The Millennium Review Series Part I: Greatest Songs

I heard someone say once that great lyrics make you think thoughts and great music makes you feel feelings, but a great song makes you feel thoughts. With this as my guiding criteria, "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" epitomizes this sentiment. The lyrics encapsulate the concepts of discipline, perseverance, individuality, respect, a positive approach to life, and a reminder not to take it too seriously after all. Better, and in fewer words, than any self-help publication could ever hope to accomplish.

This highly concentrated virtual psychovitamin recipe for a successful life is honeycoated in a melody so simple and sweet, most people can only dream of coming up with something like that on their own. To top it off, the whole package is metabolized like water as a small child and ages like a fine wine in your soul until the day you die. Pretty good song.

The other song which I feel deserves to be at the top of the list is "Amazing Grace". The lyrics are clear and deep, and the melody immediately memorable. But what really takes this song to the highest level is the purity of the intention from which it originated. As the story goes, it was penned by a slave ship captain who, upon hearing the sound of singing coming from within the bowels of the cargo hold of his ship, was moved to express the realization of the err of his ways. You just can't beat that for far reaching emotional impact potential. For this reason as well, it slightly edges out Row, Row, Row Your Boat as the all time greatest song of the millennium.

Thank you, and tune in next time as we review some of the worst shit to ever hit your ears in Fish's Millennium Review Series Part II.