Top 10 Best Songs

 

I have alot to say about music. I don't love all the genres but I'm a huge fan of listening to songs and like lots and lots of music especially the old ones 

As of February of 2025, I have a list of my favorite songs. They might be so good to listen to, have had an influence on me or best, they just sound so catchy.

Here's a Top 10 current best songs.

You don't have to agree with my list, it's my own personal taste.

10. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy 

Red Foley

When I first heard this song from a Top 100, I immediately had to listen to the full version. I may not be all that fond of Red Foley's songs but this one is by far his best. His singing in this is really fun to appreciate, and the beat this song goes for is just good energy, it's like I'm jumping up and down while listening to it. 

9. Mairzy Doats

The Merry Macs

This is one of the more recent songs I'm absolutely loving right now. Like I said with Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy, this is catchy for a good reason. This might be one of the most unique pieces of lyrics I ever seen in a song. Barely any clear words are spoken throughout it yet the beat to it makes it hard not to dislike. This is such a forgotten yet funny and quite entertaining tune to listen to.

8. On The Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe

Bing Crosby

This song was also covered by another musician named Johnny Mercer but Bing's version is much better. Man, the 40s had such a good sense of creativity to their song titles. You barely get unique ideas to songs like this nowadays. What I love about this song is the part where the choir says "Here she comes" and it really picks up the speed of the song. This is just a really iconic song and definitely would listen to it on a regular basis. 

7. Play The Fool

Chromeo

Chromeo is one of my favorite modern artists of all time. I've been listening to them for over a decade at this point, I always found White Women to be my favorite albums from them and the song Play The Fool is no exception. It's 5 minutes but it's one the smoothest, most relaxing 5 minutes you'll ever hear. The first few seconds of Dave 1 singing here already makes you feel cured and warm inside. 

6. L-O-V-E 

Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole has one of the most beautiful, heavenly voices I ever heard in my life, he's one of my favorite singers as of now, and this is one of my favorites from him. This is like a precursor to the FUN song from Spongebob. Not only does this song have a good wit and calmness to it, but what made me adore it was the instruments. I believed it was remastered, but my goodness, everything you hear in the background when Nat sings is so peaceful. I could literally put every song I listened to so far by his on the list, but I wouldn't want it to be redundant.

5. Singin' In The Rain

Gene Kelly

What can I say? It's Singin' In The Rain. Gene Kelly's version of this song is just gorgeous. For such a masterpiece movie, this was obviously the best parts about it. Just seeing Gene walking casual in the rain and exploring things just makes me happy. I don't think he deserves enough credit for how he sings rather than his flawless dances. 

4. Whatcha Know Joe?

Tommy Dorsey and The Pied Pipers

This is another song that I just searched randomly for on YouTube. It starts off with some instrumentals, all sounds great until at the 1 minute and half point, things then get really groovy and catchy. I love it. It's like your expecting a party waiting to be enjoyed yet you feel excited for whats going to happen and that's what this song is. The 1940s is everything you'd imagine with good music, smooth vocals, appropriate lyrics and goshdarn good beats!

3. Rhythm On The River

Bing Crosby

Just like I said with Singin' In The Rain, I more or so love the movie version to this song the best. I haven't heard the original recording. I don't know if there ever is one, but wow, just wow, this guy can sing. The tone this one has going for is impeccable, I also love how natural Bing's voice sounds here. He always sounds hot and lively but here it feels rather passionate here. I haven't watched the full movie of where this song took place, but I think it's enough. The music video to this song is absolutely memorable if you ask me. You can find it free on YouTube. 

2. I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo 

Glenn Miller

If you are a big huge fan and have been exploring this blog for a quite a while now, you may have seen me talk about this song. Glenn Miller is the best band leader ever, don't ask, he truly is. This is by far the most timeless of his attributes. Sure In The Mood and Chattanooga Choo Choo may have been more popular, but I don't think you would do it without this song in particular. Seriously, this is everything sensible and practical with not only music but art. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I Got A Gal has to be the most clever parts to a song I ever heard. 

You seriously need to listen to this song. 

Now before I get into my #1 choice I have honorable mentions. There's alot so here's the list.

Michael Jackson - Black Or White

The Top 10 list was full of almost old tunes, but one modern singer that can't be unbeatable is the one and only MJ. Seriously, I don't care about all the controversy, he's the best singers of our time. Almost all his songs I absolutely love, but this one in particular is important. There is some fantastic and self aware life lessons in it and I think that's special. It would be at #11.

