Il New Musical Express: ecco i 100 migliori singoli d'ogni tempo

In occasione del cinquantesimo anniversario della pubblicazione della prima classifica dei singoli (14 novembre 1952), la redazione del New Musical Express ha stilato la propria personale lista dei cento migliori singoli d'ogni tempo. Come sempre, in casi simili, intendiamo quelli dei dischi "migliori", ci sarebbe molto da dire e da ridire. Sarebbe inutile protestare per l'assenza di canzoni italiane, visto che latitano anche quelle brasiliane o polacche, ma nondimeno certe scelte sono decisamente bizzarre: l'heavy è praticamente assente, il rap pure, i Beatles si affacciano solo al numero 12. Si potrebbe continuare, ma preferiamo che ognuno tragga le proprie conclusioni. Ecco la chart della redazione, alle cui prime cinquanta posizioni è unito anche l'anno di pubblicazione del singolo stesso.
1 Joy Division, "Love will tear us apart" (1980)
2 Nirvana, "Smells like teen spirit" (1991)
3 Sex Pistols, "Anarchy in the UK" (1976)
4 Rolling Stones, "Paint it, black" (1966)
5 David Bowie, "Heroes" (1977)
6 Stone Roses, "Fools gold" (1989)
7 Smiths, "This charming man" (1983)
8 Oasis, "Live forever" (1994)
9 Clash, "London calling" (1979)
10 Massive Attack, "Unfinished sympathy" (1991)

11 Jam, "Going underground" (1980); 12 Beatles, "Paperback writer" (1966); 13 Beach Boys, "Good vibrations" (1966); 14 Verve, "Bittersweet symphony" (1997); 15 Lou Reed, "Walk on the wild side" (1973); 16 Underworld, "Born slippy" (1996); 17 Buzzcocks, "Ever fallen in love…" (1978); 18 Stevie Wonder, "Superstition" (1973); 19 Kinks, "Waterloo sunset" (1967); 20 New Order, "Blue Monday" (1983); 21 Dexys Midnight Runners, "Geno" (1980); 22 Blondie, "Heart of glass" (1979); 23 Rolling Stones, "(I can't get no) Satisfaction" (1965); 24 Aretha Franklin, "Respect" (1967); 25 T.

Rex, "Get it on" (1971); 26 Coldplay, "Yellow" (2000); 27 Motorhead, "Ace of spades" (1980); 28 Eminem, "Stan" (2000); 29 Byrds, "Eight miles high" (1966); 30 Strokes, "Last nite" (2001); 31 Bob Dylan, "Like a rolling stone" (1965); 32 Abba, "Dancing queen" (1976); 33 Ronettes, "Be my baby" (1963); 34 Oasis, "Supersonic" (1994); 35 Byrds, "Mr Tambourine man" (1965); 36 The La's, "There she goes" (1990); 37 Who, "My generation" (1965); 39 Beastie Boys, "Sabotage" (1994); 40 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, "Make me smile" (1975); 41 Jackson 5, "I want you back" (1970); 42 Smiths, "How soon is now?" (1985); 43 Dusty Springfield, "Son of a preacher man" (1968); 44 Beatles, "Penny Lane/Strawberry fields forever" (1967); 45 Undertones, "Teenage kicks" (1978); 46 Glen Campbell, "Wichita lineman" (1969); 47 Elvis Presley, "In the ghetto" (1969); 48 Prince, "When doves cry" (1984); 49 Primal Scream, "Loaded" (1990); 50 Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, "White lines" (1984); 51 Marvin Gaye, "I heard it through the grapevine"; 52 Sex Pistols, "God save the queen"; 53 Specials, "Ghost town"; 54 Pixies, "Gigantic"; 55 Pulp, "Common people"; 56 David Bowie, "Starman"; 57 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, "Tracks of my tears"; 58 Happy Mondays, "Step on"; 59 Beach Boys, "God only knows"; 60 Who, "I can't explain"; 61 Kinks, "You really got me"; 62 Faces, "Stay with me"; 63 Roxy Music, "Virginia plain"; 64 Madonna, "Into the groove"; 65 Guns N'Roses, "Sweet child o' mine"; 66 Nelly, "Hot in herre"; 67 MC5, "Kick out the jams"; 68 Big Star, "September gurls"; 69 Soft Cell, "Tainted love"; 70 Radiohead, "Creep"; 71 Pogues, "Fairytale of New York"; 72 Missy Elliott, "Get ur freak on"; 73 Kylie Minogue, "Can't get you out of my head"; 74 Queens Of The Stone Age, "Feel good hit of the summer"; 75 This Mortal Coil, "Song to the siren"; 76 NWA, "Straight outta Compton"; 77 Strokes, "The modern age EP"; 78 Primal Scream, "Higher than the sun"; 79 Aphex Twin, "Windowlicker"; 80 The Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Voodoo chile"; 81 Bob Marley & The Wailers, "Get up stand up"; 82 Manic Street Preachers, "A design for life"; 83 My Bloody Valentine, "You made me realise"; 84 OutKast, "Ms Jackson"; 85 Frankie Goes To Hollywood, "Two tribes"; 86 Blur, "Girls and boys"; 87 Stardust, "Music sounds better with you"; 88 Rolling Stones, "Jumpin' jack flash"; 89 Sugarcubes, "Birthday"; 90 Doves, "There goes the fear"; 91 Jam, "The Eton rifles"; 92 Public Enemy, "Bring the noise"; 93 Aaliyah, "Try again"; 94 Blur, "Song 2"; 95 Lovin' Spoonful, "Do you believe in magic?"; 96 Beatles, "I want to hold your hand"; 97 The Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Crosstown traffic"; 98 Cult, "Love removal machine"; 99 Mudhoney, "Touch me I'm sick"; 100 Sly & The Family Stone, "Family affair".