Disclaimer

If you do not know me (I mean, really know me) then there is something you need to understand before you read this blog: I value the truth above everything else... except a good laugh. A good laugh will almost always beat the truth as far as I’m concerned. Everything you read on this blog will be true, somewhat true, or something I made up in an effort to get a laugh. Sometimes I will go on a rant that I don’t really mean (or only kind of mean). Sometimes I will mean what I write only to completely change my mind a year, month, or day later. Such is life. By reading this blog you agree not to get offended by anything I write (or, at the very least, you agree not to tell me or anyone else that you are offended). It is worth noting that my employer does not endorse my blog (or even read it, to tell you the truth). The Wife also does not endorse my blog (though she will read it from time to time). I am not paid to write this... it’s just my way of giving back to the community. I have, and will, touch on a wide range of subjects and will give my opinion on these subjects. Again, most of what I say is for laughs but every now and then I will say what I really think and feel (see my views on Westboro Baptist Cult). How will you know when I’m serious and when I’m trying to get a laugh? You’ll know. And if you don’t know, well... maybe this isn’t the best thing for you to be reading. So, sit back, read and enjoy. Leave comments if you want and don’t be afraid to publicly follow me.



Tuesday, May 31, 2011

We've made it to the end! The last 33 songs...

Don’t forget, Darius Rucker will honor Pattison's Academy should he win CMT Performance of the year! This is a FAN supported contest. Click here to vote for Darius and you'll be voting for Pattison's!!

I have decided to give you a behind the scenes look at how this song list came to be:

Step 1 - Call a meeting of the entire I’m just sayin… staff.

Step 2 - Make a list of songs

Step 3 - Check list of songs

Step 4 - Notice there are no songs from (insert awesome artist/group) on the list.

Step 5 - Yell (probably louder than should have been yelled) "Oh, S**t! There are no songs from (insert awesome artist/group) on the list!"

Step 6 - Call another meeting of entire I’m just sayin… staff.

Step 7 - Add songs

Step 8 - Repeat Steps 3-7
------Step 8 was tricky because it could have gone on forever, so at some point the I’m just sayin… Board of Directors had to just make the decision to go with what we had.

Step 9 - Go through list and "group rank" the songs (i.e. This song is a Top 10 song, this one is a Top 100, Top 200 and so on and so forth. The "group rankings" used were 10, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1,000). – This step was done via votes over email.

Step 10 - Get pumped that only 10 songs had a "Top 10" group ranking. (You might not agree with the Top 10… but we did).

Step 11 - Get worried that a little over 700 songs had a group ranking of either 50, 100, or 200. (a little under 900 had a group ranking of 500 or better).

Step 12 - Vote on the ranking of each song.

Step 13 – Post the songs in order of their ranking (starting with #1,081 and ending with #1).

I’m sure some of you have been second guessing this list since day 1. Let me tell you that I understand… because I’ve been doing the same thing. Still, it is what it is… and what it is, is the greatest list ever attempted.

So, let us now take a look at the Top 33 songs of the I’m just sayin… Top 1,081 Songs of All Time


33 - “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry

32 - “I Don't Care” by Darius Rucker with Brad Paisley

“Is 4 o'clock in the morning,/ To late to drink beer?/ I don't know, but you know what?/ I don't care./ I don't know, last time I ate,/ I don't know, how I'm still awake,/ I don't know, how long a man can live on beer./ Man, I don't know where I left my phone,/ I don't know, when we're going home,/ I don't know, if I still got a job up there,/ And I don't care.”

I hope these two get together to sing songs more often.

31 - “You Could Be Mine” by Guns N' Roses

I love the drums on this song.

30 - “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King

29 - “You Give Love A Bad Name” by Bon Jovi

28 - “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” by Frankie Valli and the Four
Seasons

27 - “Only Wanna Be With You” by Hootie and the Blowfish

This is such a fun song.

26 - “Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)” by Elton John

25 - “Paradise City” by Guns N' Roses

24 - “Thriller” by Michael Jackson

What a great video… what a great song.

