102.1 The Edge's Top 200 of All Time Ignores Decades Prior to 1990s

Published October 17, 2009 @ 17:37 in Edge 102 ~ CFNY, Radio

radioI finally mustered up the courage to check out CFNY / 102.1 The Edge's "Top 200 Songs of All Time". This is the list they played last weekend.

I immediately noticed the complete absence of new rock pioneer bands like The Clash, The Ramones, The Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, The Cure and New Order. Until very recently, these bands were still receiving plenty of airplay on CFNY, and only ten years ago The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now?" ranked #2 on their "Top 1002 Songs of All Time" list.

In a mere ten years, that which CFNY deems to be "the top songs of all time" has changed quite a bit, and not for the better. In addition to The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now?", other songs that cracked their top 10 on New Year's Eve in 1999 but failed to crack their top 200 this past Thanksgiving weekend are "Pride (In the Name of Love)" by U2, "New Orleans is Sinking" by The Tragically Hip, "She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult, and "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell. 50% of what was Top 10 a mere decade ago is no longer deemed list-worthy.

It seems that "all time" now actually means "the past twenty years". There are only four songs on this list released before the 1990s: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" in 1983, "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" in 1986, "With or Without You" in 1987 and "Blow At High Dough" in 1989.

Here's CFNY / 102.1 The Edge's "Top 200 Songs of All Time", as aired last weekend. And before you leave a comment telling me this list was chosen by Edge listeners, read about how the station chose the songs and simply had voters choose the order.

