I definitely like your list. Many of those songs are also on My Top-1224!
Since I have already Posted a portion of my top List, What I thought I would do is provide My Interpretation of the Song I personally rank as the single greatest song of all time.
I am cognizant that My Number-1 Song is By Tori Amos, and this is a Hayley Westenra site; and I WOULD ADD THAT I HAVE RANKED HAYLEY'S "LISTEN TO THE WIND" as the 4th Greatest song ever done in the History of Music. I also understand, (Hopefully), that when addressing off-topic forums, such as this, it is okay to stray a little. (I hope I'm okay on that???)
I also think that besides Tori Amos, NO TOHER FEMALE SINGER, IN THE HISTORY OF MUSIC, CAN COMPARE TO HAYLEY. I still treasure the time I actually got to see Hayley Perform Live, in Nashville, TN; when I Flew there to see her. She was traveling in the US back on March 25, 2007; with Celtic Woman. However, My SOLE reason for purchasing an Airline Ticket, and a Hotel for the night, was SPECIFICALLY TO SEE HAYLEY PERFORM. I did enjoy Celtic Woman; as well - But Hayley was my only reason for going to that expense. I will aso add that Hayley Westenra, has by far, the Most Perfect Pitch and Beautiful Voice of any Femal Singer, including Tori Amos.
I hope this will provide some insight into How I went about ranking all 12224 songs, INCLUDING HAYLEYS, into that list.
THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS MY PERSONINTERPRETATION OF THE SONG "I CAN'T SEE NEW YORK' BY TORI AMOS - WHICH I HAVE RANKED AS THE GREATEST SINGLE SONG, EVER DONE, IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF MUSIC:
The following line-by-line analysis, should help to illustrate how I came to that determination. AGAIN, I HOPE THIS WILL ALSO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO HOW I WENT ABOUT RANKING ALL 1224 SONGS, INCLUDING HAYLEY'S!!!
First I believe this song to be a very unique approach to the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. Although many singers have written songs about it - no one, to my knowledge, has ever taken the approach of attempting to do it from the perspective of being one of the victims who has died in the event - while attempting to provide insight into the types of thoughts going through the mind of such a person. Having given that as a preface, the line-by-line analysis follows:
Lyrics and analysis:
From here, no lines are drawn
From here, no lands are owned
NOTE: Here I see this as her looking at the world, while she is floating above it - Having just died in the Plane Crash, but not yet gone completely over to the other side - and seeing the lines which separate countries on a Globe or Map, of the world, in reality DO NOT EXIST. THUS NO LANDS ARE OWNED. (This is also implying how foolish we are, as a human race, to go to war over territory which in reality, belongs to all.)
13,000 and holding
(Note: Here I believe she is making reference to the fact that the Planes were flying at approximately 13,000 feet and holding, just prior to crashing into the world trade center.)
Swallowed in the purring of her engines
Note: (The Jet engines as they initially exploded upon impact)
Is there a signal there, tracking the beacon here - from the other side.
(Note: Thus, since she is slipping further away to THE OTHER SIDE (Death) - she finds herself wondering if they have any way to track the plane that struck the towers, as well as tracking her on the other side.)
What do you mean the other side of what thing?
And you said, and you did, and you said you would find me here.
And you said, you would find me, EVEN IN DEATH
and you said...
NOTE: (Here I think she is projecting a thought suddenly going through the victims mind where she is remembering a conversation with her loved one in life, where he said he loved her so much, he could find her even in DEATH. Now as this recollection occurs to her, she is wondering why he hasn't.)
But I Can't See New York
As I'm circling round the WHITE CLOUD, FALLING OUT
(Note: All we need do is simply remember when the Towers fell, that HUGE WHITE CLOUD WHICH EMERGED. Thus, as she is circling around that WHITE CLOUD, she is saying she can't see New York.)
And I know his lips are warm
But I can't seem to find my way out, my way out, of this hunting Ground.
(Note: Again showing a thought suddenly racing through her mind about her lover's Lips being warm, but how she cant get to him)
From here, Crystal Meth in meters of millions
(Note--Seeing how foolishly people have allowed themselves to get to such a state in life, with Drugs)
IN THE END, ALL WE HAVE IS OUR SOUL BLUEPRINT
(NOTE; I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT LINE. In fact, this is my favorite single lyric of all time!)
Did we get lost in it, did we conduct a search for this
From the other side (Self Explanitory)
What do they mean the other side of what things?
And you said, and you did, and you said you would find me here
And you said, you would find me (NOTE: Her mind again racing back to memories of conversations with her Loved one)
(Note: Next, we see her mind again reflecting on her inability to see New York. However at the end we notice a very slight and subtle change, where She says:
I Can't See, I Can't See.. New York - FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Note: (Here she is no longer saying she can't see New York because of the White Cloud. Rather, now, it is because SHE HAS SLIPPED SO FAR OVER INTO THE OTHER SIDE (DEATH) AS TO BE UNABLE TO SEE IT.
Then it ends with yet another, very subtle and almost imperceptible change, where she sings:
I Can't See New York. I...HUMMMMM
Note: (This ending shows her finally being totally succumbed by Death, such that she is unable to complete her thought.)
The creative Genius of even attempting such an approach, coupled with the Music - which is perfectly written to capture the mood and experience - is absolutely incredible.
It is not only absolutely Brilliant, it is at the same time, heart wrenching and powerful; such that it grabs you from start to finish without letting go.
I actually have a memory of 90-95% of the Lyrics to approximately 10,000 songs - AND ALSO HAVE, IN MY HEAD, AN INTERPRETATION OF WHAT I BELIEVE THE SONG IS ABOUT. Of course, I fully recognize I could certainly be wrong.
Steve B.
