 13
The Cast of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – 11
Garfunkel and Oates – 8
Garbage – 7
Tegan and Sara – 7

Least Recently Played

7/6/2013 10:15 AM – The Beatles – Paperback Writer
11/23/2013 8:28 AM – Young MC – Bust A Move
4/3/2014 12:26 PM – Goops – Build Me Up Buttercup
5/10/2014 1:33 PM – Neil Sedaka – Calendar Girl
5/30/2014 3:28 PM – Mexican Cheerleader – Do The Stanley

Most Recently Played

12/21/2015 12:09 PM – Boyz II Men – End Of The Road
12/21/2015 12:03 PM – Love Spit Love – How Soon Is Now?
12/18/2015 6:42 PM – Purdue “All-American” Marching Band – Hail Purdue
12/18/2015 6:39 PM – John Williams – Prelude And Main Title March
12/18/2015 6:39 PM – Purdue “All-American” Marching Band – Go Purdue Cheer

 

by admin

iTunes Top 200: #1 – 10

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact.  So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

We wrap things up today with the top 10, which includes only 1 new song since we first looked at the top 100 3 years ago.  The remaining 9, all of which are, or were, part of my White Sox victory playlists, have simply moved around in order, including a surprising tie for the top spot.

#10: Harry Caray – Take Me Out To The Ballgame
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 9/30/2015
Previous ranking: #11

Moving up one spot into the top 10 is this mid-1970s recording of the Hall of Fame broadcaster, along with organist Nancy Faust, leading the Comiskey Park crowd during the 7th inning stretch.

#9: 2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage
iTunes stats: 106 plays, most recently on 5/12/2015
Previous ranking: #9

Radio highlights, courtesy of The Score, of the 2008 White Sox season, culminating in the team’s Division Series loss to the Rays.

#8: Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
iTunes stats: 115 plays, most recently on 7/19/2015
Previous ranking: #8

The rallying cry for the 2005 White Sox after A. J. Pierzynski and teammates heard it being sung in a bar in Baltimore, it finally dropped off my playlist for the 2015 season.

Sox Win#7: Queen – We Are The Champions
iTunes stats: 120 plays, most recently on 7/19/2015
Previous ranking: #7

Reaching #4 on the Billboard charts in the late 70s, the song made it on to my White Sox playlist following their 2005 World Series championship.

#6: sox05_montage
iTunes stats: 126 plays, most recently on 10/24/2015
Previous ranking: #6

Radio highlights, courtesy of ESPN 1000, of the 2005 White Sox season, culminating in the team’s first World Series title since 1917.

#5: Gordon Beckham Intro
iTunes stats: 139 plays, most recently on 5/18/2015
Previous ranking: #2

The Outfield’s hit Your Love featuring Gene Honda introducing the former White Sox third baseman.

#4: Steam – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
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by admin

iTunes Top 200: #11 – 20

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

We near the end today, as we breach the top 20, which is nearly identical to when we first looked at the top 100 3 years ago.  9 of the 10 songs are the same, with the only difference being one that dropped out of the top 10.  My White Sox victory playlists and school pride make up the majority of this entry.

#20: The Lonely Island – Lazy Sunday (ft. Chris Parnell)
iTunes stats: 42 plays, most recently on 6/18/2014
Previous ranking: #17

The original SNL digital short put the Lonely Island on the pop culture map and defined the phrase “viral video”.

#19: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – The Mustard
iTunes stats: 45 plays, most recently on 6/7/2015
Previous ranking: #19

A short ditty from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer about the joys of dry cleaning.

#17: Purdue “All-American” Marching Band – Hail Purdue
iTunes stats: 49 plays, most recently on 12/18/2015
Previous ranking: #20

A more recent version of the Purdue fight song, including the now standard refrain of “Boiler Up!”

#17: Purdue “All-American” Marching Band – Hail, Purdue!
iTunes stats: 49 plays, most recently on 11/7/2015
Previous ranking: #18

An older version of the Purdue fight song, used during my time at the school.

#15: Metallica – Harvester Of Sorrow
iTunes stats: 53 plays, most recently on 7/4/2015
Previous ranking: #15

Released as the first single from the band’s fourth studio album, it was used as the at-bat music for former White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko for the majority of his career.

