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IT'S ONLY A RIFF, BUT WE LIKE IT





Jaws dropped, steam came out of our ears, and someone even put their fist through a wall. Because VH1 announced its list of the 100 Greatest Rock Songs (of all time, natch) and VH1.com favorite Jump N the Saddle's "Curly Shuffle" was nowhere


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to be seen.

Instead, pop upstarts the Rolling Stones topped the list with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," their 1965 ungrammatical ode to discontent. The song topped a poll taken of 700 music industry professionals.

Todd Schwartz, VH1's Programming Director, told the Associated Press, "It has kind of stuck up there as an anthem for the time it was released, and for every generation that came since." The Stones have ensured its endurance by modeling many of their subsequent hits on Keith Richards' memorable riff.

However, it must have been Mick Jagger's lyrics that struck a chord with the voters. For their next appearance on the list is down at No. 24 with "Brown Sugar." On the 1971 boogie, Jagger's mind had moved on from sexual frustration to miscegenation.

The Stones had three other songs in the Top 100: "Sympathy for the Devil" (No.26); "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (No. 65); and "Start Me Up" (No. 83). But the list truly belonged to their rivals the Beatles.

The Fab Four had nine songs on the list. "Hey Jude" just edged into the Top 10 at No. 9. The McCartney-penned "Yesterday" was at No. 12, while Lennon's experimental collage "A Day in the Life" rounded out the Top 20 at No. 20.

The other Beatle titles were spread evenly throughout their career: "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (No. 23); "Let It Be" (No. 32); "Twist and Shout" (No. 57); "She Loves You" (No. 59); "Strawberry Fields Forever" (No. 61); and "A Hard Day's Night" (No. 79).

John Lennon's solo work overshadowed Paul McCartney's silly love songs. Lennon appeared at No. 10 with his 1971 anti-materialist anthem "Imagine." Not one of McCartney's 37 Top 40 hits alone or with Wings made the list.

Schwartz pointed out that in some instances, an overabundance of great songs meant that the vote became split. "The Beatles had so many songs that the vote got divided," he said. For this reason, powerhouse acts like Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, U2, REM and, presumably, Jump N the Saddle were shut out of the voting.

Some grand old men of songwriting were also overlooked. Neil Young missed the list, but Buffalo Springfield is at No. 55 with "For What It's Worth." Lou Reed, who has penned masterpieces like "Sweet Jane" and "Perfect Day," also fell beneath the voter's radar.

Although Bob Dylan had two songs in NPR's list of the greatest American songs of the century, his profile was only slightly higher in VH1's Top 100. Both "Like a Rolling Stone" (No. 4) and "Blowin' in the Wind" (No. 56) made the list, as well as his confessional divorce ditty "Tangled Up in Blue" (No. 87) from 1975's Blood on the Tracks.

Curiously, Jimi Hendrix's interpretation of Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" (No. 34) somehow qualified as a greatest song, but not in Dylan's own version.

The list was strong on songs recorded by people other than their authors. So Otis Redding's "Respect" was at No. 2 - in Aretha Franklin's interpretation. Richard Berry's rock classic "Louie Louie" was at No. 11 as recorded by the Kingsmen. And most of the songs recorded by Elvis Presley did not involve him as an author.

Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin were popular favorites. Both had four songs each in the Top 100, although no one opted for Presence's "Achilles Last Stand." The ubiquitous "Stairway to Heaven" was a predictable No. 3. Lynyrd Skynyrd's durable rock anthem "Free Bird" was at No. 44.

VH1 will broadcast its survey of the list of 100 Greatest Songs beginning on Monday, January 17 at 10 PM ET. The countdown will continue at 10 PM ET each night until Friday. All five programs will screen on Saturday, January 22 beginning at 3 PM ET.

While you peruse the list of 100 greatest rock songs below, VH1.com will be singing, "Well nyuck nyuck nyuck nyuck." 1984 was truly a great year for music.

