JAMES HETFIELD, OZZY OSBOURNE Reveal Their 'Greatest Songs Of All Time'

December 6, 2004

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield and BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne have revealed their Top Ten Greatest Songs Of All Time in the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine. Their picks are as follows:

James Hetfield (METALLICA)

01. "Free Bird – LYNYRD SKYNYRD

James Hetfield: "Nothing tops this workingman's ballad. 'Free Bird' fit my life for the first 20 years on the road — not really getting too attached to stuff, living life for the moment and moving on."

02. "Stairway to Heaven" – LED ZEPPELIN

James Hetfield: "When I first got a guitar, I figured out the first couple of fingerings to this, and I ran around the house saying, 'Check it out — I can play this!' My family was like, 'Where's the rest of the song?'"

03. "Jailhouse Rock" – ELVIS PRESLEY

James Hetfield: "I remember seeing that video of him jumping around behind bars with all his buddies. It encapsulates rebellion, which is really just misguided creativity."

04. "Behind Blue Eyes" – THE WHO

James Hetfield: "This song had all that teen angst bubbling under it. It's about asking for help but not really wanting it. Reminds me a lot of me."

05. "Candle in the Wind" – ELTON JOHN

James Hetfield: "'Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting' was more my style, but few songs can top this melody."

06. "God Only Knows" – THE BEACH BOYS

James Hetfield: "I got on a BEACH BOYS kick again about six months ago. I gew up in Southern California; to me, this songs speaks to a higher power."

07. "Yesterday" – THE BEATLES

James Hetfield: "It instantly connected with me. It makes you think, but not too gard."

08. "Black Sabbath" – BLACK SABBATH

James Hetfield: "This song scared the shit out of me. It's beyond heavy."

09. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" – NIRVANA

James Hetfield: "When all that Eighthies hair metal was getting overproduced, NIRVANA came along with this thrashy garage sound and a huge hook. It was what music needed."

10. "The Boys Are Back In Town" – THIN LIZZY

James Hetfield: "Phil Lynott was never afraid to write from the heart, even if it was a little corny. THIN LIZY inspired a lot of METALLICA's guitar harmonies."

Ozzy Osbourne (BLACK SABBATH)

01. "A Day in the Life" – THE BEATLES

Ozzy Osbourne: "It takes me back to a magical time in my life."

02. "Imagine" – JOHN LENNON

Ozzy Osbourne: "This song will never get old for me."

03. "Live and Let Die" – PAUL MCCARTNEY AND WINGS

Ozzy Osbourne: "A fucking great song. I Love it!"

04. "Money" – PINK FLOYD

Ozzy Osbourne: "Reminds me of my LSD days. I'm glad I survived"

05. "Mississippi Queen" – MOUNTAIN

Ozzy Osbourne: "This one brings back memories of my very first U.S. tour with BLACK SABBATH."

06. "Hey Jude" – THE BEATLES

Ozzy Osbourne: "Hands down one of the greatest songs ever written."

07. "Yesterday" – THE BEATLES

Ozzy Osbourne: "I would have loved to have heard the working-title version, 'Scrambled Eggs'."

08. "Don’t' Let Me Be Understood" – THE ANIMALS

Ozzy Osbourne: "It's always been a favorite of mine."

09. "Dazed and Confused" – LED ZEPPELIN

Ozzy Osbourne: "My world stood still the first time I heard this."

10. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" – ELTON JOHN

Ozzy Osbourne: "Great melody. Great lyrics. Great song. I love Elton John!"

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