Well, "My Immortal" is obviously the one on your list I like best so far.

Madonna's "Like a Prayer" is a song I enjoy a lot too, though.

#11. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion / Meat Loaf





I typically prefer one version of a song to another, but this is a rare case of enjoying both versions here equally, so I'm listing both in the same slot.

I'll do my Top 10 on Sunday.

List so far:

#50. "My Pledge of Allegiance Part 1" by After Forever
#49. "Living Dead Girl" by Rob Zombie
#48. "Leaving Tonight" by The Birthday Massacre
#47. "Makes Me Wanna Die" by The Pretty Reckless
#46. "The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah" by Therion
#45. "Ojos Asi" by Shakira
#44. "Deadbeat Club" by The B-52's
#43. "Glitter and Be Gay" Sung by Diana Damrau from Candide
#42. "Cry for the Moon" by Epica
#41. "Ghost Opera" by Kamelot
#40. "Bleed Like Me" by Garbage
#39. "Death of a Bachelor" by Panic! At The Disco
#38. "Fighter" by Christina Aquilera
#37. "Our Solemn Hour" by Within Temptation
#36. "Time To Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
#35. "Enter Sandman" by Metallica
#34. "Moments" by Ayumi Hamasaki
#33. "Your Song" by Elton John
#32. "A Profound Understanding of Reality" by Epica
#31. "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meat Loaf
#30. "Save Up All Your Tears" by Cher
#29. "Walking in the Air" Sung by Peter Auty by Howard Blake
#28. "Epiphany" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
#27. "Ah! non giunge" Sung by Joan Sutherland from La Sonnambula
#26. "The Mystic Prophecy of the Demon Knight" by Rhapsody of Fire
#25. "Beautiful" by Christina Aquilera
#24. "Der Holle Rache" Sung by Diana Damrau from Die Zauberflote
#23. "Music!!!" by AAA
#22. "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
#21. "If I Could Turn Back Time" by Cher
#20. "Black or White" by Michael Jackson
#19. "M" by Ayumi Hamasaki
#18. "Like a Prayer" by Madonna
#17. "Carry on My Wayward Son" by Kansas
#16. "Sleeping Sun" by Nightwish
#15. "I Want to Break Free" by Queen
#14. "November Rain" by Guns N' Roses
#13. "My Immortal" by Evanescence
#12. "Alone" by Heart
#11. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion / Meat Loaf

Yeah, I like "Fly me to the Moon", but not to listen to. More of a shower singing song for me. I don't even know the lyrics!

I wonder if you only picked that TATU song because the video is anime.

Very theatrical list.

I much prefer Mad'House's "Like a Prayer".

#10. "The Greatest Show on Earth" by Nightwish



Lyrics:

1.) Four Point Six

Archaean horizon
The first sunrise
On a pristine Gaea
Opus perfectum
Somewhere there, us sleeping

2.) Life

The cosmic law of gravity
Pulled the newborns around a fire
A careless, cold infinity in every vast direction
Lonely farer in the Goldilocks zone
She has a tale to tell
From the stellar nursery into a carbon feast
Enter LUCA

The tapestry of chemistry
There’s a writing in the garden
Leading us to the Mother of all

We are one
We are a universe
Forbears of what will be
Scions of the Devonian sea
Aeons pass
Writing the tale of us all
A day-to-day new opening
For the greatest show on Earth

Ion channels welcoming the outside world
To the stuff of stars
Bedding the tree of a biological holy
Enter life

We are here to care for the garden
The wonder of birth
Of every form most beautiful

3.) The Toolmaker

After a billion years
The show is still here
Not a single one of your fathers died young
The handy travelers
Out of Africa
Little Lucy of the Afar

Gave birth to fantasy
To idolatry
To self-destructive weaponry
Enter the god of gaps
Deep within the past
Atavistic dread of the hunted

Enter Ionia, the cradle of thought
The architecture of understanding
The human lust to feel so exceptional
To rule the Earth

Hunger for shiny rocks
For giant mushroom clouds
The will to do just as you’d be done by
Enter history, the grand finale
Enter Ratkind

Man, he took his time in the sun
Had a dream to understand
A single grain of sand
He gave birth to poetry
But one day’ll cease to be
Greet the last light of the library

We were here!
We were here!
We were here!
We were here!

