More Philly 500

MGK Philly 500: Past 15 Champions

• "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd (2009)

  Roger Waters got the inspiration for “Comfortably Numb” while trying to handle a stomach bug before a show at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.

  He received a shot to deal with the pain, and one of the greatest songs in the history of Rock & Roll grew from his pain management. 

  There is no pain you are receding
  A distant ship smoke on the horizon
  You are only coming through in waves
  Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re sayin

• The "Stairway To Heaven" Dynasty (2010-2013)

  It’s probably the song you think of first when you hear about classic rock.

  Robert Plant’s voice is more than likely ingrained in your head from the timeless classic that’s persisted since 1971 after the release of Led Zeppelin IV.

  And as we wind on down the road
  Our shadows taller than our soul
  There walks a lady we all know
  Who shines white light and wants to show
  How everything still turns to gold
  And if you listen very hard
  The tune will come to you at last
  When all are one and one is all, yeah
  To be a rock and not to roll

• "A Day In The Life" by the Beatles (2014)

  There’s so many classics from the Beatles for our listeners to choose from. Some might say that “Let It Be” is the best they had to offer.

  Others might make a case for “Here Comes The Sun” or “Come Together.” There’s a reason why 25 Beatles songs made the list in 2022.

  However, the simple melody of “A Day in the Life” finished in the top spot for the first of two times in 2014.

  I read the news today, oh boy
  About a lucky man who made the grade
  And though the news was rather sad
  Well, I just had to laugh

• "Hotel California" by the Eagles (2015)

  Don Henley wrote some of the most mysterious lyrics fans of Rock & Roll will ever hear for “Hotel California” in 1976.

  Regardless of the interpretation, the lyrics make the Eagles’ biggest hit even more alluring.

  Her mind is Tiffany-twisted
  She got the Mercedes Benz
  She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys
  That she calls friends

• "A Day in the Life" by The Beatles (2016)

  John Lennon spoke about the inspiration for “A Day in the Life” in 1981 in All We Are Saying.

  “I was reading the paper one day and noticed two stories. One was about the Guinness heir who killed himself in a car. That was the main headline story. He died in London in a car crash. On the next page was a story about four thousand potholes in the streets of Blackburn, Lancashire, that needed to be filled. Paul’s contribution was the beautiful little lick in the song, ‘I’d love to turn you on,’ that he’d had floating around in his head and couldn’t use. I thought it was a damn good piece of work.” -John Lennon

• "Stairway To Heaven" by Led Zeppelin (2017)

  “Stairway to Heaven” made a comeback four years later.

  It’s tough to deny the greatness of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.

  And a new day will dawn
  For those who stand long
  And the forests will echo with laughter

• "Hey Jude" by the Beatles (2018)

  It’s no surprise that the listeners voted to hear Paul McCartney sing the recognizable refrain.

  Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey, Jude

• "Who Are You" by the Who (2019)

  The Who landed 10 songs on the list in 2022, including favorites “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” towards the top of the list.

  However, it was “Who Are You” that took the top spot just four years ago. 

  I woke up in a Soho doorway
  A policeman knew my name
  He said, “You can go sleep at home tonight
  If you can get up and walk away”

• "Hey Jude" by the Beatles (2020)

  It always makes Andre Gardner happy when the Beatles get some extra love.

  Check out his weekly podcast, The Beatles Minute, for the best nuggets on Paul, John, George, and Ringo.

  Christmas Eve with #TheBeatles, anyone? I am SO stoked to bring you 10 hours of commercial free FABS starting at 2pm on @WMGK! pic.twitter.com/Mu6LghBS3N

  — Andre Gardner (@andregardner) December 7, 2021

• "Do You Feel Like We Do" by Peter Frampton (2021)

  The MGK “at work network” spoke with a surprising preference for a song that hadn’t always finished towards the top of Philly 500 list in previous years.

  Peter Frampton, however, had the perfect sendoff in the city of Philadelphia at the Met in July 2019. His reputation locally helped “Do You Feel Like We Do” gain the top spot in 2021.

  Woke up this morning with a wine glass in my hand
  Whose wine, what wine, where the hell did I dine?
  Must have been a dream. I don’t believe where I’ve been
  Come on – let’s do it again

• "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd (2022)

  It’s the quintessential Lynyrd Skynyrd song, and it’s stunning that it took so long for it to land in the top spot of the Philly 500.

  Enjoy “Free Bird” and other classics when Lynyrd Skynyrd performs with ZZ Top at MGK Big Gig on September 17 at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden.

  But if I stay here with you, girl
  Things just couldn’t be the same
  ‘Cause I’m as free as a bird now
  And this bird you cannot change