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 – 1Sex on Fire Kings of Leon
Awesome – 2Use Somebody Kings of Leon
Awesome – 2Hate My Life Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4Notion Kings of Leon
Great – 4By The Way Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4Poker Face Lady Gaga
Great – 4Paranoid Freak The Trews
Great – 4Not Meant To Be Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked Cage the Elephant
Great – 4Heartless Kanye West
Great – 4Paparazzi Lady Gaga
Great – 4The Show Lenka
Great – 4L.E.S. Artistes Santigold
Great – 4You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid The Offspring
Great – 4Back Against The Wall Cage the Elephant
Great – 4Viva La Vida Coldplay
Great – 4Lay It On the LineDivine Brown
Great – 4Love Lockdown Kanye West
Great – 4LoveGame Lady Gaga
Great – 4I’ll Be Waiting Lenny Kravitz
Great – 4Lollipop Lil Wayne
Great – 4100 In A 55 Pop Evil
Great – 4Bad Girlfriend Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4So Happy Theory Of A Deadman
Great – 4The Golden Age The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Great – 26Oasis Amanda Palmer
Great – 26Another Way to Die Jack White and Alicia Keys
Great – 26Hot n Cold Katy Perry
Great – 26Weight of the World Lemar
Great – 26Got Money Lil Wayne
Great – 26Beggin’ Madcon
Great – 26Burn It to the Ground Nickelback
Great – 26Northern Downpour Panic! At The Disco
Great – 26Savior Rise Against
Great – 26Falling Down Scarlett Johansson
Great – 26Hold Me in Your ArmsThe Trews
Solid – 37Get Up 50 Cent
Solid – 37Rock ‘N Roll Train AC/DC
Solid – 37Float Flogging Molly
Solid – 37Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) Beyoncé
Solid – 37I Will Possess Your Heart Death Cab for Cutie
Solid – 37Mercy Duffy
Solid – 37Swagga Like Us Jay-Z
Solid – 37The Fear Lily Allen
Solid – 37Take A Bow Rihanna
Solid – 37Life of da Party Snoop Dogg
Solid – 37Wait For Me Theory Of A Deadman
Solid – 37Let It DieFoo Fighters
Solid – 37The Sun Ain’t Shining No More The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Solid – 50Feels Like Tonight DAUGHTRY
Solid – 50Rockferry Duffy
Solid – 50Syrup & Honey Duffy
Solid – 50Let it Rock Kevin Rudolf
Solid – 50Just Dance Lady Gaga
Solid – 50Life is Better Q-Tip (ft. Nora Jones)
Solid – 50Addicted Saving Abel
Solid – 50You Found Me The Fray
Solid – 50Kristy, Are You Doing Okay? The Offspring
Solid – 50That’s Not My Name The Ting Tings
Solid – 50Angels on the Moon Thriving Ivory
Solid – 50Troublemaker Weezer
Not Bad – 62It’s Not My Time 3 Doors Down
Not Bad – 62Guitar Hero Amanda Palmer
Not Bad – 62Violet Hill Coldplay
Not Bad – 62World We KnowCrash Parallel
Not Bad – 62Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It Darius Rucker
Not Bad – 62No Sunlight Death Cab for Cutie
Not Bad – 62Out Here Grindin DJ Khaled
Not Bad – 62Rain on Your Parade Duffy
Not Bad – 62One Day Like This Elbow
Not Bad – 62Peace Sign/Index Down Gym Class Heroes
Not Bad – 62For the Nights I Can’t RememberHedley
Not Bad – 62Reach Out Hilary Duff
Not Bad – 62Without You Hinder
Not Bad – 62Jockin’ Jay-Z (Dope Boy Fresh) Jay-Z
Not Bad – 62I Want To Go Home Lenny Kravitz
Not Bad – 62Pocketful Of Sunshine Natasha Bedingfield
Not Bad – 62The Shock of the LightningOasis
Not Bad – 62Stop And Stare OneRepublic
Not Bad – 62Believe Q-Tip
Not Bad – 62Evolution Of A Man Q-Tip
Not Bad – 62Starstruck Santigold
Not Bad – 62Dead and Gone T.I. (ft. Justin Timberlake)
Not Bad – 62Live Your Life T.I. (ft. Rihanna)
Not Bad – 85Beautiful 10 Years
Not Bad – 85Let Me Be Myself 3 Doors Down
Not Bad – 85Chasing Pavements Adele
Not Bad – 8531 Today Aimee Mann
Not Bad – 85Freeway Aimee Mann
Not Bad – 85Ampersand Amanda Palmer
Not Bad – 85Leeds United Amanda Palmer
Not Bad – 85(No More) Paddy’s Lament Flogging Molly
Not Bad – 85I Thought I’d Seen Everything Bryan Adams
Not Bad – 85In One Ear Cage the Elephant
Not Bad – 85Lost! Coldplay
Not Bad – 85Strawberry Swing Coldplay
Not Bad – 85Alright Darius Rucker
Not Bad – 85It Won’t Be Like This For Long Darius Rucker
Not Bad – 85Cath… Death Cab for Cutie
Not Bad – 85Stepping Stone Duffy
Not Bad – 85Warwick Avenue Duffy
Not Bad – 85American Boy Estelle
Not Bad – 85Angel Jack Johnson
Not Bad – 85Sleep Through The Static Jack Johnson
Not Bad – 85What You Thought You Need Jack Johnson
Not Bad – 85Broken Strings James Morrison
Not Bad – 85Put On Jeezy
Not Bad – 85Everybody Knows John Legend
Not Bad – 85I Kissed a Girl Katy Perry
Not Bad – 85I’m Alive Kenny Chesney (with Dave Matthews)
Not Bad – 85A Long and Sad Goodbye Lenny Kravitz
Not Bad – 85Shoot Me Down Lil Wayne
Not Bad – 85If I Never See Your Face Again Maroon 5 (ft. Rihanna)
Not Bad – 85Scare Easy Mudcrutch
Not Bad – 85Party People Nelly
Not Bad – 85Bag It Up Oasis
Not Bad – 85Until The Day Is Done R.E.M.
Not Bad – 85Love Is Free Sheryl Crow
Not Bad – 85My Medicine Snoop Dogg
Not Bad – 85Singh is Kinng Snoop Dogg
Not Bad – 85Around The Bend The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Not Bad – 85Human The Killers
Not Bad – 85Carolina Drama The Raconteurs
Not Bad – 85Great DJ The Ting Tings
Not Bad – 85Always Right Behind You The Zutons
Not Bad – 85All or Nothing Theory Of A Deadman

2000     2001     2002     2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008     2009

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s          2000s

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