Your Favorite Song of the Past 25 Years: Anniversary Contest 
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To celebrate the magazine’s 25th anniversary, American Songwriter invited our readers to weigh in on what they thought was the #1 song written, recorded or released from 1984 to 2009.
After reading through thousands of entries, we felt that Paul Kimball’s 100 words about Richard Thompson’s “Vincent Black Lightning 1952” captured what we felt was a very strong argument for a very worthy song. Here’s what Paul wrote:
“1952 Vincent Black Lightning,” from Richard Thompson’s 1991 album Rumor and Sigh, is the finest song composed in the last 25 years. James is a romantic, an outlaw, and a man of refined tastes. He loses his life in a robbery gone wrong, but not before having the opportunity to bequeath his passion, his morality, and his motorcycle to the redheaded girl of his dreams. The song is a modern folk ballad that’s as close to perfection as any I’ve heard. Powerfully played and originally sung, its frequency as a cover tune testifies to its appeal and durability.
For Pauls’ effort, our friends at Gibson Acoustic (in Bozeman, Montana) sent Paul a brand new Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Standard Acoustic Guitar. Paul will be playing his Gibson live with his band Careless Hearts and also at home, with his kids.
Check out Paul and Careless Hearts on American Songspace: www.americansongspace.com/carelesshearts
To honor american songwriter’s 25th anniversary it is only fitting that Bob Seger’s “Like a Rock” be selected as my favorite song of the past 25 years. The song is a soulful lament of days gone by, with haunting vocals and a slide guitar that is spine tingling. The words of this song engage the mind, but the music captures the heart. Bob Seger was at the height of his career when he used his art once again to put common american experience into a song that we can all share.
There really isn’t a single song or songwriter that I could say is my all time favorite as there are so many great songs and great writers who have blessed us over the years with music that has encouraged , educated and entertained me as the years have flown by. However, I would nominate a song written by Jimmy Webb and performed by a group that found their name in the title of this song “The Highwayman”. I do believe it is one of the all-time great songs from the last quarter of a century that American Songwriter has been documenting and supporting.
It’s gotta be “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley.
This song has made such an incredible impact on the music industry. Just search for it on Youtube and you’ll find countless covers. It’s such a deep and remarkable song that it usually takes on various meanings to people. I think that’s the mark of an amazing song. A song that basically every person who listens to it can relate to. And that’s what I think it is.
Nice guitar! I’d say ‘Summer Of ’69” by Bryan Adams. it just has that wonderful vibe…..feels good and creates the right images.
I also like “Imagine” by John Lennon as one of the greatest songs but it was written before 1984.
For me, the one song that haunts me is “Step Inside This House” written by Guy Clark and recorded by Lyle Lovett in 1998. I have never heard a song like that before or since. A man sums up his life and it’s worth by the meager contents of his home. If you don’t know it, give it a listen. You won’t be disappointed.