MAGIC! - How Do You Want To Be Remembered

MAGIC! especially with their album Don't Kill The Magic was my childhood, my favorites songs back then were No Way No and Little Girl Big World, but nowadays I seem to love How Do You Want To Be Remembered. There's something so calm about it, definitely an easy-listening song. The lyrics are really good too. I would recommend you listening to this band. 

Glenn Miller - Chattanooga Choo Choo 

I couldn't quite make this song on my list because I would like to keep the list full of variety but I didn't want to forget about this one because it's that timeless. 

Cannons - Bad Dream

This is one of my favorite recent songs as of now. I'm not all for the band, but I find this song so emotional but pleasent to listen to. It uses those electric instruments like every other modern song today but here it's done so deeply that you can't quit your experience with it. 

Ted Weems - Heartaches

I don't have much to say about this one, besides the first 1 minute and 20 seconds of the song. Man, I still replay those parts on a regular basis. 

Harry James and Helen Forrest - I've Heard That Song Before 

This is a really good song. I have no other opinion. I like it. Very good, very nice. 👍 

Now my for #1 choice.

1. Jumpin' Jive 🏆 

Cab Calloway 

Cab Calloway is one of the best black entertainers. His dancing and singing is unique and this is no exception. The version I'm talking about is in the movie Stormy Weather. You seriously need to watch the video. I heard that this was all filmed in one take, and if that's true, that is absolutely impressive. I can thank everyone in that video with respect. Everything about this song from the spirited energy, to the amazing lyrics to the amazing dance segments with The Nicholas Brothers.

I can agree with Fred Astaire saying that the video to this song is "the greatest movie musical number ever seen". 

That was the Top 10 Best Songs I'm currently enjoying as of now. 

This was an exceptional list because some these songs you might love.

You can't beat the classics. 

Best Decades

 

You know how people always think to themselves they would watch something that feels special to them, maybe it's something old, but they've wished to be living in that decade?

Some people might say the 80s, the 60s, the 70s, to me it would be the 40s.

This is why the 1940s was the greatest

BIG BANDS!

WACKY CARTOONS!

MUSICAL MOVIES!

THE MODEST FASHION!

Everything about this decade was fantastic. But what about other decades? 

I love the 1930s too. So does the 50s, every other decade is good but not as powerful. That being said I think alot of good has happened after the golden age of entertainment passed on, but man the 30s to the 50s, were probably the best the entire world has to offer.

When I watch an old film, I like how more logical and sensible the characters and actions are. This was also the course where things start to get even funnier. 

Throughout the course of the early 20th century, films were silent, and you couldn't even get the knowledge of laughing too much or relating to the characters.

The late 20s, to early 30s, everyone was talkin' and it became more lively and natural.

There was a potential rise to cartoons as well. There were a few exceptions to cartoons back then like Out Of The Inkwell, and Winsor McCay's shorts but that's it really. 

There was strong characters in the 30s through the 50s. Every character that is still considered popular today was created this period of the century. 

I'll name a few characters 

Bugs Bunny

Porky Pig

Goofy

Donald Duck

José Carioca 

Foghorn Leghorn 

Droopy

Man, I would've lived my whole life expecting something fresh and iconic more commonly than today. Disney Movies were a big exception by the 30s-40s.

The reason why I think the later Disney movies don't do much to me anymore it's because of the amount of dialogue you have to be awake to. 

This is Bambi, a movie that barely has any dialogue whatsoever. Sure, it does have some speaking in it, but it isn't stuffed with drama too often. Not to mention that the calm and quiet environments is what makes a movie focus.

I don't see the love for Lady And The Tramp, and Sword In The Stone. 

I imagined Artmania especially my TV show to have dancing scenes and music just like the classics because you just can't beat THE CLASSICS! 

When I worked on Artmania's Spirit Of Christmas last December, one post I payed tribute to the big bands like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey. With all those unique and stylish names, I created band leader, Vinn Kringle. 

What happened to this type of music? Where did it go? 

I seem to think every musician and song I love best doesn't get the impact and recognition they really deserve anymore. I know we have to move forward, but it really staggers me that for such a chaotic world we're living in right now, I can't see why the most calm piece of entertainment is hidden by most people. I mean it's free to experience and explore around.

YouTube isn't all about content farms and trends you know.

If your a fan of classics and both exploring social media, you would know you shouldn't be afraid to search random clips of talents and performances. You don't have to pay online for movies if you don't want to, you can just freely experience around 2-5 minutes of fun. 

Speak for yourself.

The Andrews Sisters were special to me. I remember first experiencing and listening to their biggest hits, and something about these three just felt easy to appreciate and they had a sense of humor mostly when they were on screen.

Attractiveness

There was something so unique about how people looked and dressed like back in the golden age of hollywood. 

