Shaolin

Here's a sample of the top 10:

1. Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan, 1965
2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones, 1965
3. Imagine, John Lennon, 1971
4. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye, 1971
5. Respect, Aretha Franklin, 1967
6. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys, 1966
7. Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry, 1958
8. Hey Jude, The Beatles, 1968
9. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana, 1991
10. What'd I Say, Ray Charles, 1959

The entire list can be seen here.

It's a pretty long and comprehensive list, and alot of the songs on it were out before I was even alive. But I'm definitely interested in checking out some Bob Dylan now (his songs are all over the list).

Are there any songs that you guys think should be ranked higher or lower? Are there any songs that you like that didn't make the cut?

I was happy and a little surprised to see Hey Ya! by Outkast (one of my favourite groups) ranked at #180. "But what's cooler than being cool? ICE COLD!!"

a n d i

bob dylan is one of the best singer/songwriters ever and i truly believe that, but i think he has better songs than 'like a rolling stone' but that's just my opinion.

either way, i thoroughly dislike lists of this sort, because to compile it, they would have to ask people that know every single song ever made in the history of the world, and that's just not probable.

a lot of the songs on the list are personal favourites of mine, though.

*Dark_Angel*4eva

Considering that I don't know half the songs on the list and that more than 80% of it were way before my time... I'm happy two of Eminem's songs are on it (Stan and Lose Yourself)... they're songs that you'll like immediately after just one listen, in my opinion anyway.

Thumbs up to: The Beatles and Elvis Prestley. The best band of the millenium and the best musician of the millenium, imo.

fallfromgrace

I think "Hey Jude" should have taken #1, but that's just me...

**SuperGirl**

Good Vibrations is #6? Eh...IMO, I'm sure a better song could have been put up there in replace of that.

alli balli

I'm not a big Bob Dylan fan so I definitely don't agree with "Like a Rolling Stone" as #1. And as Entertainment Weekly pointed out, it's kind of like them naming "That's Entertainment!" as Most Entertaining Song Ever.

I love the Rolling Stones, but I think their best song is "Wild Horses," which is on the list but IMO should be further up. And "Let It Be" (the Beatles, obviously.) And U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" should be further up.

I loved that Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" was on it, though.

*~*Sparkle*~*

I wasn't too disappointed with Rolling Stone's top albums list, but the song list is just ridiculous. First, as someone already pointed out, there is no way to make a list of the best songs without having considered everything. Second, the list is compiled of only about twenty artists or at least it seems that way. Don't get me wrong, they're all extremely talented in their own way, but I hate that the list perpetuates the myth that no great music has been made in the past twenty years. The majority of the public buys crap so few get to hear those great, new artists and sadly not many want too. *sigh

a n d i

Exactly! Sure there's so much rubbish music that's been made in the last 20 years, but it's mostly because a lot of good bands don't get the coverage they deserve. There's some amazing artists that have been working in the past couple of decades who are just as good as the likes of many on the list.

Another thing about the list was that there was only what 1 song by the Cure and one song by the Smiths. IMO they are two of the greatest bands to have come out of the 80s and the songs that were on the list, weren't even their best.

I'm Not Your Boy Toy

i dont think nirvana should even be on the list but thats just me

ROCKSTAR

My thoughts:

--"Yesterday" by The Beatles should've been in the Top Ten
--"Purple Haze" and "Smells like Teen Spirit" are absolute great, envelope pushing songs. Beautiful choices!
--I don't know if "Stairway to heaven" should be higher than "Light my fire"
--"No Woman, No Cry" def had to be there on that top 50!
--"Heartbreak Hotel" is #45 and while it would seem low, the others before make it hard to argue with this position.
--"Billie Jean", "Louie Louie" and "Dancin' in the Streets" totally deserve to be there.
--"I'm so lonesome I could cry" right on! Great pacing, flowy lyrics, awesome song!
--"I want you back" by Jackson 5, great choice.
--I'm surprised to see "Will you love me tomorrow" so high at #125
--"I wanna be sedated" this list would've been a fraud without it!
--"Earth angel" This people have taste, great choice!!
--"Nothing compares to you" by Sinead O'Connor is a cover. I'm surprised it's there so high up, but it IS a wonderful version. Probably one of the most beautiful, haunting songs ever sung.
--"Papa was a rolling stone" at #168!!! It deserved to be in the Top 100.
--"Bohemian Rhapsody" of course.
--"Dancing Queen" before "Free Fallin'". The first a bigger hit but "Free Fallin'" was the better song. I love both though.

