# Help me pick the most "definitive" songs by each of these bands... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2003, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554 "2003-06-04T10:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/21 "2003-06-04T17:31:10Z")
Deep Purple - Highway Star The Doors - Five to One ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/22 "2003-06-04T19:08:43Z")
**The Cure** : “Just Like Heaven” or “A Forest” ---
**Author:** ![waddamaroon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/41988e/32.png) [@waddamaroon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waddamaroon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/23 "2003-06-04T19:12:30Z")
Re: David Bowie **Golden Years** or **Suffragette City** may be as close as you’ll come to a “definitive” sound. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/24 "2003-06-04T19:14:56Z")
Deep Purple - Smoke On the Water ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/25 "2003-06-04T19:16:24Z")
And, David Bowie HAS to be “Ziggy Stardust”! ---
**Author:** ![waddamaroon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/41988e/32.png) [@waddamaroon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waddamaroon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/26 "2003-06-04T19:29:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blonde \* > \*\*And, David Bowie HAS to be “Ziggy Stardust”! \*\* I always thought “ **Ziggy** ” and “ **Oddity** ” were gimmicks. Now that I think some more, that does make them the definitive Bowie songs. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/27 "2003-06-04T19:53:05Z")
For Cradle of Filth, you might pick “Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids”, or “Better To Reign In Hell”. ---
**Author:** ![Homer\_J](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Homer\_J](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/28 "2003-06-04T21:05:01Z")
Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven - im sorry but i do not buy into the bullshit that ‘fans’ churn out about how they dont like this song, how its overplayed, overrated. Its Led Zeppelin all over; folksy, acoutic, solos, drums fills, rock riffs, plant screaming lyrics in a range from ‘going to california to since i’ve been loving you/dazed and confused’ all being tied up in eight minutes of pure musicianship. - Legendary. Pink Floyd - probably Shine on you Crazy Diamond (but its 42 mins +) or have a cigar. Sublime - What I got - laid back, all types, dog barks, guitar, dub, slighlty weird lyrics that sound great - def choice bob dylan - like a rolling stone dire straits - sultans of swing kinks- (tough one this) waterloo sunset or you really got me (i cant choose) lynyrd skynyrd - free bird rage against the machine - killing in the name of hendrix - all along the watchtower; because it shows just how inovitative and interesting he really was. Some people say he was overrated, but you listen to dylans version and then his, to re work it to that is fantastic, and it also shows off his natural singing talents the beatles - a day in the life; i’ve always said this song for the beatles as their ‘definitve’ work (n.b. defintive does not mean best). It has masssive (weird) use of orchestra, simply acoustic guitar, piano, lennons cycnism, mccartneys everyday life lyrics all combined into the perfect end song to arguably one of the best albums ever. hope this helps you with your list, and i would be interested with anyones feedback. ---
**Author:** ![Homer\_J](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Homer\_J](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/29 "2003-06-04T21:07:17Z")
btw please excuse my crap typing, im stupid (and have been revising A-level geography for longer than i care to remember) ---
**Author:** ![Homer\_J](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Homer\_J](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/30 "2003-06-04T21:10:07Z")
oh, one more thing, your link would not work for me, so i just took educated guesses. That really is it from me, i thankyou and good night. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/31 "2003-06-04T21:56:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homer J \* > \*\*Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven - im sorry but i do not buy into the bullshit that ‘fans’ churn out about how they dont like this song, how its overplayed, overrated. Its Led Zeppelin all over; folksy, acoutic, solos, drums fills, rock riffs, plant screaming lyrics in a range from ‘going to california to since i’ve been loving you/dazed and confused’ all being tied up in eight minutes of pure musicianship. - Legendary. > > Pink Floyd - probably Shine on you Crazy Diamond (but its 42 mins +) or have a cigar. > > Sublime - What I got - laid back, all types, dog barks, guitar, dub, slighlty weird lyrics that sound great - def choice > > bob dylan - like a rolling stone > > dire straits - sultans of swing > > kinks- (tough one this) waterloo sunset or you really got me (i cant choose) > > lynyrd skynyrd - free bird > > rage against the machine - killing in the name of > > hendrix - all along the watchtower; because it shows just how inovitative and interesting he really was. Some people say he was overrated, but you listen to dylans version and then his, to re work it to that is fantastic, and it also shows off his natural singing talents > > the beatles - a day in the life; i’ve always said this song for the beatles as their ‘definitve’ work (n.b. defintive does not mean best). It has masssive (weird) use of orchestra, simply acoustic guitar, piano, lennons cycnism, mccartneys everyday life lyrics all combined into the perfect end song to arguably one of the best albums ever. > > hope this helps you with your list, and i would be interested with anyones feedback. \*\* Some good choices – but for Pink Floyd I’d have to pick Brain Damage from Dark Side of the Moon, and for Hendrix, hmm…tough one. Probably Purple Haze. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/32 "2003-06-04T22:03:18Z")
> [@](#): > > the Cult - “Nirvana”, since they sucked after Love I gotta chime in here… While The Cult is one of those bands you can’t possibly framework with one song, they had plenty of great songs post-Love. I’d use ‘Rise’ from 2001’s ‘Beyond Good & Evil’. ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/33 "2003-06-04T22:47:49Z")
