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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