My Favorite Songs from 2008

My first full year running DobberHockey was certainly a busy one. My wife and I learned we were having our first child, and my daughter was born on Christmas day. Meanwhile, I was trying to prove to myself (and my wife) that I could make this fantasy hockey thing work…

In 2008 I spent the entire year working in my basement office at home. I was a hermit. Or maybe that’s a troll. My tunes were playing a good eight to twelve hours per day, but none of it was new. Any radio play was restricted to trips to visit friends or family. Over the years, of course, we hear songs played over the radio and eventually they catch on. But in going through this year of music (this time over 1700 songs!), I was experiencing most of them for the very first time.

I knew Theory of a Deadman and Kings of Leon, of course. And I have grown to really enjoy some stuff from Lady Gaga, as well as Kanye West. But only now have I really appreciated The Trews. Other artists/bands that caught my ear include Santigold and The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, the latter being quite catchy, I find.

In June of 2008, the Universal fire happened. A Hollywood fire reached a nondescript warehouse that held an estimated 175,000 recordings of songs not yet digitized or available anywhere else. And destroyed it all. Music from the likes of Chuck Berry, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Patsy Cline, Bing Crosby, Muddy Waters, Ella Fitzgerald, Bo Diddley (who actually passed away in 2008, just six days before the fire!), John Lee Hooker and Judy Garland. Also reportedly lost – most master tapes of the first material by Aretha Franklin, and “virtually all” the masters from Buddy Holly and John Coltrane. We didn’t find out the real story and impact of everything lost until 2019, about 11 years later. But the masters for such classics as Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets, I’m a Man by Bo Diddley, Louie Louie by the Kingsmen. Other artists to reportedly lose a few of their masters include the Eagles, BB King, Neil Diamond, Sonny and Cher, the Mamas and the Papas, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, Steely Dan, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Police, R.E.M., Janet Jackson, New Edition, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., 50 Cent, Tupac Shakur, Sheryl Crow, Hole, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, No Doubt, Guns N’ Roses, Snoop Dogg and many others. Masters of lesser known, nearly-forgotten artists were lost as well. Before they could be digitized. A huge event in musical history, and we didn’t know just how big until years later.

Also in 2008, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith was released, the first in the series to be based around a single band; At the Olympic Games in Beijing, the opening ceremony had a song that was performed by one girl, who mimed the recording of another girl, creating quite a controversy; Spotify launched in Sweden; Rock greats Guns N Roses released their first album since 1991 (I didn’t like any of these songs though); Pop boy band New Kids on the Block released their first album since 1994 (didn’t like any of these ones either);

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been tossing these up in a numerical order. We can agree that on some days, certain songs kick more ass than other songs – yet other days they do not. It depends on mood and situation. A song ranked 14th today could rank 1st tomorrow if it comes on the radio at the right moment. Instead, I group them rather than present a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Solid
Not Bad
…with some inter-group splitting.

First, videos of the best from that year…

33 Great Songs from 2008

Oasis  – Amanda Palmer

A fun song that I enjoyed right away. Even though it was quite weird, with subject matter that is the opposite of ‘fun’. But I think that’s the point?

Another Way to Die  – Jack White and Alicia Keys

More Jack White stuff? Yes please.

Hot n Cold  – Katy Perry

Weight of the World  – Lemar

Got Money  – Lil Wayne

Beggin’  – Madcon

Burn It to the Ground  – Nickelback

Northern Downpour  – Panic! At The Disco

Savior  – Rise Against

Falling Down  – Scarlett Johansson

Didn’t know she sang. Not the greatest singer. But ‘play to your strengths’ I always say. So choosing a song from a horrible singer (Tom Waits) was a great decision. A nice, slow melody that draws you in.

Hold Me in Your Arms – The Trews

Notion  – Kings of Leon

By The Way  – Theory Of A Deadman

Poker Face  – Lady Gaga

Paranoid Freak  – The Trews

Not Meant To Be  – Theory Of A Deadman

Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked  – Cage the Elephant

Heartless  – Kanye West

Paparazzi  – Lady Gaga

The Show  – Lenka

L.E.S. Artistes  – Santigold

You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid  – The Offspring

Back Against The Wall  – Cage the Elephant

Viva La Vida  – Coldplay

Lay It On the Line – Divine Brown

Love Lockdown  – Kanye West

LoveGame  – Lady Gaga

I’ll Be Waiting  – Lenny Kravitz

Lollipop  – Lil Wayne

100 In A 55  – Pop Evil

Bad Girlfriend  – Theory Of A Deadman

So Happy  – Theory Of A Deadman

The Golden Age  – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

Here is a fun song that I had never heard before. Now it’s a part of my collection.

