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Top 10 Decade Defining Songs: 1960s


controversial period of modern history

controversial period of modern history the revolutions we’re concerned with

the revolutions we’re concerned with

the revolutions we’re concerned with here were being staged across our

here were being staged across our

here were being staged across our airwaves

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten decade defining songs of the 1960s for

decade defining songs of the 1960s for

decade defining songs of the 1960s for this list we’ve looked at a combination

this list we’ve looked at a combination

this list we’ve looked at a combination of the decades most commercially

of the decades most commercially

of the decades most commercially successful songs as well as the most

successful songs as well as the most

successful songs as well as the most influential records and the tracks that

influential records and the tracks that

influential records and the tracks that best reflect the period

our list and the 60s in general begins

our list and the 60s in general begins with a whole lot of soul released in 61

with a whole lot of soul released in 61

with a whole lot of soul released in 61 hit the road jack is the earliest record

hit the road jack is the earliest record

hit the road jack is the earliest record to make our countdown and it sets a

to make our countdown and it sets a

to make our countdown and it sets a silky-smooth standard

Ray Charles had grown up learning

Ray Charles had grown up learning classical piano but always had a

classical piano but always had a

classical piano but always had a hankering for R&B this record was the

hankering for R&B this record was the

hankering for R&B this record was the second of his three us number ones major

second of his three us number ones major

second of his three us number ones major proof that his genre preferences were

proof that his genre preferences were

proof that his genre preferences were justified

if the road jack is rhythm and attitude

if the road jack is rhythm and attitude it still gets finger snapping even now

number nine mrs. Robinson Simon &

number nine mrs. Robinson Simon & Garfunkel

first heard on the soundtrack to the

first heard on the soundtrack to the movie the graduate

movie the graduate

movie the graduate mrs. Robinson character in the song came

mrs. Robinson character in the song came

mrs. Robinson character in the song came to represent Dustin Hoffman’s older love

to represent Dustin Hoffman’s older love

to represent Dustin Hoffman’s older love interest in the film I love you but it

interest in the film I love you but it

interest in the film I love you but it would never work out

however the 4-minute number was actually

however the 4-minute number was actually originally written with president FDR’s

originally written with president FDR’s

originally written with president FDR’s wife mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt in mind her

wife mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt in mind her

wife mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt in mind her tireless campaign work for equal rights

tireless campaign work for equal rights

tireless campaign work for equal rights meant that she was loved by the American

meant that she was loved by the American

meant that she was loved by the American people and this song pays homage to her

also mentions legendary baseball player

also mentions legendary baseball player Joe DiMaggio as a hero of the past its

Joe DiMaggio as a hero of the past its

Joe DiMaggio as a hero of the past its folk-rock

folk-rock

folk-rock and Frank sentiment

mr8 you really got me the kinks you

mr8 you really got me the kinks you really got me going jicama Sodom after

really got me going jicama Sodom after

really got me going jicama Sodom after their first two singles flopped there

their first two singles flopped there

their first two singles flopped there was a lot riding on this record got was

was a lot riding on this record got was

was a lot riding on this record got was I guess a redneck

I guess a redneck

I guess a redneck ultimately it carried the kinks to

ultimately it carried the kinks to

ultimately it carried the kinks to number one in the UK and confirmed them

number one in the UK and confirmed them

number one in the UK and confirmed them as major players in the British Invasion

as major players in the British Invasion

as major players in the British Invasion of America

tarus Dave Davies achieved the dirty

tarus Dave Davies achieved the dirty distorted sound of the single by

distorted sound of the single by

distorted sound of the single by slashing his amp with a razor blade

thus inspiring a wave of technology to

thus inspiring a wave of technology to mimic the effect

the song captured exactly what 60s rock

the song captured exactly what 60s rock was all about simplicity sexuality and

was all about simplicity sexuality and

was all about simplicity sexuality and innovation

while it was originally written and

while it was originally written and released by Otis Redding it wasn’t until

released by Otis Redding it wasn’t until

released by Otis Redding it wasn’t until Aretha Franklin got hold of this track

Aretha Franklin got hold of this track

Aretha Franklin got hold of this track that respect really caused waves she

that respect really caused waves she

that respect really caused waves she added the iconic chorus hook and she

added the iconic chorus hook and she

added the iconic chorus hook and she smothered it in sassiness her version

smothered it in sassiness her version

smothered it in sassiness her version turned the tables on the men showing

turned the tables on the men showing

turned the tables on the men showing women that their voices could be heard

women that their voices could be heard

women that their voices could be heard just as loudly gone were the days that

just as loudly gone were the days that

just as loudly gone were the days that respect and success were male only

respect and success were male only

respect and success were male only privileges we don’t need to spell it out

privileges we don’t need to spell it out

privileges we don’t need to spell it out for you this song was a winner

number six like a rolling stone Bob

number six like a rolling stone Bob Dylan once upon a time it is so fun

Dylan once upon a time it is so fun

Dylan once upon a time it is so fun bumps a dime in your

one of the most influential musicians of

one of the most influential musicians of all time

all time

all time not just the 60s Bob Dylan’s highest of

not just the 60s Bob Dylan’s highest of

not just the 60s Bob Dylan’s highest of high points has to be like a rolling

high points has to be like a rolling

high points has to be like a rolling stone

lyrically it’s lengthy which makes its

lyrically it’s lengthy which makes its chart success a bit unusual but with

chart success a bit unusual but with

chart success a bit unusual but with words this wise it isn’t hard to see why

words this wise it isn’t hard to see why

words this wise it isn’t hard to see why people loved it

detailing the story of a character

detailing the story of a character that’s fallen out of high society it’s a

that’s fallen out of high society it’s a

that’s fallen out of high society it’s a perfect example of Dillon’s ability to

perfect example of Dillon’s ability to

perfect example of Dillon’s ability to use music as a soapbox to him there was

use music as a soapbox to him there was

use music as a soapbox to him there was more to rock than rhythm

it may have been released in the 60s but

it may have been released in the 60s but this song is carried through time as

this song is carried through time as

this song is carried through time as applicable to the next generation as it

applicable to the next generation as it

applicable to the next generation as it was to the one before for a ghetto

stuttering into success in more ways

stuttering into success in more ways than one it was their first of 4 efforts

than one it was their first of 4 efforts

than one it was their first of 4 efforts to break into the top 5 in the UK and it

