My friends and I were having this conversation recently. I want to know what Dopers think is the best song ever written (lyrically or musically).
Our choices were:
“When Doves Cry” – Prince
“I Saw the Light” – Todd Rundgren
and my personal favorite:
“Selfless Cold and Composed” – Ben Folds Five
Hmmm. . . here’s my top seven choices(no particular order)
“The Boxer”-Simon and Garfunkle
“Boxing”–Ben Folds Five
(what can I say? Boxing a pretty poetic sport)
“Trampled Under Foot”–Led Zep
“I am the DJ”–David Bowie
“It’s Hard to be a Saint in the City”–Bruce Springsteen (this, no question, is the lyrically strongest song I’ve ever heard–it’s on Greeting From Asbury Park NJ)
“Come Running”-Van Morrison
“Inoculated City”–The Clash
Greensleeves has one of the most beautiful melodies I’ve ever heard.
But as far as combining both lyrics and melody, I’m going with another S&G tune, “Sound of Silence” though “The Boxer” is pretty darn good, too.
The Sound of Silence is a work of poetry by itself. The words flow well, there’s rhyming, there’s assonance. It’s thoughtful and the imagery is wonderful. It also delivers an important message and captures the mood at the time. Then when you add a great melody and S&G’s awesome harmony…What else do you want from a song?
What a coinkidink–VH1’s “The List” just had this topic on tonight’s show. The three choices were:
Not that it means anything. What I would choose is rarely ever mentioned (except this time), but I thought you all would be interested in what they chose.
Well, THIS thread is really hoppin’.
Okay, I’m game. The absolutely best, greatest song ever written in the history of the human race, tune AND lyrics, is
“The Piano Has Been Drinking,” by Tom Waits.
“Muzzle” by The Smashing Pumpkins.
Hate to steal the thunder of all the millions who were going to post the same thing. (Yeah, right)
BTW, “When Doves Cry” probably wouldn’t make the top 5 Prince songs, let alone Best Song of All Time.
I’d go with Love in Vain by Robert Johnson.
Contenders: Since I’ve Been Loving You Led Zep, Jailbreak AC/DC, Play it All Night Long Warren Zevon, The Message Gradmaster Flash & c., Superstition Stevie Wonder, No Particular Place to Go Chuck Berry.
picmr
I’ll start the list with: Stairway to Heaven-Led Zep
Then: November Rain-Guns and Roses
She sells Sanctuary-Cult
Gates of Steel-Devo
And the BEST tune of all time…Jocko Homo-Devo
At the moment I’m going with “You can’t bring me down” from Suicidal Tendencies. But my favorite song changes with my mood.
“In my world” - Anthrax
“Zero signal” - Fear Factory
“Hallowed be thy name” - Iron Maiden
“Piano Man” - Billy Joel
“Call me” - Blondie
“People are people” - Depeche Mode
“Drop dead legs” - Van Halen
“House of the rising sun” - The Animals
“Struck a nerve” - Bad Religion
“Wanted dead or alive” - Bon Jovi
I don’t listen to enough rap to make a good call here.
It’s a toss up between “Lush Life” by Billy Strayhorn or “Angel of Death” by Slayer.
Lightning Crashes - Live
Wheat Kings - Tragically Hip
Old Time Rock’n’Roll - Bob Seager
Big Love (live) - Fleetwood Mac
Oh, no contest.
“Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars,” by Irving Berlin.
Uke, I love you!
Sassy:
Careful. Don’t make me sing it.
He’ll do it, too, Sassy. Ike once serenaded me with “Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars” at the Algonquin, and the room stood still.
We think of it as Our Song now. Whenever I walk into one of the better dining establishments and the orchestra is playing “Cohen Owes Me Ninety-Seven Dollars,” I sigh softly to myself as I pull my ermines about me and think of Ukelele Ike . . .
hmmm…
aenima by tool.
the 28-minute song remains the same version of dazed and confused by led zeppelin.
all time? wow. that’s tough. we’re not even at next year yet.
Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry and
Just A Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody - the version by David Lee Roth
add procession of the nobles by rimsky-korsakov.
Hrm.
Cohen owes me ninety-seven dollars
And it’s up to you to see that Cohen pays
We sold a lotta boots
To Rosenstein and Sons
On an IOU for ninety dayyyyys…
Levy Brothers don’t get any credit
They owe me for a hundred yards a lace
If you promise me, my son
You’ll collect from everyone
I can dieeee with a smiiiile upon my faaaace.
“Landscape” by Amazing Blondel. I know…you never heard of them.