#15: The Lonely Island – Natalie’s Rap (ft. Natalie Portman & Chris Parnell)
iTunes stats: 53 plays, most recently on 1/22/2015
Previous ranking: #14

The second digital short from The Lonely Island featured Natalie Portman playing against type as a lewd gangsta.

#14: Nancy Faust – Take Me Out To The Ballgame
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by admin

iTunes Top 200: #21 – 30

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

We continue today with the 10 songs that comprise #s 21-30, with plays throughout the 30s, four of which come from the same band and another three are television show theme songs.

#30: Foo Fighters – Everlong
iTunes stats: 31 plays, most recently on 10/23/2015
Previous ranking: #36

A live version of the band’s biggest hit, from their Skin and Bones album.

#29: Garbage – Bad Boyfriend
iTunes stats: 32 plays, most recently on 10/17/2015
Previous ranking: #27

The first track from the band’s fourth album features Dave Grohl, of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame, on drums.

#27: Dr. John – My Opinionation
iTunes stats: 33 plays, most recently on 11/7/2015
Previous ranking: #32

The theme song to Blossom, the 90s pantheon to weird teenage girls being themselves.

#27: Katy Perry – I Kissed A Girl
iTunes stats: 33 plays, most recently on 10/27/2015
Previous ranking: #24

A small drop for the song ranked #66 for the decade of the 2000s by Billboard magazine..

FooFighters#25: Foo Fighters – Everlong
iTunes stats: 35 plays, most recently on 10/30/2015
Previous ranking: #23

The second version of the song to make the countdown this week, this one being a live version from the band’s concert in London’s Hyde Park.

#25: The Crystal Method – Bones Theme
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by admin

iTunes Top 200: #30 – 40

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact.  So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we enter Casey Kasem territory, cracking the top 40 with 10 songs between 27 and 31 plays apiece since late 2007.

#40: Garbage – Androgyny
iTunes stats: 27 plays, most recently on 11/21/2015
Previous ranking: #36

The debut single from their third album that was strangely left off their greatest hits package.

#36: Purdue “All-American” Marching Band – Go Purdue Cheer
iTunes stats: 28 plays, most recently on 12/18/2015
Previous ranking: #76

An impressive increase in the rankings for this cheer for the old alma mater.

#36: Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
iTunes stats: 28 plays, most recently on 11/4/2015
Previous ranking: #76

An equally impressive increase for this biggest hit from Mazzy Star, which appeared on Volume 15 of my mix tapes.

GarbageS07#36: Garbage – Only Happy When It Rains (Live)
iTunes stats: 28 plays, most recently on 10/21/2015
Previous ranking: #58

A live version of the hit from their debut album, this appeared as a B-side on the Shut Your Mouth single.

#36: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Coda
iTunes stats: 28 plays, most recently on 4/7/2015
Previous ranking: #39

The final bit of cast singing from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

#35: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – I’ve Got A Theory/Bunnies/If We’re Together
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by admin

iTunes Top 200: #41 – 46

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

With 3/4ths of the rankings completed, we kick off the look at the final quarter today with the first 10 songs ranked from #46 through #41.

#46: Elvis Presley – An American Trilogy
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 12/3/2015
Previous ranking: #96

An impressive jump in the ratings for this medley of three 19th century songs: Dixie, a blackface minstrel song that became the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy since the Civil War; All My Trials, originally a Bahamian lullaby, but closely related to African American spirituals; and The Battle Hymn of the Republic, the marching song of the Union Army during the Civil War.

#46: Divinyls – I Touch Myself
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 9/28/2015
Previous ranking: #41

The sole US hit for the Australian band which formed in 1980.

#46: Color Me Badd – All 4 Love
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 10/3/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The highest ranking song that did not make the cut three years ago, thanks to its use as at bat music for former White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers.

#46:  The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – End Credits (Broom Dance/Grr Argh)
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 11/9/2014
Previous ranking: #41

A jazzed up version of the ending theme from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

#46: The Beatles – Can’t Buy Me Love
iTunes stats: 24 plays, most recently on 9/17/2015
Previous ranking: #41

This 1964 hit had the biggest jump to number one (from #27) until Billboard began using SoundScan for their charts.

