If you question twenty individuals about their favorite music, you are likely to get twenty different answers about what they believe to be the best. What makes music so beautiful is the fact that it is presented in this manner. Even while what others have to say is equally essential, it is what a great song may accomplish that is more crucial to consider. Critics and fans alike believe that this is the ultimate compilation of the greatest songs ever recorded. In order to compile this list, we utilized the following two rating systems: The Ranker’s The Best Songs of All Time and the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time are two of the most renowned song lists in the world, and they are both published by Ranker. Let’s get this celebration started, shall we?
Do You Consider These To Be The Greatest Songs Ever Written Or Do You Disagree
‘Gimme Shelter’ — The Rolling Stones
Did you know that Keith Richards composed this song in less than 20 minutes, according to a legend? Isn’t it amazing how far we’ve come? The song “Gimme Shelter” had a long-lasting impact on people who heard it, and it continues to do so today. It was, however, “Let It Bleed,” which functioned as the album’s first track and was never released as a single, that served as the album’s opening track. The fact that this has occurred many times does not rule out the possibility of a solo single being released. The song was played by the Rolling Stones and others, including Florence Welch, Mary J. Blige, and Lady Gaga, as part of their 50th-anniversary tour, which began in 2012.
Gimme Shelter
‘One’ — U2
In 2008, U2 released their third studio album, “Achtung Baby,” which included this song as a bonus track. ‘Mysterious Ways,’ which was released earlier this year, serves as the album’s second single, and it is the follow-up to that first single, ‘Mysterious Ways,’ which was published earlier in the year. According to an earlier article by Rolling Stone, the Edge had two more bridge concepts in mind. With a puzzled expression on his face, Bono took a look at the other one and instantly started composing fresh lyrics for it, clearly baffled by what he was witnessing. Contrary to common perception, it had not been anticipated that the wedding ring “One” would become as famous as it has become.
One
‘No Woman, No Cry’ — Bob Marley
Our best version of “No Woman, No Cry” comes from the 1974 album “Natty Dread” (not the original one). While this specific prize was given to the individual who appeared at the Lyceum Theatre’s performance of “Live!” On July 17, 1975, the whole credit for putting together such a magnificent production should be given to his creative team. The performance of a set from Bob Marley’s Natty Dread Tour was a highlight of the occasion. During a performance of the song, he paid homage to his boyhood buddy, Vincent “Tata” Ford, by saying, “I couldn’t have written this song without you.” “I would not have been able to write this song if it hadn’t been for you, Vincent ‘Tata’ Ford.”
No Woman No Cry
‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ — The Righteous Brothers.
The Righteous Brothers’ version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” was the first time the song was heard, back in 1964. It also peaked at the top of the charts in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America. After a year, the song’s popularity continued to soar at an exponential pace, beyond all expectations. In the United States, it rose to the fifth spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list, where it remains today. The artists that have been featured include Hall & Oates and Dionne Warwick, to name a few. The performance of Bill Medley, who was the original performer, on the other hand, was unbeatable by anybody else. Seeing that there was no music in the beginning of the song, its following phrase became memorable: “You can’t shut your eyes when I kiss your lips anymore.”
Youve Lost That Lovin Feeling
‘Sympathy For The Devil’ — The Rolling Stones
Through their long and illustrious history, the Rolling Stones have encountered more than their fair share of challenges. After the release of their album “Beggars Banquet,” the rock band “The Rolling Stones” released their song “Sympathy for the Devil.” The song was taken from the album and was released a year after the album’s release. Upon its introduction, this technique of collecting information was generally embraced by the general public. Churches and religious groups that believed they were worshipping the devil voiced their displeasure with the result, despite the fact that they had raised major concerns. Rolling Stone magazine interviewed the band in 1995 when they were on a promotional tour for their forthcoming album. They discussed their future intentions at the time. It was because of the way French literature was written at the time he was writing it, Mick Jagger said when asked how he came up with the term.
Sympathy For The Devil
‘I Walk The Line’ — Johnny Cash
In the midst of his service in the Air Force, Johnny Cash started working on “I Walk the Line,” which would go on to become his trademark song. It took him almost a decade before he was able to get a picture of the occurrence on camera. As a consequence, he discovered that the strange sound that developed during the experiment had an appealing quality to it. The flavor of the guitar was improved as a result of his placing a piece of wax paper over the strings of the instrument. He had a specific method in mind when he wrote his first Billboard chart-topping song, and he utilized it to achieve success.
I Walk The Line
‘River Deep – Mountain High’ — Ike and Tina Turner
In his capacity as a producer, Phil Spector’s favorite song is “River Deep – Mountain High,” a song by Ike and Tina Turner that was published in 1966. That is the attitude held by a large number of people throughout the world. It was ranked as the 33rd most popular song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. In 1999, the album was formally admitted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its contribution to popular music. In describing the process of putting it together, Turner stated, “It was an unforgettable event.” Spector had her perform the song for hours at a time in order to achieve “perfection,” which he deemed necessary.
