POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 Songs #30-21

30. This year -- The Mountain Goats

This is a song about triumph! And about being strong in the face of adversity! And about defiance! Yeah!

Best line: "I am gonna make it though this year if it kills me! I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me!"

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 Songs #40-31

40. Asleep and dreaming -- The Magnetic Fields

Stephin Merritt has a gift for using classic/cliched imagery in a way that's moving and fresh.  His songs talk about butterflies, trains and ships, soldiers at war, roses, etc. etc. but it's never silly -- or at least, it's never silly in a way that's a problem.

This song also happens to contain one of the sweeter sentiments about love I've ever heard.

Best line: "I've seen you laugh at nothing at all, I've seen you sadly weeping.  The sweetest thing I ever saw was you asleep and dreaming.  I've seen you when your ship came in and when your train was leaving.  The sweetest thing I ever saw was you asleep and dreaming.  Oh, you may not be beautiful, but it's not for me to judge.  I don't know if you're beautiful because I love you too much."

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 Songs #50-41

50. Bad reputation – Joan Jett

One of the classic rebellion songs.  I developed an affinity for this one when I became a “Freaks and Geeks” fan.  I’m pretty sure it’s also in 10 Things I Hate About You. 

Best line: “I don’t give a damn about my reputation.  You’re living in the past it’s a new generation.”

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #60-51

60. Coming home -- John Legend

It's moving and the vocals are incredible, especially at the end.

Best line: "I'll make it home again, I pray you fall in love again."

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #70-61

70. Such great heights -- The Postal Service

I normally wouldn't like this kind of song (I don't like anything else from this band) but this song is just so charming.  I dislike the Iron & Wine version and refuse to link to it. 

Best line: "And I'm think it's a sign that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images and when we kiss they're perfectly aligned. And I have to speculate that God himself did make us into corresponsding shapes, like puzzle pieces from the clay."

POOLEYBLOG'S Top 100 Songs #80-71

80. Born on a train -- The Magnetic Fields

So, this is one of my favorite Magnetic Fields songs, and I thought it was just me because it's not one of the famous ones.  But lo and behold, when I was looking for a youtube link to the song, I discovered this FUCKING AWESOME cover of the song by none other than Arcade Fire.  Win Butler apparently likes the song too.  Could my life be any better?

Best line: "Well I've been making promises I know I'll never keep.  One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep."

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #90-81

90. If I ain't got you -- Alicia Keys

Good solid R&B. 

Best line: "Some people want it all, but I don't want nothing at all if it ain't you."