4.) The Understanding

5.) Sea-Worn Driftwood

I've probably stated at some point in the Music Forum that Nightwish is my favorite band of all-time. Symphonic Metal is my favorite genre, and while there are many excellent bands within the genre (some already appearing in my Top 50), Nightwish, for me, stands head and shoulders above all of them. And without Nightwish, and their influence on the symphonic metal genre in the late 90s/early 00s, many other symphonic metal (or power metal) bands may not have even began since they're often listed as primary influences on acts such as Epica and Sonata Arctica.

"The Greatest Show on Earth" comes off their eighth studio album, 2015's Endless Forms Most Beautiful, and while the 20+ minute length of the song probably isn't suited for introducing new people to the band, it does encompass everything Nightwish represents musically over the past 21 years.

#09. "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meat Loaf



Lyrics:

I remember every little thing
As if it happened only yesterday
Parking by the lake
And there was not another car in sight
And I never had a girl
Looking any better than you did
And all the kids at school
They were wishing they were me that night

And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon, hold on tight
C'mon, hold on tight

Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light

Ain't no doubt about it we were doubly blessed
'Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed

Ain't no doubt about it
Baby got to go out and shout it
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed

'Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed

Baby don'cha hear my heart
You got it drowing out the radio
I've been waiting so long
For you to come along and have some fun
And I gotta let you know
No you're never gonna regret it
So open up your eyes, I got a big surprise
It'll feel all right
Well I wanna make you motor run

And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon, Hold on tight
C'mon, Hold on tight

Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Paradise by the dashboard light

You got to do what you can
And let Mother Nature do the rest
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
'Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely

We're gonna go all the way tonight
We're gonna go all the way
And tonight's the night

[Radio Broadcast:]

Stop right there
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further

Do you love me
Will you love me forever
Do you need me
Will you never leave me
Will you make me so happy
For the rest of my life
Will you take me away
And will you make me your wife
Do you love me
Will you love me forever
Do you need me
Will you never leave me
Will you make me so happy
For the rest of my life
Will you take me away
And will you make me your wife

I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me
Will you love me forever

Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you an answer in the morning

Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you an answer in the morning

Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you an answer in the morning

I gotta know right now
Do you love me
Will you love me forever
Do you need me
Will you never leave me
Will you make me so happy
For the rest of my life
Will you take me away
And will you make me your wife
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me
And will you love me forever

Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you an answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it

Will you love me forever

Let me sleep on it

Will you love me forever

I couldn't take it any longer
Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me
Like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god
And on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore I would love you to the end of time

So now I'm praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
'Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
I'm praying for the end of time
So I can end my time with you

It was long ago and it was far away,
And it was so much better than it is today.

It never felt so good, It never felt so right
And we were glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife.

I was introduced to Meat Loaf very young, elementary school-aged, by my parents who were big fans and he became an instant favorite. Meat Loaf is one of those artists that'll always remain timeless to me, now matter the ups and downs his music has experienced over the years. Even to this day, I find enjoyment in listening to his most recent releases.

"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" was one of my favorite songs to listen to on cassette tape (my parent's) as a kid after asking which song they kept singing to one another, and I've never stopped enjoying this song, largely for its humor.

Epiphany - Great song, one of my favorites on list so far

Ah! non giunge - Not the type of opera song I'm that into

Rhapsody of Fire - decent metal song

Beautiful - always liked this song and vocal performance

Der Holle Rache - like Ah! non giunge, out of my comfort zone

Music! - Seems really catchy

Bohemian Rhapsody - classic, I always liked the slower first part more. Mamma, just killed a man...

If I Could Turn Back Time - Good Cher song

Black or White - One of my favorite MJs, love the guitar beat

M - can't get into this one that much

Madonna - Not a big Madonna guy but this is probably my favorite from her, good vocal performance by her on it

Carry on my Wayward Son - solid 70s rock song I've heard on the radio a lot

Sleeping Sun - Really like it

08. "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin



Lyrics:

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.

There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who stand looking.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune,
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long,
And the forests will echo with laughter.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

For a song to be great, I feel it has to transcend itself beyond simply being a 'song' and tell a story. It should take you away, have you lost in its lyrics or sound. A 'song' can still be enjoyable on its own, whether it's catchy or fun, etc., but for me they're never really special unless you can mentally see, effortlessly, a story unfolding. This is one of those songs for me.