River Deep
‘Help!’ — The Beatles
As John Lennon said himself in an interview with Playboy magazine in 1980 about the significance of the song “Help!”, he said, “I don’t know whether there are hidden depths in that song.” Columbia Records released the song as a single in July 1965, and it became a hit. It became a worldwide hit during the peak of Beatlemania, when the song was released. It’s a fast rock ‘n’ roll tune, according to the majority of the public,” he said. While I was in tears and in urgent need of help, my friend was in good spirits. After learning that he had been commissioned to write the theme song for the film, he recalls, “it wasn’t until long later that I realized what had happened.”
Help
‘People Get Ready’ — The Impressions
The Impressions’ song “People Get Ready” is generally considered to be their most successful song in terms of popular music, and this is commonly thought to be the case. Curtis Mayfield wrote the song, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard R&B list the next year and reached the top of the Billboard R&B chart the following year. Between 1960 and 1970, this song functioned as an unofficial theme song for the Civil Rights Movement, and it continues to do so today. In fact, it is still doing so now.. By Mojo Magazine, this song was ranked as one of the top ten best songs of all time. In addition, it was included in their list of the greatest songs of all time, which was released in 2012.
People Get Ready
‘In My Life’ — The Beatles
According to John Lennon, this 1965 single from the album “Rubber Soul” would be on everyone’s list of the greatest songs ever written if it were released today. “This was my first serious piece of work,” Paul McCartney has stated about the song. He said that everything had been glib and forgotten up to that point. ‘Everything’ he stated. He was absolutely correct. Following the death of Shotton’s close friend and biographer, Peter Shotton said that the song’s line “Other Friends Are Dead, and Some Are Alive / In my life, I’ve loved them all” was a tribute to both Shotton and Stuart Sutcliffe, who passed away in 1962.
In My Life
‘Layla’ — Derek And The Dominos
In part, Layla is based on the Persian poetry “The Story of Layla and Majnun,” which was written in the 12th century by poet Nizami Ganjavi and is set in the same world. Many people believe that the song is one of the greatest rock songs ever written, and they are not alone in their assessment. A highly personal relationship with Pattie Boyd served as inspiration for Eric Clapton’s work, which he channeled via his unrequited love for her. Her husband was George Harrison, a friend and fellow musician who was also a friend and fellow musician of his. It was during their marriage that they had two children. After all, the couple had been together for a decade prior to this.
Layla
(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay — Otis Redding
This is unquestionably one of Otis Redding’s most well-known tracks, and it is also one of his most well-known songs overall. He wrote the words for the song in his free time, while sitting on a pier overlooking the sea and watching the waves. The next day, he returned to Sausalito, California, where he had been staying since the festival, and spent a few days on a rented houseboat that he had rented for the duration of the festival. After that, he recorded it and then put it all together into a whole song a few months later, which you can hear here. The pilot was killed in an aviation accident despite only having been on the ground for a couple of days. In Wisconsin, he drove himself to Lake Monona, where he slept for the night before continuing his journey. Immediately after the singer’s death, his song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 list for the first time in the artist’s career.
The Dock Of The Bay
‘Let It Be — The Beatles
It is often thought that times of upheaval foster the development of fresh and creative ideas, particularly in business. Paul McCartney and this particular song served as an excellent illustration of how something like this might occur. After the Beatles’ split, he had a distressing dream in which his mother came to him and gave him advice on how to go on. In fact, it was this song that served as the idea for the album’s title tune. Additionally, it has had an influence on popular culture as a consequence of its distribution in addition to being a memorable picture. The Beatles released their last song, “Let It Be,” in March 1970, and it served as their final single before they disbanded a year later.
Let It Be
‘The Times They Are A-Changin” — Bob Dylan
When Robert Dylan wrote the lyrics and composed the music for the album “The Times They Are A-Changin,” it was published in 1964, and it quickly became a hit worldwide. Immediately after its release, the song received widespread recognition as a proponent of social change, giving it the moniker “Change Song.” This song, which was first released in 1965 and peaked at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart following its initial release in that nation. While charting was a huge hit in the United Kingdom, it was a complete failure on the other side of the Atlantic. Regardless of the circumstances, his song has remained one of his most well-known and important pieces of art. In 1965, he began taking it on a regular basis and continued to do so until 2009. In 2009, he stopped using it completely.
The Times They Are A Changin
‘Baba O’Riley’ — The Who
A famous Indian spiritual teacher known as Meher Baba, sometimes known as the Mother of the Universe, was an inspiration to Pete Townshend, lead singer and songwriter for The Who. Most of the composition for this work was done by Terry Riley, who was an early adopter of minimalist composing techniques and was responsible for the majority of the composition. He came up with the name “Baba O’Riley” at a moment in time when he merged the two concepts. This song, which was first released as a single in 1971, has now become a timeless classic. The artist described the song as a warning story for children who spent an excessive amount of time on social media throughout the year 2018.
Baba O Riley
‘Be My Baby’ — The Ronettes
A number of music publications, including the NME, Pitchfork, Time, and Rolling Stone, as well as other news outlets, have praised the song as one of the best songs of the year. Phil Spector, the renowned producer, was in charge of bringing it all together for the audience to enjoy. A complete orchestral accompaniment was used in addition to Cher’s backup vocals on the tune, which added to the overall effect. “Crazy and tiring to see,” according to engineer Larr Levine, Phil’s conduct was “exhausting to witness.” While the reaction of a person to the test is a reliable predictor of whether or not they are allergic to peanuts, the test itself is not a valid indicator. The things that you’ve achieved are really amazing in their scope.
