Let’s fast forward and see what he picks as his top five – no pressure:

5: Lola

Ray Davies (1970); DV: The Kinks

Witty, compassionate, inspirational song of confused, transgender love, boasting dazzling rhymes, exultant melody and explosive emotion.

4: Unchained Melody

Alex North & Hy Zaret (1955); DV: The Righteous Brothers (1965)

A thousand karaoke versions cannot destroy this epic, vocally demanding ballad.

3: Tangled Up in Blue

Bob Dylan (1975)

Dylan’s dazzling narrative of star-crossed love and divorce was shaped by abstract art into a tableaux you can come at from any angle and discover something new.

2: Let It Be

Lennon & McCartney (1970); DV: The Beatles (1970)

Anthem of consolation, inspired by Paul McCartney’s dream of a visit from his own mother, Mary.

1: Life On Mars?

David Bowie (1971)

Gloriously strange sci-fi anthem. A stirring, yearning melody combines with vivid, poetic imagery to accomplish a trick very particular to the art of the song: to be at once completely impenetrable and yet resonant with personal meaning. You want to raise your voice and sing along, yet Bowie’s abstract cut-up lyrics force you to invest the song with something of yourself just to make sense of the experience, and then carries you away to a place resonant with intense, individual emotion. The magic and mystery of music and lyrics. It is something to behold.

Neil is definitely a fan of the old school, but then again when your music is still relevant almost half a century later you must be doing something right.

[source:telegraph]