# Best Song Ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618 "2012-02-12T18:52:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![littlespeedysuperbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@littlespeedysuperbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/littlespeedysuperbike)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/61 "2012-02-16T05:23:00Z")
“We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet” by the Blues Magoos. Two minutes of unbelievable energy. It’s my choice as the greatest recording of all time. Five other nominations: “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys has been described as “a symphony that Brian Wilson fit into three and a half minutes”, but you’ve probably heard it a million times already. “No Good To Cry” by the WildWeeds got national airplay out of Connecticut on nothing but raw merit. Just a simple tune, played experty, and a great voice. “Just Dropped In” by Kenny Rogers is as close as anyone else ever got to sounding like Jimi Hendrix. I’m assuming you’ve got at least the major albums by Hendrix, right? “Funky Nassau” by The Beginning Of The End is unusual for a rock recording that nothing’s blurred, muddied, or faded into everything else - any component stands up as its own solo. “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” by the Hollies is what I’d use to explain the features of a rock’n’roll recording to someone who was unsure on the concept. It’s all there. “Heatwave” by Martha and the Vandellas is exciting and beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/62 "2012-02-16T06:11:42Z")
Handel’s Messiah. Great songs, both arias and choruses, from start to finish. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/63 "2012-02-16T06:24:31Z")
A few of my faves: [Fade Into You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImKY6TZEyrI) by Mazzy Star [7th Symphony, 2nd movement](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uOxOgm5jQ4) by Ludwig van Beethoven (first three minutes) [Still Loving You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkIrZxN9pHk&ob=av3n) by The Scorpions [Cat People](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWX_MFNOL_Y) by David Bowie ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/64 "2012-02-16T22:31:23Z")
[Doubled Up](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSVoEY1zjK8&feature=colike), Heather Nova. I can never decide if I like the studio or live version best. [Sugar](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqNRazJ4z_A&feature=colike), Heather Nova. [Penelope’s Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_UwU-RRqSE&feature=colike), Loreena McKennitt. [Tzivaeri](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0WaNsKro-0&feature=colike), Eleftheria Arvanitaki. (_Long intro_). [L’Enfant](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kRS4pkrBqE&feature=colike), Vangelis. [Roxanne’s Veil](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy0f63SZZ2s&feature=colike), Vanessa Mae (Vangelis) [Caravan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTHKQvFBS80&feature=colike), Vanessa Mae (Blatt) [Partitia in E](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g5Q1p6C7ho&feature=colike), Vanessa Mae (Bach) [Pie Jesu](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAC9vJr--Us&feature=colike), Anna Netrebko. [Ill Y A](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Vs1-zsbUw&feature=colike), Vanessa Paradis. [Joe Le Taxi](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxusCpI9xLM&feature=colike) Vanessa Paradis. [La Minute De Silence](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nor9ofr-U1M&feature=colike), Vanessa Paradis & Alain Lanty. [Temporary And Eternal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiIqnvFAoHs&feature=colike), Happy Rhodes. [Nostalgia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNtZR8gR9aQ&feature=colike) Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo. [Nous Souviendrons Nous](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNDYI48foVw&feature=colike), Mylène Farmer. [Pas Le Temps De Vivre](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgNfHcG-XOA&feature=colike). Mylène Farmer. [Avant Que L’Ombre](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtt0hWOIMzc&feature=colike). Mylène Farmer. [What Have I Done](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwgdFMnkAKE&feature=colike), Anna Ternheim. [Quiet Nights](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmInifeZkzY&feature=colike), Anna Ternheim. [Clocks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXqSPJpuDBM&feature=colike) 12 Girls Band. [Only Time](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCqlEGW9hsY&feature=colike) 12 Girls. [Cloudy Sky](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqhLZGGWHNA&feature=colike), 12 Girls. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/65 "2012-02-16T22:52:20Z")
When I was online dating, and spending a lot of time emailing strange women, one of my ice-breaker questions was just this – your top all time song list. So I’ve got mine handy: Knock On Wood – Eddie Floyd Shaking the Tree – Peter Gabriel Rip This Joint – Rolling Stones Whipping Post – Allman Brothers What Is and What Should Never Be – Led Zeppelin Do Your Thing – Basement Jaxx Southern Cross – CSN&Y Burning Down the House (live) – Talking Heads ---
**Author:** ![missinformation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@missinformation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missinformation)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/66 "2012-02-17T00:39:04Z")
Today’s…subject to change at a moment’s notice: Sniper - Harry Chapin Suzy Q - Creedence Clearwater Revival Temptation - Billy Joel My Girl - The Temptations Clair De Lune - Claude Debussy I’ll Be Seeing You - Frank Sinatra Are You Lonesome Tonight? - Elvis Presley She - Elvis Costello Revolution - The Beatles Feelin’ Love - Paula Cole ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/67 "2012-02-17T06:09:42Z")