Be My Baby
‘Behind Blue Eyes’ — The Who
The Who’s 1971 song “Behind Blue Eyes” was a big success for the band and helped launch their career. According to several reports, it all began as a consequence of an event that occurred during a performance. Pete Townshend, according to tradition, had been infatuated with a groupie he had met the year before and had become obsessed with her. His desire to return to his hotel room was too great, so he sat in his room and wrote a prayer for himself. A part of the phrase started with the words “When my hand clenches, bust it open.” Throughout the song, this phrase occurs again. This was the first single from the band’s fifth studio album, “Who’s Next,” which was released in September of that year.
Behind Blue Eyes
‘La Bamba’ — Ritchie Valens
The Los Lobos put on a stunning performance of the Mexican traditional song “La Bamba,” which they wrote and performed with their own arrangements. In 1987, the film Ritchie Valens, in which Lou Diamond Phillips portrayed the character of Ritchie Valens, included this song as a soundtrack track. At the time of this writing, this is without a doubt the most frequently performed arrangement of the song everywhere in the globe. Despite the fact that the 1958 version is totally different from the current version, it is included in both the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list and the Ranker ranking of the greatest songs of all time. “La Bamba” is generally considered as the very first recording ever made at the dawn of the rock & roll era, and it was released in 1957 as a result of widespread public perception.
La Bamba
‘Hound Dog’ — Elvis Presley
The song “Big Mama’s Waltz,” written by Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, had already gained some success when Elvis Presley covered it and elevated it to a whole new level of popularity. For his part, the King of Rock and Roll was named to Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 best albums of all time, placing him at the top of the list. This is where he landed at No. 19 in the rankings. “In Las Vegas” was first performed in Las Vegas in 1956 by Freddie Bell and the Bellboys. As a result of this performance, he decided to include the song into his live act. The rendition of “Hound Dog” by Elvis was favorably received as a result of his appearance on the Steve Allen Show in November of 1976.
Hound Dog
‘Rock Around The Clock’ — Bill Haley And The Comets
Even though Bill Haley and the Comets recorded the most famous and well-known version of this song in the 1960s, it is regarded as a classic of rock ‘n’ roll. The record, which was published in 1954 to great acclaim, was the band’s first release. It topped the charts in both the United Kingdom and the United States, and it continues to hold that position today. Among the reasons for this include the fact that it appeared in the opening credits of The Blackboard Jungle 2008, which was released in theaters throughout the nation that year. As a consequence, the song was dubbed “the world’s first rock anthem” by the British newspaper The Guardian.
Rock Around The Clock
‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)’ — The Doors
The Doors’ self-titled first album, which was released in 1962, included contributions by Jim Morrison. He wrote two songs for the CD, which you can listen to below. He wrote two songs for the CD, which you can listen to below. As an added bonus, it served as the album’s opening track for both the CD and vinyl versions of the album, which was both released in 2008. When the band released their debut single, “Break on Through (To the Other Side),” it was considered a watershed moment in their career. It was generally considered as a turning point in their professional lives. Even though the song reached a peak position of 126 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it was a critical and commercial failure. Despite the fact that it is not one of their most successful songs, the song deserves to be included in this compilation due to the broad appeal it has. The singer-songwriter said that he “composed it while walking along the canals of Venice” when asked where the song got its inspiration.
Break On Through
‘Here Comes The Sun’ — The Beatles
The song “Here Comes the Sun” was featured on the Beatles’ Abbey Road album, which was released in 1969 and has the lyrics “Here Comes the Sun.” Numerous people think that George Harrison was the author of the classic song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” which was really written and sung by the Beatles. However, the song was actually written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, not George Harrison. While it was getting more difficult to determine who the bandleader was, it was obvious that the lead guitarist was beginning to be inspired by Indian classical music in his performance. He is believed to have composed the song at Eric Clapton’s home in order to avoid getting arrested for failing to appear for a band’s Apple Corps meeting in order to avoid being arrested.
Here Comes The Sun
‘Rebel Rebel’ — David Bowie
Many historians believe that the late David Bowie was the founding father of the glam rock movement, and this is widely accepted by the general public. “Rebel Rebel” is the term used to characterize his method of bidding farewell to it in folklore. When it came to the wider audience, the song was made accessible for the first time in 1974. The book, which recounts the tale of a young boy who violates his parents’ desires by dressing in cosmetics and feminine clothes, may be characterized as being “basically” about makeup and female clothing, according to some critics. According to the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number sixteen in the United States of America. It reached the top of the United Kingdom charts when it reached number five, and it is still referred to as a “glam anthem” in current pop culture.
Rebel Rebel
‘You Really Got Me’ — The Kinks
Ray Davies composed this song for the Kinks’ third single, which was published in 1967 and was written by Ray Davies himself. The song “You Really Got Me,” which was released in 1964 and became a hit in the United Kingdom, peaked at No. 1 on the charts. In the United Kingdom, it reached No. 7 on the chart. According to Rolling Stone, Dave Davies, the guitarist for the band, shaved the speaker cone of his amplifier with a razor blade to make it sound better. To properly capture the incredible sound that can be heard in the riff, this tape was produced in a professional recording studio.
