Songs of the Decades

"Best Of" lists are a dime a dozen. I enjoy them, but they often feel like a fool's errand. How can you possibly rank songs by Pavement, Pulp and Dr. Dre, as Pitchfork recently tried to do with its "Songs of the '90s" feature?

I find it more interesting to think about songs that best encapsulate their time. Songs that are great, yes, but also songs that couldn't be created at any other time. So here is a list of songs that best encapsulate their decades.

1960s: The Kinks, "Village Green Preservation Society"

A weird choice, I know. But this song is at the crossroads of a lot of musical trends from this diverse decade. It's a slightly trippy, utopian tune that worships nature, the sort of pretty pop that earned a lot of bands big paychecks in the '60s. It doesn't bring the noise like Hendrix or Zep, but it's not exactly CSNY territory either. There's a lead guitar part that would sound right at home on a CCR record, and a driving beat that recalls the early days of rock 'n' roll.

1970s: The Who, "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Bloated arena rock with synthesizers was all the rage in the '70s. The Who managed to adopt this sound while keeping their edge. Then there are the lyrics. Nothing says '70s better than a disillusioned lament over a failed revolution.

Also, it fucking rocks.

1980s: Guns N' Roses, "Paradise City"

I'm not much of a GNR fan, but the euphoric chorus and awesomely excessive soloing are hard to deny here. Through sheer chops, GNR was able to transcend the decadent, frequently awful rock of the '80s. They were among the best that an economically prosperous, artistically mediocre decade had to offer.

1990s: Beck, "Loser"

You can't imagine this song in any other decade. The surreal, slacker lyrics perfectly capture the essence of Gen X. The jangly hip hop beat and pseudo-rap cadence reflect the rise of hip hop. The Delta slide guitar foreshadows artists' increasing nostalgia for older styles. It's a tremendous melding of genres in a decade that gave us way, way too many rap-rock acts.

2000s: Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"

It's tempting to go with "Hey Ya". Although that's a great song, it's relevant here largely for the same reason as "Loser"--it combines old and new in a fresh way.

"Crazy" better reflects a decade that came to be dominated by hip hop and related genres, not to mention sampling. And what better adjective to reflect a decade of relative affluence in which we still felt restless and discontented? A decade where pop culture came to be dominated by "reality" television and celebrity scandals? A decade in which we twice elected a man who failed at every job he ever had, including the presidency? (OK, he cheated once.)