When I volunteered for the task of counting down The Zone @ 91-3’s Top 91 of the Decade, I had planned on sharing some DJ notes on this here blog.
But then it was December 23rd and I was off on holidays. But I still think it would be a good effort for me to dive into these songs, as many of them are played on my radio show still very often… so at the very least, it’ll be good practice for me.
I told the story on the radio for the first time I heard this song. My first “adult” job was working for a Telus call center in New Westminster at 6th and 6th. Anyone who knows anything about New West, knows that traffic in that area is brutal, and so, everyday I grinded to work in the hot sun before the invention of AC (or maybe it was invented? I dunno, I just know my little Blue Dodge Colt did not have it) listening to the radio. One day, Tool’s “Schism” was played, and that commute was better than the rest. Odd, I still remember that day. Kinda spooky. There are so many days, and most are fairly unremarkable… and a song getting played on the radio, even less remarkable.
The song was Tool’s lead single off 2001’s Lateralus and won the band their second Grammy.
Kids was the third single off MGMT’s most excellant Oracular Spectacular. Arguably their most popular single as well. I am not sure which one got more love on the Zone, this one of “Electric Feel?” I think Electric Feel is latter in the countdown, so I guess that was the “better” song… whatever, I like “Time to Pretend” the best.
“Kids” is an older MGMT song that you super fans can find on the EPs “Time to Pretend” and “We (Don’t) Care.” British rag NME called it the best single of 2008! We call it #90 ’round these parts.
89) The Dudes – “Pretty Lies”
Calgary, Alberta rockers The Dudes make the list because I love them.
Wow, The Dudes will be Zone Show 200! February 26th, 2010 at Sugar Nightclub.
88) Foo Fighters – “The Pretender”
One of the Foo Fighters more successful songs in regards to Billboard chart position (only “Learn to Fly” and “Best of You” did better), personally… I find this one a bit boring. The song did earn the FF a Grammy in 2008 for Best Hard Rock Performance.
87) Sam Roberts “The Gate”
Sammy is popular around the Zone with the DJs and worker bees. And he should be, he is a quality human being that continues to jam out great music. Music Director Dave Sawchuk listed Sam’s Chemical City as his #10 fave record of the decade! High praise indeed. Could the record be named after Sarnia, Ontario? The Chemical City?
86) Weezer – “Troublemaker”
Back in… what was it? 2008? When Rivers began his epic hype odyssey for Weezer’s 6th album and the forth to be named after the band, he had a puzzle. he said the first single off the new record would be a 12 letter word that began with ‘T’ and ended with ‘R.’ Then he released “Pork and Beans” as the first single… oh you clever Harvard educated huckster you….
85) Tragically Hip “My Music At Work”
At the beginning of the decade the Tragically Hip released one of my favourite records, Music @ Work. The title was inspired by one of those lame Adult Contemporary radio station positioning “Your Music at work station” for some drivel.
For better or worse, you’ll be hearing a few CP songs on this list. I happen to enjoy Coldplay and don’t find their brand of rock and roll offensive. Couple that with the huge popularity and great live show, and you have a recipe for a major star on commercial radio.
If you have the XBOX 360 game Halo 3 and you dominated it, when you win you hear this song playing. I had to read that on Wiki as I don’t play console games… I am more a Total War fan cuz I’m cool like dat.
83) Rage Against the Machine – “Renegades of Funk”
I was DJing at The Clubhouse just before Christmas a few weeks ago and a fine Zoner was there drinking and generally enjoying his Thursday night when it dawned on him to hop up the flight of stairs to the DJ booth and request a song. The song? #83 on our countdown, Rage’s cover of “Renegades.” I forgot how much I still love this 2000 cover from their album Renegades.
hmm, I like the Rage version, but the original is pretty special. I’ll need ot add it to the new funk playlist I am working on.
82) Tegan and Sara – “I Hear Noises”
We’re going way back in the Quin sister’s discography for this gem from their second record “If It Was You” and the first record form the duo that I got into. This record was recorded near us, on Galiano Island.
81) Spinnerette – “Ghetto Love”
“Ghetto Love” is an album from rapper Jaheim and an EP/single from Ms. Brody Dahl’s latest incarnation, Spinnerette.
Liam Lynch directed the music video.
Well that is all I got for today.
Go with yourself.
I love like, half of this list. Keep em coming!
Wow … very cool project.