to break into the top 5 in the UK and it

to break into the top 5 in the UK and it only scraped into the top 75 in the US

the vocally impeded sound was feared to

the vocally impeded sound was feared to be offensive upon release but has since

be offensive upon release but has since

be offensive upon release but has since become iconic

and the guitar smashing finale is just

and the guitar smashing finale is just plain awesome

on the wind and if super movie a number

on the wind and if super movie a number for Good Vibrations the Beach Boys

in 1966 this became the most expensive

in 1966 this became the most expensive record ever produced costing around

record ever produced costing around

record ever produced costing around $50,000

it also demanded almost 90 hours of

it also demanded almost 90 hours of studio time and many of those minutes

studio time and many of those minutes

studio time and many of those minutes passed without the full beach boys

passed without the full beach boys

passed without the full beach boys lineup present due to touring

lineup present due to touring

lineup present due to touring commitments

as a result the original recording is

as a result the original recording is actually a fantastic melee obsession

actually a fantastic melee obsession

actually a fantastic melee obsession performers

they’re expensive vibrations

they’re expensive vibrations time-consuming vibrations but ultimately

time-consuming vibrations but ultimately

time-consuming vibrations but ultimately they’re good and they’re worth it

number three I can’t get no satisfaction

number three I can’t get no satisfaction the Rolling Stones

written in America during their first

written in America during their first statewide tour legend has it that

statewide tour legend has it that

statewide tour legend has it that following a less than successful gig

following a less than successful gig

following a less than successful gig Stones guitarist Keith Richards awoke in

Stones guitarist Keith Richards awoke in

Stones guitarist Keith Richards awoke in the middle of the night with this riff

the middle of the night with this riff

the middle of the night with this riff fully formed in his head

the band would record and release it

the band would record and release it within three weeks scoring themselves at

within three weeks scoring themselves at

within three weeks scoring themselves at number one in America and Britain

social frustration sexual frustration

social frustration sexual frustration and musical pleasure this is double

and musical pleasure this is double

and musical pleasure this is double negative but do we really care

satisfaction to find this decade in a

satisfaction to find this decade in a big way

number two all along the watchtower the

number two all along the watchtower the Jimi Hendrix Experience

written and recorded by Bob Dylan Jimi

written and recorded by Bob Dylan Jimi Hendrix released his version of all

Hendrix released his version of all

Hendrix released his version of all along the watchtower after he heard a

along the watchtower after he heard a

along the watchtower after he heard a tape recording of the folk singers

tape recording of the folk singers

tape recording of the folk singers original nobody of it

original nobody of it

original nobody of it the cover had such an impact the Dylan

the cover had such an impact the Dylan

the cover had such an impact the Dylan himself changed the way he played his

himself changed the way he played his

himself changed the way he played his own song to mimic it

a showcase of scintillating guitar music

a showcase of scintillating guitar music it’s a brand that was Jimmy’s own

he spent days and weeks in the studio

he spent days and weeks in the studio tweaking and overdubbing the material

tweaking and overdubbing the material

tweaking and overdubbing the material until he achieved the classic that we

until he achieved the classic that we

until he achieved the classic that we enjoy today

before we unveil our top pick here are a

before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

hey what’s that sound everybody look

hey what’s that sound everybody look what’s going

what’s going

what’s going you

number one I want to hold your hand The

number one I want to hold your hand The Beatles oh yeah their first u.s. number

Beatles oh yeah their first u.s. number

Beatles oh yeah their first u.s. number one this record provoked a British

one this record provoked a British

one this record provoked a British Invasion of America and turn Beatle

Invasion of America and turn Beatle

Invasion of America and turn Beatle mania into a multinational frenzy

John Lennon and Paul McCartney co-wrote

John Lennon and Paul McCartney co-wrote the songs and they collaborated on the

the songs and they collaborated on the

the songs and they collaborated on the vocals to produce a sound that became so

vocals to produce a sound that became so

vocals to produce a sound that became so beatles and so 60s and when a tool i

beatles and so 60s and when a tool i

beatles and so 60s and when a tool i feel happy inside the hysteria

feel happy inside the hysteria

feel happy inside the hysteria surrounding the Liverpool for peace was

surrounding the Liverpool for peace was

surrounding the Liverpool for peace was so loud that Lennon later admitted to

so loud that Lennon later admitted to

so loud that Lennon later admitted to playfully changing the lyric hand to

playfully changing the lyric hand to

playfully changing the lyric hand to gland during live shows

in truth whatever they sang was

in truth whatever they sang was successful

successful

successful they set the 60s trend and shaped modern

they set the 60s trend and shaped modern

they set the 60s trend and shaped modern music do you agree with our list what’s

music do you agree with our list what’s

music do you agree with our list what’s your favorite 60 songs

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