# Best known jazz song of the past 50 years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016 "2008-07-10T18:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/1 "2008-07-10T18:50:40Z")
I’ve been pondering what qualifies as the best known/most recognizable jazz song of the past 50 years. Here are my top five: 1. _Songbird_ by Kenny G - Yeah, I know, this noodling only marginally qualifies as “jazz”. But “smooth jazz” stations play it, and most people know it. 2. _Feels So Good_ by Chuck Mangione - Not quite so well-known now, but in the late 1970’s, this song was played EVERYWHERE. 3. _My Favorite Things_ by John Coltrane - Most people know of Coltrane, but I think this is the only song he did that the majority of people have heard. 4. _Linus and Lucy_ by Vince Guaraldi - Obviously famous due to the popularity of Peanuts, but still a jazz tune that almost everyone knows. 5. _Take Five_ by the Dave Brubeck Quartet - Barely qualifies for the list (it will be out 50 years in 2009), but a genuine jazz standard that was a true hit on the pop charts at the beginning of the rock era. My next two choices would have been _Birdland_ and _The Girl From Ipanema_. But, i could be wrong - what do you guys think? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/2 "2008-07-10T21:58:43Z")
_My Funny Valentine_? Not sure if it is considered a “genuine” Jazz tune, though I’ve heard a lot of Jazz artists perform it. Old, drunk, lost his dentures, sounds like he just smoked a carton in one hour Chet Baker version is my favorite. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/3 "2008-07-10T22:03:13Z")
**Take Five** by far. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/4 "2008-07-10T22:03:29Z")
Uh oh, read right past your qualifier. I don’t know how old that song is. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/5 "2008-07-11T01:31:52Z")
Other pieces for your consideration - _Spain_ Chick Corea and Return to Forever _Watermelon Man_ Herbie Hancock _Rockit_ Herbie Hancock (most popular non-jazz piece recorded by a jazz musician, arguably?) _Time After Time_ Originally by Cindy Lauper, but covered by Tuck and Patty, Cassandra Wilson, Miles Davis among others. You might also work in some of the soundtrack jazz - Mancini’s _The Pink Panther_ is instantly recognizable, as is the original _Mission Impossible_ theme by Lalo Schifrin (before U2 butchered it for the movie). Would you prefer to define best known as sold the most copies, most covered, or most recognizable? A fascinating question, as jazz musicians search for the ‘new standards’. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/6 "2008-07-11T01:36:58Z")
How about Weather Report’s “Birdland”? ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/7 "2008-07-11T02:27:40Z")
[QUOTE=It’s Not Rocket Surgery!] 1. _Linus and Lucy_ by Vince Guaraldi - Obviously famous due to the popularity of Peanuts, but still a jazz tune that almost everyone knows. 2. _Take Five_ by the Dave Brubeck Quartet - Barely qualifies for the list (it will be out 50 years in 2009), but a genuine jazz standard that was a true hit on the pop charts at the beginning of the rock era. My next two choices would have been _Birdland_ and _The Girl From Ipanema_. But, i could be wrong - what do you guys think? [/QUOTE] I certainly agree with Take Five. Vince Guaraldi also had “Cast Your Fate To The Wind” and “Christmas Time is Here”. The Theme from Black Orpheus (aka “A Day In The Life Of A Fool”) comes to mind too. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/8 "2008-07-11T03:29:49Z")
I’ll go with _Take Five,_ but _Lush Life_ seems to be on the radio pretty often. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/9 "2008-07-11T03:57:29Z")
[QUOTE=It’s Not Rocket Surgery!] I’ve been pondering what qualifies as the best known/most recognizable jazz song of the past 50 years. Here are my top five: 1. _Songbird_ by Kenny G - Yeah, I know, this noodling only marginally qualifies as “jazz”. But “smooth jazz” stations play it, and most people know it. 2. _Feels So Good_ by Chuck Mangione - Not quite so well-known now, but in the late 1970’s, this song was played EVERYWHERE. 3. _My Favorite Things_ by John Coltrane - Most people know of Coltrane, but I think this is the only song he did that the majority of people have heard. 4. _Linus and Lucy_ by Vince Guaraldi - Obviously famous due to the popularity of Peanuts, but still a jazz tune that almost everyone knows. 5. _Take Five_ by the Dave Brubeck Quartet - Barely qualifies for the list (it will be out 50 years in 2009), but a genuine jazz standard that was a true hit on the pop charts at the beginning of the rock era. My next two choices would have been _Birdland_ and _The Girl From Ipanema_. But, i could be wrong - what do you guys think? [/QUOTE] You’ve covered all but one of the tunes I’d nominate- but really, it depends on how you define jazz. After all, serious jazz aficionados would scoff at Kenny G. Does “Pick Up the Pieces” by the Average White Band count as jazz at all? If it does, add it. If not, you’re pretty well set. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/10 "2008-07-11T03:58:21Z")