23 - “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard

I remember listening to this song before baseball games growing up.

22 - “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos

This is a great song… as long as you hear the whole thing. It was on the radio one day and I’m listening to it and it ended before the piano part at the end. Are you kidding me?! That’s like leaving the Super Bowl at halftime! The piano part is what makes it such a great song. Sure, it’s still a pretty good song without the piano, but the piano puts it in the Top 25.

21 - “Family Tradition” by Hank Williams, Jr.

20 - “(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding

Give me a hammock and this song and I’ll be a happy man.

19 - “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis

I said yesterday that Piano Man was the best piano song ever. I was wrong. This is. If I could play one song on the piano, I’d want it to be this song.

18 - “American Pie” by Don McLean

“And in the streets: the children screamed,/ The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed./ But not a word was spoken/ The church bells all were broken./ And the three men I admire most/ The father, son, and the holy ghost,/ They caught the last train for the coast/ The day the music died./ And they were singing,/ ‘bye-bye, miss American pie.’/ Drove my Chevy to the levee,/ But the levee was dry./ And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye/ Singin’, ‘this’ll be the day that I die.’/ ‘this’ll be the day that I die.’”

17 - “Fight for Your Right” by Beastie Boys

Honestly, there should be more Beastie Boys songs on this list. But there aren’t. This is the only one.

16 - “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett

“Nibblin' on sponge cake/ Watchin' the sun bake/ All of those tourists covered with oil/ Strummin' my six-string/ On my front porch swing/ Smell those shrimp; they're beginning to boil./ Wastin' away again in Margaritaville/ Searching for my lost shaker of salt/ Some people claim that there's a woman to blame/ But I know it's nobody's fault”

This is the only song I can get Susie to fall asleep to.

15 - “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin

Best rock n’ roll song by a female artist ever.

14 - “My Way” by Frank Sinatra with Willie Nelson

“Regrets? I've had a few,/ But then again, too few to mention./ I did what I had to do/ And saw it through without exemption./ I planned each charted course/ Each careful step along the byway,/ And more, much more than this,/ I did it my way./ Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,/ When I bit off more than I could chew,/ But through it all, when there was doubt,/ I ate it up and spit it out./ I faced it all and I stood tall/ And did it my way.”

This is my song.

13 - “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith with Run-D.M.C.

This song with Run-D.M.C. gave Aerosmith’s career a whole new life. They had hits before this… but they were pretty much done. And then this song came along (with a great video) and suddenly they were introduced to a whole new generation of fans. This could have been the best move they made in their career.

12 - “Carolina Girls” by General Johnson and The Chairmen of the
Board

11 - “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

10 - “Beat It” by Michael Jackson

The first song I remember loving. And what a great video… it taught us that you never know when a gang knife fight will turn into a big group dance.

9 - “ Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N' Roses

8 - “Won't Get Fooled Again” by The Who

“Change it had to come/ We knew it all along/ We were liberated from the fall that's all/ But the world looks just the same/ And history ain't changed/ 'Cause the banners, they all flown in the last war/ I'll tip my hat to the new constitution/ Take a bow for the new revolution/ Smile and grin at the change all around me/ Pick up my guitar and play/ Just like yesterday/ And I'll get on my knees and pray/ We don't get fooled again/ Don't get fooled again/ No, no!”

I saw a video of them playing this live. Wow… what energy!

7 - “ Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard

“And I turned twenty-one in prison doing life without parole./ No one could steer me right but Mama tried, Mama tried./ Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied./ That leaves only me to blame 'cause Mama tried.”

I’m going to say this is the best Country song ever. You might not agree. You could be wrong.

6 - “ Me and My Shadow” by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.

I would sing this song growing up when Dach would follow me around the house. Now I sing it with Maverick. The best part is Maverick will sing it with me.

