The Top 10 New Year's Songs for 2008

Well, the end of 2008 has come. Yes, I agree that it came much too quickly and think that time is actually speeding up instead of slowing down, but we have to face the fact that the end of the year has come. That means it's time for the second dumbest holiday ever: New Years.

This is the holiday where we celebrate the fact we are all getting older and closer to dying, hope for a better future, make resolutions and then set about forgetting all of that as soon as the hangover wears off. It's a nice excuse for people to get together, drink way too much, dance, kiss each other and stay up much too late.

As such, here is a list of songs you should be playing as the year known as 2008 comes to an end. Yes, this is a tongue-in-cheek version, but there are a few decent songs in here anyway.

10. 1999 by Prince. Ahhh, harken back to a time when we all thought the world would end in nuclear disaster instead of slowly melting due to global warming. A time when Prince paraded around on album covers naked and his songs were considered perverted. A time when we all thought that the world would likely end come 1999 and into 2000. Yes, we have now passed the date but the end-of-the-world sentiments seem more prescient than ever.

9. It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) by REM. Just try to memorize and then sing the words to this song. Get everyone to sing Leonard Bernstein. Try to assure yourself that as the ice caps melt, the economy tumbles into freefall and drought, war and famine cross the globe, you will somehow still feel fine. Also, remember a time when REM was cutting edge and made good music.

8. Do You Realize? by the Flaming Lips. I think the reasons for this song and remembering what it says at New Years are best summed up in the lyrics themselves. "Do you realize that everyone you know some day will die?" Of course, there is a message of hope and positivity within this song as well but the end of the year is hardly a time for that, is it? Plus, it has a cool countdown...or up...at the beginning

7. Time by Pink Floyd. As the time passes and a new year comes ringing in nothing says it better than a song that reminds you that you are another year older and another year closer to death. Plus, the clocks at the beginning are just cool to begin with. Play it loud and try to time it out so the clocks ring when the clock strikes midnight.

6. Fire on High by ELO. Nothing says New Years like a 70s weirdo Disco-ish progressive-ish rock band. Also, the cool "Turn Back, Turn Back" and backwards-speaking introduction that opens this song is as cool as the ticking clocks (in its own way) from the Floyd song. The song also happens to rock. Never have electric fiddles sounded so good.

5. I Wanna Be Sedated by the Ramones. No list of music is complete without at least one Ramones song. Given the proclivities of most people partying on New Years Eve, they all do want to be sedated anyway. Plus, it will help you forget your resolutions and help you get past your hangover. Also, the song is a great punk rock song that should get people dancing.

4. Beautiful Day by U2. OK, I had to put at least one positive song on here. Yes, it's hardly "Pride" or one of their tougher songs, but it's a pretty cool little pop tune. It should make people happy to hear it and maybe even dance to it. You know what dancing can lead to, right? Now there's a good way to ring in a new year.

3. Closer by Nine Inch Nails. There's nothing like raw unadulterated sex in the most base and gruesome lyrics imaginable to spark your party and make people want to get naked. Oh, please, like I'm the only one who things a party is only worthwhile if people are naked! You know you want it. This song will either get you there or cause people to be so offended they leave.

2. The Theme for the Godfather by Coppola's uncle. OK, I admit, this one is a bit of a stretch and I just needed a number 2. However, you have to admit one of the best New Years Eve scenes ever was the one in "The Godfather Part II" when Michael grabs Fredo by the face, kisses him full on the lips and says, "I know it was you Fredo. You broke my heart" all while Castro's rebels are storming Havana. So, put this one on and re-enact this classic scene.

1. Auld Lang Syne by anyone. You had to know this would be on here. Yes, the song is stupid and more than a little annoying. It also makes no sense and no one knows what the title means and half of the people who sing it don't even know what the song is called (sing that "Old Acquaintance be Forgot song!"). Still, you can't break with tradition. I was at a Flaming Lips concert (see above) one New Years Eve and even they lead the crowd in singing this one.

So, there you have it. These are the top ten songs that should be on your playlist this New Years Eve, at least according to me. Just don't play them too loud because I will likely be asleep about 10 o'clock.