bitch up your skirts and loosen your
neckties it’s time to let your hair down
and let your dancing speed up Velma who
do you love
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
decade defining songs of the 1950’s for
this list we’ve looked at a combination
of the decades most commercially
successful songs as well as the most
influential records and the tracks that
best reflect the period found my three
number 10 Blueberry Hill Fats Domino we
begin with a song that was originally
written in the 1940s and had been
covered by the great Louis Armstrong
before it really hit the big time
that room stood still on blue baby the
1956 Fats Domino version was so
successful it generated quite the domino
effect
Elvis later recorded it as well as Led
Zeppelin and Elton John
but it’s Domino that had the smooth
sound catchy hook and carefree rhythm
that set a standard for the 50s and
beyond
number nine summertime blues Eddie
Cochran a classic example of
revolutionary rockabilly music
summertime blues sees Eddie Cochran
combine a southern bluegrass style with
the modern rock sound sometimes I’m a
dude with the ain’t no jus the
summertime it’s simple fairly
straightforward and downright effective
a big hit with teenage fans who were an
emerging strong demographic for pop
music back then the track was written in
response to the upbeat summer songs that
were popular at the time I thought at a
problem through the United Nations
highlighting instead the seasons
hardship about to help you son but
you’re too young too bold
almost anti-authority its message was
fresh and fun Oh beautiful summertime
you know what a view number eight Peggy
Sue Buddy Holly
the standout track of an iconic
tragically short career Peggy Sue
underwent a name change before she
commandeered the radio airwaves big big
audience but you originally titled Cindy
Lou the love interest was altered to
fall in line with crickets drummer Jerry
Allison’s girlfriend at the time I loved
I love sore
a tune that can be split exactly down
the middle Hollies guitar really takes
center stage at the midway point
plus the lovestruck lyrics continue
throughout it’s effortlessly cool and
eternally play number seven
tutti-frutti little richer released in
late 55 this was a track that altered
the entire music industry it’s fast
paced and raunchy lyrics frightened and
fascinated listeners enough to pay
attention yeah good job through the web
Richard had originally sung tutti fruiti
good booty but pleaded up for a
conservative market however he refused
to drop an otherwise anarchic vocal
character yes indeed I don’t know what
to do
he sang in a manner that people dared
not speak and unsurprisingly the public
loved it
they love Little Richard – bamboo under
six great balls of fire
Jerry Lee Lewis you broke a wheel but
water three oh goodness and grace is
great having been raised in a religious
household Jerry Lee Lewis had
understandable concerns about recording
this rock and roll classic love is by
madness gracious great balls of fire
baby
the title can be seen as blasphemous and
the sexual innuendo was consistent and
controversial
we’re glad he stepped outside his
comfort zone though because great balls
of fire scorched onto the charts and has
yet to burn out of our memories thrilled
a 50s audience like little had before it
it lived up to its lyrics and quickly
became great rage is green balls of fire
number five ‘la Bumba ritchie valens
that a track song entirely in Spanish
should make our top 10 is a testament to
the effect it had over the 50s music
that’s followed
Ritchie Valens was 17 when he recorded
this version of a traditional Mexican
folk song realizing the fun and frenzied
sound that rock music had become
it’d be one of three musicians including
Buddy Holly and JP Richardson that would
die in a plane crash the following year
a huge and horrible loss for music
number four I walk the line Johnny Cash
fresh from success with Folsom Prison
Blues I’m stuck in Folsom Prison and
time keeps draggin on this number was
Cash’s promise of loyalty to a new wife
I keep a close watch on I keep my eyes
all the time my kid he knew we’d be on
the road a lot and he wanted to reassure
her that he’d be good because you’re
mine I walk pro-life that they would
eventually divorce amid a fair
speculation is beside the point
toe-tapping rhythms and resonant vocal
tones are as good now as they were then
girls screamed the guys say and cash
walked the line to superstardom
one two three o’clock four o’clock Rock
five six seven o’clock number three rock
around the clock Bill Haley & his
comments at the time of this song’s
release the rock and roll style of music
was so little known that the record
sleep described it as a novelty Foxtrot
turned out to be no gimmick though and
has since become known as one of the
first rock songs ever
following its inclusion in the movie
Blackboard Jungle it topped the American
charts and became one of the biggest
selling singles of the 1950s in the UK
as Haley & his comets rocked around the
clock and through all of time walking
through a partying number-two jailhouse
rock Elvis Presley man was John the man
John began to swing we should have her
locked up Jam flexing a track from his
movie of the same name jailhouse rock
enjoyed worldwide success and along with
the earlier hound dog
quickly became a flag bearer for the
rock revolution Elvis was a performer
perhaps unrivaled in history he had a
raw voice a cheeky charm and dance moves
that made you blush wanna boogie
affectionately dubbed the King Elvis and
his jailhouse rock marked the beginnings
of his rise to the throne the ones
anybody don’t you be no square I can’t
find a partner use a wooden chair for
many he was the face of the 50s and this
bluesy blistering number was a
soundtrack
before we unveil our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions
King
Kandra make this change in me
number one Johnny be good Chuck Berry
autobiographical and overflowing with
attitude Johnny be good perfectly
captures the mood of the decade
like we have a map
at least in 1958 Barry had about five
years of music behind him and translated
it all into this simple uplifting story
johnny me
johnny was a kind of dream he was a
sky’s the limit superhero
the record is racy relatable and
liberating its leg kicks and jumping up
and down it’s an increase of heart rate
a release of emotion and an everlasting
legacy
do you agree with our list what’s your
favorite 50 song
for more toe-tapping top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
