#1 Tunnel of Love (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

I don't remember this song being a big hit when it was released in 81, and it does'nt really sound like a hit either, but for me this is as good as it gets. A Beautiful, beatutiful song. It starts out great and just get's better during the "second part". It's like a great but awsome contradiction; The lyric's might make you feel melancholic, but the music will make you feel great!

You'll find this one on the "making movies" album.

#2 Once upon a time in the west (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

Never seen this one on anyones list or on any Best of album, maybe it's just me but think this is a great song. Don't have much to say about it, I just love it! Only beaten by ....? with a few inches.

You will find this song on the Communique` album.

#3 Sultans of swing (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

This song could have easely been a nr.1 on this list, and for many years it certainly was! But in this company number three is not a bad place to be! Probably the coolest Dire Straits song ever, sooo layback but still insanely groovy. Back to basic with only guitars, bass and drums, and it should not be played in any other way, it's just a perfect little peace of music.

"You get a shiver in the dark, it's raining in the park but meantime..."


You'll find this song on the "Dire Straits" album.

#4 Romeo & Juliet (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

Mark Knophler takes the classic Hamlet love story and makes it into a beautiful serenade. This is just awsome songwriting and is performed so beautifully. Find a chair, make yourself comfortable, crank up the volume and let Dire Straits take it away.

"a lovestruck romeo sings a streetsuss serenade"

#5 Private Investigations (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

Another mastepiece found on same album as "telegraph road", what a creative period for Mark Knophler! When this album was released in 82 not many fans would expect Knophler's best guitarpiece to be played on a classical guitar. The piano is like "the stage the guitar stands on", beautifully played by Alan Clark, same goes to Ed Walsh synth programming lurking in the background. One word for this tune: Fantastic!

#6 Telegraph Road (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

A true masterpiece! This could have been a soundtrack to an epic movie. Even if you would take away the lyric's, the music and melody alone is great storytelling. Despite the fact that this is a 14 min long song, constantly changing melodies and harmonies makes sure you'll never get bored.


Both the studio version found on the "love over gold" album and the live version from "Money for nothing" are simply awsome. Check them out!

#7 Brothers in arms (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

This song would probably be on any DS fan top ten list. So beautiful and relaxing! Not a DS song I listen to often, it's best suited for special moments and moods. The kind of guitar playing you'll find here is Mark Knophler's signature playing. Soulful, gentle but still powerful, smooth and rough at the same time. What a guitarist!

You'll find this song on the "Brothers in arms" album.

#8 Down to the Waterline (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

As supercool tune from a supercool album. This song has that typical stripped down Dire Straits sound from the yearly years. After a soulful and moody intro the song bursts out of nowhere and picks you up for a smooth and groovy 3 min. ride before it suddenly ends and disappears into a magic mist. Yeah right, you say? Just trying to be a rockjournalist here! ;P

You can find this song on the "Dire Straits" album

#9 - Where do you think you're going? (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

I don't know what it is about this song, but it really makes me feel good. I guess that alone is enough to get it on my "from the heart list". The lyrics are kinda plain but the words just suits the music perfectly. I'm not sure if it is Mark or his brother David Knophler who play's the accustic guitar on this tune, but what a way to master it. Great sliding's and shift's between chords. Beautiful el-guitar part's as well, going from calm and smooth to chunky and countrylike but never overdone. So easy to forget the rest of the band, but how unfair that would be. Pick Withers is a genius on the drums and really shines through here. He takes the song up to another level. Bassplayer John Illsley makes it simple but sound's tight and groovy alongside the drum's. I guess one word sums it up... nice!

You can find this song on the album "Communiquè".

#10 - Hand in hand (Dire Straits - Top Ten)

I been thinking about this list for some time and I can't believe how many good song's I had to leave out. This one came in at the very last moment. I think it represent's what good music should be all about; great melodies! It's simply a beautiful song. Just listen to that piano riff.

You can find this song on the album "making movies".

Dire Straits - Top Ten

I was invited by Øystein to contribute to this excellent blog, and since I have a love for list's I just couldn't resist. I've been such a fan of Dire Straits since I was kinda puppyish, so I felt this was a natural place to start out. And as I usually say: "Mark Knophler taught me how to play guitar, he just doesn't know it".

This Top Ten list would probably be a bit different if I made it 2 years ago, or 2 years from now. It is purely based on my heart for the band nowdays.

(I'll use the same system as Øystein posting one song a day starting out with nr.10. Please feel free to comment and maybe make your own list as well)

Top 10 U2 songs. Number ONE!

#1 Bullet The Blue Sky
This is where Edge's guitar expresses how full of righteous indignation and rage U2 is on the world where injustice and greed has a stronghold. Bono sings and talks about it. Edge's guitar cries about it.
You plant a demon seed
You raise a flower of fire.
We see them burnin' crosses
See the flames, higher and higher.

