15. Jay-Z-Empire State Of Mind (October, 2009)
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Lil' Wayne, T.I., Jadakiss, Ja-Rule, Kanye West
The Case: Sure it comes off of Jay-Z's 11th studio album, but it feels like everything about hip hop and R&B in the new millennium wrapped into one song. From production value to the guest vocals from
Alicia Keys for the catchy bring the house down chorus, "Empire State Of Mind" is the magnum opus of the hip-hop world as just about every song since it's release wreaks of some element from this song. It name drops so many things from the Big Apple that it has become that city's new anthem. And while it's tough but to crack a smile when Jay-Z calls himself the new Frank Sinatra, it's not beyond a shadow of a doubt that "Empire State Of Mind's" influence will live on for the next several years to come in hip-hop and R&B. I betcha ole Blue Eyes wouldn't deny that.
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14. Arcade Fire-Wake Up (November, 2005)
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Broken Social Scene, The Walkmen, British Sea Power, Frightened Rabbit, The New Pornographers, The National, Iron and Wine, TV On The Radio
The Case: If the indie rock/pop storm was a brewing like a fine ale for a decade, then it was only a matter of time until everything fell in the right place with Arcade Fire's debut "Funeral" released in 2004. Many songs from this release gave a feeling of the next brave new thing but "Wake Up" with it's anthem like strut, pure confidence, and Win Butler's call to arms for everyone to take charge was a huge breath of fresh air in 2004-05. It's been used as the theme song to movies and the NFL, it was the opening song on U2's tour before their set started and David Bowie, one of the most influential mavericks in rock and roll, stepped in to help with vocals in a knockout live performance. "Funeral" set the ante high for bands in the scene to live up to and "Wake Up" is the new generation's calling card no matter how you deal it.
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13. The Prodigy-Firestarter (March, 1996)
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Underworld, The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, Lo-Fidelity All Stars, Propellerheads
The Case: If Born Slippy" from Underworld paved the way for a big beat and techno revolution, then "Firestarter" from The Prodigy is the address where you would find the whole big beat music scene demanding world attention. With its stark and dark, violent overtones, "Firestarter" was a huge hit everywhere and helped spawn off a slew of similar artists through the rest of the decade. When the album "The Fat Of The Land" was released a year later in the states it was supposed to be the next big movement and create as big of a following as in Britain. While it wasn't the second coming of "Nevermind" as some predicted, it did create waves and helped the Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and countless others to help produce a new movement in dance/rave culture. We have "Firestarter" to thank for glow sticks and all night parties.
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12. White Stripes-Seven Nation Army (March, 2003)
Other notable similar and influenced artists: The Von Bondies, The Black Keys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Kills, Japandroids, Wolfmother
The Case: When the critically loved White Stripes released a video consisting of Legos for their song "Fell In Love With A Girl", they caught the music world's attention. When they relased the first single from their next album "Elephant" they had captured the flag as the band of the moment and potentially for years to come. "Seven Nation Army's" persistent low end guitar intro and Jack White's blues wielding guitars later in the song were the perfect compliment to Meg White's thumping drum bit. Meg and Jack had been touting their blues garage rock for a few years so it was nothing new. But with "Seven Nation Army" they simply moved to the top of the totem pole in the garage rock revivalist movement and found themselves in a precarious position as straight up rock-stars afterward. Rock and roll duos of all sorts have sprouted since its success, but none have full on captured the moment or reaped the successes that "Seven Nation Army" provided for the Whites.
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11. Oasis-Wonderwall (October, 1995)
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Travis, Blur, Ocean Colour Scene, Supergrass, Cast, The Verve, Manic Street Preachers, Elastica, Pulp, Ash
The Case: "(What's The Story) Morning Glory" is the third biggest selling album in U.K. history, behind Queen ("Greatest Hits") and the Beatles ("Sgt. Pepper's..."). What helped propel Oasis' success was their biggest world wide hit of all time "Wonderwall". A simple love song written by Noel Gallagher, it won the love across the pond here in the States with it's beautiful melody, simple strumming acoustic guitars and brother Liam's vocal take on it. Of course, Britain was ripe with Britpop artists throughout the nineties with acts who borrowed the musical styling of late eighties artists like the Stone Roses and the La's. But if you look at the list of similar artists above, and then add the wave of British artists that followed through since the millennium, it's awe inspiring how many have crated a basic formula around one highly successful song. Without "Wonderwall's" popularity, most of them would've never been heard of (except for Blur of course!)
Source: http://www.jhostation.com/2011/06/20-most-influential-songs-since-smells_21.html
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