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You may have to set aside your personal preferences to answer this one, but what do you reckon - as objectively as possible - is the single greatest pop/rock song ever?
Base it on music, lyrics, performance... whatever... BUT, consider the song's enduring qualities and its broad appeal.
For me, Don McLean's 'American Pie' should probably get it, on the basis of its perfect combination of interesting lyrics, its great tune, and its 'rockability'. It ticks all the right boxes, and if the human race is still around in a few generations, I can imagine the song will still proffer some appeal.
Name yours, and let's see if any consensus emerges.
or this
Meatloaf. Bat out of hell.
what is pop/rock as a genre?
Queen Bohemian rhapsody in that category?
Beachboys?good vibrations or god only knows
Roxette - The look (pop not rock)
[quote=ton ]Meatloaf. Bat out of hell.
Good call. Took pop/rock to an art. Broke the rules regarding duration (though so did American Pie in its full guise). Still stands out as being fairly unique - both in its time and now.
Bohemian Rhapsody would have to be considered for much the same reasons.
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still sounds fine to me
Being completely objective - this is the best song and the greatest ever performance:
"Teenage kicks" and "do anything you wanna do" must be up there as well
Or Buzzcocks "ever fallen in love"
Shaddupa you face by Joe Dolce
Really tricky to call!
But I'd have to say this tune has to be up there, Rumours is one of my all time favourite albums, it had its 40th release anniversary on 4th Feb! 😯
That bobby darin one blew me away,perfection.Modern pop song I pick life of riley.
I like tjagain's auggestions
Also
<prepares defensive position. But this is [i]perfect[/i] pop>
Probably go for some punk if allowed, something by The Exploited, probably
This was only ever going to turn into a 'what's your favourite' thread.
See what I mean?Probably go for some punk if allowed, something by The Exploited, probably
There's never ever gonna be a 'best song', too many variables, such as, artist/band, mood, & alcohol intake.
I may listen to 'Nutshell' by Alice in Chains later, I find that very fitting for the life the singer lead. Or I might stick something like London's Burning on by the Clash, love that one. Maybe 'Sorrow' or 'High Hopes' by (the dreaded) Pink Floyd.
My 'best songs' list is quite long.
thought this was a POP song choice,hows that so hard?
thought this was a POP song choice,hows that so hard?
Soz, thought it was pop/rock. My mistake.
Perfect pop / rock? Avoiding all the obvious, try Squeeze, Another nail in my heart
https://g.co/kgs/CU1Lzx
Pop - Dancing Queen
Cool thread..
Juxtapose fr' a second..
The Eagles & Takin' it Easy..
&
Europe, The Final Countdown
whoops double post
Full length non-radio edit, obviously
steve harley as above - what a sneer that was. good call
For me a rock / pop song needs to be 3 mins, have a catchy hook or riff and tell a tale of teenage angst
For example
Another two for the shortlist.
Agadoo.
If you can sell that, you can sell any old shite.
Thtead closed! 😉
Summertime Blues is up there with The Day the Music Died as some of the shitiest music ever to have been inflicted on humanity
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Performance and song transformed the 80's and was the catalyst for black artists on MTV which had been devoid of them up until then.
It even tells you in the song.
I'm a sucker for a bit of perfect pop, how about a couple more 90s candidates. Two obvious one and one that didn't really fly in UK.
The Beach Boys 'God Only Knows', quite possibly the most perfect pop/rock song ever written.
And there are many great pop/rock songs out there. 'American Pie' is another.
I thought the OP was a patriotic Canadian, how can he ignore his fellow country(wo)men quite reasonable claims to the accolade: Celine Dion, Bryan Adams but Justin Bieber is the strongest candidate.
Where's the like button for aP?
My vote:
Perfect pop? Of course it is. Introspective, life affirming, infectiously catchy.
+1 for loads already mentioned - Undertones, Buzzcocks, Beach Boys.
Good call on the Gin Blossoms.
🙂
Or very possibly
Good shout on
Gin Blossoms & Kate Nash
Not cool but great choices
Perfect pop though may be diminutive & Australian 🙂
Tiny Dancer?
Hey Jude?
Thriller?
+1 I'd put 'Don't Worry Baby' up there as well.The Beach Boys 'God Only Knows', quite possibly the most perfect pop/rock song ever written.
'Like a Rolling Stone' has to get a look in as well. Apparently 'they' say that it's the best song ever written!!
I have to agree with midlifecrashes that a lot of 80's pop is quite underrated.
Oh, and this:
Or this?
Well the good news is that as this is completely subjective, then I'm right.
May as well close thread.
Where are those bloody mods when you need them?
Not a fan in the slightest, but Suspicious Minds by Elvis is a well constructed pop song and the 'fat Elvis, jumpsuit combo' live performance just tops it.
Surely something from the Beach Boys or Beetles would be a contender. Sloop John B, wouldn't it be nice Twist and Shout, Come Together. Again, I'm not really a fan of either.
Bringing personal feelings in to it I'd say, on the rock front, any of CCR's stuff. Mr Fogerty had a crazy three album run, full of amazing songs that still stand up today and are liked by fans of metal, rock and pop. Pity he burned out. The quality output in such a short time was phenomenal.
For me a rock / pop song needs to be 3 mins, have a catchy hook or riff and tell a tale of teenage angst
Yup
A few suggestions from me, including my fave pure pop song of all time...
But if I had to just choose one track...
PS. American Pie? Really?
For me a rock / pop song needs to be 3 mins, have a catchy hook or riff and tell a tale of teenage angst
Or
it's Lenny Kravitz's Are you Gonna Go My Way.
Love will tear us apart
This version oldmanmtb?
Dearly missed David Bowie.
Manchesters finest.
obvz:
You can't beat a bit of 'French Disco' by Stereolab.
Perfect pop
shall we end it here?
Echo Beach - Martha and the Muffins
If it's The Beach Boys then must be...
You can't beat a bit of 'French Disco' by Stereolab.
You're not wrong, but I can't [i]see[/i] it either. Put a link in you lazy sod!
Some good ones so far.
I give you a mini smorgasbord......
River Deep Mountain High - Ike & Tina Turner
Hanging on the telephone & Heart of Glass - Blondie
Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush
Come together - The Beatles
My generation, Summertime Blues, Pinball Wizard, The Seeker - The Who
Too late & too lazy for links tonight.
I would say that all of these still sound good today - maybe not timeless; have a hook in them; are suitably short - not all sub 3 minutes.
Choose one?
River deep mountain high.
One Metallica...
There's only one greatest song in the world.......and this is just a tribute
Sorry, I don't know how to put a link in.
I'll learn, then start a new thread entitled 'French Disco'....Just how amazing is this song?
Sorry, can't see it above but has Queen - We Will Rock You made it onto the shortlist? Gotta be in with a good shout...
Some good suggestions, TJ nearly had it with Boston - More than a feeling.
John Peel introduced me to this piece of pop rock perfection:
The Knack. My Sharona.
https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=Q9TRujWtgFg
Or Buzzcocks "ever fallen in love"
I saw them a few of months ago, 2 hours of non stop fantastic pop songs still delivered with all the energy and bite of youth. A really brilliant gig.
sas - Boston was not me! can't stand them