Judy Garland is one of those actresses that shine just the way you look at the fashion, and style. I truly love her, her singing voice is full of beauty.

The Amount Of Funny Stuff You'll Get

I watched a few Three Stooges shorts lately and I think it's one of the most hilarious series of entertainment I ever seen. 

If you get the outlandish speech given with one of the characters, you'll easily find it more normal to experience. The jokes and gags felt more creative and simple back then. 

Tex Avery for example would add a sign to one of his cartoons and I always found those to be hilarious since it's a sign of reality. 

I also think this is how comedy should work and not a bunch of horrendously bad celebrity roasts and shock value.

Drawn Energy

I call it this because these films can easily get stuck in your mind, and whenever your playing a song that sounds groovy to listen to, you can draw your mind into the classic animated movements of characters or real people dancing along with the song.

Remember The Three Caballeros? I usually have those dance scenes drawn into me even ever since I first watched them.

This is one of my favorite scenes from that movie. 

You see movie posters nowadays, they look good, but they're kinda lazy in terms of the cast of characters.

When I look at these, it just warms my heart because artists back then used their artistic skills to paint all these people and advertise it.

This is me bringing back that old-school spirit.

The best decades of all time relate to my drawing style and perspective of how I view creativity and knowledge.

I hope you all liked what I enjoy about these decades and their wonderful chemistry of entertainment and timeless value. 

Happy Birthday Tex Avery!

 

Today marks the 117th birthday of one of my heroes, he did everything he could to entertain millions of people including me.

Tex Avery wasn't only just an animator, he was a very influential person. I admire almost every single one of his MGM cartoons because they changed how I experience humor, also note the expressions given in one of these cartoons are fantastic.

I would assure to say that he's more powerful than Disney. That may not be an agreement with you guys, but to me I had alot of fun watching all his short films.

Not only did his expressions influence my drawing style, but so does his straightforward, chaotic and zany nature.

Why I Respect Tex Avery 

Hey, I gotta appreciate and love other people besides my parents. Tex Avery was an exaggerated genius who loved breaking the 4th wall at times. I love to draw and his characters are too easy to steal and use, and like I said in a previous post, he isn't too keen on adding filler to his cartoons. Barely any dialogue is added, and if it does, it makes sense so does other classic studios. 

While Avery hasn't been with us for 45 years, I don't want anyone to forget about this amazing person for a very long time. He's truly one of the best people in the entertainment industry.

Wanna experience some goodies in honor to pay tribute?

Here's some funny clips 

One of my favorites as of now!

Iconic song!

Love this one too! The bear's performance is hilarious.

His work at Warner Bros. is severely underrated, this is my favorite Looney Tunes cartoon by his and has the most hilarious character in it voiced by Tex himself!

In appreciation I made a drawing with one of my main characters.

Happy Birthday Tex Avery, your a legend, and you'll never be missed. 🎉 🥕 

Am I Strict With My Interests?

 

I always ask this, when someone comes across me and wants me to experience something, I always have a tough answer since my interests are really rare amongst most people out there.

The easiest thing you might say I genuinely like is art, but the aspects of what I enjoy with art is kinda hard to discuss. 

My tastes can be really difficult to understand but once you get to know me with the amount of posts I make on this blog, it's not as hard as it sounds.

Cartoons

The reasons why Tex Avery's MGM cartoons hold my heart most is for it's gags, it doesn't need to have a deep story either. It's also keen on when to add dialogue. It's pretty mixed. Some characters talk, some don't, but every word they speak has a point. It's not like those Reitherman Disney movies or modern sitcoms where people are talking for seemingly no reason. It's also useful for it's 7-9 minute runtime, it can be really straightforward at times and knows it's audience. 

There's this one gag in one of my favorite cartoons by his, Magical Maestro, where Butch sings and while singing, there's piece of hair on the screen.

It's funny because back then films would have those things on the projectors and it would instantly be gone in a few seconds. I find it distracting myself and this gag is relatable. 

Backgrounds

When it comes to backgrounds, it's kinda easy for me to choose what type I like best, but it's hard for you to decide what actually works and what doesn't since some of the backgrounds they use in the classic cartoons I don't necessarily like.

These are known as flat backgrounds. They're an underrated pleasure. This one here is solid. What I love about it is that the colors feel right and they don't feel over-saturated and intense. 

It's also easy to know where it takes place.

Just like with real paintings, they give you a perspective of the more important parts of life and nature rather than just your house and working environment.

I get sick and tired seeing a show or series being taken place and it being always sunny or peaceful, I get it, it's relaxing but I would like a little bit more effort with the setting department.

