Single greatest pop/rock song ever

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)

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.

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 perfect 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.

Probably go for some punk if allowed, something by The Exploited, probably

See what I mean?
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