This list of songs is inspired by lists published by radio station KEXP-FM from Seattle in 2010, as well as the latest poll taken in 2021 by Rolling Stone Magazine. For the most part I will faithfully countdown from their lists, starting at Song #500 and going until I reach Song #1. When you see the song title listed as something like: Song #XXX (KEXP)….it means that I am working off of the official KEXP list. Song XXX (RS) means the song is coming from the Rolling Stone list. If I post the song title as being: Song #xxx (KTOM), it means I have gone rogue and am inserting a song choice from my own personal list of tunes I really like. In any case, you are going to get to hear a great song and learn the story behind it. Finally, just so everyone is aware, I am not a music critic nor a musician. I am a music fan and an armchair storyteller. Here is the story behind today’s song. Enjoy.
KEXP: The Top 500 Songs in Modern Music History.
Song #341: “You’ve Gotta Fight for Your Right To Party” by The Beastie Boys.
This song and post are dedicated to my beautiful wife, Keri MacInnes.
The song, “You’ve Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party” by “The Beastie Boys” was originally meant as satire; spoofing the keg-draining antics of Frat boys and local louts, made famous in such songs as “Thin Lizzy’s, “The Boys Are Back in Town”. Ironically enough, my wife, who goes around all day singing phrases and snippets of songs (but never the whole song) likes to sing the chorus to both of these songs. My wife is the coolest wife I know, just saying. 
Anyway, “The Beastie Boys” were a Rap group from NYC that formed in 1981. They were comprised of Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock), Adam Yauch (MCA) and Michael Diamond (Mike D.) Originally, their rhymes were comedic, in nature and, although their skills were clearly evident, they weren’t always taken seriously as Hip Hop artists. This is why the reaction was what it was when they released, “You’ve Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party”. Most people thought the group was endorsing out-of-control house parties when, in fact, they were attempting to spoof them. As they career progressed, audiences began to “get” who “The Beastie Boys” were and what they were trying to do and, as a result, the group had numerous hit songs such as “Hey Ladies!”, “So Whatcha Want?”, “Sabotage” and many more. They have sold over 20 million albums worldwide and were inducted to The Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 (only the third Hip Hop group so honoured at the time).
In 2012, Adam Yauch passed away due to cancer causing the remaining members to retire the name “Beastie Boys”, going forward. But, while he was alive and the group was writing and performing, “The Beastie Boys” were among the top Hip-Hop groups in the world. And, to think that it was a Hip Hop song sung by my wife, Keri K., that got them started. Here is, “You’ve Gotta Fight for Your Right to Parrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrty!” Enjoy.
The link to the video for the song, “You’ve Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party” by The Beastie Boys, can be found here.
The link to the official website for The Beastie Boys, can be found here.
Thanks, KEXP, for always supporting good music in all genres. The link to their official website can be found here.
Tom MacInnes, Writer 