Top200Alltime_header_545x140_v2

1 - Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
2 - Oasis - Wonderwall
3 - Tragically Hip - Ahead By A Century
4 - Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
5 - Nine Inch Nails - Closer
6 - Offspring - Self Esteem
7 - Sublime - What I Got
8 - Our Lady Peace - Superman's Dead
9 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge
10 - Green Day - When I Come Around
11 - Nirvana - Come As You Are
12 - Radiohead - Creep
13 - Billy Talent - Try Honesty
14 - Beck - Loser
15 - Killers - Somebody Told Me
16 - Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings
17 - Sublime - Santeria
18 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away
19 - Tragically Hip - Locked In The Trunk Of A Car
20 - Stone Temple Pilots - Plush
21 - Nirvana - All Apologies
22 - Three Days Grace - I Hate Everything About You
23 - Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name
24 - Green Day - Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance)
25 - Our Lady Peace - Starseed
26 - Nirvana - Lithium
27 - White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
28 - Billy Talent - Fallen Leaves
29 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California
30 - Nirvana - In Bloom
31 - Pearl Jam - Jeremy
32 - Foo Fighters - My Hero
33 - Tragically Hip - Poets
34 - Sum 41 - Fat Lip
35 - Linkin Park - Given Up
36 - Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box
37 - Three Days Grace - Animal I Have Become
38 - Weezer - Say It Ain't So
39 - Our Lady Peace - One Man Army
40 - Green Day - Brain Stew
41 - Foo Fighters - Everlong
42 - Pearl Jam - Even Flow
43 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Tell Me Baby
44 - Beastie Boys - Intergalactic
45 - Blur - Song 2
46 - Tragically Hip - At The Hundredth Meridian
47 - Smashing Pumpkins - Disarm
48 - Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
49 - Weezer - Beverly Hills
50 - Three Days Grace - Never Too Late
51 - Green Day - Basketcase
52 - Foo Fighters - Best Of You
53 - Beastie Boys - Fight For Your Right
54 - Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
55 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue
56 - Our Lady Peace - Naveed
57 - Smashing Pumpkins - Today
58 - Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song
59 - Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
60 - Finger Eleven - One Thing
61 - Foo Fighters - The Pretender
62 - Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows
63 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul To Squeeze
64 - Tragically Hip - Courage
65 - Green Day - Longview
66 - White Stripes - Icky Thump
67 - Offspring - Hammerhead
68 - Pearl Jam - Alive
69 - Blind Melon - No Rain
70 - Our Lady Peace - Clumsy
71 - Alice In Chains - Man In The Box
72 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Around The World
73 - Green Day - American Idiot
74 - Modest Mouse - Float On
75 - Killers - Mr. Brightside
76 - Sum 41 - Still Waiting
77 - Rise Against - The Good Left Undone
78 - Tragically Hip - Looking For A Place To Happen
79 - Offspring - Come Out And Play
80 - Coldplay - Violet Hill
81 - Rise Against - Ready To Fall
82 - Linkin Park - In The End
83 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop
84 - Green Day - Holiday
85 - Billy Talent - The River Below
86 - Weezer - Buddy Holly
87 - Killers - All These Things That I've Done
88 - Bush - Glycerine
89 - Finger Eleven - Paralyzer
90 - Tragically Hip - Fifty-Mission Cap
91 - Pearl Jam - Better Man
92 - Three Days Grace - Just Like You
93 - Oasis - Champagne Supernova
94 - Foo Fighters - Learn To Fly
95 - Rise Against - Prayer Of The Refugee
96 - Tool - The Pot
97 - Nine Inch Nails - The Hand That Feeds
98 - Weezer - Undone (The Sweater Song)
99 - Green Day - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
100 - Coldplay - Speed Of Sound
101 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
102 - Tragically Hip - Blow At High Dough
103 - Pearl Jam - Black
104 - Blink-182 - All The Small Things
105 - Billy Talent - Devil In A Midnight Mass
106 - Pearl Jam - Daughter
107 - Jimmy Eat World - The Middle
108 - Finger Eleven - Good Times
109 - Bush - Comedown
110 - Radiohead - Karma Police
111 - Tragically Hip - Grace, Too
112 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way
113 - Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World
114 - Beastie Boys - Sabotage
115 - Sum 41 - In Too Deep
116 - Everlast - What It's Like
117 - Coldplay - Clocks
118 - Three Days Grace - Pain
119 - Bush - Machinehead
120 - Matthew Good Band - Load Me Up
121 - House Of Pain - Jump Around
122 - Tragically Hip - Nautical Disaster
123 - Linkin Park - Numb
124 - K-OS - Crabbuckit
125 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside
126 - Big Wreck - The Oaf
127 - Social Distortion - Far Behind
128 - Sam Roberts - Brother Down
129 - Nirvana - Rape Me
130 - Sloan - Money City Maniacs
131 - Soundgarden - Fell On Black Days
132 - Tea Party - Temptation
133 - Nirvana - About A Girl
134 - Alexisonfire - This Could Be Anywhere In The World
135 - Alice In Chains - Would?
136 - Sum 41 - Hell Song
137 - Stone Temple Pilots - Big Empty
138 - Arcade Fire - Rebellion
139 - Incubus - Pardon Me
140 - Nickelback - How Your Remind Me
141 - U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
142 - Finger Eleven - First Time
143 - Sublime - Smoke Two Joints
144 - Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)
145 - Incubus - Drive
146 - Big Wreck - That Song
147 - Metallica - Enter Sandman
148 - Tragically Hip - Bobcaygeon
149 - Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline
150 - I Mother Earth - One More Astronaut
151 - Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight Tonight
152 - Sam Roberts - Where Have All The Good People Gone
153 - Weezer - Perfect Situation
154 - Matthew Good Band - Hello Time Bomb
155 - Audioslave - Like A Stone
156 - Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
157 - U2 - Beautiful Day
158 - Coldplay - Yellow
159 - Bedouin Soundclash - When The Night Feels My Song
160 - Beastie Boys - So What'cha Want
161 - Sam Roberts - Don't Walk Away Eileen
162 - Metallica - The Unforgiven
163 - Tragically Hip - 700 Ft. Ceiling
164 - Jane's Addiction - Jane Says
165 - Matthew Good Band - Everything Is Automatic
166 - Green Day - Welcome To Paradise
167 - Sloan - The Good In Everyone
168 - Stone Temple Pilots - Creep
169 - I Mother Earth - Used To Be Alright
170 - Bif Naked - I Love Myself Today
171 - Filter - Hey Man Nice Shot
172 - Big Wreck - Blown Wide Open
173 - Rage Against The Machine - Bulls On Parade
174 - Billy Talent - The Ex
175 - City And Colour - Save Your Scissors
176 - Offspring - Gone Away
177 - Nirvana - Polly
178 - Econoline Crush - All That You Are
179 - Soundgarden - Spoonman
180 - U2 - With Or Without You
181 - Headstones - Cubically Contained
182 - Sloan - Coax Me
183 - Alice In Chains - Rooster
184 - R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
185 - Billy Talent - Red Flag
186 - Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing
187 - Gob - I Hear You Calling
188 - Faith No More - Epic
189 - Doughboys - Shine
190 - Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter
191 - Sam Roberts - Them Kids
192 - Sloan - Underwhelmed
193 - Killers - When You Were Young
194 - Headstones - Smile and Wave
195 - Tea Party - Heaven Coming Down
196 - Foo Fighters - Times LIke These
197 - Billy Talent - Surrender
198 - I Mother Earth - Another Sunday
199 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (Hey Oh)
200 - Rage Against The Machine - Guerrilla Radio

If it seems like I'm beating a dead horse, it's because I am. Hey, it's my blog, and if I want to beat dead horses, I will.

