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James Maguire: Journalist, Author, Raconteur

James Maguire: Journalist, Author, Raconteur

James Maguire, Journalist, Author, Raconteur

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Hit Songs by Decade

Lists of the great hit songs year by year, over the decades. Here’s the treasure of American music — each year spotlights creative talent, and the changes over time reflect the culture’s changing tastes.

Hit Songs of the 2020s

October 14, 2022 by James Maguire
Hit Songs of 2020 Hit Songs of 2021 Hit Songs of 2022
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Hit Songs of the 2010s

January 30, 2022 by Eve Lurie
Hit Songs of 2010 100. Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart, Alicia Keyes99. Teach Me How To Dougie, Cali Swag District98. Life After You, Daughtry97. Lover, Lover, Jerrod Niemann96. King Of Anything, Sara Bareilles95. American Honey, Lady Antebellum94. …
Read moreHit Songs of the 2010s

Hit Songs of the 2000s

January 30, 2022 by Eve Lurie
Rap Supremacy to American Idol Hit Songs of 2000 Pop music in the early to mid 2000′s would see no major new directions. Instead, dominating the radio waves were sounds that listeners had heard before. Chart topper Santana had performed at Woodstock; …
Read moreHit Songs of the 2000s

Hit Songs of the 1990s

January 30, 2022 by Eve Lurie
Grunge Rock to Rap Ascendency Hit Songs of 1990 In many ways the ’80s sound keep right on going in 1990: Janet Jackson, Phil Collins, Billy Idol – these ’80s stalwarts didn’t seem to notice that the calendar had changed. But a long-brewing sound was …
Read moreHit Songs of the 1990s

Hit Songs of the 1980s

January 29, 2022 by Eve Lurie
New Wave to Shiny Pop Hit Songs of 1980 Blondie had its first hit in the 1970s, but in 1980 the band took center stage with the New Wave hit “Call Me.” New Wave music, with its urgent, straight beat, and its often ironic lyrics, was related to the …
Read moreHit Songs of the 1980s

Hit Songs of the 1970s

January 29, 2022 by Eve Lurie
Hit Songs of 1970 1970 was a major high point in American popular music. The Beatles, who would break up this year, reached the full maturity of “Let It Be” and “The Long and Winding Road.” Motown was in its glory days, as were a slew of highly creative …
Read moreHit Songs of the 1970s

Hit Songs of the 1960s

January 23, 2022 by Eve Lurie
Hit Songs of 1960 When Elvis reentered the pop scene after his army stint, he was a tamer presence, in keeping with the easy-listening sound of the early ’60s. Popular music was moving forward cautiously. However, a major change was taking place: the …
Read moreHit Songs of the 1960s

Hit Songs of the 1950s

January 23, 2022 by Eve Lurie
Mellow Crooners to the Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll The 1950s, presumably quiet, was a time of galvanic transition. Toward the decade's end, a cohort of gooey old school crooners gave way to a much edgier sound – rock 'n roll. Hit Songs of 1950 A …
Read moreHit Songs of the 1950s

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Blog

How to Be Happy: Two Choices

March 25, 2023

Fear, Loathing and Popcorn: Are Movie Theaters Doomed?

March 24, 2023

Running Days: Tales of a Teenage Oxygen Junkie

December 18, 2022

The Joy of Pfizer

April 5, 2021

George Floyd and the Protests Heard Across History

June 6, 2020

Women in Tech, Tech in Transition

October 26, 2018

The ‘Rustic Apple Tart’ (Can Barnes and Noble Survive?)

October 23, 2018

Who is James Maguire?

October 14, 2018

The Meaning of Autumn

October 12, 2018

The Red Tide in Florida: What Have We Done?

October 9, 2018

Humblebrag: I won an award for my feature writing

April 28, 2018

My Tribe in the Music Store

April 7, 2018

March for Our Lives in SF – Feelin’ It

April 1, 2018

I turned the corner and there it was….

January 21, 2018

Nightfall 

December 2, 2017

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