VH1'S 100 GREATEST ROCK SONGS

1. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," The Rolling Stones.
2. "Respect," Aretha Franklin.
3. "Stairway to Heaven," Led Zeppelin.
4. "Like a Rolling Stone," Bob Dylan.
5. "Born to Run," Bruce Springsteen.
6. "Hotel California," the Eagles.
7. "Light My Fire," the Doors.
8. "Good Vibrations," the Beach Boys.
9. "Hey Jude," the Beatles.
10. "Imagine," John Lennon.
11. "Louie Louie," the Kingsmen.
12. "Yesterday," the Beatles.
13. "My Generation," the Who.
14. "What's Going On," Marvin Gaye.
15. "Johnny B. Goode," Chuck Berry.
16. "Layla," Derek and the Dominos.
17. "Won't Get Fooled Again," the Who.
18. "Jailhouse Rock," Elvis Presley.
19. "American Pie," Don McLean.
20. "A Day in the Life," the Beatles.
21. "I Got You (I Feel Good)," James Brown.
22. "Superstition," Stevie Wonder.
23. "I Want to Hold Your Hand," the Beatles.
24. "Brown Sugar," the Rolling Stones.
25. "Purple Haze," Jimi Hendrix.
26. "Sympathy for the Devil," the Rolling Stones.
27. "Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen.
28. "You Really Got Me," the Kinks.
29. "Oh, Pretty Woman," Roy Orbison.
30. "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Simon & Garfunkel.
31. "Hound Dog," Elvis Presley.
32. "Let It Be," the Beatles.
33. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," Otis Redding.
34. "All Along the Watchtower," the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
35. "Walk This Way," Aerosmith.
36. "My Girl," the Temptations.
37. "Rock Around the Clock," Bill Haley & His Comets.
38. "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," Marvin Gaye.
39. "Proud Mary," Creedence Clearwater Revival.
40. "Born to Be Wild," Steppenwolf.
41. "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Nirvana.
42. "Every Breath You Take," the Police.
43. "What'd I Say," Ray Charles.
44. "Free Bird," Lynyrd Skynyrd.
45. "That'll Be the Day," Buddy Holly and the Crickets.
46. "Whole Lotta Love," Led Zeppelin.
47. "Dream On," Aerosmith.
48. "California Dreamin'," the Mamas and the Papas.
49. "Brown Eyed Girl," Van Morrison.
50. "Wild Thing," the Troggs.
51. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," Crosby, Stills and Nash.
52. "Beat It," Michael Jackson.
53. "Great Balls of Fire," Jerry Lee Lewis.
54. "Stayin' Alive," the Bee Gees.
55. "For What It's Worth," the Buffalo Springfield.
56. "Blowin' in the Wind," Bob Dylan.
57. "Twist and Shout," the Beatles.
58. "Piano Man," Billy Joel.
59. "She Loves You," the Beatles.
60. "Space Oddity," David Bowie.
61. "Strawberry Fields Forever," the Beatles.
62. "Kashmir," Led Zeppelin.
63. "Crazy," Patsy Cline.
64. "London Calling," the Clash.
65. "Jumpin' Jack Flash," the Rolling Stones.
66. "Rock & Roll," Led Zeppelin.
67. "Let's Stay Together," Al Green.
68. "All Shook Up," Elvis Presley.
69. "Maggie May," Rod Stewart.
70. "Your Song," Elton John.
71. "Heartbreak Hotel," Elvis Presley.
72. "God Only Knows," the Beach Boys.
73. "The Twist," Chubby Checker.
74. "Good Golly, Miss Molly," Little Richard.
75. "Sunshine of Your Love," Cream.
76. "California Girls," the Beach Boys.
77. "Summertime Blues," Eddie Cochran.
78. "Blue Suede Shoes," Carl Perkins.
79. "A Hard Day's Night," the Beatles.
80. "Fire and Rain," James Taylor.
81. "Gloria," Them.
82. "Sexual Healing," Marvin Gaye.
83. "Start Me Up," the Rolling Stones.
84. "More Than a Feeling," Boston.
85. "Roxanne," the Police.
86. "We Are the Champions," Queen.
87. "Tangled Up in Blue," Bob Dylan.
88. "Somebody to Love," Jefferson Airplane.
89. "Stand By Me," Ben E. King.
90. "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On," Jerry Lee Lewis.
91. "You Shook Me All Night Long," AC/DC.
92. "When Doves Cry," Prince & the Revolution.
93. "In the Midnight Hour," Wilson Pickett.
94. "Gimme Some Lovin'," Spencer Davis Group.
95. "Jump," Van Halen.
96. "Thunder Road," Bruce Springsteen.
97. "No Woman No Cry," Bob Marley & the Wailers.
98. "La Bamba," Ritchie Valens.
99. "We've Only Just Begun," the Carpenters.
100. "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," the Temptations.






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