You Really Got Me
‘Purple Haze’ — The Jimi Hendrix Experience
A list of the greatest songs of all time has been compiled by Rolling Stone magazine, and “Purple Haze” is placed seventeenth in their top 100 list of the greatest songs of all time. When The Jimi Hendrix Experience released the song as the second single from the album in 1967, the song became the band’s third overall single. The song went on to become the band’s third single to reach the Top 40. This song is the most well-known of his songs, and it is also the most popular. As a consequence of this record, tens of thousands of people were acquainted with his distinctive psychedelic rock style. According to readers of Rolling Stone magazine, Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” is the world’s fifth greatest song and the finest song of all time, and the best song of all time.
Purple Haze
‘London Calling’ — The Clash
It was at this time of personal difficulties and global events that The Clash composed one of their most well-known songs. This, according to the band, was the instance in question. Beyond the fact that there was no leadership in place at the time, the business was in a state of serious financial distress. According to Billboard magazine, “The Single” from the eponymous album was released in the United Kingdom as the album’s single. Later, in 2007, they achieved No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” making them the highest-charting band on the chart up until that point in time.
London Calling
‘What A Wonderful World’ — Louis Armstrong
The song What a Wonderful World, which is one of the most famous songs of all time, was ranked 15th on the Ranker list. Composers George David Weiss and Bob Thiele worked under the supervision of George Douglas to create this piece. When Louis Armstrong’s rendition of the song debuted at the top of the UK pop charts in 1967, it quickly rose to the top of the charts. In other words, it only came in at number 32 in the United Kingdom. Despite this, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, despite its controversial nature. In addition to the original artists, the song has been covered by a wide range of other performers. Throughout the years, numerous different versions of the song have been recorded.
What A Wonderful World
‘A Change Is Gonna Come — Sam Cooke
Only a few days had passed after he was put to rest at the cemetery when the song was released. Finally, Sam Cooke was murdered in a hotel room in Los Angeles by a lady who pulled a gun on him and fired one shot into his skull. Because of this, despite the fact that it did not gain widespread success on the charts, it became known as the unofficial anthem of the civil rights movement. In 2007, it was also selected for preservation by the National Recording Registry, marking the first time such a decision had been made. In recognition of its significance to American culture and history, the song was selected for this occasion.
A Change Is Gonna Come
‘The Sound Of Silence’ — Simon & Garfunkel
In the rankings published on the Ranker website, “The Sound of Silence” came in at number eight. When Simon & Garfunkel published their debut album, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.,” they included the song “Feeling Groovy” on the tracklist since it was one of their favorites. It peaked at the top of the charts in Austria, Australia, the Netherlands, West Germany, and Japan in January 1966. According to Paul Simon, who spoke to NPR about the song’s key being “the simplicity of the melody and the lyrics, which represent adolescent alienation,” he was talking to its first verse. The second stanza of the song tells a completely different narrative than the first.
The Sound Of Silence
‘A Day In The Life — The Beatles
John Lennon and Paul McCartney collaborated on this song, which is often regarded as the final real collaboration between the two musicians. The last tune on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, “A Day in the Life,” was inspired directly by the Beatles’ late 1964 recording of “A Day in the Life of the Beatles.” The song has been covered by a variety of artists, including Bary Gibb, Jeff Beck, The Fall, and Phish. Beginning in 2008, Paul McCartney has begun to include it into his live performances. Three years after the song’s release, Rolling Stone magazine named it the greatest Beatles song of all time.
A Day In The Life
‘My Generation’ — The Who
Rolling Stone Magazine ranks the Who’s song “My Generation” as the ninth most popular song of all time, and it’s widely regarded as one of the best songs ever written. In this particular instance, it has been explicitly stated. In the United States, one of the band’s most well-known songs is called “Elephant Graveyard,” and it is also one of their most well-known songs in the whole globe. The song has been ranked as the 37th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1, which ranks the finest hard rock songs of all time as a whole. On top of that, Rolling Stone magazine has rated it as the thirteenth best rock and roll song of all time, according to their list of the 100 Greatest Rock and Roll Songs ever written.
My Generation
‘Light My Fire’ — The Doors
According to Ranker’s list of the best 100 songs of all time, “Light My Fire” by the Doors was ranked #16. According to the artist, “it was featured in the self-titled album, which was first released in 1967.” Because it was the edited single, it stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 list for three consecutive weeks. Even though the group has expanded in size since then, it should be recognized for its contribution to the group’s success. Jim Morrison was asked not to perform a particular line on The Ed Sullivan Show, which he refused to do. They were under the impression that it had been deemed unsuitable by the producers. However, when the singer came to see the performance, the band was given a place on the program.
Light My Fire
‘What’d I Say — Ray Charles
The song “What’d I Say?” by Ray Charles was named one of the “100 Greatest Songs of All Time” by Rolling Stone magazine in 2007. While the band was performing in Pittsburgh one night in 1958, he wrote the song, which he finished while traveling on the Greyhound bus the following morning. In his spare time, he devoted many hours to the creation of one of the most stunning pieces of music ever composed. Following the popularity of the song, he went on to get his first top 10 pop hit. This was the tune that he used to end his performances.
