For the Rest of My Life .... My Last 500 Songs Pt. 1
I was that loner kid who read comics when everyone else was playing, listened to the B-sides and watched old movies ... Now I write about it
I think about how when the power goes out, folks are scrambling to find something to keep them entertained until the lights come back on. So in that same respect, what if you were trapped on a island and were stuck with only 500 songs that you'll have to listen to over and over for the rest of your life. Which ones would you choose? The following is my list.
Billy Joel and Ray Charles - Baby Grand
500-491
500. Baby Grand - Billy Joel/Ray Charles
499. Matter Of Trust - Billy Joel
498. Back In Time - Huey Lewis & The News
497. Power Of Love
496. Doing It All For My Baby
495. Heart & Soul
494. Great Gosh A Mighty - Little Richard
493. Operator
492. Groovin' - The Rascals
491. Hold On, I'm Coming - Sam & Dave

As tragic story as any of a young flame blown out much too soon. Sam Cooke is that guy that Rod Stewart said he would trade voices with if he were allowed. It doesn't get any better than that.
Sam Cooke - Another Saturday Night
490-481
490. Another Saturday Night - Sam Cooke
489. Love Is In The Air - Mario Winans
488. When The Stars Go Blue - Bethany Joy Lenz/ Tyler Hilton
487. Living All Alone - Phylis Hyman
486. Everlasting Love - Natalie Cole
485. At Last - Etta James
484. Sure Feels Good - Al Green
483. Again - Al Green
482. Pretty Woman - Al Green
481. He Ain't Heavy - Donny Hathaway

And then there were two ... Not as appreciated when all four were living, but more and more, inch by inch, The Monkees gain respect from the unconverted and the continued admiration from those that knew it all along.
The Monkees - She Makes Me Laugh
480-471
480. Little Girl - Donny Hathaway
479. She Makes Me Laugh - The Monkees
478. You Bring The Summer
477. I Wanna Get Next To You. Rose Royce
476. Glad You're Mine - Al Green
475. Daydream Believer - The Monkees
474. I Can't Say No - Natalie Cole
473. Rainy Night In Georgia - Brook Benton
472. Just A Matter Of Time
471. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole

Sometimes one star can shine so bright that people can forget about the others beside him. Thus is the case with the dynamic Jackson family. There were six brothers, not just one.
Jermaine Jackson - Do What You Do
470-461
470. More Than You'll Ever Know - Boyz II Men feat Charlie Wilson
469. Do What You Do - Jermaine Jackson
468. Vision Of Love - Mariah Carey
467. Heartburn - Alicia Keys
466. Woman's Worth
465. Fallin'
464. Water Runs Dry - Boyz II Men
463. Misunderstanding - Genesis
462. Invisible Touch
461. Don't You Want Me - Human League
Genesis - Invisible Touch
Jane Child - Don't Wanna Fall in Love
460-451
460. Every Breath You Take - The Police
459. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
458. Free Fallin' - Tom Petty
457. How 'Bout Us - Champaign
456. Baby Come Back - Player
455. Nite & Day - Al B Sure
454. Don't Wanna Fall In Love - Jane Child
453. Oh Sherrie - Steve Perry
452. La Isla Bonita - Madonna
451. Borderline
Steve Perry - Oh Sherrie
Jackson Browne & Clarence Clemons - Friend of Mine
450-441
450. Take On Me - Aha
449. You're A Friend Of Mine - Jackson Browne/Clarence Clemons
448. Big Love - Fleetwood Mac
447. Endless Summer Nights - Richard Marx
446. At Your Best - Aaliyah
445. Rainforest - Paul Hardcastle
444. St. James Infirmary - Bobby Blue Bland
443. Calling You - Jevetta Steele
442. SWAT Theme - Rhythm Heritage
441. Mannix Theme - Lalo Schiffin

Aaliyah ... The silence of her voice in a tragic plane crash touched the hearts of people who weren't even familiar with her celebrity
Darryl Worley - The Fishin' Hole
440-431
440. Midnight Train To Georgia - Gladys Knight & The Pips
439. Stickwitu - Pussycat Dolls
438. The Fishin' Hole - Darryl Worley
437. Pourin' Rain - Heather & Kirsten
436. Golden Lady - Stevie Wonder
435. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
433. Take Back Home Girl - Chris Lane/Tori Kelly
432. Never Love This Way Again - Dionne Warwick
431. Stranger - LTD
Chris Lane featuring Tori Kelly - Take Back Home Girl

Another one of those soothing voices that just envelops me like a warm blanket on a cold, Winter night ... The one and the only, Miss India Arie
Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
430-421
430. One In a Million You - Larry Graham
429. End Of The Road - Boyz II Men
428. Yesterday - Boyz II Men
427. No More Lonely Nights - Paul McCartney
426. Strength Courage & Wisdom - India Arie
425. Can I Walk With You - India Arie
424. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
423. Songbird - Kenny G
422. Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
421. Street Beater - Quincy Jones
LL Cool J - I Need Love
420-411
420. I Need Love - LL Cool J
* Gangster rappers thought that he was stupid for recording a love song. But then this song raced up the charts and instantly became iconic. Soon, every other rapper tried their hand at creating at least one love song on their albums. Few as satisfying as this one
419. My First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White
418. If You Don't Know Me By Now - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
417. The Love I Lost
416. Kissing You - Faith Evans
415. Going Out Of My Head - Little Anthony & The Imperials
414. Bad Boy - Ray Parker Jr.
413. Can't Get Over Loving You
412. Christmas Message - Charles Taylor
411. Goodnight My Love - Jesse Belvin
Kiandra Richardson - How Could You
410-401
410. You & Me - Grady Harrell/Tyler Collins
409. I Wonder - Cecil Gant
408. Morning Light - Nicole Beharie
407. Please Don't Go Girl - New Kids On The Block
406. How Could You - Kiandra Richardson
405. For The Lover In You - Shalamar
404. Spend Some Time - Parkes Stewart
403. Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
402. Finder Of Lost Loves - Dionne Warwick/Luther Vandross
* The original duet was recorded with Glen Jones, but for the theme song of the 80s ABC drama of the same name, Luther's version is oh so much more delightful.
401. Girl Next Door - Musiq Soulchild
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
© 2020 LaZeric Freeman