I think a better Creedence Clearwater Revival song would be **Down on the Corner** , I just think it’s more representative than Born on a Bayou or Run Through the Jungle. As for the Beatles, I gotta throw in another vote for **A Day in the Life**. It’s just an awesome song. Pink Floyd…anything from Dark Side of the Moon (I was thinking maybe “Us and Them”) or The Wall (Comfortably Numb perhaps) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/34 "2003-06-05T00:35:54Z")
As much as I liked “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” it can’t be the quintessential Simon & Garfunkel song. The quintessential S & G song would have to be one where the two of them harmonize in Everly Brothers fashion. Songs where one or the other sings alone don’t represent what the team was all about. So, I’d nominate “The Boxer.” ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/35 "2003-06-05T00:47:59Z")
Why not “Changes” for David Bowie? It’s appropriate. The Cure have gone through a lot of weird phases as well, really, but I’d go with “Disintegration,” for no real reason at all. “Just Like Heaven” could work as well. It’s not as depressing, but it might be more interesting to have a happier number on there. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/36 "2003-06-05T01:13:18Z")
For Alien Ant Farm go with “At the Movies” or “Attitude”(which IIMO is there best single) Blondie…what’s “dreaming?” If you ask most people to name you something by the group they’d pick “heart of glass” or " one way or another" or “call me” Isn’t a difinitive song usually one most people know? Or, maybe _other_ people do know it…I do like “no exit” by them after all… For the Cure, how about " Love Song"? 🙂 " Personal Jesus" for Depeche Mode? ---
**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/37 "2003-06-05T01:38:17Z")
Alice In Chains—“Man In the Box” Audioslave—“Like A Stone” The Beatles—“Strawberry Fields Forever” The Clash—“Spanish Bombs” The Doors—“People Are Strange” Led Zeppelin—“When the Levee Breaks” Nine Inch Nails—“The Day the World Went Away” Nirvana—“Heart-Shaped Box” Pearl Jam—“Porch” A Perfect Circle—“Orestes” Pink Floyd—“Echoes” Queens of the Stone Age—“Gonna Leave You” The Rolling Stones—“Gimme Shelter” Smashing Pumpkins—“Here Is No Why” Soundgarden—“Pretty Noose” Stone Temple Pilots—“Interstate Love Song” Temple of the Dog—“Hello 2 Heaven” U2—“Where the Streets Have No Name” The Who—“Baba O’Riley” I didn’t see Dylan or Hendrix on the list, but they were mentioned in the thread so: “Tangled Up In Blue” and “The Wind Cries Mary.” ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/38 "2003-06-05T01:40:30Z")
I have been listening to Johnny Cash for thirty years now, and it always comes back to the same song…one that has even more resonance now that June is gone…“Ring of Fire” ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/39 "2003-06-05T01:58:33Z")
Ok, some replies: **Alien Ant Farm** - sorry but I think “Smooth Criminal” is a lock. It’s not _that_ far from their “signature” sound, and they really make that song their own. Besides, I love the monkey in the video. 😃 **Beatles** - you guys are goading me into switching to “Day in the Life”, aren’t you? **Blondie** - elfkin477, the whole point is to choose a song that the general populace wouldn’t _necessarily_ know. Sometimes it is their biggest hit (i.e. “Bohemian Rhapsody”, and possibly “Stairway to Heaven”), sometimes it’s more obscure. And remember, the guy I’m doing it for, very likely has no clue of these bands’ “hits” anyway. **The Cult** - I’m sticking with something “Love”…unless I get convinced to download “Love Removal Machine” on mp3 (sorry, mods!) **The Cure** - Narrowing it down to “A Forest”, “Primary”, “Play for Today”, “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me”, “In Between Days” or “Disintegration”. Auditing all of their CDs will take awhile… **Depeche** - “Fly on the Windscreen” is my first choice because I _love_ how death-obsessed it is, but DM usually isn’t that dark. Something poppy like “Persona Jesus” or “Everything Counts” might work… **Deep Purple** - Is “Highway Star” a lock here? I keep wanting to use “Anyone’s Daughter” instead. 🙂 **Def Leppard** - uhoh, I’m up against this one now. “Photograph”? “Pour Some Sugar on Me”? Gotta be Hysteria-era or before… **Dio** - “Rainbow in the Dark”…any objections? **Dokken** - Haven’t given this one much thought yet. **the Doors** - still no consensus, yet? **Eagles** - “Hotel California” is obvious, right? Especially when it’s the only CD I own… 🙂 **ELO** - has the trauma from those commercials worn off enough for me to use “Mr. Blue Sky” now? **ELP** - I’m considering “Fanfare for the Common Man” followed by “Mars, the Bringer of War” (for the EL&Powell era) … whatd’ya think? **Eurythmics** - something from their best-of (all I got) - any ideas? **Led Zeppelin** - like Queen, I’m trying to avoid “Stairway to Heaven” but it looks more and more like that is the one. Also considering: “Still I’m Loving You”, “The Rain Song”, “In My Time of Dying” or “Kashmir” **Pink Floyd** - I’m leaning towards “Brain Damage/Eclipse”. Good sum-up of their musical AND lyrical style, and not too insanely long. My friend likes **Simon & Garfunkel** as well; will be interesting what we each come up with. Sadly, I have no Lynyrd Skynyrd, or Hendrix, and I’m tempted to buy some JUST so I can include them…btw I fixed my WWW link so it goes directly to my list of bands. [after previewing] **Alice in Chains** “Man in the Box” evokes too many memories of Layne Staley’s death (as do a lot of other songs…“Them Bones”, “Down in a Hole”, etc.) “Rooster” does seem to fit into the compilation I’ve made so far. **The Clash** - not a big fan am I, so I’m sticking with the Verizon theme song. 😃 **Nirvana/Pearl Jam** - good choices, Odieman. (Same with the Stones.) **The Who** …is gonna be “Won’t Get Fooled Again” By about 12 parsecs. One last Q: Does “Charlie Daniels Band” file under C or D? ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/40 "2003-06-05T02:01:34Z")
If you must limit your Beatles’ choice just to the White Album “I Will” should be the one to pick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554.md?page=3)