#44: Tegan and Sara – I Hear Noises
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by admin

iTunes Top 200: #46 – 56

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

We reach the 3/4ths mark today, looking at the remaining songs tied for 56th with 23 listens and starting the songs tied for 46th with 24 listens.

#56: Darling Violetta – Angel Main Theme
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 12/11/2015
Previous ranking: #76

The band performed 2 songs in a third season episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer before being tasked to perform the theme to the spin-off.

#56: Coolio f/ L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 11/15/2015
Previous ranking: #96

This 1995 hit from the Dangerous Minds soundtrack also appeared on Volume 19 of my mix tapes.

#56: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Where Do We Go From Here?
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 9/22/2015
Previous ranking: #41

The last tune from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer following the defeat of the dancing demon Sweet.

#56: The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 9/21/2015
Previous ranking: #58

The only theme song to a Beatles film to not be released as a single.

#56: The Beatles – Helter Skelter
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 6/13/2014
Previous ranking: #54

Considered by music historians as a key influence in the development of heavy metal.

#46: Weird Al Yankovic – White & Nerdy 
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by admin

iTunes Top 200: #56 – 65

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we finish off the remaining songs tied for 65th with 22 listens and start the group of songs tied for 56th with 23 listens since 2007.

#65: Foo Fighters – My Hero
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 9/28/2015
Previous ranking: #41

A live version from the bands live acoustic album released in 2006.

FooFighters#65: Foo Fighters – Monkey Wrench
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 8/30/2015
Previous ranking: #76

The first single from the band’s second album, the song chronicled the disintegration of singer/song writer Dave Grohl’s four-year marriage to Jennifer Youngblood.

#65: Eminem – Lose Yourself
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 9/2/2014
Previous ranking: #41

The song was written during the filming of the movie in which it appeared, 8 Mile.

#65: Cher with Beavis & Butt-head – I Got You Babe
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 5/16/2015
Previous ranking: #58

This remake featuring the cartoon duo also appeared on Volume 12 of my mix tapes.

#65: Bell Biv DeVoe – Do Me!
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 2/6/2015
Previous ranking: #58

This follow-up hit from the former members of New Edition also appeared on Tape 1 of my mix tapes.

#65: The Beatles – Help!
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by admin

iTunes Top 200: #65 – 79

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we finish off the remaining songs tied for 79th with 21 listens and start the group of songs tied for 65th with 22 listens since 2007.

#79: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Under Your Spell
iTunes stats: 21 plays, most recently on 12/11/2015
Previous ranking: #76

Amber Benson performs the song which writer Joss Whedon called “pornography” and “probably the dirtiest lyric I’ve ever written, but also very, very beautiful”.

#79: The Beatles – Eight Days A Week
iTunes stats: 21 plays, most recently on 7/21/2015
Previous ranking: #76

Although it was a huge hit in America, the group did not think highly of the song and they never performed it live.

#65: 10,000 Maniacs – Because The Night
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 8/4/2015
Previous ranking: #76

This cover of the Patti Smith classic from the band’s MTV Unplugged appearance also appeared on Volume 12 of my mix tapes.

#65: The Wonders – That Thing You Do
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 7/9/2015
Previous ranking: #96

The theme song from the 1996 movie of the same name, about a band that hits it big in the 60s before disintegrating before they can record a follow up.

#65: Weezer – Dope Nose
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 10/5/2015
Previous ranking: #41

The first single from the band’s 4th studio album.

#65: Toad The Wet Sprocket – Walk On The Ocean
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When Doves Cry

Earlier today, word broke that Prince had died at the age of 57.  He was found unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate outside Minneapolis.  His publicist confirmed the news without giving any further details.  Just last week, his plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Moline, after which he was rushed to a local hospital.

My favorite Prince-related memory is from my trip to Belfast back in 2012.  We were spending the night in one of the local pubs when Purple Rain came over the speakers.  Drunk Jeff decided it was necessary for him to sing along, thanks to some encouragement from the rest of the group.

My second favorite Prince-related memory would be Charlie Murphy’s recollections of playing basketball and having pancakes with him back in the day on the Chappelle Show.