410. “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” – Sly and The Family Stone
One thing I’m discovering as I listen through this list: Funk just isn’t my thing. I like a lot of the R&B stuff that the rhythm section lays down in this track, but as is the case with a lot of The Family’s tunes, things just get too repetitive for me. I can handle repetition as long as the hook is worth repeating. It wasn’t on this one.
Burnes’ Turns: No
Top 500 Consideration: No

409. “Tonight’s the Night” – The Shirelles
Now THIS is more like it! There are some ’60s girl group songs that are a bit too lame for me, but when they hit it, they tend to nail it out of the park. This was one of those times. It’s possible that I have such an affinity for these youthful yearning songs because I still haven’t gotten out of that phase. But for now, this one’s a winner for sure.
Burnes’ Turns: Yes
Top 500 Consideration: Yes

408. “Enter Sandman” – Metallica
I guess I can kind of understand why Metallica fans were so jaded upon the release of the Black album; they were finally going for mainstream appeal over hardcore roots. And, frankly, they pulled it off fantastically. Parents couldn’t deride their children for listening to Heavy Metal anymore, because they were listening to it themselves. Thanks in large part to “Enter Sandman,” Metallica is still one of the biggest bands in the world today, and you’ve got to respect it even if you don’t love it. Unfortunately, I’ve heard it so many times now, that it doesn’t hit near as hard as it used to. But there’s no doubt that this is a badass track from a badass band that is deserving of the many accolades they’ve accrued.
Burnes’ Turns: Yes
Top 500 Consideration: Long Shot

407. “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
“I hope Neil Young will remember/A Southern Man don’t need him ’round,” Van Zant snickered on this response to Young’s “Southern Man.” Apparently, Young was in on the joke and admitted that “Alabama” is the superior track. Considering how widely known it is even today, generations of others have agreed. Personally, I’m sick of the song, but that doesn’t mean I can’t respect it for what it is; a chilled out Southern Rock tune that should be enjoyed, and not overthought.
Burnes’ Turns: No
Top 500 Consideration: No

406. “Thirteen” – Big Star
Though it’s musically simple, Rolling Stone has called “Thirteen” “one of rock’s most beautiful celebrations of adolescence.” I can agree with that as long as we can admit that it also isn’t exactly the most original. I like sappy acoustic music as much as anyone, but I also can only hear so much before it all starts to get a bit old.
Burnes’ Turns: No
Top 500 Consideration: No

405. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” – Blue Oyster Cult
I remember the first time I ever heard this track (outside of the SNL skit, naturally). It was included in an iTunes playlist about Halloween or something. My brother and I really dug it, and it’s remained in my playlist ever since. I find it more pretty than haunting, myself, but it’s definitely a great track regardless.
Burnes’ Turns: Yes
Top 500 Consideration: Yes

404. “Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand)” – The Shangri-Las
It should come as no surprise given my background, but I heard the Aerosmith version of this many years before the Shangri-Las’ original. To be honest, I prefer the Aerosmith cover, regardless of how cute Mary Weiss once was. It’s definitely a haunting track, infinitely more so than “The Reaper,” in my opinion, but I’m also not sure it’s Top 500 material, no matter who the artist is that’s playing it.
Burnes’ Turns: No
Top 500 Consideration: Long Shot (Aerosmith Version)

403. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley
Unsurprisingly, this classic ballad was a No. 1 hit for The King of Rock n’ Roll, but many are surprised to learn that it’s actually an updated adaptation of the 18th Century song “Plaisir d’Amour.” Somebody’s probably getting married to it right now. My advice: find something more original.
Burnes’ Turns: No
Top 500 Consideration: No

402. “O-o-h Child” – The Five Stairsteps
Apparently, Curtis Mayfield hired this group of brothers and sisters to compete with Motown’s Jackson 5. Epic fail. There’s simply nothing special about this song.
Burnes’ Turns: No
Top 500 Consideration: No

401. “Summer in the City” – The Lovin’ Spoonful
I had high hopes for this song when it started out sounding like something out of an old-school Final Fantasy soundtrack, but it quickly devolved into another relatively dull song about Summer love. Doesn’t anybody fall in love in Winter?
Burnes’ Turns: No
Top 500 Consideration: No