# Best #1 single of all time: 1955-2014 (THE FINALS) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 23, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030 "2014-12-23T16:38:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [December 26, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/41 "2014-12-26T02:19:08Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > This is a very tough one. The only one I voted for even once was “Superstition,” which I voted for both in 1973 and in the 1970s poll. However, I’m not sure it’s my favorite from this list. I will keep everyone in suspense for the next couple of days until the situation in the world-famous\*\* Ponch8 Music Rating System\*\* settles itself. > [@Smapti](#): > > If I were a more cynical man, I’d speculate that Ponch just needs some extra time to research whether any of these artists have ever had dealings with a certain currency-themed singer-songwriter or her producer of questionable medical integrity. 🙂 > [@Ponch8](#): > > This artist in question is a huge Rolling Stones fan, so their songs do gain a few points in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System** , but “Satisfaction” is not one of my favorites of theirs. It’s unlikely that I’ll pick it, perhaps much to her chagrin. And now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for: my picks. I went ahead and voted for “Superstition” a third time, although the decision was tighter than a cow’s anus during fly season. I considered voting for all the other songs except “Jailhouse Rock” and “Nothing Compares 2 U.” I forgot to mention in my previous post that “Hey Ya” also gained a few extra points in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System** because Andre 3000 of Outkast rapped a guest verse on a version of Kesha’s “[Sleazy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6fxQmsHofw).” “Nothing Compares 2 U” is decent enough, but it finished dead-ass last. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/42 "2014-12-26T02:44:13Z")
I don’t know, man… I’ve kinda lost some respect for the **Ponch8 Music Rating System** for its admission that it didn’t even _consider_ voting for the King of Rock and Roll. 😛 I mean, he’s only the man Leonard Bernstein called the greatest cultural force in the 20th century, the man who inspired Lennon, McCartney, Clapton, Dylan, Jagger, Springsteen, [Jimmy Page](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1mCbQBIQtY)… you get the idea. Not voting for him? No problem. But to not _consider_ it? Hmmmm… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/43 "2014-12-26T15:45:06Z")
Aw come on, not the damn Rolling Stones again. They’re overrated, and “Satisfaction” is overrated too. Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” is practically the greatest song in history. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/44 "2014-12-27T02:37:35Z")
This result probably says as much about SDMB demographics as anything. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/45 "2014-12-27T16:22:42Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > This result probably says as much about SDMB demographics as anything. Ya think? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/46 "2014-12-29T19:08:31Z")
Absent “Born to Run,” I’m going with “Satisfaction.” ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/47 "2014-12-29T19:39:06Z")
To me, Stevie is head and shoulders above the Stones, and the Stones are head and shoulders above everyone else on this list. Nice to see they’re both on top at the moment, although in reverse order. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/48 "2014-12-29T19:55:10Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Absent “Born to Run,” I’m going with “Satisfaction.” Born To Run, as iconic as it has become over time, was never eligible for this poll series, alas, since it peaked at #23 in the US, and it didn’t even show up in the year-end chart. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/49 "2014-12-29T22:14:40Z")
Never really saw the point of Stevie Wonder, myself. He’s the Bryan Adams of funk. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/50 "2014-12-30T11:29:07Z")
Interesting how it’s a pretty normal bell curve (slightly bimodal), with a long right-hand tail. Peaks around 1967, I’d say. Sounds about right to me 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/51 "2014-12-30T16:53:07Z")
As an aside, [here’s a version of Superstition you probably haven’t heard before.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzs_yxCqJE4) Those three guys sure do make a lot of sound! I voted for “Superstition,” too. “Satisfaction” may be one of my least favourite Rolling Stones songs. You gotta give it up for the funk. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030/52 "2014-12-30T22:43:22Z")
Well I was a grumpy pre-teen when I first heard _Satisfaction_ and it converted me from _Beatles_ to _Stones_. It still sounded great as the final encore a few weeks ago when I saw them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-all-time-1955-2014-the-finals/708030.md?page=2)