I think you have to leave “smooth jazz” or “lights-out jazz” from the question. Those (deliberately confusing) terms describe a genre much different from actual jazz. It’s like asking if Kiri Te Kenawa or Kathleen Battle is a more popular diva, and someone pointing out that Celine Dion sells more records. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/11 "2008-07-11T04:42:18Z")
I was probably going to say Dave Brubeck - Take Five. Possibly Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man. Some more songs for consideration: Charles Mingus - Better Git It In Your Soul Miles Davis - Freddie Freeloader Willie Bobo - Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries There’s a bunch of good Jazz out there now as well; Afroskull, Soulive, Medski Martin and Wood, Jaga Jazzist, and The Jazz Mandolin Project come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Harry1945](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Harry1945](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry1945)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/12 "2008-07-11T04:52:02Z")
Herbie Mann’s Memphis Underground. ooops…may not be that well known, but it should be. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2008, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/13 "2008-07-11T05:25:29Z")
Although there could be legitimate discussion whether these two pieces are jazz or whether they are, in fact, better described as jazz-influenced pop, I think they deserve mention here. They’re certainly both well known (and I think they _are_ jazz): 1. [On Broadway](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voNjeUUcdSo) 2. [Music to Watch Girls By](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O8lqpi4pX0) ---
**Author:** ![eulalia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eulalia/32/457_2.png) [@eulalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eulalia)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/14 "2008-07-11T05:44:21Z")
The theme from “The Pink Panther” would qualify, I think. Everyone I know would recognize that. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/15 "2008-07-11T05:56:21Z")
Song for My Father? A Night In Lenasia? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/16 "2008-07-11T12:29:48Z")
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue should be on the list. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/17 "2008-07-11T13:00:50Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue should be on the list. [/QUOTE] Way more than 50 years old – it premiered [in 1924](http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/?fuseaction=composition&composition_id=2980) with Rachmaninoff, Stokowoski, Heifetz, and other heavyweights in the audience. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/18 "2008-07-11T14:13:02Z")
[QUOTE=Crawlspace] There’s a bunch of good Jazz out there now as well; Afroskull, Soulive, Medski Martin and Wood, Jaga Jazzist, and The Jazz Mandolin Project come to mind. [/QUOTE] Well, sure - but that’s a whole 'nother thread. And I’d add my personal favorite, Pat Metheny. Some good suggestions in this thread, especially _Pink Panther_ and _Rockit_. I just thought of another popular piece, the theme to _Miami Vice_ by Jan Hammer. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/19 "2008-07-11T14:23:51Z")
[QUOTE=Greg Charles] I think you have to leave “smooth jazz” or “lights-out jazz” from the question. Those (deliberately confusing) terms describe a genre much different from actual jazz. It’s like asking if Kiri Te Kenawa or Kathleen Battle is a more popular diva, and someone pointing out that Celine Dion sells more records. [/QUOTE] I don’t know about that. If you go into your local record store, you may find Kenny G in the jazz section (or the pop section, or easy listening). But you’re just not gonna find Celine in the opera section. I think a better comparison to the Kenny G/“jazz” question would be Josh Groban/opera. No serious listener would consider him to fit the category, but the public at large might. It’s a better question if smooth jazz is a subset of jazz. I would say yes, even though it has virtually nothing in common with traditional jazz. It’s similar to the way, say, surf bands and death metal are both subsets of “rock”, even though the two genres have no other similarities. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016/20 "2008-07-11T14:47:08Z")
My Funny Valentine doesn’t count - it is way more than 50 years old. IIRC, it was from a Broadway show from the 30s. Besides, Take Five, I think you have to throw So What, by Miles Davis, in there. Maybe Coltrane’s version of My Favorite Things, as well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-known-jazz-song-of-the-past-50-years/456016.md?page=2)