Here's some more dead horse beatings worth reading again:

30 Responses to "102.1 The Edge's Top 200 of All Time Ignores Decades Prior to 1990s"

Anonymous
October 17, 2009 / 19:23

Where are the Fabulous Poodles and Think Pink?

Thank God no Skinny Puppy!.

Horonymous
October 17, 2009 / 19:24

I did it again. Above post is mine.

brad
October 17, 2009 / 19:29

whats kinda interesting is how they've disowned the barenaked ladies but adopted house of pain

Gary
October 17, 2009 / 21:48

No Pistols either.....

Toronto Mike
October 17, 2009 / 21:50

No Sex Pistols, but 5 Three Days Grace songs!

Gary
October 17, 2009 / 21:57

And 12 Red Hot Chilli Peppers songs!! What is up with that?

Toronto Mike
October 17, 2009 / 22:07

There are so many things wrong with this list, it's bizarre.

For example, we have 12 Tragically Hip songs. 12 Tragically Hip songs, but no "New Orleans is Sinking" or "Little Bones".

How does "700 Ft. Ceiling" make the top 200 but not "New Orleans is Sinking" or "Little Bones".

Don't get me wrong, you won't find a bigger Hip fan than me... ask anyone who knows me... but where "200 Ft. Ceiling" is an okay tune, it doesn't hold a candle to "New Orleans is Sinking", a song I would have bet my house on being a shoe-in for this list.

Fredericton Steve
October 17, 2009 / 22:29

Billy Talent ahead of Pearl Jam.

:puke:

elvis
October 18, 2009 / 09:55

Top 200 of All Time?

No Elvis? Beatles?

Toronto Mike
October 18, 2009 / 10:04

Usually they add a "new rock" caveat so they're excused for ignoring Elvis, the Beatles, CCR, Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and the like.

Now we just assume it's Top 200 New Rock Songs of All Time.

Although it clearly isn't.

Where's the Pixies and Sonic Youth?

Buffaloboymike
October 18, 2009 / 12:13

Depeche Mode, New Order, Joy Division.....I Dont think anyone wants this to be an 80's list, but we do want the music that supported this statsion well into the 90's and this decade to be there.
Fact is CFNY is no longer, 102.1 is now a coorporate faceless new rock station.
This should say a lot and leave the door open for anyone with deep pockets maybe a couple hundred grand in their pocket to start, to get a "Classic alternative rock" station going. One that plays The cure, the smiths and bands like that ...

Buffaloboymike
October 18, 2009 / 12:18

Any songs from Pretty Hate Machine on there? I saw not a one. Thats sad...as good as Closer was, PRetty Hate Machine is still NINs quintessential record.

papa_rocker
October 18, 2009 / 12:21

It's hard to find another station to listen to...I keep trying CBC radio 3, but it's ONLY Canadian, and only recent Canadian. Radio 2 is ear-opening, but mostly not my cup of tea. I believe 97.7 HTZ-FM is the best of the free radio options. Their alt rock is limited, but at least it's not he same "new rock" every hour.

Ajax Mike
October 18, 2009 / 13:11

Perhaps apropos of nothing, I occasionally listen to the digital music stations that come with my cable (Rogers). Channel 725 used to be called Edge Alternative, or something to that effect. The other night I noticed it was just "Alternative Rock".

And I should add, the mix on that station blows away Edge102. I hear lots of stuff that I never hear on the terrestrial radio.

James
October 18, 2009 / 14:48

I hope you keep beating this horse Mike.

I remember when 102.1 did the top 1,002 of all time about 10 years ago. I was still in my teens, and just kind of getting into music at the time. I remember going out of my way to listen to as much of it as possible, it introduced me to a lot of cool music.

It really is depressing to see what's happened to the station. I can't believe I used to hold it to some standard of quality.

The only options for me now are bascially CBC 2, CBC 3, and mostly, my ipod.

NPR's all songs considered is good too. Check out their 'Best music of 2009 so far':

http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2009/07/poll_results_best_of_the_year.html

jason | GetYourOJ.com
October 18, 2009 / 15:48

Boring. Cyclical. Irrelevant.

Gary
October 18, 2009 / 17:52

Maybe they meant to call it....:The Top 200 we always repeat the sh!t out of anyway and we will repeat it all weekend" list.

elvis
October 18, 2009 / 20:19

Is Jason describing the list, you or himself?