Edge, what can I say? You rock!

Top 10 U2 songs

#2 Where The Streets Have No Name
Apparently a song about heaven. I think it is played in heaven. Edge said he did a dance, all alone, punching the air, after making this tune. He knew he had done something extraordinary. And I guess that says it all about this song.

Top 10 U2 songs

#3 Please
Some of you probably think by now:
- Surely One have to come soon. It's definitely a top 3 song. One is an OK song, but I think it's just a bit plain and commercial. I remember first time I heard it, thinking: Is this U2? It was a bit Elton Johnish...

Please is my One. -Simply a beautiful song and a little pop ballade-like.

But I also find Please to be very interesting. And I love how Adam Clayton suddenly is allowed to shine with his bass. Edge, holding the song together in the background, lets Adam go out on adventures. Until Edge says that's enough. Let me through. And Edge plays the pants off Adam. And suddenly we find Adam and Edge battling each other. Marvelous.. yes, outstanding! Applause!

You had to win, you couldn't just pass
The smartest ass at the top of the class

Top 10 U2 songs

#4 Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me
For me this is an ear-candy song. It's just like eating the best desert you have ever tasted. It's like getting A-G. T.'s Oreo Dream Cake. You have to let everything else wait while you take it in with reverenced silence. It's all nonsense of course.

Dressing like your sister
Living like a tart ..Tart.. mmm

If they don't know what you're doin'
Babe it must be art

But then again, cake isn't suppose to be meaningful. It's just for you to enjoy.
And like the Oreo Dream, you don't want the song to end.
But when it ends, just like the cake, you want the taste to last. So you turn off all other music so the taste doesn't leave you.

Top 10 U2 songs

#5 Bad
Kings of Convenience has a song called The Build-Up. Bad made me think about that title. The build up lasted for days...

This song is one long, impressive and inspiring build up to when Bono sings/shouts
- I'm wide awake, I'm wide awake!
And then he cools down, singing
- I'm not sleeping.
And then the song ends.
And you feel wide awake, full of adrenaline. Because you have let yourself ride on a wave of Edge's monotonous and yet beautiful riff. And the wave increases in size as Larry gets his drums going wild. And in the end you find yourself on top of a beautiful and uncontrollable wave (I'm wide awake!!!). And then the wave breaks the shore and it's over and you lie on the beach with a big smile. (I'm not sleeping).

Top 10 U2 songs

#6 Running To Stand Still
Beautiful... just beautiful. -Eye watering beautiful.

Singing ah, ah la la la de day
Ah la la la de day.

Top 10 U2 songs

#7 Yahweh
This is a song I like listening to. Again and again. The guitar is classic Joshua Tree and the lyrics always makes me think. It reminds me of my creator and how much I need him and his power to change me and my city.
Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
-
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break

What a prayer!

Top 10 U2 songs

#8 Beautiful Day
Only number eight? you say? Maybe a bit controversal? Well, it is a great song. That`s why you find it on my list. But when you think about U2`s greatest songs this one finds it`s place on the lower half of top 10 list. Why? It`s just a bit ordinary. It is a fantastic arena song, where you can join the band shouting the chorus with a sincere heart. It truly is a Beautiful Day if you get the chance to do that. I can`t wait untill August 15th, Wembley. I hope I`ll get the chance to shout it out together with the crowd:
-It`s a beautiful day, and I won`t let it get away!
I will have a big smile behind my antiflu-mask.

Top 10 U2 songs

#9 The Fly
The intro guitar riff on The Fly is post-Joshua Tree-Edge on his best. It leads you into a universe of neonlight-coloured sound. I just love it! And the sound. It is produced so that it sounds like it is coming out of the speaker of a spaceship from the solar system of Grabf52 :) -And Bono is the Guru of the planet Zorg who share of his infinite wisdom..

Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief;
All kill their inspiration and sing about the grief.

Top ten U2 songs

A friend of mine has started a countdown on his favorite u2 songs. That inspired me to make my own of all time favorite u2 songs. I will climb my way from 10 to 1:

#10 Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car
U2 sometimes comes up with songs that are radically different from anything else out there. The album Zooropa is full of them and DGPFYCC is the best of them, closely followed by Lemon and Zooropa. Numb is also fantastic song, but I won't change my mind. There is something about DGPFYCC. It is wonderfully cheeky and confusing. Aha, sha-la. Is it about a spoilt daddyboy who knows nothing about responsebility or is it about Gods neverending care for his children, who tends to mess things up all the time? Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday's alright.

Top ten lists I just have to share

There is only one purpose with this blog - to post top ten lists. I hope they will be entertaining and maybe cause some lighthearted debate and informal pretend-quarrels...

So please give feedback when you agree/disagree and leave comments posting your own version of similar list.