My Criteria ?
Whatever song hits the airwaves that requires maximum volume…
In no particular order:
Radar Love
Flirtin’ with Disaster
Paradise by the Dashboard Lights
Godzilla
Don’t Fear the Reaper.
Any song by Queen (except ‘under pressure’)
Any ACDC
Any Metalica
Pre-Roboto Styx (and even many songs on Roboto)
and the list goes on…
What’s not great?
I’m so sick of the Stones I can’t stand it…I get no satisfaction.
Oh, yeah. “Flirtin’ With Disaster” always has to be played at maximum volume. I agree with your criteria. Yesterday I rolled into school with the live version of “Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?” by Derek & the Dominos rattling the windows in the parking lot. I’ll show those young punks what loud rock is! 
I think it’s quite clear that the correct answer is:
Green Jelly - Three Little Pigs
This week, the greatest rock song of all time is ‘El Scorcho’ by Weezer.
Next week it will be something different. I’ll let you know.
Actually, this week it’s “Crazy Bitch” by BuckCherry…
There’s a reason why the greatest rock songs are overplayed on the radio. It’s because they are the greatest rock songs. It’s a bore that they are played over and over again, but that doesn’t make them any less great.
Not liking a song because it’s overplayed reminds me for some reason of the SDMB nitwits who say they would never vote for anyone from the “x” party because so many the “x” party supporters are so arrogent, nasty and mean. :rolleyes:
: fistbumps with Denis : Dude.
Plus a nomination for Hendrix, Foxy Lady. Love to crank up the opening fade-in feedback armageddon-inducing chords.
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry/ Jimi Hendrix either version.
All Right Now - Free
Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols
Going Underground - The Jam
Ace of Spades - Motorhead
Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
The Boys Are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy
I guess it’s the musical version of a cause and effect debate. Ask yourself this; Is it at all possible the reason they’re considered the “greatest rock songs” is because they’re literally drummed into the ears of the masses?
I’m not contending this a black-n-white issue; and concede there’s alot of gray area in between - But basing my opinion solely on my own individual tastes, I’ve concluded that when it comes to popular exposure, the more often something is repeated, the more likely it will be enamored.
re: the OP (haven’t read the rest of the thread yet) —
Oh please. It’s not even the best rock song on the same side of the same album.
(The Prophet’s Song is much nicer)
I think that’s a major factor. The greatness of Beatles/Floyd/Stones/Doors/Who/Zep/Hendrix/Clapton/Dylan/blah blah blah is considered unimpeachable at this point because not only were they popular in their respective heydays, but because the people who made them popular raised many of their kids to feel the same way with the unending support of radio stations who still play the hits 30 to 40 years later. Whether you like or hate the bands and songs, their reputations are now almost totally independent of their musical merits.
One song that has definitely been overlooked: Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits…that is some sweet guitar work and lyrics by Mark Knopfler, a song about a band being challenged as a rock and roll band…[Monty Burns] Excellent! [/MB]
Another Clash song: Should I Stay or Should I Go is a song well identified amongst multiple generations now and always a song played at any rocking party.
I can also give a thumbs up for Radar Love and Bohemian Rhapsody, great songs in their own right because they are longer and cover more than one melodic element (along with Stairway to Heaven, Money, Shine On You Crazy Diamond), but some shorter songs can still be equal with the ballads…such as:
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Unforgiven by Metallica
London Calling by The Clash
A local classic rock station in my hometown in NC had a “Memorial Day 500” every year where they counted down listeners’ votes.
This was a pretty typical Top Ten (from 1991):
10 - Free Bird
9- Comfortably Numb
8- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
7- Hey Jude
6- Layla
5- Stairway to Heaven
4- Wayward Son
3- Hotel California
2- Sweet Home Alabama
1- Black Dog
(Discuss.)
Which is why “do I like it? is it to my personal tastes?” is a question that shouldn’t be anywhere near the list of criteria.
The song doesn’t change through repeated exposure - it is equally as good or equally as bad no matter if it’s being heard for the first or 800,000th time. That the listener now likes it less is not a reflection on the song, but on the listener.
What on earth do you mean? This is the only question that makes up the criteria. Music is completely objective. Any way that attempts to evaluate it outside the realm of personal taste is either inadequate or irrelevant.
However, I’m curious. If not personal taste, how would you evaluate a song? And does that mean that you have songs you think are genius-level creations but you’d rather stick a fork in your ear than listen to them?
Umm, I think you mean subjective, Mr. Night.
I actually spent about the last month making out my own top 100 favorite songs list – BR didn’t make it and Night the Lights Went Out in Georga did, so bite me – and I’m a Classic Rocker by nature, which is at the core of Greatest All-Time Selections from the People Who (don’t really) Matter.
Anyhow, so I’m listening to music with half an ear trying to add songs to my list and such, and maybe avoiding the cliches a little because they already have their own lists. And then Stairway comes on and I’m like, well, that’s everyone else’s no. 1, so it ain’t mine. But I gotta say, by the time it ended I was AMPED. THAT SONG FUCKING ROCKS and deserves its place. It’s not even my favorite LZ song (Hey Hey What Can I Do), but I think it deserves its place as no. 1, no matter how often it’s been played.
That said, all this talk about Radar Love… it’s got its merits.
I think if you expanded the definition of rock just a little:
Praise You by Fatboy Slim is a f***ing incredible rock song.
And I wouldn’t not consider these less traditional noms:
Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath
Ballroom Blitz - Sweet
Spirit of the Radio - Rush
And props to you, Simster, for mentioning Paradise By the Dashboard Lights.
As for Queen, Keep Yourself Alive blows away Bohemian Rhapsody for sheer “amped”-litude anyday.
Yeah… that’s what I meant. Stupid brain explosions. 
Music=subjective.
And at long last, the thread returns to Wayne’s World. An excellent, rockin’ song.
Beatles - Abbey Road - Side Two Medley - Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End. To me, this will always epitomize the absolute apex of rock. IMO, nothing before or after has ever measured up. The only caveat is that in order to get the full impact, one should probably listen to the rest of the album first.
No, but there are things that are genius-level creations that if I’m ever forced to listen to them again I’d want to stick in a fork in the ear of the person who made me hear it (I like me and am concerned with my well being. The person who makes me watch Der Rosenkavelier again - not so much.)
Still cold cold night has a song ever grown on you? Does that mean it was a bad song when you first heard it, but it became good as time went on? How? How did the song change to make it go from bad to good?
I can hear a song and appreciate the music, the lyrics, the artistry of the singers and musicians, and the production - be very impressed at what the songwriters and/or the players are attempting and/or achieving and still never want to hear it again because it isn’t my style or because it reminds me of someone I hate or whatever. My liking a song does not make it good. My disliking a song doesn’t make it bad.