The greatest song of all time?

[Step666]

I would quite like to know which songs different people consider to be the greatest of all time and why. In my personal opinion, the greatest is the full version of Bat out of Hell, because of the wonderful intro, the great lyrics and the general 'aura' that the song has. Though there are a few close seconds, such as Kashmir and Whiskey in the Jar. Please, take the time to think it through and post a reply. Thanks.

[andy hughes]

For me it's a tie between 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling' by The Righteous Brothers, 'Walk On By' by Dionne Warwick, and 'Cry Me A River' by Julie London. The first two because the overall sound and sentiment makes them the greatest pop songs ever written, and the last because it achieves a feat which is unequalled in any other song I've ever heard - the use of the word 'plebian'. It is all subjective of course, but those hit the top spot in my list.

[sft42]

Good Lord ask a hard one why don't you!! As a gigging musician this changes from day to day and from mood to mood...there is now definitive greatest song..there may be one that you associate with the most powerful emotion in your life, or reminds you most strongly of a special time but to label any one song as greater than all the others....and now having said that can I humbly supply my shortlist of three?

Imagine - John Lennon.....a very simple musical structure and has very poignant lyrics.

Shine on...Parts I-IX - Pink Floyd......over twelve minutes of musical bliss (in an unusual key) which express great sorrow at the loss of a friend.

Dimming of the Day - Richard Thompson....had to include a love song...just to show how the emotions can be stirred by the power of a good tune.

I have to add that as always with these questions if you asked in a couple of weeks time I would probably have a totally different list...it all depends on mood and what I've been listening to recently.

[j2buttonsw]

Achy Breaky Heart by B R Cyrus: "I just don't think he'd understand".

[Robcity]

Why don't you all do yourselves a favour and check out Vidrar Vel Til Loftarasa by Sigur Ros. Pure genius, but sadly not well known..........this has 'aura' alright could almost be described as having 'aurora'!?!

[Oliver]

The recent UK poll came out with Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" at number 1 but its a matter a opinion. I would say "Mandolin Wind" by Rod Stewart or the full version of "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who. "Everything" by The Fuzz would also be up there

[froggequene]

Ordinary Man by Christy Moore and I can't make you love me by Bonnie Raitt. Two very simple songs well sung with no bells or whistles, no drama but the contents of the songs & the singers voices send chills up my spine every time. Robcity, I wouldn't worry music from the dark side (rock/metal) is on the verge of becoming fashionable again so it probably won't be long before we hear them.

[sft42]

Haha...I'm an Ordinary man, I'll only sing for 20 grand!

[gilf]

When I saw the question I thought God how the hell I'm I going to pick one song, then I saw the first answer, yes Billie Jean is the greatest record of all time. I go through times when one song is the greatest then its another but no matter how many times I hear it Billie Jean still gives me that same feeling. Also try and hunt out The Billie Jean remix of No Diggity by Blackstreet, I'm a massive Blackstreet/Teddy Riley fan but thought no Diggity was total rubbish, but the Billie Jean remix is just off the planet.

[Robcity]

froggequene - rock/metal dark side???!!!!! I would say that Sigur Ros are bordering on ambient/classical with a nod towards rock. Just get a copy of the Agaetis Byrjun CD if you like what you're reading..........simply the most beautiful album I've heard and I've heard plenty.

[gemweeks]

i would say ain't no mountain high enough. because its a song that u can never get bored of,however many times u listen to it!!

[froggequene]

Robcity, there's seems to have been a trend for a while that if music wasn't in the Top 40 then people weren't interested so for the last 10 years or so metal/rock appears to have been a minority sport, hence my referring to it as the 'dark side' but things have started to change in it's favour again. I'll think about Sigur Ros

[slimjim]

I'm with Sir Paul McCartney on this one. God Only Knows (Carl Wilson on lead).

[coggles]

I will answer this question in a few days when I have made my mind up whether it is one of Hendrix, Joan Armatrading, Charlie Parker, Harry Connick Jr, Oingo Boingo, Suzanne Vega, The Who, Madonna - I'm sure I shall have a short list soon, maybe 2 or 3 weeks, sorry!!

[coggles]

Bucks Fizz - Making your mind up......... only kidding!

[coggles]

Voodoo Chile or Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix

[Znoober]

Maybe the first two aren't the greatest (in terms of being a genuinely well made song) but there's certainly nothing better to listen to than: Boys on the Docks - Dropkick Murphys. Pack of Dogs - Lightyear. Enter Sandman - Metallica.