Whatd I Say
‘Paint It Black — The Rolling Stones
In accordance to Billboard, the Rolling Stones’ song “Paint It Black” has climbed to the sixth spot on the Ranker chart. Upon its release, the song became an instant success with the general public when it was originally released in 1966. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as the UK Singles Chart, where it reached the top of the chart for the first time. There have been three instances on which the United States has ranked first, and six occasions on which the United Kingdom has ranked first in the world. It was Bill Wyman’s organ work, says Richards, that contributed significantly to the song’s success.
Paint It Black
‘Respect’ — Aretha Franklin
Otis Redding wrote and recorded this song in 1965, and it is one of his best-known works. On the other hand, it is because of Aretha Franklin that the term “Respect” has achieved the level of popularity that it has today. In 2012, two years after the original song was released, she reworked it into a female empowerment anthem, which was released in 2013. She also added the words “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” in the chorus, as well as the lines “Sock it to me, sock it to me, socks it to me…” in the refrain, which made for an even more impressive performance. Her most well-known song features an instantly recognizable melody. The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1968, and she received both.
Respect
‘All Along The Watchtower’ — The Jimi Hendrix Experience
A secondary survey of Ranker users ranked Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” as the fourth greatest song of all time, while a separate poll ranked the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s version as the finest cover song of all time. It was originally released on the John Wesley Harding album, which was the first time it was released. For his “Electric Ladyland” album, Jimi Hendrix recorded and recorded this song in the summer of 1968. In 1968, it rose to the twenty-first position on the list. Rolling Stone magazine ranked his version as the 47th best song of all time on their list of the greatest songs of all time.
All Along The Watchtower
‘What’s Going On — Marvin Gaye
When Marvin Gaye released his album “What’s Going On,” it was a watershed moment in music history. The film was inspired by all of the incidents of police violence that have been documented in news reports in California over the years. Initially, it wasn’t a big hit. Despite the fact that it debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, it ultimately reached No. 1. In my view, this is one of the most successful Motown albums ever released by the stars. He made a “calm plea for the well-being of the planet,” according to Rolling Stone. It is ranked fourth on the list of the greatest songs ever written, and it is a good tune.
Whats Going On
‘Stairway To Heaven’ — Led Zeppelin
In 1971, the English rock band Led Zeppelin released the song “Stairway to Heaven,” which was written by Robert Plant. A significant number of people who are part of the Ranker network are fans of it. Among the greatest songs of all time, it was ranked eighth by Rolling Stone magazine. According to readers of Planet Rock, it was the best song of all time at the time of publication. The amount of votes it got was more than twice that of its closest competitor. It was voted the best rock anthem in the United Kingdom the following year, despite the fact that it had never been published in the nation as a commercial single.
Stairway To Heaven
‘Like A Rolling Stone’ — Bob Dylan
The song “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan is ranked number one on the Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. With a time of little over six minutes and thirteen seconds, it was an extremely long period of time. This is due to the fact that radio stations did not want to insult their audience by playing the song on their stations. However, despite the fact that it did not sell as many copies as anticipated, it managed to reach the top of the United States charts, where it peaked at No. 2. According to Acclaimed Music, the song has received the most number of plaudits of any song in the history of the world. In 2014, Dylan’s handwritten lyrics were purchased for $2 million dollars.
Like A Rolling Stone
‘God Only Knows — The Beach Boys
Rolling Stone named it the 25th best song of all time, while Ranker named it the 19th greatest song of all time in their list of the greatest songs of all time. As you may be aware, this song has also been nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was included in Pitchfork Media’s list of the best songs from the 1960s. However, for their fans, nothing has altered as a result of this. That it had been named the best song of all time by the readers of Rolling Stone magazine was unquestionably a positive sign.
God Only Knows
‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ — Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s “first major composition” has been referred to by others as “his first important composition.” “Blowin’ in the Wind” was not only Bob Dylan’s most well-known song, but it also served as an anthem for the civil rights struggle in the 1960s. Not to mention the fact that the folk music group Peter, Paul, and Mary, with their debut album released in 1963, gained tremendous popularity worldwide. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1994 after being nominated for the award. According to the May 23, 1991 issue of Rolling Stone magazine, the song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was rated number 14 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Blowin In The Wind
‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ — The Beatles
There are a lot of excellent songs in the Beatles’ back catalog, and this is one of the best of the bunch. In 1963, the Beatles released the song “I Wanted to Hold Your Hand,” which became a success for them. A total of 21 weeks passed until this song debuted at number one in both the United States and the United Kingdom, during which time it spent 21 weeks in the top 50 in both countries. In his autobiography, John Lennon claims that the song “eyeball to eyeball” was written between him and Paul McCartney in their own beds.
I Want To Hold Your Hand
‘Johnny B. Goode’ — Chuck Berry
Johnny B. Goode, a song written by Chuck Berry, was released on the market in 1958. According to Rolling Stone, the song was “the first rock and roll smash about rock and roll stardom, as well as the best rock and roll song about fame in the history of popular music,” and it was “the first rock and roll hit about rock and roll stardom.” Songwriting is semi-autobiographical in nature, with “Ring A Bell” telling the story of a rural kid who can play the guitar like a bell and is influenced by his own life experiences. When it was released in 2007, the song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 list. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as a result of its historical importance.
