Single greatest pop/rock song ever

Seeing as we have wondered a long way from rock / pop with some of these songs I am giving you this – Its been an international hit several times, its been sampled loads and the vid would also work for the most pretentious 😉

The correct answer is Teenage Kicks, and I’m staggered that it didn’t make an appearance until page 2.

Everlong must be in with a shout, surely?
Kate Nash is a really good left field suggestion actually. Imho that whole album is hugely overrated. Some brilliantly written melodies, with clever, funny lyrics and grey hooks. I’m off for another listen.

Temptation is a good shout, definitely in my top 10. As is The Only Ones.

Another suggestion…

Yeah – Teenage Kicks
Should I stay or should I go – Clash
Happy Together – Turtles

Kurt Cobain would have been 50 today.

Tracks of my tears – Smokey Robinson
All or Nothing – Small Faces
What’s going on – Marvin Gaye
Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson
Let it Be – Beatles

It’s an impossible task. Lots of good suggestions from everyone.

I can’t help but say Dancing Queen by ABBA.

I mean who the duck ever says “ABBA, I’m their biggest fan”, but whenever it comes on it always grabs your attention.

Though my personal favorite rem track is definitely

But what do i know?

^^ two are great shouts

I was tempted to suggest Iggy Pop – lust for life (though I’ve a soft spot for sixteen) but thought it may not be quite pop enough. Ditto clash and Rock the Kasbah.

Come on you slags!

Just gets the balance right between pop and anti-pop.

Smooth Criminal

Not a fan generally but for the pop/rock balancing point this should be on the list if only for excellent Alien Any Farm cover.

For the Strava ists…

This one should be in stws list too.

Try again…

Kinks – Waterloo sunset

It was eventually released as an X-factor single, that makes it pop?

Tracks of my tears – Smokey Robinson
All or Nothing – Small Faces
What’s going on – Marvin Gaye
Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson
Let it Be – Beatles

And as said before:

Or maybe:

Pen – Pineapple – Pen
So pure.

Rock Pop don’t get much better

Ape Man, by The Kinks – can’t stream, not posting the link, just gonna go big on head phones. 🙂

Some cracking suggestions but Baba O’Riley by The Who has to be up there 🙂

Not sure you lot are getting the ‘pop’ concept. Whilst American Pie is a great song, it’s not really pop.

Pop should be cheerful fluff. The trick of a great pop song is being that whilst also being a great tune and having lyrics that sound like singalong nonsense but actually have a bit of pathos and real feeling.

So I would nominate something from ABBA (but not sure what) and also Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cindi Lauper.

I think molgrips has possibly got this sort of thing in mind? 😛

Pop should be cheerful fluff. The trick of a great pop song is being that whilst also being a great tune and having lyrics that sound like singalong nonsense but actually have a bit of pathos and real feeling.

By that measure it’s surely hard to beat something like Cher, gypsys tramps and theives with its undertones of racial stereotyping and prejudice (oh and teenage/premarital sex) or Madonna, papa don’t preach?

‘You Really Got Me’ by The Kinks

Moronically simple and catchy ear-worm to the max. Pop/rock perfection.

(Nuhr nehr-nehr neuh-NUH!)

And someone mentioned Stereolab, I’ve lost count of the times they have elegantly furnished my brain with a perfect hook. Hard to choose just one. Let me think.

( Edit: changed my mind about the Cramps)

Can’t believe we’re four p pages into a Saxonrider thread and no-one has posted the frankly awesome