Even in moments where they don't add any details to the backgrounds is ok. But like I was saying I do have problems with scenery changes like this. If it were an empty white or black background, then that would not be amusing.

Classic Cartoon Homages + Modern Cartoons

Now we get onto these cartoons, the ones that homage a certain classic cartoon. I do have praise for these, but some don't get the actual reasons why classic cartoons were smart and clever.

One thing, I don't like Oggy And The Cockroaches for a few reasons, I think this is trying to be like the Tom and Jerry shorts but less amusing and clever. There is a way on making a cartoon like Tom and Jerry but this to me feels rather too silly and childish. 

Fine, if you like cartoons with this wacky style of energy, I'm not complaining. 

The reasons why cartoons like this don't get my attention is how surreal some of these elements can be at times. Some of it can be described as an excuse to entertain kids easily with it's foolish expressions and happy circus music playing in the background, which I always find unnerving.

I don't know if it's just that the characters are more dumber than usual or are just so erratic, you can't actually focus, but it's not a thing I would like to see in the future of animation.

Old Cartoons

Like I was saying, I don't love all the old cartoons. 

Take an already established couple like Mickey and Minnie, it's been done over a thousand times at this point. But I do have some expectations with cartoons like this. 

I planned a short called "It's A Cat's Thing" last November. It's paying homage to those Mickey vs Pete and Popeye cartoons from the 40s. 

There's good characters but it's always the same concept and story. You know that the good guy is going to win, but with my cartoons, you'll rarely be seeing these type of cartoons end up this way. 

What I like about Tom and Jerry is that while, yes it has the same character concept in almost every episode, there's more to the gags and there is variety to them. You can have them ending up in a bowling alley or Tom spending the night playing music with his friends. 

Sure, good animation can keep you invested and smiling throughout it, but do you really think you should only care about the animation in these? No. I know that when I like The Great Piggy Bank Robbery, or Disney's Legend Of Sleepy Hollow, I don't focus on the good animation, I focus on the personalities and story.  

Fantasia for example is a movie that's masterful, but I'm not striving for films like that. I love characters for a reason. They're easy to draw and easy for more personality and fun.

I personally like characters that have all elements to entertainment. Take something less cartoony like the three sailors from On The Town (1949). What I loves about these three is that they all talk naturally and move gracefully. 

I believe that characters should always keep you entertained. Using horror protagonists doesn't fit my style, that's like how reality is when dark times happen and no one really wants to watch that. 

For a love of cartoons and classic musicals there's a reason why I grew up with shows like Yo Gabba Gabba and Backyardigans. They fit with what I'm used to love nowadays. 

Animation

If the characters look good, highly detailed and have a strong sense of voice, then I don't really much care about the animation as much as I watch it. That's how I feel with shows like The Flintstones, Alvin and The Chipmunks, Huckleberry Hound, and Tennessee Tuxedo. 

I remember watching these and not being a fan of the animated frames, but now I sorta have a love with them. The designs all feel organic and memorable and are really simple to draw.

I think the reasons why I don't talk too much about anime is that besides the unique character designs, I never was invested with the animation as other people do.

I'm more drawn to animators like Rod Scribner, Manny Gould, Ward Kimball, John Sibley, mostly the old-school spirited 40s animation.

There's more to like with this type of animation style. The characters move more, there's more personality, they used model sheets.

I love almost everything animated in the golden age era even with some of my least favorite series, they still have a chance to move rubbery and playful movements.

Character Designs

My motive of what appeals to a design is the simple textures and realistic approaches.  

What I love about these old designs of my favorite characters is the accurate species given for each character design. 

I have a rare interest of loving characters dressing up in rich fancy fashion like with the George Geef cartoons.

Most people either wear what they want. I go for a casual graphic look, but how many times have you seen people wear outfits like this?

More Interesting Tastes 

If you haven't seen my ideas for The Artmania Show yet, you should check it out.

If something is nice, then I'll like it. That's all I need for looking at something. 

I love the Rankin Bass claymation specials. I haven't watch all of them, but I mostly love the designs of the characters not to mention you can tell what they all are supposed to be.

Little Golden Books are the key to making kids not watch those cringe brainrot videos on YouTube.

Sure, they cost money, but do you really think that Cocomelon or ChuChuTV can be better than this? You get 20 pages of cute characters than a painful 3 minute song with alien lyrics.

Want to experience true advertising? 

Take this.

Loved Kids Cuisine as a kid!

Commercials like this is what makes you want to buy the product. It makes sense and doesn't show you a bunch of humans singing the slogan of the company a bunch of times.