Johnny B Goode
‘Smells Like Teen Spirit — Nirvana
There are just three songs from the 1990s on this list, and this is the only one that comes from that decade. The song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became an anthem for the generation of young people who felt disconnected and uninterested in their surroundings. “Underarm deodorant” was the name of the product. In a number of nations, the song peaked at number one on the charts. The song has received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. While the single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” propelled the album “Nevermind” to the top of the charts in January 1992, the album itself was also propelled to the top of the charts by the song. Nirvana were dissatisfied since it required a significant amount of their efforts.
Smells Like Teen Spirit
‘Good Vibrations — The Beach Boys
When the Beach Boys’ song “Good Vibrations” was published in 1966, it was a huge hit with the public. In both the United Kingdom and the United States, it reached the top of the charts at one point. At the time of its creation, the record was the most costly ever set in human history. A total of $50,000 was spent on its construction! Brian Wilson wrote and produced the song, which was prompted by his fascination with the rhythmic frequencies of deep space and his desire to express himself musically. When he was a kid, his mother attempted to explain to him why dogs growled at people they didn’t recognize, but he was uninterested.
Good Vibrations
‘Yesterday’ — The Beatles
To say that this is the Beatles’ most well-known song would be an understatement. Rolling Stone gave it a 13-point rating, while Ranker gave it a third-point rating. It was ranked third on the BMI’s “Century of the Century” list of the most influential songs of the twentieth century. It was unanimously decided by a panel of music experts and listeners convened by the BBC that “Another One Bites the Dust” by The Rolling Stones was the most outstanding song of the twentieth century in 1999. Paul McCartney and a string quartet were the only performers on the program, which aired on CBS. The song, he claims, is “very instinctive in its composition.”
Yesterday
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction — The Rolling Stones
On Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, the song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” came in at number two. Despite the fact that it was initially banned from pirate radio stations across the globe due to its suggestive content, this song assisted the band in achieving their first No. 1 success in the United States with the single. Despite the fact that this occurred, the song ended up hitting the top of the charts. According to an essay he published about the event, Keith Richards received the inspiration for the song’s riff in a dream. His third trip to the United States brought him to Clearwater, Florida, where he slept at a motel for the night.
I Cant Get No Satisfaction
‘Hey Jude’ — The Beatles
According to the hundreds of voters who have expressed their opinions on the subject, the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” is the best song ever to be included on Ranker.com. In fact, it was not ninth, as reported by Rolling Stone, but rather seventh place. This was the band’s first single to be released on the Apple label, and it was also their first single overall. It was a worldwide sensation, particularly in countries such as France, Greece, and Israel. In 1968, the song sold more than two million copies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It addresses the audience in a straightforward manner. McCartney is said to have written the song in order to visit his old friend Cynthia, who was married to John Lennon at the time of its composition.
Hey Jude
‘Imagine’ — John Lennon
Both the Ranker community and Rolling Stone placed “Imagine” second, and third, respectively. In the U.S., John Lennon’s song “Imagine” was published in October 1971, and in the UK in October 1975. He is most notable for being the only artist in his career to have his most popular solo song break sales records. One of the most popular songs of the twentieth century is also one of the most well-known musical compositions of all time. Other singers, including Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, and Lady Gaga, have all covered the song throughout the years. Since 2005, New Year’s Eve celebrations have always included the dropping of the New Year’s Eve Time Square Ball. The song was included on the Recording Industry Association of America’s list of the top 365 songs of the 20th century. Prior to his murder, he said that Yoko Ono provided a lot of the music and lyrics to the record. In 2017, she finally received recognition for her authorship of the book.
Imagine
‘Shop Around’ – Smokey Robinson And The Miracles
The band’s drummer, Smokey Robinson, thinks that Gordy is the most qualified individual to take on the task of recording “Shop Around” with the group’s members. In his opinion, Barrett Strong should be the one who performs the song on the CD, since he thinks it is fitting. While listening to it over the radio, on the other hand, he had the impression that it was going much more slowly. As a result of the late-night re-cutting session, Robinson was obliged to work more quickly and with more attention paid to his vocals as a result of the late-night re-cutting session. It required him being more focused on his vocals as the result. Everything proceeded just as planned and was completed without incident.
Shop Around
‘Miss You’ – The Rolling Stones
Jagger composed the song “Miss You” when the Stones were working with Billy Preston in Toronto, preparing for their notorious performances at the El Mocambo Club. The Stones were playing with Preston on the piano and keyboards when Jagger penned the song. Despite the fact that they had never met before, the band’s first Tune One hit in five years resulted from a fortuitous meeting with a harmonica player at the Paris metro station. With a bluesy feel to it, the song was a fun dance tune to get your feet moving. When questioned about the song, Mick Jagger responded with the statement, “It’s not about a woman.” The song is about the sensation of having a strong desire for something.
Miss You
‘The Rising’ – Bruce Springsteen
In the wake of the September 11th attacks, Bruce Springsteen penned a song in which he depicts a fireman attempting to enter one of the Twin Towers (“Can’t see nothing in front of me…”) before exploding into the gospel-tinged chorus. He released this song as the opening track from an album that was meant to alleviate the suffering of his fans. As he said in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2002, “the most common thing I get from fans is “Man, you got me through — whatever it is.”