Buffaloboymike
October 18, 2009 / 21:47

I took the advice of someone and I listen to Radio Nigel, you can go to www.radionigel.com and download them into ITunes and listen to them stream through Itunes, is is basically the 80's and some 90's of CFNY that we all used to know and love.

Andrew
October 18, 2009 / 23:02

I worked on the 1991 "1002" all time list when I was working in the music department for Live Earl Jive and Beverly Hills. We spent three days tallying up 'paper' results and lists that people gave over the phone. It was a long and if I remember correctly painful experience but a helluva a lot of fun.

Earl had stacks and stacks of those little cutouts of paper from newspapers and magazines. This was before "The Intertron" and really, really good laptops so it was all done by hand.

I look at this last and sigh. When I see the Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right" on the list higher than "Sabatoge" I have to give my head a shake.

I love what Buffaloboymike said when he said "I Dont think anyone wants this to be an 80's list, but we do want the music that supported this statsion well into the 90's and this decade to be there." - if this is a 'true' best of list of what the Edge is you have to have the foundations of the genre on there. Then again, if this is The Edge's Best 200 of All Time then perhaps the title says it all. It's The Edge's list and not CFNY's list - they may still have the same official call letters, but the stations are clearly different.

Sad really.

Wayner
October 19, 2009 / 09:05

i was listening sporadically on the weekened...to me it sounded like the normal rotation which is sad for something advertised as the top 200 songs (new) of all time

Marnie
October 19, 2009 / 09:12

All the more reason why my Ipod gets more play than a radio station.

I rely on the teen kid to set me up with new music, and keep my classics on there.

On a road trip to the north this past thanksgiving he heard alot of his parents music and has now downloaded the Cure, the Clash, Ramones, etc etc. When I got the line of "your music doesn't suck mom, actually, it's really good" it made my day.

I just showed him the radio stations list and he said "it's alright, but a little heavy on only a couple of bands don't ya think?" out of the mouths of babes (16 years old)

Digger
October 19, 2009 / 17:53

My almost 13 year old son sounds just like Marnie's. If the Edge is hoping these boys will become dedicated listeners, they're going to be disappointed. My son keeps borrowing my CDs and loves reading and hearing about the (ongoing) history of new music.

If anyone is looking for the Top 1002, you can find it here: http://spiritofradio.ca/Top1002.asp

It seems like so much radio is becoming "big brother-ish" (and I don't mean the TV shows).

I think it will take millions, not hundreds of thousands, for the greater Toronto area to get an "alternative" radio station.

Years ago, I had friends in radio who used to half-jokingly chant "Good Radio Must Die!". Maybe they were casting a spell.

Wayner
October 22, 2009 / 09:45

As one who still listens to the edge regularly I've noticed that some of the on-air personalities(can't say dj's)are subtlely voicing their frustration over the repetative play lists...there is hope for change

Toronto Mike
October 22, 2009 / 09:48

Those personalities should be careful.

Those who voice such frustration are destined to be pink slipped a la Barry Taylor and Martin Streek.

Wayner
October 22, 2009 / 11:40

depends on who it is and how its done...from what I've read here Barry and Martin were very demonstrative with their frustrations...bosses do not like to be challenged or second guessed.

Coleslaw
October 23, 2009 / 07:22

The Edge did "best of all time" lists in August 2007, and August 2008.

In 2007, the top 5 was:

5. Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK
4. Foo Fighters - Everlong
3. New Order - Blue Monday
2. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
1. The Clash - London Calling

I like that top 5.

In 2008, it was even different:

5. Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings
4. Radiohead - Creep
3. Pearl Jam - Jeremy
2. Nirvana - Come as You Are
1. Red Hot Chili Willies - Under the Bridge

The 2008 list did not include any New Order, Sex Pistols, and the Clash's only song was at #74 - Rock the Casbah. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? did make it at #46.

The 2007 list even included: Joy Division, The Demics, Pursuit of Happiness, Rough Trade, The Stone Roses, The Cure, The Diodes, Martha & the Muffins, etc etc etc.

So, when exactly did those new guys come in and take over?

Toronto Mike
October 23, 2009 / 08:08

Alan Cross was ousted as PD in June 2008. I know that because that's when I wrote this: http://www.torontomike.com/2008/06/alan_cross_out_as_program_dire.html

At some point after that - probably in late 2008, Ross Winters became the Program Director. This "Top 200 of All-Time" seems to be a fulfilment of Ross Winters' vision.

joe
November 2, 2009 / 22:03

great list, the right American and European songs in by far the wrong order..about 95 of the 100 Canadian songs thrown in to reach a quota have no business being in there

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