Three Truly Awesome Songs From 2008

Use Somebody  – Kings of Leon

Hate My Life  – Theory Of A Deadman

Sex on Fire  – Kings of Leon

Follow me/my playlists on Spotify here.

The above songs are put together on a YouTube playlist for your listening enjoyment, here.

Here is the complete list of the best songs from 2008…

Awesome – 1	Sex on Fire	–	Kings of Leon
Awesome – 2	Use Somebody	–	Kings of Leon
Awesome – 2	Hate My Life	–	Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4	Notion	–	Kings of Leon
Great – 4	By The Way	–	Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4	Poker Face	–	Lady Gaga
Great – 4	Paranoid Freak	–	The Trews
Great – 4	Not Meant To Be	–	Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4	Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked	–	Cage the Elephant
Great – 4	Heartless	–	Kanye West
Great – 4	Paparazzi	–	Lady Gaga
Great – 4	The Show	–	Lenka
Great – 4	L.E.S. Artistes	–	Santigold
Great – 4	You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid	–	The Offspring
Great – 4	Back Against The Wall	–	Cage the Elephant
Great – 4	Viva La Vida	–	Coldplay
Great – 4	Lay It On the Line	–	Divine Brown
Great – 4	Love Lockdown	–	Kanye West
Great – 4	LoveGame	–	Lady Gaga
Great – 4	I’ll Be Waiting	–	Lenny Kravitz
Great – 4	Lollipop	–	Lil Wayne
Great – 4	100 In A 55	–	Pop Evil
Great – 4	Bad Girlfriend	–	Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4	So Happy	–	Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4	The Golden Age	–	The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Great – 26	Oasis	–	Amanda Palmer
Great – 26	Another Way to Die	–	Jack White and Alicia Keys
Great – 26	Hot n Cold	–	Katy Perry
Great – 26	Weight of the World	–	Lemar
Great – 26	Got Money	–	Lil Wayne
Great – 26	Beggin’	–	Madcon
Great – 26	Burn It to the Ground	–	Nickelback
Great – 26	Northern Downpour	–	Panic! At The Disco
Great – 26	Savior	–	Rise Against
Great – 26	Falling Down	–	Scarlett Johansson
Great – 26	Hold Me in Your Arms	–	The Trews
Solid – 37	Get Up	–	50 Cent
Solid – 37	Rock ‘N Roll Train	–	AC/DC
Solid – 37	Float	–	Flogging Molly
Solid – 37	Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)	–	Beyoncé
Solid – 37	I Will Possess Your Heart	–	Death Cab for Cutie
Solid – 37	Mercy	–	Duffy
Solid – 37	Swagga Like Us	–	Jay-Z
Solid – 37	The Fear	–	Lily Allen
Solid – 37	Take A Bow	–	Rihanna
Solid – 37	Life of da Party	–	Snoop Dogg
Solid – 37	Wait For Me	–	Theory Of A Deadman
Solid – 37	Let It Die	–	Foo Fighters
Solid – 37	The Sun Ain’t Shining No More	–	The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Solid – 50	Feels Like Tonight	–	DAUGHTRY
Solid – 50	Rockferry	–	Duffy
Solid – 50	Syrup & Honey	–	Duffy
Solid – 50	Let it Rock	–	Kevin Rudolf
Solid – 50	Just Dance	–	Lady Gaga
Solid – 50	Life is Better	–	Q-Tip (ft. Nora Jones)
Solid – 50	Addicted	–	Saving Abel
Solid – 50	You Found Me	–	The Fray
Solid – 50	Kristy, Are You Doing Okay?	–	The Offspring
Solid – 50	That’s Not My Name	–	The Ting Tings