The Rising
‘Running On Empty’ – Jackson Browne
Browne’s major composition and live performance project, Running on Empty, was his most ambitious project to date. During his daily commute between the studio and their home to work on the film, singer/songwriter Shawn Browne came up with the theme song for the film The Pretender, which he sang while driving between the two locations. In the past, I used to drive my vehicle every day and fill up the tank with gasoline on a regular basis. “I didn’t bother filling up the tank since it was just a five-minute drive to the gas station. “It’s just a short walk over there.”
Running On Empty
‘Brown Sugar’ – The Rolling Stones
Many contentious and unpleasant themes, such as slavery, sadomasochism, and interracial sex, are addressed in the music of the Rolling Stones, and this is one of the band’s most distinguishing characteristics. Richards embellished the three lines written on a pad at Muscle Shoals Studios, which he and Mick Jagger both shared credit for, with a particularly vicious riff. If you can make it rock with a few exultant punctuations, you’ll have yourself a classic Stones performance song on your hands.
Brown Sugar
‘Ignition (Remix)’ – R. Kelly
The song “Ignition” by Kelly, which portrays booty-knocking via the use of industrial metaphors that are more difficult to understand, is an outstanding illustration of this. In order to get playing on a Chicago radio station, the song was toned down before it was made available for purchase on iTunes. Also, this occurred before it was made available for free download over the internet, as previously stated. Within a few short months following the song’s debut in its original form, a well-known remix of the song acquired widespread recognition.
Ignition
‘Time to Pretend’ – MGMT
During their undergraduate years, VanWyngarden and Goldwasser were fascinated by the unique crawling motion of a praying mantis, which they observed and researched. A major impact on how the song’s unusual rhythm was created came from this source. While it is unclear if VanWyngarden intended his remarks to be taken seriously, he decided to write about his rock star dreams (“I’ll go to Paris and shoot some heroin”) despite the knowledge that they were not taken seriously. In certain circles, depending on who you speak with, we are thought to be drug addicts. “As a composer, ambiguity is what I strive for,” he said.
Time To Pretend
‘I Will Survive’ – Gloria Gaynor
Gaynor’s professional life was on the decline when the year 1979 rolled around. Following the death of Gaynor’s mother and the following spinal surgery, she was no longer the most popular disco artist in the world, but she was still very popular. When she performed the song “I Will Survive” on stage, she added a touch of cynicism to her delivery of the song. It was initially intended to be a B-side, but DJs saw its commercial potential and utilized it to promote the song as a club hit in lieu of the original.
I Will Survive
‘I Love Rock ‘N Roll’ – Joan Jett And The Blackhearts
However, despite her tireless efforts and dedication, Jett was unable to establish herself as a successful solo artist despite the fact that her demo tape for the song “I Love Rock’N Roll” was rejected by 23 different record companies. In order to get the radio rights to her song, she had to pay a fee of $2,500 to the record company, which she couldn’t afford. And she was more than glad to comply with her request. According to the most recent estimates, the song has a market worth of about $20 million as of this writing.
I Love Rock N Roll
‘Clocks’ – Coldplay
Clocks was originally scheduled to be released, but Coldplay chose to defer it since they were in a hurry to complete their second album. It has a churning piano theme that was initially inspired by Muse, but was subsequently changed. The good news is that a coworker came to the rescue. In his words, “When you say that the music is urgent, you indicate that it can’t be slowed down, and when you say that it’s held back, you imply that it must be brought to life.” According to the author, this is “completely unintelligible.”
Clocks
‘Under the Boardwalk’ – The Drifters
Because of the song’s availability on jukeboxes, it has been a summertime favorite in beach towns for as long as the song has been on the radio. The gadget captures the sounds of the beach that are unaffected by the weather. The ideal day for taking the photograph would have been a day at the beach, but not on that particular day. Due to the death of the track’s original singer, Rudy Lewis, from a heroin overdose in his hotel room the night before the recording, Johnny Moore was brought in to perform the lead vocals.
Under The Boardwalk
‘I’m Eighteen’ – Alice Cooper
With the release of the song “I’m Eighteen,” he made his official debut as something more than just another bearded rock freak. It was used as part of John Lydon’s outfit during his audition for the Sex Pistols on The Muppet Show, when he was cast as one of them. Furthermore, the cast was in control of the performance. Last but not least, he’ll go to the location where he’ll be formally welcomed into the gang. Additionally, David Bowie came on the show at about the same time as our last guest, which was a pleasant coincidence.
Im Eighteen
‘Young Americans’ – David Bowie
As Ziggy Stardust, Bowie said in 1975 that he would no longer be playing the character because he was “tired of wearing the part.” During his trip, this individual came up with the concept of a plastic soul. And he gave it the moniker “synthetic soul.” Although his music has a generally pleasant and touching feel to it, particularly his 1979 collaboration with Luther Vandross and David Sanborn on saxophone and vocals, as well as David Sanborn’s exquisite sax solo, it is an important component of the story. In response to David Bowie’s statement that the film is about newlyweds who aren’t sure whether or not they love one another, the actor said that the film is about newlyweds who aren’t sure whether or not they love one another.
Young Americans
‘Lady Marmalade’ – LaBelle
This No. 1 song, which tells the story of a New Orleans streetwalker, is still in heavy rotation more than 35 years after it was released. The band’s rhythm was similar to that of New Orleans, which was diametrically opposed to the sound that producer Toussaint brought to the project with his house band, the Meters, who are well-known R&B superstars themselves. Each and every individual who has ever gone to a nightclub has almost certainly picked up at least one French phrase, thanks to the ladies of LaBelle, such as “Would you want to sleep with me?”
