Happiness is a warm song

We all have our favorite songs. I, for one, can’t get enough of those poppy 1980s tunes that blared out of my television set during the golden era of MTV. “I Ran,” yeah. But what songs actually define an era? My friend Mike Holmes likes to ask such questions. And, as always, he likes to immediately offer up his own answers. Here is what he e-mailed me this morning:

“Dan: I consider these songs to be the top five in terms of defining the ’60s era. Whatta you think? (Order subject to discussion): 1. ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ (Janis Joplin), 2. ‘White Rabbit’ (Jefferson Airplane) , 3. ‘Truckin’ ’ (The Grateful Dead), 4. ‘Purple Haze’ Jimi Hendrix, 5. ‘Street Fighting Man’ (The Rolling Stones).

“It’s funny that nothing by the Beatles sprang immediately to mind,” Mike continued. “I just sat down and the five above sort of came out.”

To which I added five others for consideration: “Like a Rolling Stone,” Bob Dylan, “Born to Be Wild,” Steppenwolf, “For What It’s Worth,” Buffalo Springfield , “Light My Fire,” The Doors, “Sounds of Silence,” Simon & Garfunkel.

Did I miss anything? “Happiness Is a Warm Gun ,” maybe?