At least someone is admitting the RIAA is out of touch: A listing of the best songs of all time, as voted by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts, was released today, and the winner is…”Over the Rainbow”? Rounding out the top five were Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”, Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” (the most inexplicable choice I’ve heard of in my entire life), “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, and “American Pie” by Don MacLean. Notably absent from most of the list: anything recorded since 1980. Highest rap entry was “Rapper’s Delight” at 162, and for those who like to keep tabs on the Beatles at all times, “Yesterday” ranked 56th.
The best quote was from Bob George, director of the Archive of Contemporary Music: “These are songs people would recognize if they were white, middle-class, and old. It’s a great list for people who go to baseball games.” Isn’t that the truth?