Lady Marmalade
‘Cry Me a River’ – Justin Timberlake
During this breakup, the organizational structure of the Timberlake–Timbaland collaboration was explicitly established and explained. It was a live performance. It was all the rage when the music video for the song was released, and it became the talk of the town. For the simple reason that it showed Justin running after an actress who was disguised as his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, the video was pulled. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Timberlake expressed his admiration for the video as “fantastic.” Rather than a floral fragrance, I wanted everyone to leave with a fresh scent, rather than a floral one.
Cry Me A River
‘Crazy’- Gnarles Barkley
Other successes produced in the 2000s were more numerous, and these songs have maintained their popularity to this day. The current music environment is influenced by frequent genre shifts and the division of best-performing songs into different niches. “Gnarls Barkley” has been likened to “Elvis” by many people, including music critics. In other words, since the song was able to connect with the public and reinvigorate a broad concept that everyone could relate with, he was able to launch a new music career.
Crazy
’99 Problems’- Jay-Z
Despite the fact that it is still in a regular rotation today, this is a solid indicator that this song will stay in our collection for a long time. Rick Rubin had an important influence in the development of this song. Since the 1980s, he has been involved in a wide range of projects. All of these endeavors have met with varying degrees of success. This song briefly held the number one position on the charts for a short amount of time.
99 Problems
‘Crazy In Love’- Beyoncé
This is a promising indication that this song will remain on our playlists for some time to come, despite the fact that it is now being played often. A significant influence on the creation of this song was Rick Rubin. In his career, which dates back to the 1980s, he has worked on a diverse variety of projects. All of these efforts have been greeted with various degrees of success so far. For a brief period of time, this song was the number one song on the charts, but it was quickly replaced by another.
Crazy In Love
‘Hey Ya!’- OutKast
It is still as strong and melodic as it was when it was first released in the early 2000s, even after all of these years. It has gained a major place in our collective hearts for a good cause, as we will see. In the future, people will be puzzled as to what a polaroid image is and how it is created. The acoustics, guitars, and hand-clapping used in this song are really beautiful to listen to as well.
Hey Ya
‘Paper Planes’- M.I.A
When it was first released in 2008, the film ‘Paper Planes’ became an instant hit across the world. Diplo was involved in the writing and production of the song. In the context of her career, this is without a doubt the most important record she’s released to date. In Canada and the United States, the song was certified multi-platinum, while in the United Kingdom, it was certified platinum and in New Zealand, it was certified gold. The song reached the top of the Billboard charts in the United States after ten weeks on the list.
Paper Planes
‘Seven Nation Army’- The White Stripes
Many people believe Jack White’s guitar riff in this song is the greatest of the decade, with his guitar producing a bass-like sound that is reminiscent of that of a bass. The straightforward melody and easily memorized lyrics contributed to the resurgence of rock music. It is unclear whether or not it was beneficial to the process in any manner. Following the Grammy victories for both the song’s music video and the video game’s music video, the game’s composition was recognized with a Grammy award for best game writing.
Seven Nation Army
‘Rehab’- Amy Winehouse
A number of specialists believe that the guitar riff in this song, which has Jack White creating a bass-like sound on his guitar, is the best of the decade. The simple melody and easily remembered lyrics had a role in the revival of rock music in the 1960s. Uncertainty exists as to whether or not it was helpful to the process in any way whatsoever. Following the Grammy wins for both the song’s music video and the video game’s music video, the game’s composition was honored with a Grammy award for best game writing, which was presented to the creators of the game.
Rehab
‘Beautiful Day’- U2
Because U2 was able to maintain their success in almost every endeavor they undertook, this was a noteworthy accomplishment. ‘Beautiful Day’ was the first single released from the band’s ninth studio album, and it proved to be a big hit for the group. Additionally, the song was nominated for Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Best Record of the Year, and Best Rock Song, among other honors. When it came to the UK singles chart, the song reached number two.
Beautiful Day
‘Lose Yourself’- Eminem
As one of the most famous rappers of this age, Eminem is and will continue to be recognized as a music industry legend for the truth and honesty that he brings to his rap style and music in general. He is also regarded as a music industry legend for his contributions to hip-hop history. On the highly acclaimed film 8 Mile, this song was featured on the soundtrack, which you can listen to here. In addition to spending twelve weeks at the top of the Hot 100, the single “Lose Yourself” hit the top of the charts in more than nineteen additional nations as well.
Lose Yourself
‘Born To Run’ — Bruce Springsteen
It was the title track from Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 album “Born to Run,” and it was his most ambitious song to date. His goal, he said in an interview with Rolling Stone, was “to record the greatest rock record that anybody has ever produced.” Even though it only managed to reach the top 20 in the United Kingdom, this was his first worldwide smash. In the words of The Atlantic, it was regarded by some to be a “cult classic.” There were many times a day on the city’s top-40 morning radio show, indicating how popular it had become in Philadelphia.
The New York Comedy Festival And The Bob Woodruff Foundation Present The 9th Annual Stand Up For Heroes Event