The Top 10 Tunes of the Decade

At the end of every decade we seem to reflect back on what made those ten years special or sometimes what we would like to forget. Well the following is my list of the soundtrack of the decade. Now whittling it down to just ten songs was a challenge, but I was up to the task. Now remember these are my top ten songs, not the most popular songs of the decade. I can break the news to you now that there won't be any Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, or Flo Rida, but I will have a special award for Jason Mraz at the end of the article.

10. My City of Ruins - Bruce Springsteen: This inspiring song was part of the charity concert that happened just after the 9/11 attacks. It is simple yet powerful and shows the power of Springsteen's voice. I can't hear this song without thinking about the awful day of the attacks, but that is a good thing since we should never forget.

9. Misery Business - Paramore: Just a catty little song that has a great beat. It so reminds me of high school, which was a long time ago, and how girls would just tear one another down.

8. My Immortal - Evanescence: A haunting song that is shows the power of Amy Lee's voice. Lee has one of the best voices in music today, now if she would just be able to get along with her band mates things might get better than the disappointing CD The Open Door which was released in 2006.

7. Zzyzx Rd. - Stone Sour: A quieter side of Slipknot front man Corey Taylor. A simple song that I believe is about drug addiction and rehab, though others believe it has other meanings. This song struck a chord with me and even became part of the final chapter of my first novel, 33 Summers.

6. Hate Me - Blue October: I was tardy to the proverbial party on this song, but I love it just the same. I first heard this song while playing the video game Singstar with my family. I like the darkness of the song and the idea that maybe it is better to sometimes let people go.

5. Cleaning Out My Closet - Eminem: I am not the biggest fan of rap, but I like the occasional song especially when it has something to say. In this song you can feel the hatred that he has for his mother and you start to understand where he is coming from. He spills his guts out for the world to see and I thank him for it.

4. Give Me Novocaine - Green Day: There just had to be a song from what could possibly be the biggest CD to come out this decade, American Idiot. I could have picked one of the ones that was overplayed on the radio, but instead chose this one with its simple hypnotic drum beat and guitar riffs.

3. Youth of the Nation - P.O.D.: A look at what the kids of today are really facing, not always a nice scene. A simple message that maybe we as adults should take a little more time and reach out to some of these lost souls.

2. Not Ready to Make Nice - Dixie Chicks: This song is the response to country radio and idots in the industry like Toby Keith and Reba McEntire. While I may not have completely agreed with Natalie Maines comments about President George Bush, the backlash from those comments was utterly ridiculous. I think McEntire was really upset because she knows she is past her prime and the Chicks have at least five songs better than her biggest hit Fancy. Then again McEntire should be the one being shunned after her wretched cover of Kelly Clarkson's Because of You.

1. We Belong Together - Mariah Carey: This was Carey's comeback song and maybe the best of her career. The first half of the decade wasn't kind to Mariah as her film, Glitter, bombed and she went through some very public personal breakdowns. She came back with a vengeance in 2005 with this song and hasn't looked back. The song spent 14 weeks on the top of Billboard's Hot 100 chart, but I still haven't tired of it, and that earns it the honor of song of the decade.

Now a special tip of the cap to Jason Mraz for having the most annoying song of the deacde, I'm Yours. I can't for the life of me see why people like this song, but if I have the radio on I can't escape it. There have been many other annoying songs, but this one just won't seem to go away. I do hope that changes in 2010. Happy New Year everyone.