5 of the best!

[Machiavelli]

Pick a musical genre, anything you want, it can be as narrow or broad as you please ('classic jazz pieces' is just as acceptable as 'Finnish death metal ballads from november of 1994') and give 5 tracks that you consider quintessential to anyone who's interested in that sort of thing (with links if possible!). Let your fellow Sundarians know a little about you through the sublime medium of music, and give 'em something to listen to while they trll the forums .

[Deathmage]

Queen. That's right, Queen. The band. Or "songs that are written by Queen". There's more to them than Bohemian Rhapsody..though that should be essential listening too. I'm going to name off some of their less known pieces...
1) The Prophet's Song - although the large bit at the middle sucks completely, this song segs into Love of my Life, and has some very interesting lyrics and imagery. Very worth listening to.(A Night at the Opera album)
2) White Queen - melodic, melancholic piece with an amazing acoustic guitar solo... (Queen II album)
3) It's Late - hard rock with a good story! (News of the World album)
4) The Millionaire Waltz - dandy flighty whimsical Queenship mixed with amazing virtuoso in both guitar and bass (A Day at the Races album)
5) Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon - example of Queen's insane genres, and proves their complete and utter silliness (A Night at the Opera album - this song is only about one minute long!)

All those could, of course, be found at your local Youtube. Just to be annoying I'm going to also cite another genre - neoclassical! It's basically classical music played with an eletrical guitar that may or may not consist of original compositions.

All of these are Malmsteen...and can be found on Youtube.
1) Icarus Dream Fanfare
2) Prelude to April (links into)
3) Toccota
4) Vivace
5) No idea, so go listen to Jason Mraz's "10,000 Motherfuckers" if you can. Completely unrelated to the genre, but still a v. good song. I think it's fairly rare though.

I think, by focusing on just seperate composers, I'm totally being unfair, but whatever. :P Technically, Queen is a genre! Sort of...not really...

[Machiavelli]

Mach's slightly extended 80s of happenin' hip hop

Subject to what's on you-tube, here's Mach's picks of '79 to '90 hip hop tracks that you really shouldn't be without (though there are many many more).

Sugar Hill Gang, Rapper's Delight (Classic!)

Herbie Hancock, Rockit (Seminal!)

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, The Message (Well duh!)

Eric B. and Rakim, Paid in Full (Classy!...It's the coldcut remix, but that's not a bad thing)

Public Enemy, 911 is a Joke (Go Flavour!)

[Vavutsikarios]

Classical Eastern Music (ottoman style mainly)

Muhayerkurdi Saz Semai by Sadi Isilay (best piece of music ever IMO)
Nihavent Saz Semai by Tanburi Cemil Bey
Huseyni Ayir Semai by Zakharia Khanendeh
Mahur Saz Semai by Kemenceci Nikolaki
Karcigar Saz Semai by Tatyos Efendi

[Dune]

Real music (good genre guys)

Muse - Supermassive Black hole
QOTSA - No one knows
Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit
Queen - Don't stop me now
Blood Hound Gang - Ballad of Chasey Lane

[rustediron]

JROCK!! YEAH!

1) L'arc~en~ciel, READY STEADY GO
2) Nightmare, THE WORLD
3) Nightmare, Akane
4) High and Mighty Color, FLASHBACK

and 5) isn't JRock, but who cares! It's AWESOME!
Younha, HOUKI BOSHI
+ korean ver.

[cmosier]

Classic Rock I suppose.

"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zepplin

"Simple Man" by Lynard Skynard

"We are the Champions" by Queen

"Brain Damage" by Pink Floyd

"Friend of the Devil" by The Grateful Dead

[Jaeram]

I like rustedirons list.

[Venture]

I dig on the surf/ rockabilly

Cramps....any song really
Reverend horton heat...Marijuana, bales of cocaine, psycho billy freak out
Dick Dale....Miserlou (you all know it)
Link Wray (the REAL king of rock 'n roll, the man that gave us distortion) Most notable song, Rumble (you all know it aswell) batman theme
Deadbolt (cant pick a favorite)
Forbidden Dimesion (Alberta underground band, there deadly wicked)

And foetus, for the Venture Brothers theme song.

[rustediron]

I vaguely remember seeing a Haruhi in someone's avatar so...

HARUHIISM!

1) Hare Hare Yukai + Dance
2) God knows...
3) Yuki, Muon, Madobe Nite

+ thank yous to Jaeram

[nickbeat]

I'll go with punk music, late 70s.

Stiff Little Fingers - Suspect Device
Fear - Lets Have a War
T.S.O.L. - Code Blue
The Ramones - Sheena is a Punk Rocker
T. V. Party - Black Flag

[KingLeper]

Love those Nickbeat. Have been into the oldschool hardcore/punk bands for about 20 years now. Been in a few punk bands myself. But I do also love alot of other stuff. Here would be a list. Sorry, not just top 5.

1) anything by the following: Black Flag, Minor Threat, Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys, the Jesus Lizard, Sick of it All, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Screeching Weasel, Ramones, the Suicide Machines, the Clash, M.D.C., the Letters Organize, the Refused, the Misfits (old not new), Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, the Pixies, Fear, Nirvana, A Tribe Called Quest, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and many more.

Sorry that was way more than 5. Lol.

[Cade]

Bach - Brandenburg Concerto 2 (though all are excellent)
Verdi - Dies Irae from Verdis' Requeam
Henry 8th - Past time with good company
Josquin des Prez - La déploration de Johan Ockeghem
John Adams - Short ride in a fast machine

[darcane]

Nevermore-This Godless endeavor
Darkane-Insanity
Soilwork-Chainheart Machine
Arsis-We Are the Nightmare/A celebration of Guilt
Dark Tranquility-The Gallery
Scar Symmetry-Pitch Black Progress
Queensryche-Operation Mindcrime
Testament-The Gathering
Mercenary-Everblack
H.I.M-Venus Doom
Motely Crue-Dr. Feelgood
Necrophagist-Epitaph
Decapitated-Nihility
Dissection-Storm of the Light's Bane

[Machiavelli]

Bach - Brandenburg Concerto 2 (though all are excellent)
Verdi - Dies Irae from Verdis' Requeam
Henry 8th - Past time with good company
Josquin des Prez - La déploration de Johan Ockeghem
John Adams - Short ride in a fast machine

*makes a note that Cade has class*

John Adams is teh shiznitz!