thinglets: 80 Years of March 1st Number One Lyrics

Okay - I'm not (or wasn't) a fan of Savage Garden. I never liked Janet Jackson. Queen was cool and I dug their stuff. Simon and Garfunkel, as mellow as they were, knew how to craft a song.... Whether I liked the March 1st, number one songs of the last 80 years, and as insipid as some of the lyrical evolution was, things have really taken a turn in the last decade.

I've generally considered number one songs to be an indicator of the lowest common denominator of a culture's understanding and comprehension. That the lowest common denominator of 1970 was probably close to the peak of our culture today is telling. How far have we been dumbed down in 40 years? I thought "Tonight's gonna be a good night" was the most repetitive inane tune I'd have to hear for the next decade, and then the Peas outdid themselves. Bring back Aqua; I'd rather be in a Barbie World.

2010 - Black-Eyed Peas - Imma Be

Rich baby quick quick imma imma imma be

The shit baby check me out be

Imma be, imma be

On top, never stop (be be)

Imma be, imma be - imma imma imma be

Imma be, fcukin her

Imma imma imma be - imma be be be imma imma be

2000 - Savage Garden - I Knew I Loved You

Maybe it's intuition

But some things you just don't question

Like in your eyes

I see my future in an instant

and there it goes

1990 - Janet Jackson - Escapade

My mind's tired, I've worked so hard all

Worked so hard all week

I just got paid, we've got it made

Ready to go

I promise you, I'll show you such a good time

1980 - Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love

I gotta be cool relax, get hip

Get on my tracks

Take a back seat, hitch-hike

And take a long ride on my motor bike

Until I'm ready

Crazy little thing called love

1970 - Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Sail on Silver Girl,

Sail on by

Your time has come to shine

All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine

If you need a friend

I'm sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind

1960 - Percy Faith - Theme From A Summer Place

There's a summer place

Where it may rain or storm

Yet I'm safe and warm

For within that summer place

Your arms reach out to me

And my heart is free from all care

1950 - Red Foley - Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy

Have you ever passed the corner of Fourth and Grand

Where a little ball of rhythm has a shoeshine stand?

People gather 'round and they clap their hands,

He's a great big bundle of joy--

He pops a boogie woogie rag,

The Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy.

1940 - Glen Miller - In The Mood

First I held him lightly and we started to dance

Then I held him tightly what a dreamy romance

And I said "Hey, baby, it's a quarter to three

There's a mess of moonlight, won't-cha share it with me"

"Well" he answered "Baby, don't-cha know that it's rude

To keep my two lips waitin' when they're in the mood"

1930 - Harry Richman - Puttin' On The Ritz

Have you seen the well-to-do

Up and down Park Avenue

On that famous thoroughfare

With their noses in the air

High hats and arrowed collars

Wide spats and fifteen dollars

Spending every dime

For a wonderful time