The Top 10 ’Na Na Na’ Songs

In this special Thanksgiving episode of 'Past Tens: A Top 10 Time Machine,' hosts Dave and Milt take listeners on a nostalgic journey through the best uses of 'Na Na Na' in rock and roll history. From iconic tracks like The Beatles' 'Hey Jude' to Wilson Pickett's 'Land of 1,000 Dances,' they countdown the top ten tunes featuring this catchy vocal motif. Along the way, they discuss memorable guest appearances, concert experiences, and personal anecdotes, making for a fun and engaging romp through music history.

Topics

03:21 Defining the 'Na Na' Phenomenon

07:59 Top 10 'Na Na' Songs Countdown Begins

08:29 Number 10: One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful

09:57 Number 9: Pink - So What

13:15 Number 8: Deep Purple - Hush

15:32 Number 7: Michael Jackson - PYT (Pretty Young Thing)

21:05 Number 6: Roxette - The Look

24:03 Number 5: J. Geils Band - Centerfold

29:11 Number 4: Steam - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

31:29 Couch Potato TV and Squid Game

32:02 The Song Nobody Remembers

33:30 Journey's Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'

35:32 Yacht Rock Gold Concert Experience

38:16 The Viral Stadium Chants

39:17 Ranking the Top Na Na Songs

43:24 Honorable Mentions and Also-Rans

54:15 The Beatles' Hey Jude

59:27 Thanksgiving and Whamageddon

(A Tribute to Past Tens’ Thanksgiving Jam)

'Twas the day before turkey, and all through the pod,
Dave and Milt were debating (their taste? Kind of odd).
Their quest? To rank the best "Na Na Na" sounds,
From Beatles to Pickett, those sweet vocal rounds.

“Hey Jude,” they agreed, had a 'Na' that won hearts,
But Wilson Pickett’s groove? It tears dance floors apart.
A sprinkle of na-na, a dash of hoo-haa,
Add Springsteen or glam rock, now we’ve got a hurrah!

Dave chimed in, “Remember that gig in ‘85?
When the crowd chanted 'Na Na Na,' feeling so alive?”
Milt laughed, “Oh sure, but you missed my surprise,
A drunk dude sang all the na’s — and we nearly died!”

Each track got a story, a chuckle, a thought,
Like finding gold coins in a musical pot.
They dissected each na with scholastic precision,
While still poking fun with sarcastic derision.

“Was there ever a bad na?” Milt queried aloud,
Dave smirked, “Remember that band who played too proud?
Their ‘Na Na Na’ bombed—it was pure rock disgrace,
They made Nickelback sound like a Grammy showcase!”

As the countdown continued, nostalgia ran wild,
“Remember that na? Oh, it’s so juvenile!”
But that’s the magic of this syllabic delight,
It’s a chorus for rebels, for love, for the night.