Music
Five of the Best: Counting Crows
The Counting Crows burst onto the scene in 1993 with the hit single Mr Jones.
The Counting Crows burst onto the scene in 1993 with the hit single Mr Jones. Since then, the American alternative rock band has continued to release great songs and attract a loyal following of fans. The Counting Crows were heavily influenced by REM, Nirvana, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and The Band and it shows. Their songs are intricate and they seamlessly produce melancholy ballads as well as more upbeat pop tracks, which highlights the Counting Crows’ versatility and talent. To celebrate the Counting Crows’ much-anticipated tour, Ticketmaster has compiled a list of what we believe to be the group’s five best songs. Take a look below, we hope you agree with our take on Five of the Best, the Counting Crows edition.
5. A Long December
A Long December was featured on the Counting Crows’ second studio album, Recovering Satellites, and enjoyed chart success around the world, including in Canada where it reached number 1 on the singles chart. The song, which is a rock ballad, was released in 1996 and is very representative of the Counting Crows’ style. The film clip is worth a watch as well – it features Friends star Courteney Cox, who dated the group’s lead singer Adam Duritz. Have a look below.
4. Accidentally In Love
There is something about the Counting Crows and film soundtracks. Their 2004 hit Accidentally In Love was featured on the soundtrack for the film Shrek 2. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost out to Al otro lado del Rio, which was featured in The Motorcycle Diaries. Accidentally In Love was also nominated for a Grammy Award and Golden Globe. The song is a very fun, pop tune and is quite different to the more alternative offerings we have come to expect from the Counting Crows; even the film clip features a fanciful cartoon of a bunny with dreadlocks, which is voiced by the group’s lead singer Adam Duritz – check it out below.
3. Hanginaround
Hanginaround was featured on the Counting Crows’ third studio album, This Desert Life, which was released in 1999. The song is an upbeat tune and has an equally fun film clip, which you can see below. The song represents the first time the band experimented with different recording techniques, including piano looping. The result is an interesting sound and a catchy song that we feel is a great example of a Counting Crows hit.
2.Big Yellow Taxi
Big Yellow Taxi was written and originally recorded by Joni Mitchell in 1970 and has been the subject of many cover versions over the past 40 years. Many big names have performed the iconic song including Amy Grant and Bob Dylan, but it was the 2002 version by the Counting Crows that enjoyed the greatest chart success. The song was a hidden track on the group’s album, Hard Candy, but enjoyed wider success on the soundtrack of the film Two Weeks Notice after it was recorded with backing vocals by Vanessa Carlton. The song is very sentimental and is heavily focused on the environment. Mitchell wrote the song in Hawaii after she saw a huge parking lot, hence the line ‘they paved paradise and put up a parking lot’. We love this song and we think the Counting Crows version is fantastic.
1. Mr Jones
Mr Jones is one of those songs that just about everyone loves. It is a must-have song on your party playlist and amazingly was the lead single on the Counting Crows’ first album, About August and Everything. As well as being the Counting Crows’ first and most-successful hit, it remains their most popular single to date and was the track that put the group on the map. We think this song perfectly captures the essence of the Counting Crows and it is a very deserving number one on the list of the group’s best tracks. We hope you enjoy it!
The Counting Crows will perform at The Civic on April 14, 2015. Click here to purchase your tickets now.
