iTunes Top 200: #158

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library, featuring he songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which older songs still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2025.

We continue this week with the next batch of songs tied for 158th place with 37 plays apiece since my stats began in late 2007.

#158: Temple of the Dog – Hunger Strike
iTunes stats: 37 plays, most recently on 11/7/2024
Previous ranking: NR

Following the death of Andrew Wood, Chris Cornell joined forces with the former members of Mother Love Bone and Eddie Vedder, who was about to join their new band, to record a tribute album.

#158: The Muffs – Kids in America
iTunes stats: 37 plays, most recently on 7/24/2024
Previous ranking: NR

The cover of the Kim Wilde song, recorded for the Clueless soundtrack, picked up nine new listens over the past nine years.

#158: Mexican Cheerleader – Do the Stanley
iTunes stats: 37 plays, most recently on 12/5/2024
Previous ranking: #144

Six new plays for the track from the local punk band fronted by a former co-worker.

#158: Ludacris – Get Back
iTunes stats: 37 plays, most recently on 12/9/2024
Previous ranking: #170

The lead single from his fifth studio album, it added an additional seven plays over the past five years.

#158: LOST Soundtrack – Main Title
iTunes stats: 37 plays, most recently on 8/14/2024
Previous ranking: NR

A healthy debut for the theme song from the 2000s hit television show, which lasts a whole 17 seconds.

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Goodbye, iPhone 4S – Music Edition

A little more than a week ago, I upgraded my phone from the iPhone 4S to the newly released iPhone 5S.  The biggest difference, aside from a slightly bigger screen, is the jump from 3G (or 4G, if you believe AT&T’s hype) to LTE.  I had the 4S for a little under 2 years, and in that time, we traveled the world together (well, at least going back to the UK) and have listened to a lot of podcasts and music. Here is every song (all 2079 of them) I’ve listened to on the phone, with some (ok, very little) bonus commentary.  Godspeed.

 

Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers 33
He’s a Pirate Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) 32
Take Me Out To The Ballgame Harry Caray 31
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge 31
Gordon Beckham Intro 29
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 29
Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Journey’s Greatest Hits 27
sox05_montage 27
We Are The Champions Queen Queen: Greatest Hits I & II 27
Your Love The Outfield Play Deep 27
2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage Chris Tannehill WSCR 670 The Score 25
Take Me Out To The Ballgame Nancy Faust 25
Harvester Of Sorrow Metallica …And Justice For All 20

You would hope that these numbers would have been higher, but this past season’s miserable performance by the White Sox has put the songs on their playlist out of mind more often than not.

Cannonball The Breeders The First 1000 Years- Rock 19
Man Or Muppet Jason Segel The Muppets 15
It’s Time For Our Song Miss Piggy The Muppets 14
Get Out There And Help Those Guys Jason Segel The Muppets 13
Main Title LOST Soundtrack LOST Soundtrack 13
Are You A Man Or A Muppet? Amy Adams The Muppets 12
How Charming, A Finale Uncle Deadly The Muppets 12
I’m On A Boat (ft. T-Pain) The Lonely Island Incredibad 12
Down At The Ole Barbershop Kermit The Muppets 11
Me and Drugs David Cross Bigger and Blackerer 11
The Antichrist Howard Stern Private Parts: The Album 11
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Mix Tape Monday – Tape #2

Earlier this year, we looked at the 20 volumes of mix tapes that I had made between 1989 and 1995, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD.  In addition to those, I had 2 tapes that consisted of songs that I liked, but, for differing reasons, did not make it to the main set.  I thought it would be fun to take another look back at those two cassettes, how much I listen to those songs now, and why they did not qualify for the main set of mix tapes.  Here’s the second of those tapes, which has degraded much more than any of the other tapes I listened to.

 

Side A

Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

This song, originally a hit in the 70s, was given new life thanks to its inclusion on the Wayne’s World soundtrack.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 9/19/2012

Soul Asylum – Somebody To Shove

My sister had this CD, so I copied over this minor hit that I had missed upon its initial release.

iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 5/25/2012

Temple Of The Dog – Hunger Strike

Prior to their first album, the members of Pearl Jam joined up with Soundgarden for this side project meant as a tribute to Andrew Wood, frontman for Mother Love Bone.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 7/11/2012

Soul Asylum – Runaway Train

Another Soul Asylum song borrowed from my sister’s CD.  Is Black Gold far behind?

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 7/30/2012

K7 – Come Baby Come

One of a long list of hip hop one hit wonders who sang about getting down with the local women.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/31/2009

New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle

The 80’s pop hit was brought back to the musical forefront thanks to the cover version by Frente!

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 3/23/2012

Smashing Pumpkins – Today

Another example of a big hit from a band that I ultimately liked (although in this case, eventually lost any and all taste for) that didn’t merit inclusion on my main set of favorites cassettes.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 6/3/2011

Frente! – Bizarre Love Triangle

Speaking of which, here’s the acoustic cover of the New Order hit.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 7/16/2012

Side B

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Goodbye, iPhone 3G – Music Edition

As I wait for tomorrow’s delivery of my new iPhone 4S, it is time to say goodbye to the 3G that has been my trusty companion for nearly the past 3 1/2 years.  We’ve traveled the world together (well, at least Canada and the UK) and have listened to a lot of music.  Here is every song (all 1597 of them) I’ve listened to on the phone, with some (ok, very little) bonus commentary!

He’s a Pirate Klaus Badelt Pirates of the Caribbean (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) 100
Gordon Beckham Intro 91
Let’s Go-Go-Go White Sox Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers 87
Thunderstruck AC/DC The Razors Edge 84
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969 83
sox05_montage 75
We Are The Champions Queen Queen: Greatest Hits I & II 73
Boom P.O.D. Satellite 70
Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Journey’s Greatest Hits 69
2008 White Sox Central Division Champs Montage Chris Tannehill WSCR 670 The Score 65

No surprise that the top 10 are all part of (or were part of) my White Sox victory playlist.  This gets played on the way home from every White Sox winner, plus the occassional ride to a game.  Continue reading →