5 - “ Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys

4 - “ Livin' on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi

“We've got to hold on ready or not/ You live for the fight when that’s all that you've got/ Ohh We're half way there/ Woah Livin' on a prayer/ Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear/ Woah Livin' on a prayer”

3 - “ Freebird (Live)” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Really, I think you could put any of the top 4 songs at #1 and be ok. But the votes have this song at #3. The beginning of this song is slow and sweet with a piano/keyboard… and then about half way through it turns into the triple guitar attack (along with drums… and the piano) and it just blows your mind. This is what rock music is all about. Some have said that Lynyrd Skynyrd was more of a regional group and I would agree… as long as that region is Earth. In the book I just read about GNR, Axl Rose talked about Lynyrd Skynyrd being thought of as gods in Indiana when he was growing up. It is well known (by me and others who saw the same program on VH1 that I saw) that Steve Clark (the late, great guitarist for the British rock group Def Leppard) auditioned for the group by playing all of ‘Freebird’ without accompaniment (proving just how great a guitar player he really was). You have to be careful, because there are short ‘radio’ versions of this song out there. They are crap. I spit on them. No, this song is meant to be played live. If you listen to any version that is under 12 minutes long, you are cheating yourself.

2 - “ Back In Black” by AC/DC

I love the beginning of this song. This song just sounds so... cool.

1 - “ Let It Be” by The Beatles

“When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,/ speaking words of wisdom, let it be./ And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,/ speaking words of wisdom, let it be./ Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be./ Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.”

I find this song to be very calming. I love it.


Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Private Joseph Burger (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on February 15, 1863 at Nolensville, Tennessee. His citation reads:

Was one of a detachment of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against the attack of 125 cavalry, repulsed the attack and saved the train.

Private E. Michael Burk (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 12, 1864 at Spotslvania, Virginia. His citation reads:

Capture of flag, seizing it as his regiment advanced over the enemy's works. He received a bullet wound in the chest while capturing flag.

Sergeant Thomas Burk (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 6, 1864 at Wilderness, Virginia. His citation reads:

At the risk of his own life went back while the rebels were still firing and, finding Col. Wheelock unable to move, alone and unaided, carried him off the field of battle.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Happy Memorial Day!!

I am waiting for the article in the Post and Courier letting us know how much money this holiday is costing the state.

Don’t forget, Darius Rucker will honor Pattison's Academy should he win CMT Performance of the year! This is a FAN supported contest. Click here to vote for Darius and you'll be voting for Pattison's!!

We will now continue our countdown of the I’m just sayin… Top 1,081 Songs of All Time


66 - “Fine Line” by Hootie and the Blowfish

A cover of a Radney Foster song. I thought it was great the first time I heard it.

65 - “Jamming” by Bob Marley

64 - “Old Time Rock and Roll” by Bob Seger

“Just take those old records off the shelf/ I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself/ Today's music ain 't got the same soul/ I like that old time rock 'n' roll”

63 - “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan

Fast or slow… I love this song.

62 - “Piano Man” by Billy Joel

Best piano song ever.

61 - “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC

I wanted to walk down the aisle to this song at my wedding. The Wife wouldn’t let me.

60 - “Me Wise Magic” by Van Halen

Probably the best Van Halen song most people haven’t heard. This was a new David Lee Roth song from their greatest hits album.

59 - “Blaze of Glory” by Bon Jovi

“You ask about my conscience/ And I offer you my soul/ You ask If I'll grow to be a wise man/ Well I ask if I'll grow old/ You ask me if I known love/ And what it's like to sing songs in the rain/ Well, I've seen love come/ And I've seen it shot down/ I've seen it die in vain/ Shot down in a blaze of glory/ Take me now but know the truth/ 'Cause I'm going down in a blaze of glory/ Lord I never drew first/ But I drew first blood/ I'm the devil's son/ Call me young gun”

One of my favorite songs growing up.

58 - “Somewhere Else” by Toby Keith

“And I don’t know where you might be/ Where ever it is it’ll be without me/ Keep thinkin’ I’ll come home one day and find you/ Long as I got that neon light/ Shinin’ like a beacon in the night/ I know I can make it downtown by myself/ ‘Cause if you don’t know where you’re goin’/ You might end up somewhere else”

This is a new song that really is good enough for the top 100.