The 11-15 group is awesome

I Want to Break Free - Up there for my favorite Queen songs

November Rain - Great song, one of GNR's best

My Immortal - Always had a soft spot for of this one, and brings me back to early teens

Alone - Highly enjoyable 80s track, have been a fan since Carrie Underwood's

It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Good song and one of better Celines, though I agree with Meat Loaf's case that the song especially fit him

#07. "The Phantom of the Opera" by Nightwish



Lyrics:

In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came,
that voice which calls to me,
and speaks my name.
And do I dream again? For now I find
the phantom of the opera is there
inside my mind.

Sing once again with me our strange duet;
my power over you grows stronger yet.
And though you turn from me to glance behind,
the phantom of the opera is there
inside your mind.

Those who have seen your face
draw back in fear.
I am the mask you wear,

it's me they hear.

Your spirit and my voice in one combined;
the phantom of the opera is there
inside my/your mind.

He's there the phantom of the opera.
Beware the phantom of the opera.

In all your fantasies, you always knew
that man and mystery
were both in you.

And in this labyrinth where night is blind,
the Phantom of the opera is here
inside my/your mind.

Sing, my angel of music!

Since the original song was released in 1986 ahead of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of the same name, there have been many, many covers and versions of this song. The original is great, and most covers and other versions are fine, but Nightwish completely made the song their own in 2002 by changing the register and key of the song to fit their symphonic sound.

06. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland



Lyrics:

Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh, why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow.
Why, oh, why can't I?

What is surely the most recognizable song on my list, as well as the most simplistic, will forever be one of my absolute favorites. The familiar song has been covered a million and one times, but Garland's original will always be my top choice, especially her later more heartbreaking renditions (as head above).

I love the album that has Nemo on it, but never got into much other Nightwish. Maybe I should give the older-older stuff another chance.

Do you prefer the original My Immortal or the single version?

With Nightwish, the further you go back, the more operatic the vocals. I've heard some say they prefer older Nightwish (1996-2007) for this reason, and others say they prefer more recent Nightwish (2008-) with the rock/power vocals. Nightwish fans debate this all the time, but their sound has remained constant and what makes the band.



I like both equally.

#05. "O Mio Babbino Caro" Sung by Maria Callas from Gianni Schicchi (Puccini)



Lyrics:

Italian
O mio babbino caro,
mi piace, è bello, bello.
Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
a comperar l'anello!

Sì, sì, ci voglio andare!
e se l'amassi indarno,
andrei sul Ponte Vecchio,
ma per buttarmi in Arno!

Mi struggo e mi tormento!
O Dio, vorrei morir!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!
Babbo, pietà, pietà!

English
Oh my beloved father,
I love him, I love him!
I’ll go to Porta Rossa,
To buy our wedding ring.

Oh yes, I really love him.
And if you still say no,
I’ll go to Ponte Vecchio,
And throw myself below.

My love for which I suffer,
At last, I want to die.
Father I beg, I beg.
Father I beg, I beg.

"O Mio Babbino Caro" might have been the first aria I ever consciously heard, and it's what got me interested in opera in general. Of course, since it's by Puccini, Gianni Schicchi has been recorded dozens of times after World War II, and "O Mio Babbino Caro" covered even more, so there's ample versions to have chosen from. However, Maria Callas hasn't been represented on my list, and I didn't want to leave her off as her rendition is arguably the best anyway.

#04. "Ever Dream" by Nightwish



Lyrics:

Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me

Would you do it with me
Heal the scars and change the stars
Would you do it for me
Turn loose the heaven within

I'd take you away
Castaway on a lonely day
Bosom for a teary cheek
My song can but borrow your grace

Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me
(Dream of me)

Come out, come out wherever you are
So lost in your sea
Give in, give in for my touch
For my taste for my lust

Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me

Your beauty cascaded on me
In this white night fantasy
(Dream of me)

Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me

Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me
(Dream of me)

Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me

Yes, a third Nightwish song in my Top 10 (and fourth overall). Before I started making this list, I knew I was going to name dozens of Nightwish songs, and I didn't want 50% or more of my Top 50 comprising of a single band. So, I made a rule that I wouldn't include more than five songs from a single artist or band.

"Ever Dream" is one of Nightwish's most popular songs, and feels to me like the quintessential Nightwish track, so I always recommend it before any other when asked.

Former lead singer Tarja Turunen's voice on the original gives the song the perfect blend of heavy metal with the soaring operatic vocals that's expected of the band's earlier days; while Floor Jansen's (heard above) powerful, belting voice brings together the power vocals with the heavy metal sound. Both are stellar, I just prefer Jansen, whom typically displays more passion, especially in front of crowds of 80,000+ strong.

