When you start making a list like this, you think it will be easy, but as you actually start compiling the bands and songs you really love, you discover how many there are – and before you know it, songs you really love are way down the list and you think it is somehow unfair – and it probably is.
When you are doing something as insane as this, you start looking for minor reasons to place one song above or below another. And the worst part is, the next day after you think you have decided, you can feel different and tweak the list again. It’s just the wonderful nature of music.
Anyway, here are the next five songs on the countdown.
Be sure to click on the videos to hear the songs.
As I said when I first started this list, these are my favorite songs. These songs that aren’t necessarily works of art or changed music history. Sometimes they are simply songs that get an old headbanger banging his head again.
Escape The Fate have changed styles and lineups since their creation back in 2004. They got their first big break winning a radio contest judged by the band My Chemical Romance in 2005.
‘Gorgeous Nightmare’ was the 4th single released off their 3rd album, a self-titled album, in 2010. And honestly, this is the only album by Escape The Fate I really like. They have some other good songs on other albums, but for me, the third album is the best one.
This song is about being in a toxic relationship with someone you are extremely attracted to, but they are emotionally draining.
I’ve seen Escape The Fate live once in 2011 while touring in support of the 3rd album, and I saw it with my daughters, which makes it all the more memorable.
There are only two songs in my top 1000 songs.
85 – Gorgeous Nightmare – 1/2
195 – Issues – 2/2
As an old school 80s headbanger who listened to a lot of 70s rock music, I hate hearing my generation say that no one makes music like the old days. That’s simply not true. There are some great bands out there making great music nowadays that just doesn’t get the publicity to be found by mainstream listeners.
The Answer are a band from Northern Ireland which is not a hotbed of rock music, but these guys are really talented.
They have been around since 2000 and still maintain the same lineup, the same four guys. I love the singer, Cormac Neeson, voice. There’s a powerful grittiness to it that reminds me of vocalists like Paul Rodgers, whom they have opened for in times past.
They have released 7 albums, but they haven’t really broken in the States. Most of their success is limited to the UK, parts of Europe and Japan.
I’ve never seen them live and there are two songs by The Answer in my Top 1000 songs.
84 – Cigarettes & Regret – 1/2
930 – Sometimes Your Love – 2/2
How many wonderful things can I say about Symphony X?
Definitely one of my favorite bands of all-time.
An American progressive metal band formed in 1994; they continue to produce amazing albums that are full of songs that are catchy and challenging to listen to.
‘Set The World On Fire’ is off their 7th album, Paradise Lost, a loosely based concept album inspired by John Milton’s poem, Paradise Lost.
This song is amazing in its delivery, how it can be so heavy and catchy at the same time. This is one of those songs that on certain days could be in my top five. Today, it is #83.
I have seen them live twice and they were awesome both times.
There are 8 songs in my Top 1000 although there surely could have been more. And this is just their 2nd best song. There is still one more to come.
## – ???
83 – Set The World On Fire – 2/8
126 – Paradise Lost – 3/8
235 – To Hell And Back – 4/8
385 – In My Darkest Hour – 5/8
574 – Underworld – 6/8
799 – Out Of The Ashes – 7/8
838 – Without You – 8/8
Blind Guardian are a power/folk metal band from Germany that has been around since the early 80s. I actually didn’t start listening to them until the early 90s. Since then, they have become one of my favorite bands.
This song is off their 4th album, Somewhere Far Beyond.
Vocalist Hansi Kursch has one of the most unique voices in metal music. The lyrics of this song and the way it is sung is so beautifully haunting and inspiring at the same time.
I’ve never seen them live and this song is my second favorite with one more to come. There are 7 total Blind Guardian songs in my top 1000.
## – ???
82 – The Bard’s Song
278 – Curse My Name
386 – Hallelujah
473 – The Maiden and the Minstrel Knight
619 – Skalds And Shadows
669 – Miracle Machine
Freedom At Point Zero is the title track of Jefferson Starship’s 5th album. It was one of my favorite albums growing up. I listened to this album all the time. A very underrated album.
Jeffersons Starship started out as Jefferson Airplane back in 1965 as Jefferson Airplane. They disbanded in 1973 after breaking into separate camps, and Jefferson Starship was born in 1974 with the release of their first album, Hot Tuna.
Freedom At Point Zero featured the hit single, Jane. With new vocalist Mickey Thomas on board, Jane reached #14 in America although I always felt the title track was the better song – and the best song they ever made. It’s inspirational and upbeat.
Jefferson Starship eventually disbanded in 1984 after the last original member, Paul Kantner, left the band citing the direction as an issue. He didn’t feel the band was challenging themselves musically anymore and just trying to churn out pop songs.
What remained after Kantner left the band, formed Starship, which did indeed produce a lot of pop music.
There have been several reunions over the years of Airplane and Starship.
I never saw any of these variations live.
There are 3 Jefferson Starship songs in my top 1000 although I feel there should have probably been more. It’s never easy making a list like this. When you look back, you wonder how you left some songs completely off the list.
#81 – Freedom At Point Zero
280 – Jane
371 – Find Your Way Back
That’s it for this weekend.
What do you think?
Would these five songs have made it into your top 100? Your top 1000?
See you next weekend with five more songs.
100 – Cheap Trick – Dream Police
99 – Creed- One Last Breath
98 – Blind Melon – No Rain
97 – Living Colour – Cult of Personality
96 – Triumph – Ordinary Man
95 – Scorpions – You And I
94 – Tesla – Forever More
93 – MCR – House of Wolves
92 – Rise Against – Re-Education
91 – Yngwie Malmsteen – Fury
90 – Robert Plant – Pledge Pin
89 – Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower
88 – Queensryche – Warning
87 – Metallica – Ride The Lightning
86 – Black Sabbath – War Pigs
85 – Escape The Fate – Gorgeous Nightmare
84 – The Answer – Cigarettes & Regret
83 – Symphony X – Set The World On Fire
82 – Blind Guardian – The Bard’s Song (Into The Forest)
81 – Jefferson Starship – Freedom At Point Zero
Allen M Werner is the author of the epic dark fantasy series
THE CRYSTAL CRUX
Author Allen M Werner 
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