Solid – 50	Angels on the Moon	–	Thriving Ivory
Solid – 50	Troublemaker	–	Weezer
Not Bad – 62	It’s Not My Time	–	3 Doors Down
Not Bad – 62	Guitar Hero	–	Amanda Palmer
Not Bad – 62	Violet Hill	–	Coldplay
Not Bad – 62	World We Know	–	Crash Parallel
Not Bad – 62	Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It	–	Darius Rucker
Not Bad – 62	No Sunlight	–	Death Cab for Cutie
Not Bad – 62	Out Here Grindin	–	DJ Khaled
Not Bad – 62	Rain on Your Parade	–	Duffy
Not Bad – 62	One Day Like This	–	Elbow
Not Bad – 62	Peace Sign/Index Down	–	Gym Class Heroes
Not Bad – 62	For the Nights I Can’t Remember	–	Hedley
Not Bad – 62	Reach Out	–	Hilary Duff
Not Bad – 62	Without You	–	Hinder
Not Bad – 62	Jockin’ Jay-Z (Dope Boy Fresh)	–	Jay-Z
Not Bad – 62	I Want To Go Home	–	Lenny Kravitz
Not Bad – 62	Pocketful Of Sunshine	–	Natasha Bedingfield
Not Bad – 62	The Shock of the Lightning	–	Oasis
Not Bad – 62	Stop And Stare	–	OneRepublic
Not Bad – 62	Believe	–	Q-Tip
Not Bad – 62	Evolution Of A Man	–	Q-Tip
Not Bad – 62	Starstruck	–	Santigold
Not Bad – 62	Dead and Gone	–	T.I. (ft. Justin Timberlake)
Not Bad – 62	Live Your Life	–	T.I. (ft. Rihanna)
Not Bad – 85	Beautiful	–	10 Years
Not Bad – 85	Let Me Be Myself	–	3 Doors Down
Not Bad – 85	Chasing Pavements	–	Adele
Not Bad – 85	31 Today	–	Aimee Mann
Not Bad – 85	Freeway	–	Aimee Mann
Not Bad – 85	Ampersand	–	Amanda Palmer
Not Bad – 85	Leeds United	–	Amanda Palmer
Not Bad – 85	(No More) Paddy’s Lament	–	Flogging Molly
Not Bad – 85	I Thought I’d Seen Everything	–	Bryan Adams
Not Bad – 85	In One Ear	–	Cage the Elephant
Not Bad – 85	Lost!	–	Coldplay
Not Bad – 85	Strawberry Swing	–	Coldplay
Not Bad – 85	Alright	–	Darius Rucker
Not Bad – 85	It Won’t Be Like This For Long	–	Darius Rucker
Not Bad – 85	Cath…	–	Death Cab for Cutie
Not Bad – 85	Stepping Stone	–	Duffy
Not Bad – 85	Warwick Avenue	–	Duffy
Not Bad – 85	American Boy	–	Estelle
Not Bad – 85	Angel	–	Jack Johnson
Not Bad – 85	Sleep Through The Static	–	Jack Johnson
Not Bad – 85	What You Thought You Need	–	Jack Johnson
Not Bad – 85	Broken Strings	–	James Morrison
Not Bad – 85	Put On	–	Jeezy
Not Bad – 85	Everybody Knows	–	John Legend
Not Bad – 85	I Kissed a Girl	–	Katy Perry
Not Bad – 85	I’m Alive	–	Kenny Chesney (with Dave Matthews)
Not Bad – 85	A Long and Sad Goodbye	–	Lenny Kravitz
Not Bad – 85	Shoot Me Down	–	Lil Wayne
Not Bad – 85	If I Never See Your Face Again	–	Maroon 5 (ft. Rihanna)
Not Bad – 85	Scare Easy	–	Mudcrutch
Not Bad – 85	Party People	–	Nelly
Not Bad – 85	Bag It Up	–	Oasis
Not Bad – 85	Until The Day Is Done	–	R.E.M.
Not Bad – 85	Love Is Free	–	Sheryl Crow
Not Bad – 85	My Medicine	–	Snoop Dogg
Not Bad – 85	Singh is Kinng	–	Snoop Dogg
Not Bad – 85	Around The Bend	–	The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Not Bad – 85	Human	–	The Killers
Not Bad – 85	Carolina Drama	–	The Raconteurs
Not Bad – 85	Great DJ	–	The Ting Tings
Not Bad – 85	Always Right Behind You	–	The Zutons
Not Bad – 85	All or Nothing	–	Theory Of A Deadman

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