#03. "Kiseki" by GReeeeN



Lyrics:

Tomorrow I’ll love you even more than today
This overwhelming feeling won’t stop
Even now, I love you so much but I can’t put it into words

As you give me more and more days
The days that pass are tracks that we’ve left
Whether our meeting was by chance or fate
The fact that I met you, that’s a miracle

I want us to walk cuddled up together, put a shape to this eternal love
I want to stay smiling by your side forever
“Thank you”, ah, and “I love you” are still not enough
But let me at least say “I’m happy”

Just my left palm softly wrapped around your right palm
Made me feel love

As the days go by, we’ve found more and more little happinesses
As we walk along, making our tracks
Our meeting was a small event in a big world
The fact that we met, that’s a miracle

Even days that don’t go well are sunny when we’re together!
Because we can forget about loneliness and pretending to be strong
With you I can be myself!
So stay by my side all the time, “to you, my love”

Even the times we fooled around together on the way home
Are part of our precious days
When I told you, thinking “Let my feelings reach you!!!”
You gave me a look that I’d never seen before
After a little while you nodded and our hearts filled with love
Our journey isn’t over yet, it’s still continuing
Into a future that will go on for decades

Even if, for example, see, we’re about to lose sight of tomorrow...

I want us to walk cuddled up together, put a shape to this eternal love
I want to stay smiling by your side forever
“Thank you”, ah, and “I love you” are still not enough
But let me at least say “I’m happy”

Even days that don’t go well are sunny when we’re together!
We can share all of our joy and our sadness
Because you’re here, I can go on living!
So stay by my side all the time, “to you, my love”
Until the last second

Tomorrow I’ll be able to smile even more than today
Your very existence makes me feel that way
Let’s spend decades, centuries, millennia together
I love you

When you're growing up, and even well into adulthood, one of the most common questions someone asks you is, "what do you want to be?" or "what is your end goal?". My response, since I was a child: "to be happy". I tell people that the key, or secret, to life is to be happy; for what is the real meaning of doing anything, if you're not? You've been blessed with life, don't throw it away; make it a happy journey.

"Kiseki" (Miracle) is a song, a love song in essence, that embodies my approach to life.

#02. "Voyage" by Ayumi Hamasaki



Lyrics:

In order to achieve happiness
We embark on this journey
Look, a smile fits you so well

I recall those days which never fade
Such fleeting beautiful days
That season when we yearned for the dazzling sea
That season when the snow fell

Every time I turned around
You were there

In order to achieve happiness
We embark on this journey
Everyone is a traveller
Bringing along unhealable wounds
Look, a smile fits you so well

How many times had I lost my way?
Each time, a warm hand would
Reach out to me
It was always you

What would we think as we reach
The end of this long journey?
Everyone is a traveller
Who loses their way in the quest for love
Let's go together, until we've had enough

I'm on a journey
Looking for love

What would we think as we reach
The end of this long journey?
Everyone is a traveller
Who loses their way in the quest for love
Let's go together, until we've had enough

We're on a journey
Looking for love

Ayumi Hamasaki is one of the most active musicians ever in her ongoing 19 year career, racking up 17 studio albums (59 overall, counting min-albums, compilations, and remixes), 58 singles, and 122 music videos since her debut in 1998. She writes all of her songs, and has produced all of her music as well, refusing to be a "product" in a very product heavy market. On top of this, she performs at concerts and also tours (2.5 hour shows) multiple times a year, every single year.

The result of all her work? Top selling female and solo artist in Japan history (reported 80 million records sold), and third overall, in addition to numerous singles records that will never be broken. Although, it's all come at the expense of her health, too (see below).

So, needless to say, there's a lot of material to choose from by Ayumi, but "Voyage" in particular has remained my favorite since its release in 2002, and is a prime example of Ayu at her best. The original song is a bit more sad in its tone than the 15th Anniversary performance above but the song is now suited for a more happy tone, as it's come full circle.

At 38, Ayumi Hamasaki has achieved everything possible in terms of success for a music artist, though she'll probably continue to write, produce, and perform until she physically cannot; which is unfortunately catching up to her now as she announced earlier this year that she's losing hearing in her right ear (having already gone deaf in her left ear years prior). Alas, she states the stage is where she belongs and vows to continue forward.

Is passion by Ayumi or is that someone else?

Im calling Lacrymosa for #1