neckties it’s time to let your hair down
and let your dancing speed up Velma who
do you love
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
decade defining songs of the 1950’s for
this list we’ve looked at a combination
of the decades most commercially
successful songs as well as the most
influential records and the tracks that
best reflect the period found my three
number 10 Blueberry Hill Fats Domino we
begin with a song that was originally
written in the 1940s and had been
covered by the great Louis Armstrong
before it really hit the big time
that room stood still on blue baby the
1956 Fats Domino version was so
successful it generated quite the domino
effect
Elvis later recorded it as well as Led
Zeppelin and Elton John
but it’s Domino that had the smooth
sound catchy hook and carefree rhythm
that set a standard for the 50s and
beyond
number nine summertime blues Eddie
Cochran a classic example of
revolutionary rockabilly music
summertime blues sees Eddie Cochran
combine a southern bluegrass style with
the modern rock sound sometimes I’m a
dude with the ain’t no jus the
summertime it’s simple fairly
straightforward and downright effective
a big hit with teenage fans who were an
emerging strong demographic for pop
music back then the track was written in
response to the upbeat summer songs that
were popular at the time I thought at a
problem through the United Nations
highlighting instead the seasons
hardship about to help you son but
you’re too young too bold
almost anti-authority its message was
fresh and fun Oh beautiful summertime
you know what a view number eight Peggy
Sue Buddy Holly
the standout track of an iconic
tragically short career Peggy Sue
underwent a name change before she
commandeered the radio airwaves big big
audience but you originally titled Cindy
Lou the love interest was altered to
fall in line with crickets drummer Jerry
Allison’s girlfriend at the time I loved
I love sore
a tune that can be split exactly down
the middle Hollies guitar really takes
center stage at the midway point
plus the lovestruck lyrics continue
throughout it’s effortlessly cool and
eternally play number seven
tutti-frutti little richer released in
late 55 this was a track that altered
the entire music industry it’s fast
paced and raunchy lyrics frightened and
fascinated listeners enough to pay
attention yeah good job through the web
Richard had originally sung tutti fruiti
good booty but pleaded up for a
conservative market however he refused
to drop an otherwise anarchic vocal
character yes indeed I don’t know what
to do
he sang in a manner that people dared
not speak and unsurprisingly the public
loved it
they love Little Richard – bamboo under
six great balls of fire
Jerry Lee Lewis you broke a wheel but
water three oh goodness and grace is
great having been raised in a religious
household Jerry Lee Lewis had
understandable concerns about recording
this rock and roll classic love is by
madness gracious great balls of fire
baby
the title can be seen as blasphemous and
the sexual innuendo was consistent and
controversial
we’re glad he stepped outside his
comfort zone though because great balls
of fire scorched onto the charts and has
yet to burn out of our memories thrilled
a 50s audience like little had before it
it lived up to its lyrics and quickly
became great rage is green balls of fire
number five ‘la Bumba ritchie valens
that a track song entirely in Spanish
should make our top 10 is a testament to
the effect it had over the 50s music
that’s followed
Ritchie Valens was 17 when he recorded
this version of a traditional Mexican
folk song realizing the fun and frenzied
sound that rock music had become
it’d be one of three musicians including
Buddy Holly and JP Richardson that would
die in a plane crash the following year
a huge and horrible loss for music
number four I walk the line Johnny Cash
fresh from success with Folsom Prison
Blues I’m stuck in Folsom Prison and
time keeps draggin on this number was
Cash’s promise of loyalty to a new wife
I keep a close watch on I keep my eyes
all the time my kid he knew we’d be on
the road a lot and he wanted to reassure
her that he’d be good because you’re
mine I walk pro-life that they would
eventually divorce amid a fair
speculation is beside the point
toe-tapping rhythms and resonant vocal
tones are as good now as they were then
girls screamed the guys say and cash
walked the line to superstardom
one two three o’clock four o’clock Rock
five six seven o’clock number three rock
around the clock Bill Haley & his
comments at the time of this song’s
release the rock and roll style of music
was so little known that the record
sleep described it as a novelty Foxtrot
turned out to be no gimmick though and
has since become known as one of the
first rock songs ever
following its inclusion in the movie
Blackboard Jungle it topped the American
charts and became one of the biggest
selling singles of the 1950s in the UK
as Haley & his comets rocked around the
clock and through all of time walking
through a partying number-two jailhouse
rock Elvis Presley man was John the man
John began to swing we should have her
locked up Jam flexing a track from his
movie of the same name jailhouse rock
enjoyed worldwide success and along with
the earlier hound dog
quickly became a flag bearer for the
rock revolution Elvis was a performer
perhaps unrivaled in history he had a
raw voice a cheeky charm and dance moves
that made you blush wanna boogie
affectionately dubbed the King Elvis and
his jailhouse rock marked the beginnings
of his rise to the throne the ones
anybody don’t you be no square I can’t
find a partner use a wooden chair for
many he was the face of the 50s and this
bluesy blistering number was a
soundtrack
before we unveil our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions
King
Kandra make this change in me
number one Johnny be good Chuck Berry
autobiographical and overflowing with
attitude Johnny be good perfectly
captures the mood of the decade
like we have a map
at least in 1958 Barry had about five
years of music behind him and translated
it all into this simple uplifting story
johnny me
johnny was a kind of dream he was a
sky’s the limit superhero
the record is racy relatable and
liberating its leg kicks and jumping up
and down it’s an increase of heart rate
a release of emotion and an everlasting
legacy
do you agree with our list what’s your
favorite 50 song
for more toe-tapping top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
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