Threads like this are a good excuse to listen to music. So I spent most of the day doing that and ended up with this (unreadable) list: 1. Song to the Siren - Tim Buckley _Touch me not, touch me not, come back tomorrow_ 2. Paranoid Android - Radiohead _Please could you stop the noise, I’m trying to get some rest_ 3. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter - Nirvana _Hate, hate your enemies; Save, save your friends_ 4. No Girl So Sweet - PJ Harvey _Deep in the sky, a storm he’d seen; Deep in the sky, a storm he’d seen; “There ain’t nothing, no girl so sweet”_ 5. I Put a Spell on You - Nina Simone _And I don’t care if you don’t want me; I’m yours right now_ 6. Yer Blues - The Beatles _Black clouds cross’d my mind; Blue mist round my soul; Feel so suicidal even hate my rock and roll_ 7. Avalanche - Leonard Cohen _Your pain is no credential here, it’s just the shadow, shadow of my wound_ 8. Alberto Balsalm - Aphex Twin 9. Buena - Morphine _Buena buena buena buena good good good_ 10. Low Red Moon - Belly _So what, you think this is usual?_ 11. Sunday - Sonic Youth _I guess it’s true it’s never too late; Still I don’t know what to do today_ 12. Australia - The Shins _And your shape on the dance floor. Will have me thinking such filth I’ll gouge my eyes_ 13. Break My Body - The Pixies _I’m a belly dancer. I’ll shake forever and I’ll never care_ 14. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel _And one day we will die And our ashes will fly From the aeroplane over the sea_ 15. Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie _I’ve never done good things; I’ve never done bad things; I never did anything out of the blue_ 16. Pendulum - Broadcast _I’m in orbit; held by magnet; and the force fields so much closer than love_ 17. Deep Red Bells - Neko Case _It looks a lot like engine oil, and tastes like being poor and small, and popsicles in summer_ 18. Alice - Tom Waits _And so a secret kiss brings madness with the bliss; And I will think of this when I’m dead in my grave_ 19. Grace - Jeff Buckley _And I feel them drown my name; So easy to know and forget with this kiss_ 20. Heart and Soul - Joy Division _The past is now part of my future, the present is well out of hand_ ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/68 "2012-02-23T21:44:06Z")
Cowboy Junkies: [Good Friday](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTDP_br0h6k). [One](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScZjneRNz08&feature=colike) [Bea’s Song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d1jzT24E8Q&feature=colike) [Come Calling (His Song)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxjVgVHCkmc) Come Calling (Her Song) is even better. Not on YouTube though. [this street, that man, this life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIZ_yUEGux4) This Mortal Coil: [Song To The Siren](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdtu7DXeO6w&feature=related) [I Come And Stand At Every Door](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vZ0KgLifjI&feature=colike) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/69 "2012-02-23T22:50:23Z")
“Happy Birthday To You”. Every time I hear it, I get cake and ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/70 "2012-02-23T23:13:40Z")
No love for “Stairway to Heaven”? See if you can find a version of The Grateful Dead’s “Dark Star” that runs for over 20 minutes. Avoid the short studio version. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/71 "2012-02-23T23:29:10Z")
“(Just My Imagination) Runnin’ Away With Me” – the Temptations “The Girl from Ipanema” – Stan Getz & Company is pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/72 "2012-02-24T01:57:55Z")
My all-time favorites from selected genres of music: Pop: THE REFLEX - Duran Duran Rock: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS - Queen Disco: I WILL SURVIVE - Gloria Gaynor Country: FOREVER AND EVER AMEN - Randy Travis Spanish: EL AMOR - Azucar Moreno Japanese: PRIDE - Miki Imai Europop: TOUCH BY TOUCH - Joy Classical: SYMPHONY NO. 1 in D MAJOR - Gustav Mahler Rap: CALIFORNIA LOVE - 2Pac with Dr. Dre Reggae: ONE LOVE/PEOPLE GET READY - Bob Marley & The Wailers Instrumental: EL BIMBO - Paul Mauriat Soundtrack (Film): FAME - Irene Cara Soundtrack (Musical): DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING? - (From Les Miserables) Disney: LET’S GO FLY A KITE - (From Mary Poppins) ---
**Author:** ![HotDogWater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/73 "2012-02-24T02:25:03Z")
Thank you for _Stay_, **Novelty Bobble**. I loved this song in my previous life, and clicking through your youtube link has brought me back to that time in my headphones right now 🙂 However, the best song ever in Springsteens\* Thunder Road\*. And his duet with Melissa Ethridge is heaven on earth, sweet sweet music. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQpyxh3xpv8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQpyxh3xpv8) ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/74 "2012-02-24T02:46:30Z")
“96 Tears” by ? and the Mysterians ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/75 "2012-02-24T03:42:58Z")
[Thunder Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I579UTHm-o&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/76 "2012-02-24T04:37:56Z")
Well, the answer is obvious. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/77 "2012-02-24T07:08:25Z")
Mr. Tambourine Man ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/78 "2012-02-24T07:22:56Z")
Off the top of my head, though they’re more summertime songs: You Really Got A Hold On Me - Smokey Robinson Working My Way Back To You - The Spinners Give Me The Night - George Benson And for Christmas season, the greatest Christmas songs: White Christmas - The Drifters Mary’s Boy Child - Boney M ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/79 "2012-02-24T16:34:23Z")
\*\*Imagine \*\* John Lennon’s hymn to a utopian society. Love this tune, and the lyrics are simple and profound. Love the fact that networks tried to ban it after 911 and Neil Young sang it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-song-ever/612618/80 "2012-02-24T20:07:21Z")
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