--"Stayin' Alive" has to be somewhere in there.
--Funny to see Bob Dylan's "Knocking on heaven's door" up there. Most people don't realize this is not an original GNR song I always love to break it to them...
--"There goes my baby" is such a fantastic song. Good choice. Also "Peggy Sue" is not my fave oldie but it's a good song.
--Wow... "Sweet child of mine" is the first GNR song on the list! I would've bet it was going to be "Welcome to the Jungle".
--"Loser" by Beck Nice choice, and it comes after a bunch of timeless songs and it still belongs there.
--"Lean on Me" HAD to be there.
--"1999" by Prince... Now that's a song!
--"Only the Lonely" classic.
--"Paranoid Android" ha ha! You better recognize!
--"Wild Thing" of course.

ROCKSTAR

--"Oo baby baby" beautiful... In Lorne's words "He doesn't like Smokey Robinson and the Miracles? I thought you said this kid had a soul!" I rest my case.
--"Sunday Bloody Sunday" nothing like good ol' political epics.
--"Born in the U.S.A." Staple of modern american music
--"Like a Prayer" Probably Madonna's most controversial outing, and one of her best.
--Eminem rocking the list with outstanding songs. Oscar material and all.
--"Say it aloud, I'm black and I'm proud" James Brown at its best, which is like, always.
--"Why do fools fall in love" another that had to be there.
--"Wish you were here" by Pink Floyd, recently covered by Coldplay if I'm not mistaken. Great song, great cover.
--"School's out" by my man Alice Cooper. My fave AC song is "Hell is living without you" but this is a classic.
--"Fight the power", Public Enemy, freakin' groundbreaking!
--Great section, "La Bamba" followed by "California Love" and "Candle in the wind".
--"Tears in Heaven" this is what it's all about...
--"Sweet Dreams" woo hoo, timeless as is "Killing me softly". Two songs that were covered and given new life but still are better than its second versions which are superb.
--"Unchained Melody" followed by "How deep is your love" phew! Talk about soul!
--Surprised and delighted to see "Bittersweet symphony" there. Yeah!
--Metallica's "Enter Sandman" makes it. Funny how Metallica's most memorable efforts are from "The Black Album" when some fans regard to it as the sell out album and where everything fell apart. But in all fairness, it's hard epic to top.
--"I believe I can fly" awesome, awesome.
--I can't believe "Nuthin' but a 'G' thang" made it. It deserves it, though.
--Some people think "Piano Man" is cheesy but I'm glad it's here. It's a good song with atmosphere to burn.
--Finally there's "Welcome to the Jungle" by GNR though "Paradise City" is higher.
--"I will survive" should be higher but it's there.



Now, going over it all I realize it is impossible to please everybody. There are incredily influential songs that need to be there although some other might be better musically.

Great list, though. I had a blast going through it!

dawsonandjo1

This is a great list. They named so many wonderful songs. Finally a list I agree with.

I am so happy to see that "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman made the list. You can't have a list without "Dancing Queen." I can't believe "Rappers Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang made the list. I love that song. Glad to see "Baba O'Riley" by The Who made the list. "California Love by Tupac definitely deserves to be there.

"Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve is a great song so is "O-o-h Child" by The Five Stairsteps. I'm happy to see "The Kinks" made the list but my favorite song "Come Dancing" didn't make it.


I’m glad to see that Donna Summer made the list but I can’t believe they didn’t include Sister Sledge “We are Family.” Irene Cara didn’t make the list either.

sweetvlady

I very much agree with that. it really upsets me when people say "i like this artist/band, but only their old stuff" because most of the time, they're only saying it to impress people with their old-school knowledge on that certain artist/band. Musicians themselves are constantly commenting on how the music industry is on a downward spiral and "rock is dying," etc. and the public believes that and just closes its ears to any new talent. That makes me upset because there's beautiful music everywhere today - not just stuck in the 60's.