# A single song that epitomizes a band's "sound" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935 "2009-08-10T15:25:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/21 "2009-08-11T01:02:12Z")
**America** : Ventura Highway **CCR** : Up Around The Bend ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/22 "2009-08-11T01:14:44Z")
**Supertramp** : The Logical Song ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/23 "2009-08-11T02:13:44Z")
> [@glee](#): > > The Who: Won’t get fooled again 🆒 > [@tdn](#): > > The Who: Baba O’Reilly Baba O’Reilly was the first one to come to my mind, though Won’t Get Fooled Again popped up soon after. Either way: Who’s on First, and awesome early use of synth along with perfect power chord rock and Daltrey’s frontman scream. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/24 "2009-08-11T02:18:01Z")
Everclear: “Santa Monica” Many of their songs have the same rhythm, which is epitomized in their first hit. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/25 "2009-08-11T02:42:21Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > **Supertramp** : The Logical Song Actually, when I saw the thread title, I figured I’d say: **Supertramp** - Dreamer But The Logical Song is a purty good choice too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/26 "2009-08-11T03:01:53Z")
This is surprisingly tough… the most representative song isn’t necessarily [indeed, probably shouldn’t be] the best, or the best known. Boiling it down to one is going to short-change those artists who evolved from one style to another (and another, and another) over the years. But here’s mine: Roxy Music: “The Thrill of It All” Earth, Wind & Fire: “September” Elvis Costello: “What’s So Funny (About Peace, Love and Understanding?)” Joy Division: “These Days” King Crimson [1980-]: “Thela Hun Ginjeet” XTC: “Senses Working Overtime” Crowded House: “Don’t Dream It’s Over” Talking Heads: “Crosseyed and Painless” The Golden Palominos: “Something Becomes Nothing” Depeche Mode: “Enjoy the Silence” Robyn Hitchcock: “My Wife and My Dead Wife” The The: “Slow Emotion Replay” REM: “Try Not to Breathe” Pixies: “Something Against You” Pavement: “Range Life” Pulp: “Common People” Massive Attack: “Unfinished Sympathy” Muse: “New Born” [live] 😃 Elbow: “An Audience With the Pope” ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/27 "2009-08-11T12:52:59Z")
Boston: _More than a Feeling_ ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/28 "2009-08-11T13:54:50Z")
Do One hit Wonders count? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/29 "2009-08-11T13:57:00Z")
The Doors: Light My Fire. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/30 "2009-08-11T14:14:25Z")
Bob Rivers : The Twelve Pains of Christmas ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/31 "2009-08-11T16:53:03Z")
The Offspring: She’s Got Issues ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/32 "2009-08-11T18:27:01Z")
Well, contrary to popular belief, the Smithereens’ songs are NOT all the same with just slightly different lyrics…but there are rather a lot of similarities throughtout their albums. That said, I’d state “Only a Memory” is rather a good signature song to represent them. And in the same vein, lets go with “Someday” for Nickelback. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/33 "2009-08-11T18:51:16Z")
**Neil Diamond** : pick one, they’re all nearly identical. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/34 "2009-08-11T20:46:01Z")
**Beck** - Odelay - Full of electronic wizardry, tons of samples, and near-nonesense, but catchy lyrics **White Stripes** - Hardest button to button - great hook and riff, bluesy, but also kinda heavy \*\*Rolling Stones \*\*- Satisfaction - Bluesy rocker with an awesome guitar riff and some seedy undertones in the lyrics **Nirvana** - Smells Like Teen Spirit - An obvious, but appropriate choice. Angsty, hard-rocking song **Green Day** - When I Come Around - Fun, loud, anthemic song. Maybe not as political as they’ve become, but I still think relevent. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/35 "2009-08-11T21:57:43Z")
I’ll throw my opinion on “single most representative song” for ten giants of classic rock, most already mentioned: Bob Dylan: Like A Rolling Stone. I wish I could also include “Ballad Of A Thin Man”. The Rolling Stones: Sympathy for the Devil. Runners up: Gimme Shelter, Shine A Light The Who: Won’t Get Fooled Again. Very close on Baba O’Riley though. Pink Floyd: Time (from DSotM). Runners up: Dogs (Animals), Hey You (The Wall) Led Zeppelin: Whole Lotta Love. Surprised nobody’s mentioned it yet. Though there are many to choose from, for me, this is THE Led Zep song. The Beatles: So many different sounds from this band from different albums. I’ll go with “A Day In The Life”, if “The Sun King Medley” isn’t cheating. Jimi Hendrix: House Burning Down. Runners up: Voodoo Chile (Slight Return), Are You Experienced?, Foxy Lady U2: Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses. Lots of favorites but that song really captures their sound to me. Bruce Springsteen: Rosalita (Come Out Tonight). Also surprised this hasn’t been mentioned. Janis Joplin: Kozmic Blues. Close runner-up: her live recording of _Ball and Chain_. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/36 "2009-08-12T04:21:08Z")
Interesting that there are so many different choices for Led Zeppelin. For what it’s worth, there’s a specific quote from Jimmy Page (that may or may not come from _Hammer of the Gods_; it’s been a long time since I read it) where he references this very topic, and talks about how The Who’s signature was “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. His choice for Zeppelin? “Stairway to Heaven”. Plant’s choice? “Kashmir”. I agree with Pagey, although my personal favorite Zep song is actually “The Ocean”. I’ll agree with “Won’t Get Fooled Again” for The Who. Let’s see, what else . . .[ul][_]Black Sabbath: “N.I.B.” from the first album. Probably not a typical choice (which would be “Paranoid”), but to me, that encapsulates that band’s sound.[_]The Doors: “When the Music’s Over” - preferably the live version from the original _Absolutely Live_ album.[_]AC/DC: This is tough, because I see them as two different eras. For Bon Scott’s era, I would say “Let There Be Rock”, for Brian Johnson, “You Shook Me All Night Long”.[_]Def Leppard: “Rock of Ages”[_]Dire Straits: “Tunnel of Love”[_]The Eagles: Another band that exists in two different eras, in this case pre- and post- Joe Walsh. For the former, I would say “Lyin’ Eyes”, for the latter, “Life in the Fast Lane”[_]The Offspring: “Come Out and Play”[_]Tom Petty: “Refugee”[_]The Ramones: “I Wanna Be Sedated”[_]The Rolling Stones: “Satisfaction”Stevie Ray Vaughan: “Pride and Joy”[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/37 "2009-08-12T11:44:39Z")
The Kinks, “Sunny Afternoon” The Allman Brothers Band, “Midnight Rider” (I was gonna go with Statesboro Blues, but that’s a cover, so…) White Stripes, “I’m In Love With a Girl” ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/38 "2009-08-12T11:59:33Z")
Miami Sound Machine - Absolutely any song they recorded. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/39 "2009-08-12T14:10:21Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > **Nirvana** - Smells Like Teen Spirit - An obvious, but appropriate choice. Angsty, hard-rocking song If you had to pick a Nirvana song I’d certainly pick that. But ironically, if _all_ Nirvana songs were more like SLTS, they would be remembered for being grunge, but also for being an emocore pioneer (since in that song the melodic punk, loud/soft dynamic, incomprehensible teenage lyrics, and whiny voice come together moreso than in their other songs.) ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/40 "2009-08-12T14:23:36Z")
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