57 - “Who Are You” by The Who

56 - “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)” by Pink Floyd

55 - “1999” by Prince

How many times do you think this song was played in 1999? Over/Under 1,000,000 times? I’m going with the over.

54 - “We've Gotta Get Out of This Place” by The Animals

I think everyone had to think of this song at least once in college.

53 - “You've Lost That Loving Feeling” by The Righteous Brothers

In college I tried to get Jeremy to help me recreate the scene from Top Gun where Maverick and Goose sing this song. He wouldn’t do it.

52 - “Jump” by Van Halen

51 - “My Girl” by The Temptations

50 - “What's Going One” by Marvin Gaye

49 - “Don't Stop Believin'” by Journey

48 - “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkle

47 - “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” by The Tams

“Life is too short to worry about unimportant things/ Reach for the sky and touch a star, and then you'll find you dream/ Because dreaming alone is a shame indeed/ But if you've got love, that's all you'll need/ So be young, be foolish, girl be happy/ Be young, be foolish, girl be happy”

46 - “Hotel California” by The Eagles

45 - “Save The Last Dance For Me” by The Drifters

44 - “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon

I love the music video for this song. It’s hard to have a bad video if you’ve got Chevy Chase in it.

43 - “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band

“The devil bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat./ He laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnny's feet./ Johnny said: ‘Devil just come on back if you ever want to try again./ I told you once, you sonofab****, I'm the best that's ever been.’”

I had a chance in high school to see The Charlie Daniels Band play live at the Fair. It’s the only time in my life that I left the Fair happy that I had gone. This is a song that I would sometimes sing to MR at bedtime. I had to stop, though, because I’d get too into it and she would end up waking up.

42 - “Sixty Minute Man” by The Dominoes

Hey look, another song about me. ;)

41 - “Stay” by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

40 - “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana

Ok, here you go Nirvana fans… their one good song is on the list. You’re welcome. Haha… I don’t hate this song as much as some people think. I do think it’s a Top 40 song… which really when you think about it, that makes it a great song.

39 - “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

You only need to hear about the first second or two of this song to know it’s this song.

38 - “Enter Sandman” by Metallica

37 - “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens

I don’t really know what the words mean… but I love singing them. Or at least trying to sing them. For all I know, I’m singing/shouting something like “I’m whitey here to take all of your money! Come punch me in the face!”… but with the music playing and Ritchie singing, I can’t help but sing along.

36 - “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles

This is probably my favorite Beatles song that doesn’t have Paul or John in the lead vocals.

35 - “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkle

“Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio,/ Our nation turns it's lonely eyes to you./ What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson./ Jolting Joe has left and gone away,/ Hey hey hey.”

Based on the movie, I think there’s a good chance this song was written for Sonny’s wife.

34 - “I Love Beach Music” by The Embers

Who doesn’t love beach music?



Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Lieutenant Commander John Duncan Bulkeley (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions from December 7, 1941 to April 10, 1942 in the Philippine waters. His citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism, distinguished service, and conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty as commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3, in Philippine waters during the period 7 December 1941 to 10 April 1942. The remarkable achievement of Lt. Comdr. Bulkeley's command in damaging or destroying a notable number of Japanese enemy planes, surface combatant and merchant ships, and in dispersing landing parties and land-based enemy forces during the 4 months and 8 days of operation without benefit of repairs, overhaul, or maintenance facilities for his squadron, is believed to be without precedent in this type of warfare. His dynamic forcefulness and daring in offensive action, his brilliantly planned and skillfully executed attacks, supplemented by a unique resourcefulness and ingenuity, characterize him as an outstanding leader of men and a gallant and intrepid seaman. These qualities coupled with a complete disregard for his own personal safety reflect great credit upon him and the Naval Service.

Sergeant William Bumgarner (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1862 at Petersburg, Virginia. His citation reads:

Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."

Sergeant James H. Burbank (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on October 3, 1862 at Blackwater near Franklin, Virginia. His citation reads:

Gallantry in action while on detached service on board the gunboat Barney.