Since everybody loves a good list, here is my list of ten well-built songs (I hesitate to call it a Top Ten list, since there are inevitably other songs that I've forgotten). A well-built song need not be the greatest song in the world, have the deepest message, or even be one of your favourites -- it's just a song that's solid from start to finish. It isn't too long or short, it doesn't get old, it's well-crafted, and it says what it needs to say, maximizing the potential of whatever style it's in. Here are my picks, in roughly chronological order (with Amazon samples):

1. Monkees - Pleasant Valley Sunday
2. Beach Boys - God Only Knows
3. Huey Lewis - Power of Love
4. Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer
5. Guns and Roses - Sweet Child of Mine
6. Eminem - Till I Collapse
7. Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved
8. No Doubt - It's My Life
9. Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get Retarded
10. Muse - Hysteria

As you can see, the genres in my list are all over the map. In essence, these are songs that I would leave unchanged if I were ever rewriting music books. Do you have any songs you'd define as "well-built"^TM? Disagree? Please share!

Happy Birthday, Doobie!